Flexcar: Any Opinions? (I'm thinking of giving up my car).

[philosophie_en_rose]

I'll live close enough to walk to school and work, beginning this fall. And, I really don't want to keep pay for gas or parking. Flexcar seems to be a good option, but I'd like your input.




What is carsharing?

Rather than own your own car, you share access to hundreds of Flexcar vehicles that come in lots of colors, shapes and sizes. You reserve a car so it's there when you need it. You drive - to a meeting, a doctor's appointment, run errands, move into a new apartment, hit the lumber yard - as if it were your own car. You return it to its home parking space, lock it, and go.


Where did carsharing start?

The first carsharing organizations began in Europe in the mid-1980s. Mobility of Switzerland is the world's largest carsharing company with 1,750 vehicles at 1,000 locations throughout Switzerland. There are now more than 30 carsharing organizations in North America with a combined fleet of almost 1800 vehicles in 36 metropolitan areas.


How did Flexcar get started?

Flexcar was founded in 2000 through a public-private partnership led by King County Metro, the Seattle area transit authority, and the City of Seattle. Flexcar was established as a private company and since then has received investments from a number of individual and institutional investors, including American Honda, Bristol Bay Native Corporation, and most recently Revolution, an investment firm headed by AOL co-founder Steve Case. Flexcar now has nearly 500 vehicles in almost as many locations throughout Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Washington DC.


How is carsharing different from car rental?

Carsharing vehicles are dispersed throughout the city rather than concentrated at one location. The system is self-service; as an approved member, you make your reservation, let yourself into the car and go. No lines, no paperwork, no extra charges, just a simple, all-inclusive hourly rate. Plus, with Flexcar you only have to be 21 to drive, car rentals require you to be 25 or pay for extra insurance.


How is using Flexcar better than owning a car?

Most people drive their cars less than an hour and a half per day, and the average cost of owning a car is around $850 per month including everything (gas, insurance, parking, maintenance, repairs, loan or lease payments, etc.) That works out to about $20 per hour of use. With Flexcar, you get the same flexibility, more variety of cars, and none of the hassles of ownership, for $10 per hour or less.

Prices Vary: Generally about $8 an hour, including all insurance, gas, car washing, support, unlimited mileage, etc.

[DS1]

1. I'd be afraid of my car not being there when I needed it

or being wrecked, whatever. I've read in your post that it works in Europe, but Europe is certainly not America.

I hope it works, and takes off.

[philosophie_en_rose]

3. It has insurance, and I wouldn't need to drive very often.

It's hellishly expensive, in my opinion. But not compared to gas prices + parking + maintenance + having my actual car stolen.

I hope it works, too.

[salin]

2. Sounds like a very interesting option

if you don't need a car much - then Go For IT!

I don't live in an area where this exists - and am stuck with a short daily commute for which there are no clear public transit alternatives, with another weekly commute - so it wouldn't work. But when I was in grad school - that would have been great - a couple of times a week I had a commute (could have used it one-way for each of those), and the rest of the time I could do most things by foot or bike.

If you decide to go this route - please keep us updated about how it works for you.

[philosophie_en_rose]

4. I'll definitely report back.

I hope there are a few DUers that already use it, and can give us some information. However, I think I'm willing to see how it goes. I wouldn't need it very often and it seems to be a relatively cost efficient/ eco-friendly way to travel.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Check it out, but...

I would suppose there are questions of availibiity, the condition of the car, maintenance, service if there's a breakdown etc. that makes it worthwhile comparing to the occasional rental from the cheapest rental company around.

FWIW, when I lived in NYC I got rid of my car and rented when I needed one, maybe once or twice a month. Cost me about a hundred bucks for a weekend back then, and maybe a tank of gas.

[philosophie_en_rose]

18. The cars are apparently kept pristine.

There are also deals to keep it overnight for cheap. And we don't have to pay for gas, insurance, or parking.

To be honest, I'd probably rent before committing to a service. However, I'm not a fan of all the extra fees and insurance costs associated with rental cars.

[sbj405]

6. i know people who use it and like it

There's also zipcar.

From what I hear it's generally easy to get a car (even within one hour). DC has even designated on street parking spots in pupoular areas for car shares, so there's another bonus. It is pretty expensive if you need it for a long period of time, but I would guess still much cheaper than owning a car.

[philosophie_en_rose]

16. No Zipcar, where I am.

Zipcar seems to have better terms though.

[Dangerously Amused]

7. I googled it, and there are a lot of complimentary news articles on it.

I wish we had an outlet here, I would surely like to try it!

[philosophie_en_rose]

8. that's good to know.

I'll have to check google, as well.

[GOPisEvil]

9. If I didn't need a car every day, I'd like to do this.

It's an interesting idea. If lived in a major walkable city, with excellent public transportation, I'd consider this for sure.

[philosophie_en_rose]

14. Seattle is semi-walkable.

And I'll live and work in the free bus zone, so there's really no excuse for me not to walk.

Perhaps I'll be in better shape, too.

[_testify_]

10. How do you get from home to the car lot? And back?

[philosophie_en_rose]

12. you walk or bus.

There is a station fairly close to anywhere I'd probably be. There's one about a block from work and on the same street as my apartment.

[flamingyouth]

11. I know a few people who have Flexcar and love it

However, if you have pets, it can be a problem because you can't take dogs in the cars (that kept one friend from joining). Other than that, go for it! :hi:

[philosophie_en_rose]

13. Dogs are okay, if crated.

I looked at the rules, and you have to put dogs into carriers. Otherwise, they're okay. My dogs are so little and bouncy, they need to be in carriers anyway.

On Edit: They also have pickup trucks. Dogs don't have to be crated in those for some reason.

[flamingyouth]

20. Ah, that must have been the problem with my friend

She has a big dog and there's no way she could have put him in a carrier. (She can barely get him in a car at times - he's sort of a handful :D).

I didn't know they also had pick-up trucks too! :thumbsup:

[philosophie_en_rose]

22. And Hybrid SUVs too.

It's a pretty eco-friendly way to go. It's not good for longterm use, because of costs. However, it's seems to be something I should try.

[mdmc]

15. very interesting

[jpgray]

17. I can barely keep my milk from expiring

I don't think I'd be able to plot out when I'd need a car. Laziness and lack of will to change... ah the American way. :dunce:

[philosophie_en_rose]

21. True. Except for me it's bread from molding.

I don't even buy milk any longer. :)

But you can reserve online within an hour or two, so my inner laziness won't be too disturbed.

[supernova]

19. If I lived in a urban area with good public transport

I might be inclided to do this.

But I live out in the country with no public transport available, not even a bus. Driving is a necessity.

[libpunkmom]

23. LOVE IT!

I live in downtown Portland Or. I haven't owned a car in 13 years now. If I need to go out of town. I use flex car. It's the best. We have awesome car choices here in Portland. Most cars are parked in special spots, most right on the trolley line. I pick up the car, then drop it back off. No fuss No muss.

[philosophie_en_rose]

24. How many cars are available at each spot?

I think my biggest concern is availability.

[libpunkmom]

25. In my neighborhood there

is usually one at every trolley stop. Which is roughly every 2-4 blocks. If you need a car at set times (a certain schedule) you can actually pay a monthly membership fee and schedule a car to be available for specific days and times. It is a "flexible" program. I don't need a car very often. Just if we are going to the beach or something, but my SIL has a set flex car schedule. It's very interesting to me reading all the car threads. I know very few (maybe 3) people who own a car. And yes we all have families.( I grew up in a rural small town in SE Texas so I do understand that there are people who have to have cars)