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I imagine a lot of drivers do not have the luxury to stop driving if it doesn't make sense because Uber has encouraged many to take on financing (either through

I imagine a lot of drivers do not have the luxury to stop driving if it doesn't make sense because Uber has encouraged many to take on financing (either through Uber or elsewhere) for these luxury / more recent vehicles that they would not otherwise have bought.

danso 8y ago
When I first moved to Palo Alto in 2014, I didn't have my own car so I used Uber several times a week for almost a year. I would have to estimate at least a third of my UberX rides were in Priuses, and a few of my drivers had talked about how they had financed their Prius through something related to Uber. Since 2017, I honestly can't remember the last time I had an UberX driver with a Prius -- it's almost always Honda Civics/Accords or similarly low-priced vehicles. It also seemed in 2014-2015 that far more of my drivers seemed happier, more professional, and enthusiastic about talking how much money they made. Nowadays I rarely if ever have that conversation.
- ska 8y ago
  If I understand correctly they were making significantly better money in that time frame.
  - swampthinker 8y ago
    The VC money that flowed into these drivers has essentially dried up as gig-economy startups push towards sustainability / profitability. As was predicted.
- nradov 8y ago
  An Accord is not exactly a low-priced vehicle for regular middle class buyers.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
- chrisseaton 8y ago
  > and enthusiastic about talking how much money they made Do you get into a car and start having a conversation with the driver how much money they make? I can’t imagine anything more rude to do to a driver!
  - ryanlol 8y ago
    I have taxi drivers start these conversations far too often, usually several times a week.
- village-idiot 8y ago
  It’s a shame that Uber seems to be encouraging their drivers to get less fuel efficient vehicles. Given the number of Uber/Lyft miles driven a year we could save a lot of carbon if they incentivized hybrids or EVs

danso 8y ago

When I first moved to Palo Alto in 2014, I didn't have my own car so I used Uber several times a week for almost a year. I would have to estimate at least a third of my UberX rides were in Priuses, and a few of my drivers had talked about how they had financed their Prius through something related to Uber. Since 2017, I honestly can't remember the last time I had an UberX driver with a Prius -- it's almost always Honda Civics/Accords or similarly low-priced vehicles. It also seemed in 2014-2015 that far more of my drivers seemed happier, more professional, and enthusiastic about talking how much money they made. Nowadays I rarely if ever have that conversation.

ska 8y ago
If I understand correctly they were making significantly better money in that time frame.
- swampthinker 8y ago
  The VC money that flowed into these drivers has essentially dried up as gig-economy startups push towards sustainability / profitability. As was predicted.
nradov 8y ago
An Accord is not exactly a low-priced vehicle for regular middle class buyers.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
chrisseaton 8y ago
> and enthusiastic about talking how much money they made Do you get into a car and start having a conversation with the driver how much money they make? I can’t imagine anything more rude to do to a driver!
- ryanlol 8y ago
  I have taxi drivers start these conversations far too often, usually several times a week.
village-idiot 8y ago
It’s a shame that Uber seems to be encouraging their drivers to get less fuel efficient vehicles. Given the number of Uber/Lyft miles driven a year we could save a lot of carbon if they incentivized hybrids or EVs