Hammer Time: Meir Panim
60 days ago I had this idea thanks to a charity I’ve always admired. I would offer long-term rentals for drivers who weren’t too picky or too rich (in taste). But were in dire need to no fault of their own. There were a lot of safeguards and a few hoops that most folks would need to clear before I finally rented them out. Money up front with a deposit. Full coverage insurance. No DUI’s or suspended licenses. Mileage limitations. The list went on and on but pretty soon I found a niche… and thankfully that niche has finally found me.
More by Steven Lang
Latest Car Reviews
Read moreLatest Product Reviews
Read moreRecent Comments
- Probert They already have hybrids, but these won't ever be them as they are built on the modular E-GMP skateboard.
- Justin You guys still looking for that sportbak? I just saw one on the Facebook marketplace in Arizona
- 28-Cars-Later I cannot remember what happens now, but there are whiteblocks in this period which develop a "tick" like sound which indicates they are toast (maybe head gasket?). Ten or so years ago I looked at an '03 or '04 S60 (I forget why) and I brought my Volvo indy along to tell me if it was worth my time - it ticked and that's when I learned this. This XC90 is probably worth about $300 as it sits, not kidding, and it will cost you conservatively $2500 for an engine swap (all the ones I see on car-part.com have north of 130K miles starting at $1,100 and that's not including freight to a shop, shop labor, other internals to do such as timing belt while engine out etc).
- 28-Cars-Later Ford reported it lost $132,000 for each of its 10,000 electric vehicles sold in the first quarter of 2024, according to CNN. The sales were down 20 percent from the first quarter of 2023 and would “drag down earnings for the company overall.”The losses include “hundreds of millions being spent on research and development of the next generation of EVs for Ford. Those investments are years away from paying off.” [if they ever are recouped] Ford is the only major carmaker breaking out EV numbers by themselves. But other marques likely suffer similar losses. https://www.zerohedge.com/political/fords-120000-loss-vehicle-shows-california-ev-goals-are-impossible Given these facts, how did Tesla ever produce anything in volume let alone profit?
- AZFelix Let's forego all of this dilly-dallying with autonomous cars and cut right to the chase and the only real solution.
Comments
Join the conversation
Of course Steven's plan is better but it'd be fun to watch the advocates of car sharing try and convince some low income folks to use Zip Car at $7/hour, and daily rates at $78, with all the time restrictions and penalties. The poor folk would be shaking their heads at all the money they'd have to pay for such limited car usage. Nope, owning a beater is better.
I don't really differentiate between young/old, male/female, or any of the other bland categorizations that are out there. As far as I'm concerned all these classifications miss the eyebrows. Sourcing the right cars is a H U G E challenge and opportunity compared with a few years ago. I am right now trying to uncover any source out there that is worth it and even paying for the privelege. As far as I'm concerned, if I can find a conservatively driven and well maintained vehicle the rest of it is really not rocket science. However I will tell you that finding the right customers (and keeping them right) is a lot like being an Israeli airport screener. You have to keep on asking the right questions until you find out the real truth... and watch very carefully for their implicit actions and tactics along the way. Nine out of ten folks with an 'agenda' or an ulterior motive will usually slip in due time. I wouldn't be against doing this in more than one place. Even if it's done in a small scale, it's progress and I can tell you for sure that tens of thousands of folks in Georgia alone would value the opportunity to keep a daily driver without going into debt. I would love to have some corporate relationships to source out more vehicles (or repair components.. or anything for that matter) so feel free to email me if you have any ideas.