Anyone use a car sharing program?

[RB TexLa]

I found this very interesting, I couldn't do without a car due to work, but for those who have lower auto needs seems smart. Also would have to be profitable if you have enough customers, you make much more money renting something out than selling it.

www.zipcar.com

www.flexcar.com


edit: looks like these two have merged.

[begin_within]

1. It didn't go over too well in San Diego...

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/349618_flexcar01.html

[RB TexLa]

2. It would seem to need a good size demand to work

[Cant trust em]

6. Southern California life demands ownership of a car

It's not a walkable way to live.

[EFerrari]

3. My friends in Berkeley and San Francisco do. And, they love it! n/t

[Book Lover]

4. Looked into it, made zero economic sense

I could rent a car for a full day what I would pay zipcar for a few hours of use. Why pay more for less?

[Demobrat]

5. This is what I found too.

Renting makes more sense for me.

[EFerrari]

8. Because you may only need a car for two hours here and there

and if that happens, it's cheaper to share a car than to go out and pay for a rental for a full day.

[Book Lover]

12. It just didn't work that way when I ran the numbers

From Zipcar's website for the cheapest plan (http://www.zipcar.com/sf/details-plans?plan%5fkey=evp%2d50)
What does it cost to join?
You pay a one-time $25 application fee. Pre-pay $50 (your monthly commitment) and get that much in driving. Once your stash is used up, you pay as you go at discounted rates. No deposit.

What does it cost to drive?
From $8.10/hour and $61.20/day (any 24-hour period), depending on the car model. Gas, reserved parking, insurance and 180 FREE miles* are included.

I get my Enterprise rentals for $20-35/day. There's just no comparison for me.

[EFerrari]

14. Maybe the arrangements are just different here.

I don't know anyone who pays that much. It's more like they split the expenses and keep the tank full.

No one makes anything out of it. There is no hourly cost that anyone could figure. They all just sign up for time at the end of the month for the next month.

[Book Lover]

16. Hey, if it works for them, that's great

I couldn't figure a way to make it work for me personally. I still think it's a great idea, and I wish I could participate.

[EFerrari]

17. I ended up buying a car because my mom is elderly and 60 miles away.

Not something you can exactly sign up for. And it's sitting there because I'm out of the habit of driving everywhere.

[Cant trust em]

9. Is your avatar image Bruce Campbell? nt

[Book Lover]

10. Yes. Yes it is.

:-) Thanks for asking!

[Cant trust em]

7. I have City Car Share in San Francisco

It's perfect for when I need to run a bunch of errands in town and just need a car for an hour or two.

[Withywindle]

11. I know quite a few people in Chicago who do

I-Go is really popular: http://www.igocars.org/

Of course, you have to be able to get to where the cars are kept and then home from there. There's an I-Go car park literally around the corner from me and one of my friends. We could go to it in our PJs.

[MrCoffee]

13. Would if I could...flexcar has a big presence in Seattle

but MrsCoffee isn't wild about hauling two car seats and two kids to the pick up point if she needed a car while I'm at work.

If it was just us, or just one kid, we probably would.

[fight4my3sons]

15. You know, I have seen these on the road before

and I had no idea what they were. My husband and I saw a few of the Zip Cars while traveling from Maine to NY. Thanks for the link.

[idovoodoo]

18. We've done something very like this with airplanes for decades.

:D

[RB TexLa]

19. That was my first thought, partial ownership of cars.