4 ms·

> I’m just guessing that I’ll average a speed of 30 miles/hour while I’m doing my Lyft job. So my expenses will come to about $22.80 per hour. You're implying

by yid 13y ago

> I’m just guessing that I’ll average a speed of 30 miles/hour while I’m doing my Lyft job. So my expenses will come to about $22.80 per hour. You're implying that you will driving 30 miles each hour, on average. That is a ridiculous overestimation for the type of urban driving Lyft will involve. I'd guess closer to 15-20 in off-peak periods, and perhaps something close to 10 miles on average. That brings maintenance expenses down to $7.60/hr from $22/hr.

brent_noorda 13y ago
Maintaining 30 mph in a dense city, such as downtown SF is probably high (although then enough time is spent idling that my costs-per-mile estimate becomes too low). Fair point. I pulled the 30 mph out of someone else's guess in the AMA article mentioned, and from the most recent Lyft report I read, saying it wasn't uncommon to drive to the airport (removing the Mustache first, of course) during which time 30mph is low, and the time-between-rides becomes high.
fleitz 13y ago
Urban driving incurs a higher cost per mile driven, and unless you're driving a hybrid increases fuel costs.
- teh_klev 13y ago
  And not to mention increased wear and tear on brakes, gearbox and engine due to much more start-stop events during urban journeys especially at peak times i.e. traffic lights, junctions, tailbacks etc. On top of that, the car will be starting and stopping i.e. engine start/stop cycles far more during urban workload if you're a taxi driver, that also increases the number of times your car will be visiting the shop for maintenance as the life of the car increases. Cars with high long distance journey motorway miles will last far longer than a car working out its life in a city. This can affect resell value if you own the car rather than lease. As a fairly experienced second hand car owner/purchaser I'd far rather buy a motor with 100k+ motorway miles than 50k city life on the clock.
- yid 13y ago
  Which is why UberX was originally advertised as being "hybrid uber". As for the higher cost per mile of urban driving, I genuinely would love to see a source.
  - fleitz 13y ago
    http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSearch.do?action=noform&path=7&year=2013&make=Honda&model=Civic&srchtyp=ymm http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSearch.do?action=noform&... Hey look at that, car use more fuel when driving in the city. Who knew? Same thing with oil, if you drive on the highway you don't have to change it that often. Brakes, in the city you stop much more often requiring more frequent brake changes (braking also happens to wear out your tires faster) Every time you step on the gas you're applying force to metal, this means things more twisting force slowly fatiguing the metal. Transmission, every time you shift you wear out the clutch a little. Idling is also hell on your engine, you idle far more in the city than on the highway.
    - yid 13y ago
      Thanks for the information, and just so you know, my tone wasn't intended as skeptical. I genuinely wanted sources.
Tossrock 13y ago
Uber tells you your average speed for your trip, and mine have all been between 10 and 15 miles per hour.

by yid 13y ago

brent_noorda 13y ago

Maintaining 30 mph in a dense city, such as downtown SF is probably high (although then enough time is spent idling that my costs-per-mile estimate becomes too low). Fair point. I pulled the 30 mph out of someone else's guess in the AMA article mentioned, and from the most recent Lyft report I read, saying it wasn't uncommon to drive to the airport (removing the Mustache first, of course) during which time 30mph is low, and the time-between-rides becomes high.

fleitz 13y ago

Urban driving incurs a higher cost per mile driven, and unless you're driving a hybrid increases fuel costs.

teh_klev 13y ago
And not to mention increased wear and tear on brakes, gearbox and engine due to much more start-stop events during urban journeys especially at peak times i.e. traffic lights, junctions, tailbacks etc. On top of that, the car will be starting and stopping i.e. engine start/stop cycles far more during urban workload if you're a taxi driver, that also increases the number of times your car will be visiting the shop for maintenance as the life of the car increases. Cars with high long distance journey motorway miles will last far longer than a car working out its life in a city. This can affect resell value if you own the car rather than lease. As a fairly experienced second hand car owner/purchaser I'd far rather buy a motor with 100k+ motorway miles than 50k city life on the clock.
yid 13y ago
Which is why UberX was originally advertised as being "hybrid uber". As for the higher cost per mile of urban driving, I genuinely would love to see a source.
- fleitz 13y ago
  http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSearch.do?action=noform&path=7&year=2013&make=Honda&model=Civic&srchtyp=ymm http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSearch.do?action=noform&... Hey look at that, car use more fuel when driving in the city. Who knew? Same thing with oil, if you drive on the highway you don't have to change it that often. Brakes, in the city you stop much more often requiring more frequent brake changes (braking also happens to wear out your tires faster) Every time you step on the gas you're applying force to metal, this means things more twisting force slowly fatiguing the metal. Transmission, every time you shift you wear out the clutch a little. Idling is also hell on your engine, you idle far more in the city than on the highway.
  - yid 13y ago
    Thanks for the information, and just so you know, my tone wasn't intended as skeptical. I genuinely wanted sources.

Tossrock 13y ago

Uber tells you your average speed for your trip, and mine have all been between 10 and 15 miles per hour.