Author Topic: Uber Driver  (Read 5239 times)

Goldielocks

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 7062
  • Location: BC
Uber Driver
« on: February 01, 2018, 11:55:27 PM »
We used Uber for the second time last weekend (it does not exist in our hometown, we were out of the city).

Being new to it, we were interested in the business model.  My DH was surprised at the nice level of cars that were being used, and asked a few questions.  (The prior city we used Uber was almost exclusively Prius's, we were sitting this time in a new model suburban with nice leather seats).

DH:   Oh!  A Suburban, doesn't this cost a lot of money to run as an UBER?  It's quite large.
Driver:  It's less than you think.   I only fill up half a tank at a time, every day, which makes it cheaper.
Me: (thinking the driver was making a friendly joke)....  "You know it is the same cost whether you fill up half or a full tank...?"
Driver:  "Nope, I only put $40 at a time, and that way I make money every day.  If I filled up the whole tank, I wouldn't make any money."

Me and DH... <<crickets>>


He honestly believed that buying a half tank every day was cheaper than a full tank every other day.
« Last Edit: February 01, 2018, 11:58:25 PM by Goldielocks »

englishteacheralex

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3891
  • Age: 44
  • Location: Honolulu, HI
Re: Uber Driver
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2018, 12:17:33 AM »
That is hilarious.

I've read several articles about what it's really like to drive for Uber online, and also have a good friend who drove for Uber for about three months. Conclusion: no bueno. Kills your car. You don't make enough money to make it worthwhile. There are some situations where it makes sense, but conditions really have to be perfect (high MPG car but worth no more than $8k-10k; only drive during surge pricing; need fast cash--better than a payday loan) to justify it.

alanB

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 220
  • Age: 36
  • Location: PA, US
Re: Uber Driver
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2018, 06:55:45 AM »
DH:   Oh!  A Suburban, doesn't this cost a lot of money to run as an UBER?  It's quite large.
Driver:  It's less than you think.   I only fill up half a tank at a time, every day, which makes it cheaper.
Me: (thinking the driver was making a friendly joke)....  "You know it is the same cost whether you fill up half or a full tank...?"
Driver:  "Nope, I only put $40 at a time, and that way I make money every day.  If I filled up the whole tank, I wouldn't make any money."
$40 A DAY??????? I don't know whether I would cry, or faint, or laugh, or just go silent in disbelief.

Why not a quarter tank? ;)

Davnasty

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2793
Re: Uber Driver
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2018, 07:45:10 AM »
Is this the next frontier for payment plans?

Just 2555 easy payments of $8/day! "Wow, I can buy a car for just $8? that's less than I pay for lunch, I can certainly afford that." -consumer sucker

On the other hand this strategy could backfire by cluing people in to how daily expenses add up. But probably not.


Just Joe

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 6721
  • Location: In the middle....
  • Teach me something.
Re: Uber Driver
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2018, 08:25:00 AM »
Amazing how many MLM and Uber people can't do math! How do these people survive???

ketchup

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4323
  • Age: 33
Re: Uber Driver
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2018, 08:36:40 AM »
Uber *can* pencil out - I'm just convinced it doesn't for the majority of drivers.

I used to have a roommate that delivered pizza.  He drove every day but would only put $10-15 of gas in at a time, so he was getting gas every day.  I don't get it.  He didn't seem to have a reason.  I could maaybe see it if you were in a truly razor-thin no-money-at-all-in-the-bank situation, but he had plentiful savings.

Just Joe

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 6721
  • Location: In the middle....
  • Teach me something.
Re: Uber Driver
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2018, 09:21:58 AM »
I know someone who does that and has for decades. Just buys 5-6 gallons of fuel. I don't know why, its so time wasting to me. This person must like going to a gas station. Has plenty of money.

Years ago there were two or three occasions where they ran out of gas on busy roads and had to go through the trouble of people rescuing them (gas can, gas station, etc).

DW and I buy a tank of fuel and try to stretch it as long as we can. If we are lucky we might not need to return for a couple of weeks. If there is one aspect of the coming EV revolution that I look forward to its recharging at home and never going to a gas station.

Cromacster

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1695
  • Location: Minnesnowta
Re: Uber Driver
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2018, 09:32:04 AM »
Less gas = less weight = improved fuel mileage = $$$$

GuitarStv

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 23129
  • Age: 42
  • Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Re: Uber Driver
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2018, 09:33:00 AM »
How much does fuel weigh?  He might be saving a small amount of money by keeping the vehicle lighter . . .   

:P

ms

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 84
Re: Uber Driver
« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2018, 09:41:03 AM »
A Suburban as a taxi = WTF???

We ordered Uber Eats and the delivery guy came in a F-150.  This is downtown Toronto.  Unfortunately the condo we were renting was hard to access if you were going there for the first time and it was easy to miss the entrance. So on the app, you can see this guy circle the block two times before he figured out where to go. 

Jenny Wren

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 753
  • Location: PNW
  • Just another dharma bum
Re: Uber Driver
« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2018, 09:44:14 AM »
Uber *can* pencil out - I'm just convinced it doesn't for the majority of drivers.

I used to have a roommate that delivered pizza.  He drove every day but would only put $10-15 of gas in at a time, so he was getting gas every day.  I don't get it.  He didn't seem to have a reason.  I could maaybe see it if you were in a truly razor-thin no-money-at-all-in-the-bank situation, but he had plentiful savings.

I delivered pizza right out of high school and I did this. I had reasons, though. I was driving in Denver during rush hour -- if my car got totaled I didn't want to be out the gas money, too. Plus, I drove a beater. Each day the engine turned over was probably borrowed time. I didn't want it scrapped with a full tank of gas, either. Further, I got to gas up on the clock, which was the closest thing to a paid break I got over my 8 hour shift. Maybe not the wisest reasons, but reasons!

As for the uber driver. I come from a long line of oversize SUV/truck owners (the gene for loving these things skipped me, thankfully). The cognitive dissonance is amazing. My mother will say anything to to justify/minimize the expenses of owning one of these useless beasts. It's never how many miles to the gallon, it's how far she can get on a tank. Yeah, when you have giant or multiple tanks holding four times as much gas as my little Prius, of course you can go just as many miles. But you are ignoring the input, grr!

Travis

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4219
  • Location: California
Re: Uber Driver
« Reply #11 on: February 02, 2018, 09:58:41 AM »
I'm far from an expert, but the handful of Uber drivers I know are only making better than minimum wage if a) this is their sole occupation or they're working prime hours and b) they ignore all the future maintenance costs per mile on their cars.

How much does fuel weigh?  He might be saving a small amount of money by keeping the vehicle lighter . . .   

:P

To be instantly negated when his fare is a very large person...

Just Joe

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 6721
  • Location: In the middle....
  • Teach me something.
Re: Uber Driver
« Reply #12 on: February 02, 2018, 12:50:54 PM »
How much does fuel weigh?  He might be saving a small amount of money by keeping the vehicle lighter . . .   

:P

6.3 lbs per gallon.

Goldielocks

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 7062
  • Location: BC
Re: Uber Driver
« Reply #13 on: February 02, 2018, 06:01:11 PM »
A Suburban as a taxi = WTF???

Nailed it.   DH's gut reaction, and he is the spendy part of the Goldielock's relationship.  I spend too little, so together it is just right.   For him to have that question almost immediately after entering the vehicle means that he gets it.

Are Suburbans (with full leather) cheap to buy in the USA?   Did I miss a memo that the car was so cheap that the fuel isn't such a big deal?


Indexer

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1463
Re: Uber Driver
« Reply #14 on: February 03, 2018, 05:48:11 AM »
Less gas = less weight = improved fuel mileage = $$$$


This makes sense, but something tells me it wasn't the driver's logic.

If you are already driving a pretty light car then shaving off 40-50lbs everywhere you go could add up to improved fuel efficiency. Prior to taking this step you would shave 500-1000 lbs by driving not-a-suburban.



I think the situation with many Uber drivers is that they bought the car they wanted for themselves. Then, at some later date, when they were tight on money they decided to Uber. The result is that they are driving a vehicle very ill-suited for commuting. If you got a car with the intention of driving for Uber I think it would be a Prius or a fairly fuel efficient mini-van(for bigger groups and UberPool).

JAYSLOL

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2137
Re: Uber Driver
« Reply #15 on: February 03, 2018, 09:33:35 AM »
Less gas = less weight = improved fuel mileage = $$$$


This makes sense, but something tells me it wasn't the driver's logic.

If you are already driving a pretty light car then shaving off 40-50lbs everywhere you go could add up to improved fuel efficiency. Prior to taking this step you would shave 500-1000 lbs by driving not-a-suburban.


Actually, a LOT more weight than that.  Lets say he drove a 2010 Suburban  which weighs 5850lbs empty, while a brand new Prius V (the largest Prius) is listed as 3300lbs including driver!.  Yup, by switching he would shed MORE THAN THE ENTIRE WIEGHT OF A BRAND NEW TOYOTA COROLLA!  HOLY SHIT.  Good thing he only fills that thing up half a tank at a time to "save on gas", lol. 

Dicey

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 22319
  • Age: 66
  • Location: NorCal
Re: Uber Driver
« Reply #16 on: February 04, 2018, 10:07:08 PM »
Obviously, the guy didn't read this article before signing on to drive for Uber:

https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2017/11/22/mr-money-mustache-uber-driver/