OT Choosing the right car

[KingSpeed]

I've narrowed it down to these two cars. One good thing about the Mercedes is that I can drive as UberSelect (as well as UberX) if I want. And it gets good miles per gallon. And it's affordable because it's used. On the other hand, I like to buy things new. I want to start fresh with a big purchase. I've sat inside a Avalon and I really think it will be great for my passengers. Plus I'd be getting the hybrid version so mpg would be good for that one too. I don't really know what I'm doing here. What do you guys think?

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I'd stay away for German cars, you want something rock solid reliable and cheap/fast to fix if anything goes wrong. The newer car will have a warranty as well. Also, I'm not sure how available Diesel is when you are out and about. Even oil changes for a Benz are like $100-200.


I think the Avalon will be too big to drive around, go with Camry or Accord Hybrid. I'd honestly buy a slightly older Camry/Accord that's pre-certified depending on the cost. You'll lose like 30% as soon as you drive your fresh new car off the lot.

I ride a shit ton of Ubers and 2-3 year old Camrys/Accords and Prius' are the most common cars I ride in. Shit ton of Corollas and Civics too, they get WAY better gas mileage which will help your bottom line but may be more uncomfortable to drive longer.

Its probably worth it to subscribe to Sirius/XM if you are going to be in the car that much.

I would think you would clean up if you got a Minivan versus a Uber Select car if they have UberXL in Portland (I have no clue). I've been in a few Toyota Highlanders too, those are nice. And considering the Portland weather, I'd be more inclined to get something like that.

 

[BonesJones]

Smh

 

[PHXBlazer1]

Get the Toyota

 

[Mediocre Man]

What the fuck is this forum these days?

 

[stampedehero]

I'd stay away for German cars, you want something rock solid reliable and cheap/fast to fix if anything goes wrong. The newer car will have a warranty as well. Also, I'm not sure how available Diesel is when you are out and about. Even oil changes for a Benz are like $100-200.


I think the Avalon will be too big to drive around, go with Camry or Accord Hybrid. I'd honestly buy a slightly older Camry/Accord that's pre-certified depending on the cost. You'll lose like 30% as soon as you drive your fresh new car off the lot.

I ride a shit ton of Ubers and 2-3 year old Camrys/Accords and Prius' are the most common cars I ride in. Shit ton of Corollas and Civics too, they get WAY better gas mileage which will help your bottom line but may be more uncomfortable to drive longer.

Its probably worth it to subscribe to Sirius/XM if you are going to be in the car that much.

I would think you would clean up if you got a Minivan versus a Uber Select car if they have UberXL in Portland (I have no clue). I've been in a few Toyota Highlanders too, those are nice. And considering the Portland weather, I'd be more inclined to get something like that.

All you say is right on target. When I worked at the auto auction, used MB's were typically cut in value and drove into the lane with engine lights on (Management could have ordered batteries disconnected for 2 minutes to solve that, but that would be dishonest). .I once had a 01 Avalon and I ride an 012 Accord now.

 

[Reep]

OT, but if you are trying for gas mileage in the city, get a hybrid. And even though I hate Toyotas, they have the best hybrids. Now can this be moved to OT?

 

[andalusian]

Can the forum afford a tutor for the speed to teach him what goes where?

 

[Lanny]

I'd stay away for German cars, you want something rock solid reliable and cheap/fast to fix if anything goes wrong. The newer car will have a warranty as well. Also, I'm not sure how available Diesel is when you are out and about. Even oil changes for a Benz are like $100-200.


I think the Avalon will be too big to drive around, go with Camry or Accord Hybrid. I'd honestly buy a slightly older Camry/Accord that's pre-certified depending on the cost. You'll lose like 30% as soon as you drive your fresh new car off the lot.

I ride a shit ton of Ubers and 2-3 year old Camrys/Accords and Prius' are the most common cars I ride in. Shit ton of Corollas and Civics too, they get WAY better gas mileage which will help your bottom line but may be more uncomfortable to drive longer.

Its probably worth it to subscribe to Sirius/XM if you are going to be in the car that much.

I would think you would clean up if you got a Minivan versus a Uber Select car if they have UberXL in Portland (I have no clue). I've been in a few Toyota Highlanders too, those are nice. And considering the Portland weather, I'd be more inclined to get something like that.

I think he's in New York city. Or as we say out on the range "NEW YORK CITY!?".

 

[Lanny]

What the fuck is this forum these days?

The forum is interesting. Nothing wrong with either the topic or the category of the topic. I found the topic interesting.

There is a section of the forum devoted to basketball, so you can always head over there.

Then, there's the issue of the topic category and title which gives you the option of reading something else. It's not like you're led down the garden path.

 

[Lanny]

Can the forum afford a tutor for the speed to teach him what goes where?

Doesn't this belong in off topic stuff?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

The forum is interesting. Nothing wrong with either the topic or the category of the topic. I found the topic interesting.

There is a section of the forum devoted to basketball, so you can always head over there.

Then, there's the issue of the topic category and title which gives you the option of reading something else. It's not like you're led down the garden path.

This thread was originally in the Blazer basketball section and one of the mods moved it to the OT section.

 

[Lanny]

This thread was originally in the Blazer basketball section and one of the mods moved it to the OT section.

Well that explains a lot. I was really scratching my head over this one. By the way, I don't have much hair left so I'd really like to keep the scratching to a minimum. However, I'd be willing to pay a reasonable sum to anyone, (you maybe?), who'd be willing to scratch my head for me, especially the bald spots. And don't say :'ewwwwwwwwww'.

 

[calvin natt]

For sure the Avalon, although like someone else said above, you could easily go with the new Accord or Camry, both really nice cars, and cheaper than the Avalon. The new Avalon is nicer than the Mercedes you mentioned - not that it isn't a nice car too, but the new Avalons are really nice.

 

[calvin natt]

but honestly - I'd buy a used car if I was going to be an Uber driver. Not sure how much you plan on driving, but if its on a regular basis, you'll rack up the miles quickly. I've been in a ton of Uber/Lyfts and those guys have 200-300k miles on their cars - in a matter of a couple years

 

[Lanny]

For sure the Avalon, although like someone else said above, you could easily go with the new Accord or Camry, both really nice cars, and cheaper than the Avalon. The new Avalon is nicer than the Mercedes you mentioned - not that it isn't a nice car too, but the new Avalons are really nice.

My wife and I looked at an Avalon when we bought her Camry. For the money, the resale and the maintenance, I'd go with the Camry.
A hybrid is another tempting thought. We have actually considered a Tesla 'cause we hate paying for gas and waiting in those line. You can get up to 275 miles in a Tesla. For comparison, I got about 300 miles out of my last Volvo so Tesla is definitely competitive there. A tad more than two fill ups and I can get to either Reno or San Francisco.

I think maintenace is less often and less complicated on a Tesla than a gasoline powered engine.

Oh, and no DEQ.

Quiet with the best acceleration of any car in the world, even a dragster.

 

[calvin natt]

My wife and I looked at an Avalon when we bought her Camry. For the money, the resale and the maintenance, I'd go with the Camry.
A hybrid is another tempting thought. We have actually considered a Tesla 'cause we hate paying for gas and waiting in those line. You can get up to 275 miles in a Tesla. For comparison, I got about 300 miles out of my last Volvo so Tesla is definitely competitive there. A tad more than two fill ups and I can get to either Reno or San Francisco.

I think maintenace is less often and less complicated on a Tesla than a gasoline powered engine.

Oh, and no DEQ.

Quiet with the best acceleration of any car in the world, even a dragster.

I want a Tesla. But finding a used one that is affordable is a challenge. New ones are so expensive. I don't want the small one, so the new 3's are out for me.

 

[THE HCP]

What the fuck is this forum these days?

Amen

 

[THE HCP]

I've got 3 good friends that are in auto wholesale and I could give you their contact info.

 

[Further]

@KingSpeed , I also drive Uber/Lyft on the side. I have a VW but might trade up to drive Black/select and earn more but I’m having a hard time finding out if it actually pays to swap. Are there enough people who want to pay the increase? For me I usually drive in Napa/Sonoma where there are wealthy wine drinkers hopping around, or I can go to SF where there’s a ton of money like NY for you.

But even so, anecdotally I’ve heard the high pay rides aren’t that common. What’s it like in NY?

 

[THE HCP]

@KingSpeed , I also drive Uber/Lyft on the side. I have a VW but might trade up to drive Black/select and earn more but I’m having a hard time finding out if it actually pays to swap. Are there enough people who want to pay the increase? For me I usually drive in Napa/Sonoma where there are wealthy wine drinkers hopping around, or I can go to SF where there’s a ton of money like NY for you.

But even so, anecdotally I’ve heard the high pay rides aren’t that common. What’s it like in NY?

Man I wish we could have had you drive us around up there last January when we were there. You should have seen the Uber guys face when he picked us up in Sonoma and he realized he was driving us to downtown SF.

 

[Further]

Man I wish we could have had you drive us around up there last January when we were there. You should have seen the Uber guys face when he picked us up in Sonoma and he realized he was driving us to downtown SF.

Yep - that happens pretty often. But theUber driver can’t see the destination till they pick up but they do see if the ride is over 45minutes. Sometimes I want long rides and sometimes short, it all depends on my strategy to earn the most money that day. Talking to other drivers, seems like I earn quite a bit more because I’m very strategic while most aren’t, and I also am pretty nice, pay attention to driving and can act as a Wine tour guide which all add up to much greater times.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I can go to SF where there’s a ton of money like NY for you.

But even so, anecdotally I’ve heard the high pay rides aren’t that common. What’s it like in NY?

@KingSpeed is moving to Portland for the NBA season. He's going to be driving in the Rose City!

 

[THE HCP]

I've got 3 good friends that are in auto wholesale and I could give you their contact info.

If you guys are going to edit my posts, feel free to just delete them please.

 

[THE HCP]

Yep - that happens pretty often. But theUber driver can’t see the destination till they pick up but they do see if the ride is over 45minutes. Sometimes I want long rides and sometimes short, it all depends on my strategy to earn the most money that day. Talking to other drivers, seems like I earn quite a bit more because I’m very strategic while most aren’t, and I also am pretty nice, pay attention to driving and can act as a Wine tour guide which all add up to much greater times.

Like I said somewhere else on here, I'd love to be an Uber/Lyft driver during my slow summer months. But My car is just too old they said.

 

[andalusian]

Doesn't this belong in off topic stuff?

Thank you for volunteering to be Speed's tutor!

 

[e_blazer]

I have a good friend who drives for both Uber and Lyft. He picked up a couple year old Camry when he started and he says it's been a perfect choice. One thing he said was he was really glad he got one with leather interior instead of cloth because it's easier to keep clean. He gives it a wipe-down with a disinfectant spray.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I've got 3 good friends that are in auto wholesale and I could give you their contact info.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I was down in Santa Clara last week for a conference and reserved a "full size" car through Hertz. I'm 6'4" and even some "standard" rental cars have insufficient headroom for me. Since I have a Hertz Gold Card, they let me walk around the garage and pick my car. At first I shied away from the Camrys as in the past, nothing Toyota made had sufficient headroom for me. After checking all the others, I sat in a nice bright blue Camry with a leather interior - to my surprise, it had plenty of head and legroom for me.

Long story short, it was a great rental car. Easy to zip around Silicon Valley, easy to park, and even though it wasn't a hybrid, it got good gas mileage. I assume Toyota makes the Camry in a hybrid. If so, I think that would make a great Uber/Lyft vehicle. If you're going to be picking up people at the airport, it also has a very large, spacious trunk.

BNM

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

The new camrys (esp the XSE) also look really fucking nice. They have a white one with a black roof which is sick.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2018-toyota-camry-xse-v-6-test-review