Non hybrid car for uber use

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beenz

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#284109 31-Mar-2021 14:23

Hello
I am looking for a petrol car to use for uber work.

* The vehicle will only be used for uber work a couple of days a week
* I live rural so most of the driving I do will be at least 40km trip on good roads at average speed close on 90km/h.
* Prefer late model low km price range up to about 15K.

* I live north Canterbury close to Christchurch

Thanks

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Mad Scientist
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#2684814 31-Mar-2021 15:11

Are you asking for car suggestions or asking to buy from someone here?

My universal suggestion is honda jazz and toyota corolla

beenz

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#2684822 31-Mar-2021 15:21

Looking for car suggestions
Thanks

lxsw20

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#2684830 31-Mar-2021 15:31

Why do you want a non-hybrid? In the UK at least I would suspect 90% of Uber drivers have a Prius, while thats probably down to emission rules to some degree, the money that's not being spent on fuel is profit.

Have you had a look at the list Uber provide? Anything stand out? https://www.uber.com/global/en/eligible-vehicles/?city=christchurch

beenz

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#2684914 31-Mar-2021 17:14

lxsw20:
Why do you want a non-hybrid? In the UK at least I would suspect 90% of Uber drivers have a Prius, while thats probably down to emission rules to some degree, the money that's not being spent on fuel is profit.

Have you had a look at the list Uber provide? Anything stand out? https://www.uber.com/global/en/eligible-vehicles/?city=christchurch

The reason I do not want a hybrid.
Is because I will be using it to tow at times and I live rural so a lot of the driving I do would be on state highway longish distance were hybrid are more suited for town work.
I outlined that in the original post.
However still open to looking at a hybrid but might not be for me..ta

Scott3

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#2684943 31-Mar-2021 17:46

beenz:

The reason I do not want a hybrid.
Is because I will be using it to tow at times and I live rural so a lot of the driving I do would be on state highway longish distance were hybrid are more suited for town work.
I outlined that in the original post.
However still open to looking at a hybrid but might not be for me..ta

Long distance running is not a reason to avoid a hybrid. They still are more economical under those conditions, but not by as much as in city running. If you are doing ride hailing, there is a good bet you are going to end up doing a chunk of city running.

Also working "Just a couple of days a week" doing uber in a non-hybrid, and needing to commute 40km each way to and from town may not yeild an acceptiable pay rate, once you consider costs like commercial insurance, COF compliance etc.

Hybrids can also tow. Mine (2006 RX400h) is rated for 1500kg. Of course while very nice it is too old, thirsty, and expensive to prius for uber duty.

You could consider the followings cars:

- 2016 Skoda Fabia (4.7L/100km combined): Asking $17k

- Honda Jazz

- Toyota Axio (2015 non hybrid askign $14k)

- Toyota Feilder (2014 non hybrid runs at about $14k)

Personally I have a soft spot for the feilder.

How heavy is what you are planning to tow?

cyril7

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#2684997 31-Mar-2021 18:26

Towing and Honda Jazz in same breath is only advised if the Jazz is at the back.

Cyril

kobiak

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#2685005 31-Mar-2021 18:51

From financial perspective, you need to look at hybrids only.

NZ does not have must of options apart from prius, but I still managed to uber in UTE, number of different SUVs, Mercedes, few BMWs...

In the states back in 2016 (far out it was long ago), I did not see single prius and once uber in Escalade in LA :)

back in Russian in 2018 during FIFA CUP, anything apart from boring toyotas. Even from high class German builds to Lexus, ect.

helping others at evgenyk.nz

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Scott3

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#2685017 31-Mar-2021 19:12

cyril7: Towing and Honda Jazz in same breath is only advised if the Jazz is at the back.

Cyril

Looking at Aussie info, the auto is rated at 800kg & the manual 1000kg, both with breaks.

I don't see why towing with a jazz would be an issue, assuming that OP is only planning on moving a fairly lightweight garden / luggage trailer, or similar.

bfginger

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#2685105 31-Mar-2021 23:00

Toyota Camry Hybrid? 2.5L engine and fuel efficient.

Scott3

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#2685109 31-Mar-2021 23:27

bfginger:

Toyota Camry Hybrid? 2.5L engine and fuel efficient.

Definitely my Favorite Taxi / Ridehail car to be in the back seat of. Sadly it has been a long time since I have been sent one of those by a ridehail app.

I think the 2012+ gets a tow rating too (but is is a tiny 300kg)

But sadly when the fair income from a toyota aqua is the same a from a camry, the vast majority of operators are going to pick the cheaper to buy, cheaper to run (fuel, tires etc) aqua... Also uber dosn't let cars over 10 years old get used, further encouraging operators into cheaper, newer cars.

Can only really get a cira 2015 camry for OP's budget if one settles for a high mileage ex taxi. That said there is a good bet that the below would give anouther 4 years of decent service:

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/toyota/listing/3012773942

These days 4 most recent ridehail cars I have riden in were: Aqua x2, Feilder hybrid & Prius. Quite like the fielder. decent boot & back seat head room.

Had a ride in a modern 4x4 navara ute a few months back. Wonder how that guy made any money... Perhaps he was cheating the diesel tax system.

A left field option is getting a LPG car like this one:

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/toyota/listing/3009918054

They give very low fuel costs, but the LPG range (before you change to petrol) sucks compared to a hybrid's range. Also LPG filling stations are closing down with pace, and if the one near you closes down, you will need to sell it, run petrol only.

beenz

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#2685130 1-Apr-2021 06:50

Hi guys
Some great suggestions here.
The original post talks about a petrol car though for uber use.
Most of the suggestions are hybrids that are coming in.
Thanks

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#2685178 1-Apr-2021 07:43

You don't say what you want to tow.

There's a huge difference between what could tow a loaded tandem-axle double horse float to polo matches every weekend, and what could tow a lightweight garden trailer loaded with duck down.

wratterus

1687 posts

Uber Geek

#2685196 1-Apr-2021 08:57

I was going to say Camry too. Lots of room in the back, enough grunt for occasional towing, enough power, economical enough. The Camry is really just a dead boring reliable as anything workhorse.

Senecio

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#2685198 1-Apr-2021 09:07

There's no getting around it, your use case actually requires two different vehicles. It's a bit like wanting a people mover and a track day car in one. Sure, you could take a Toyota Estima around Hampton Downs but it won't be very good!

Scott3

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#2685251 1-Apr-2021 11:17

beenz: Hi guys
Some great suggestions here.
The original post talks about a petrol car though for uber use.
Most of the suggestions are hybrids that are coming in.
Thanks

Any comment's on the 4 petrol & one Petrol/LPG dual fuel car I have suggested so far?

My pick would be the feilder. Not sure if you are going to try and make "uber comfort", but post 2014 feilders do qualify for this.

also add a 2015 / 2016 Fiat Punto to the list. These are very cheap (cira $7,500), fairly economical (5.4L/100km), and have cheap tires. Apparently they are fairly reliable & have reasonably priced parts too. Downside is the design is very old.

Inherit in your requirements that cars be young (forced by ubers 10 year age cap too), low milage, and under $15k.

The reason people keep recommending hybrids is that because your reason's for not wanting one are based on misconceptions (hybrids are no good on open road, hybrids can't tow). Would help if you advise how many kg's the trailer you want to tow is, and if you are willing to tow that with a car with a zero kg tow rating (no law against this in NZ, and quite common in things like Nissan Leaf's and Prius)

Senecio:

There's no getting around it, your use case actually requires two different vehicles. It's a bit like wanting a people mover and a track day car in one. Sure, you could take a Toyota Estima around Hampton Downs but it won't be very good!

2 day's a week likely isn't enough to justify the fixed costs (Time based deprecation, insurance, COF's, Time based maintenance etc).

Also, many small car's are quite suitable to tow lightweight trailers (Kayak, Dingy, small inflatable boat, small luggage, small garden etc). Did a lot of towing with my 2006 corolla before I sold it. It was rated at 1300kg braked, and something like 450kg unbraked. Even did Lime scooter charging for a few weeks with a trailer.

All comes down to what OP want's to tow. If it is anything but small, most of the suggestions above go out the window...

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