Zippity

[darkemeralds]

I joined Zipcar today.

Zipcar is the car-share business that lets members reserve and use cars for a few hours at a time. Their cars, rather than all being at the airport or in a central garage, are parked throughout the city. Once you're a member, you reserve online, you go borrow the car, you drive, and you park it back where you found it--easy peasy.

There's a Zipcar parked a couple of blocks from my house. It's not that my own car isn't working--it is, I think, though I haven't started it months, and last time I did the fuel tank was near empty. That's the point. I don't really need to own a car. I haven't needed to own a car for a while now.

So I'm gonna try out ZipCar for a few months. It cost me $25 to join, and the hourly rental fees (which include fuel and insurance) wouldn't amount to a hill of beans at my rate of car-usage.

Then, at the end of the summer, if it's been viable, I'll probably sell my car. It's just sitting there.

Comments

[donutsweeper]

there are Zipcars here and I have a few friends who speak very highly of them. And if you can get rid of your car completely you'll probably save a ton of money with the insurance and everything

[darkemeralds]

My insurance rates aren't real high, so the savings will be more in along the lines of "a little more grease in the joints" than a big budgetary difference. Still, it'll be a couple bags of groceries a month, or my cellphone bill, and that's not nothing.

The big difference will be, on the plus side, if I can go without a car for good--no more car payment ever; and on the downside, if I can't, I'll have to replace a perfectly good and paid-for car. These are the things I want to be pretty sure about before I make the jump.

[donutsweeper]

It makes sense to take some time and try it out first before selling the car, especially if it's paid for and insurance isn't high. You will need to make sure to run the car every so often so the battery doesn't die and things like that though.

[darkemeralds]

Whoops...

Prompted by this comment, I just went out to start it. Dead as a dead thing. Rats. Now I have to call a tow truck.

One more reason for the Zipcar.

[donutsweeper]

Oh no! Do you have a friend who could give you a jump?

Unfortunately cars don't like to side idle for long periods of time. You'll probably want to look into what needs to be done- how often it should be started, if a different oil should be used, tire pressure, all that kind of stuff. A good mechanic should be able tell you what to do or some google-fu.

[darkemeralds]

I have a good mechanic. Now I just need to get it there. And first I need to get it to the detailer--or at least the car wash--because it looks neglected, and you know what kind of service you get when a mechanic thinks you don't care about your car.

Sigh. Cars. Not my favorite thing in the world.

[donutsweeper]

Gah, what a hassle. Sorry!

[cat63]

That sounds like a really good idea. I hope it works out for you.

[darkemeralds]

In re-reading my post I see the one word that gives me pause in the whole project: "Zipcar is the car-share business..."

I realize that I'd be gambling my car ownership on one enterprise staying viable. Then I look at the Gulf oil spill and think, it might still be worth the risk.

[lamentables]

Hope that works out: it's a really cool plan.

I once chatted (jokingly, I hasten to add) with a neighbour about the idea of a village-owned horse and cart that would be available to all for short journeys/transporting heavy loads.

[darkemeralds]

It would have certain charm, wouldn't it? Except possibly to the horse.