Uber Mirage

[alex16]

You guys might have noticed me not posting in here AS much as normal, its simple I am not at home much anymore, I should get a tablet so I can post but most of my time is on my iphone watching videos while sitting in my Mirage waiting for a "ping" ride request.

I left my job as I became a number and not a person, I enjoy driving for uber part time so I figured when I was suspended for my last barcode scan at 10:56 when we are not allowed to leave the floor until 10:58 (very large distribution center) I told myself that was the last straw. I worked uber for the whole week I was suspended then put in my two weeks notice. I have been driving full time now for a month now. There are very few full time drivers in my market that can stay in business at times, its not always easy and I put in a ton of hours working, but 65% of those 60-70 hours im Just relaxing in my Mirage. My markets are far from my home, I'm kinda in the middle of 6 markets. Harrisburg is the easy 60Mph cruise control 50 miles, but its over saturated with drivers so I go to other cities like Allentown during the week 60 miles and State college 80 miles during friday and saturday. I put close to 600 miles a week maybe 700 some weeks. The average is about 46-47 currently with highway drive and uber combined, prius guys can edge me out easily 50mpg avg prius c, but cost per mile is what really matters and for newer cars the Mirage is unbeatable for uber. The spark is not allowed to uber because uber cars must seat 4 passengers + driver.


I'll be honest depending where your city is and your market, Uber may not be worth it. I make it work for me because I enjoy the job but stick shift is a bit of work for a taxi driver lol.

I am looking to put stock suspension in the front and the VW springs in the rear to add carrying capacity. It is very easy for me to overload the Mirage with passengers and I need to be able to increase my load capacity for the suspenion from 800lbs to 1000lbs. The prius c has 835lb capacity

I was involved in a accident as well when a 2007 accord drove into me while turning, she dented my fender, cracked my mirror, scuffed the door, tweaked my alignment-waiting for insurance to contact me.

I'm at almost 25K miles after one year, with uber full time I expect to see 75K miles by next year if I continue at this rate, but I will likely start looking for a dedicated uber car and save my Mirage as a backup. A Used CVT ES would be the best uber car if you have the cash. For me I'm looking for a 4 cylinder automatic 2006/2007 (car has to be 10 years or newer in PA) for $1500, I might go for stick if its price right.

I just made the switch to Eneos Sustina and my engine sounds like it did in the summer after 30 seconds, ticking time was reduced a good amount, being sustina is the thinnest 0w20 you can buy it should not be a surprise.

Ride share insurance is not available in PA.

The way uber works is you log in and your covered by your insurance, if you get into a accident you can't tell them you were ubering because they will not cover you. If you accept a trip your fully covered by uber with 1,000 deductible if its your fault, the same coverage follows after you pick up passengers. Once they are dropped off and trip ended your covered by your insurance. Ride share insurance is only offered in 5 states I believe and mine is not one of them,your insurance provider may have some insight if you call and ask about doing uber, I never did and just don't admit to driving uber.

How much $? I average $9 a hour after expenses. Yes its not very good but its super easy work and most of the time I'm sitting around, plus I work when I want to and get to meet new people constantly. 65% of uber drivers are part time drivers, in some large cities and in cities with special events driving for uber can make the $9 a hour go out the window. I've made over $500 in 12 hours driving for uber. I've had local drivers make $1500 in 3 days, every 10 I figure 6 after expenses= $500= $300 take home NET, $25 hour NET after taxes,gas, upkeep, depreciation, phone, ect.

If you fall on hard times its good to be signed up with uber in advanced (Background check takes 3-10 days) if this is something you might want to do, PM me if want to sign up, I can set us both up with referral bonus $ as well as guide you through things. If your bored on Saturday nights and want to meet people and make $ uber is also good, but do not bank on uber as a full time, I do it because I enjoy it, not because it pays good full time lol.

I feel like I just did a sales pitch for uber lol its not great but it is fun and pays my bills as well as gives me time behind the wheel.

[BRagland]

All those miles might put your car to the test! Let us know if you get any wear and tear, and where that might have occured. Would be nice to see how this little econobox takes being driven like a taxi at times!

On another note - Way back when before I started software, I use to work on a packaging floor, moving crap around for hours. Terrible work! Back breaking, constant, hard, and no one cares.

I left after I realized I was being treated like an indentured servant. Which you are to the monsters that own those businesses.

[Cobrajet]

I have put nearly 28k on mine since last December. I use it solely for pizza delivery. It has held up just fine! Not so much as a squeak or a rattle in it so far.

Been considering doing Uber in my 'down time'. I am a total night owl, so I think it might work out.

[cyclopathic]

I have put nearly 28k on mine since last December. I use it solely for pizza delivery. It has held up just fine! Not so much as a squeak or a rattle in it so far.

Been considering doing Uber in my 'down time'. I am a total night owl, so I think it might work out.

How is your MPG in delivery cycle?

[Cobrajet]

How is your MPG in delivery cycle?

Varies a bit with the weather. But I am almost always between 45 and 51. Closer to the former in the winter and to the latter in the summer with the change in temperature, fuel composition, and electrical load.

The company I work for has a pretty large delivery area, so much of the driving is 'suburban'...cruising at 40ish mph. It's not the bumper-to-bumper urban slog that most people think of when someone mentions 'delivery driving'.

[81.Chevette]

Varies a bit with the weather. But I am almost always between 45 and 51. Closer to the former in the winter and to the latter in the summer with the change in temperature, fuel composition, and electrical load.

The company I work for has a pretty large delivery area, so much of the driving is 'suburban'...cruising at 40ish mph. It's not the bumper-to-bumper urban slog that most people think of when someone mentions 'delivery driving'.

Jesus. I deliver in a college town with short blocks and brick streets. I average 29, which is better than everybody else except the guy with the Prius.
I find that on extremely busy days when I drive the $#!* out of it, the oil gets a bit hot and the car acts as if it has low oil pressure. I tried to solve this with 5w30, but this was counterproductive, as I now have noticeable hesitation at low RPM. I'll just try to find honest specs on 0w20 oil on the internet somewhere and put the best brand I can get in next time.
My seatbelt latch is borked. I have to thumb it down when buckling it to get it to engage. I have about 25k on the odometer, and nearly all those miles are delivery miles, so you can assume something like 10,000 actuations of the seatbelt.
My transmission is less than perfect, too. The clutch still seems brand new, but the moving parts are rough and clunky, like an old VW.
My blower motor has a small squeak, especially in the cold.
My paint scratches if you look at it funny.
And I can't keep the front wheels on the road in the snow. I think I'm going to upgrade some suspension parts.
Otherwise, the car is in great shape. Power windows, magic key locks, and radio controls still work perfectly. Those things wear out quickly when you deliver. I've only replaced my parking lights, everything else is still factory bulbs.
My only real complaints about this car for delivery are the floaty suspension, and the fact that with the magic key you can't lock your doors with the engine running.

[deleted user]

At 50 cents a mile depreciation, does uber earn you $9 an hour after that cost deduction. That deduction is a buck every two miles.

If so then 9 an hour is great. If not then you're trading much higher levels of wear and tear for barely more than minimum wage.

regards
mech

[Cobrajet]

At 50 cents a mile depreciation, does uber earn you $9 an hour after that cost deduction. That deduction is a buck every two miles.

If so then 9 an hour is great. If not then you're trading much higher levels of wear and tear for barely more than minimum wage.

regards
mech

Fifty cents per mile seems kind of steep. I have 28k on mine, and paid $14,000 for it. At a depreciation rate of $0.50 per mile, that would make my car worth....well, NOTHING! The resale on Mirages isn't great, but I don't think it's quite that bad.

Is $0.50 per mile some kind of standardized deduction for tax purposes or something? If so, then I am not sure it has any real basis when it comes to the actual depreciation of the car, especially since there are other factors at play (age, condition, etc).

[cyclopathic]

At 50 cents a mile depreciation, does uber earn you $9 an hour after that cost deduction. That deduction is a buck every two miles.

If so then 9 an hour is great. If not then you're trading much higher levels of wear and tear for barely more than minimum wage.

regards
mech

This a good point but not across the board. Cars generally depreciate for 1st 150k then the value stays more or less constant, pretty much defined by how clean and how mechanically sound it is. For me 150k ~5 years, and we keep them 10, so the value is pretty much what you get on trade in or from salvation army.

[BRagland]

At 50 cents a mile depreciation, does uber earn you $9 an hour after that cost deduction. That deduction is a buck every two miles.

If so then 9 an hour is great. If not then you're trading much higher levels of wear and tear for barely more than minimum wage.

regards
mech

This is my concern as well.

I've read up a bit on Uber, and most of the drivers working for them report earning less than $200 a week.

It's actually rare to see anyone earning above $600. You would be considered in the 95th percentile if you earn $800 a week after taxes, gas, oil, etc...

The biggest reason I'd never do Uber: The company is a major bully. They bully reporters by dragging out there personal lives in order to discredit them. That's a very low move. I'm not much a fan of reporters, but a company that does the same crap gets no respect from me.

Uber also has a reputation for stealing tips. If anyone's interested, there's over 30 class action lawsuits against Uber and a total of 173 lawsuits against the company right now in the states. See for yourself. (Link is to Business Insider Report, NOT an advertisement).