getting a second car, sort of

[drusni]

I'm thinking of joining ZipCar for those 3-4 times a year when we desperately need a 2nd car, and for the occasional transport of large items. Thoughts, experiences anyone?

Comments

[lyodi]

My friend Shawn has been using their service. I'll ask her what she thinks of it.

[eviljohn]

One of our neighbors here at Great Oak has one, and he's pretty happy with it.

They're cute cars, but IMO a little expensive for a 2nd car that won't get used much. You might be better off with a $2k beatermobile (one less car in a landfill).

Now if it was me, I'd get the electric moped that Erik K. is working on, but I expect a kid seat would be trick to install on it. ;-)

[eviljohn]

BTW if you wanted to talk to Elph I can get you in touch with him. His other car is an old Volvo that runs on biodiesel.

[eviljohn]

Doh! I though you meant a SmartCar. Nevermind.

[shekkara]

$50 annual fee plus ~$60/day use. For four times a year, that's around $300 for the year. And it's probably on par if not cheaper than than a one-day rental car, which will require you to buy the gas.

A beatermobile, when you add in repairs and and yearly insurance on top of purchase cost, will end up costing you a lot more per year.

[a2gemma]

Zip cars are currently only available in the campus area. (You can still rent one, you'll just need to get yourself there.)

The City is in final negotiations with Zip car to bring them into Downtown.

[drusni]

Luckily for me, there are two Zip car lots within walking distance of my office - one near South Quad (approx. 5 blocks away) and the other at the medical campus (4 blocks away). It isn't ideal; I wish there were one within walking distance of my house! But it might work out, especially since one or two of the times I've needed a car, it's been for work.

[jvankirk]

It may be cheaper to just rent from National or Enterprise once in a while, then you don;t have the anual fee. Also, Enterprise will pick you up for the rental.

[drusni]

That's what I thought too, but when I looked into it, the rates were $40-$50+ for a day, and didn't include gas. There are no hourly options, either.

do you know if Enterprise will drop you off after the rental is over, too? then it might work for me...

[jvankirk]

Sorry, I don't know.

[cornellbox]

They did for me when we rented from them this summer. It only makes sense, really, if they are going to pick you up.