Posted on 08/31/2009 1:36:01 PM PDT by wrrock
Fortune magazine's cover says Zipcar is the best new idea. Zipcar has already persuaded hundreds of thousands of young urbanites to share wheels. Now the movement is going mainstream – and players like Hertz and Ford want in. Watch video and decide...
(Excerpt) Read more at cardealerreviews.org ...
I saw a zipcar in my neighborhood a month ago. They are catching on. Whether the idea is good for the auto manufacturers though is debateable.
In my opinion, there is a surplus of auto vehicles available, which exists because people want the flexibility of having a car when they need it.
If a vehicle-sharing plan can be put in place that satisfies the need for flexibility, fewer cars will be needed, and fewer cars will be sold.
I see a very small market that would work only in high density cities.
Unfortunately high density cities have high car theft/fraud rates.
Where I live there are many boat clubs in which you pay an annual fee, call up 1 day in advance to reserve your boat and hop on your boat to enjoy. The fleet, depending on the enrolled level of membership, is huge ranging from small bay boats, to cabin cruisers, fishing boats, all the way to huge yatchs. If you’re a boating enthusiast, it’s all worth it. You just hop on the boat and enjoy your day without having to worry about maintenance, fueling, or cleaning up afterward.
One of my sons tried Philly CarShare which is a similar thing once and found it to be interesting but more difficult than just borrowing a friend’s car. I don’t think the program is taking off big in Philly and it’s been there for a few years now.
http://www.phillycarshare.org/
I think that model should be adapted to zipcar if it wants to be more successful.
And I agree,this is the last thing a manufacturer wants.
PhillyCarShare since June 2007. Maybe there’s some Acorn-type Fed money flowing to it. Don’t know, just a hunch.
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To me, quick reaction it is not so much car sharing as a stripped version and reaction to the high rates of the big name car rental companies.
If it causes Hertz et. al. to drop prices, fine by me.
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From site
You pay a one-time $25 application fee.
Your annual fee of $50.
No deposit. No monthly commitment.
What does it cost to drive?
Depending on the car model, drive from $7 /hour and $60 /day (any 24-hour period) . Gas, insurance and 180 FREE miles * are included.
What about housemates or family?
Once you join, you can add other drivers to your account. It’s $25 to apply. There’s a $25 annual fee.
The intriguing thing - and probably hackable, is that there cards issued to you, and you just go to the car:
“When you join, you are issued a Zipcard. (It’’s about the shape and size of a credit card.) This card has a unique number, assigned to you. When you reserve a Zipcar, that car is expecting you and ONLY you (and your Zipcard) at the time of your reservation. When you get to the car, just hold your Zipcard above the card reader. The locks pop open, and you’re in like Flynn
how do i get the keys?
You don’t have to go anywhere to get them, they’ll be waiting for you in the car in a super-secret spot. Shhhh...
Remember, your Zipcard gives you and ONLY you access to the vehicle when it’s your turn to drive. It unlocks and locks the doors and ignition. So that’s why we can leave the keys inside the car. Clever, eh?
Yep - lots of wonderful utopian ideas would work just fine if it weren't for criminals...
It’s a unique concept, because boats are money pits -— maintenance, docking fee, depreciation... Plus, many people do not use their boats that often. All of these boat clubs have different level of membership. The lowest level is typically $7,000- 10,000/yr. (for bay boats, small cruisers, and fishing boats), the next level up is around $20k for bigger boats that you can go offshore in, and the highest level any where from $30-50k depending on the fleet selection and size of the yachts. Considering how expensive boats are, docking fee ( charged by the size of boat) if you don’t own a waterfront property, maintenance, etc... it’s not a bad deal.
“I see a very small market that would work only in high density cities.
Unfortunately high density cities have high car theft/fraud rates.”
Small towns have crooks and those with short memories. In the 1990’s some coastal towns in Oregone tried having free bikes for locals to ride.
The concept didn’t work very well.
I can see where this would work somewhat okay in very high dense urban areas where parking is extremely sparse and people don’t want to own a car, but have one available.
Kind of like buying part of a jet and having a certain number of hours on it. However it is a niche market and only works for a small percentage of people.
PLus, these cars are going to really be treated badly and will age very quickly. When nobody owns it they treat it like crap (ie rental cars). Plus you have other peoples’ stink and fluids and whatever in there.
Interesting, I believe some horse farms have a similar program.
Remember, your Zipcard gives you and ONLY you access to the vehicle when it’s your turn to drive. It unlocks and locks the doors and ignition. So that’s why we can leave the keys inside the car. Clever, eh?
***Clever enough place for me to bump this thread.
Just spoke to my son to make sure I have the story right. I did not.
He really likes the program. He lives in South Philly near Geno’s Steaks and is a chef at Moto Mia in Northern Liberties. He bicycles to work, or takes a taxi.
He signed up for PhillyCarShare’s pay only for use option. The rate depends on the car. He says typical 6.50 an hour. You reserve a car by the half-hour. You get an electronic key pass, that works with the CarShare cars. The cars are parked throughout the city in parking lots and some street space. Each space is dedicated to a particular car. You pick it up there, you drop it off there. It’s $40 an hour for being late.
He’s used a CarShare maybe a dozen times since he joined in January.
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