I don’t have occasion to Uber or Lyft very often, but when I do, I’m always curious about the car and driver that are picking me up. Sometimes, if not oftentimes, it’s clear the driver is simply using their daily to generate a little extra cash, a side hustle if you will (a euphemism I don’t particularly like myself, but it’s what the kids say). I’ve stuffed myself and my family into base-spec Dodge Chargers, Nissan Altimas, one Chevy Bolt, an F-150, and somehow, a Kia Rondo twice. Different Rondos, mind you, not the same guy two times. Each was acceptably not-filthy but hardly clean, and personalized to one degree or another with touches ranging from sentimental (family photo on the dash) to silly (stick-on Pep Boys portals).
Other times, I feel safe assuming the driver has chosen their vehicle expressly for Ubering. I usually make the call based on how clean the exterior of the car is, the degree to which the interior is free of any traces that a family of any sort is using the car on the reg, and whether the driver appears fresh and ready for a few hours of driving or looks as if they’ve already seen a full day’s work. Of course, the biggest tell is the vehicle being something that makes sense for the task at hand, such as a large sedan or full-sized SUV. Bonus points if it’s black.
As I ride along to the airport, I can’t help but wonder what I would choose if I had to rely on a ride-share service for my main income. The “ultimate Uber” answers are easy – Rolls Royce Phantom, Mercedes Maybach S-Class, that sort of thing – but upon descending to the real world, where I have to insure the thing and cover maintenance and repairs while being frugal with my Uber-earnings, the choices narrow and become far, far less spendy.
I’ve researched this exactly zero, but I feel like a well-kept, later-model Lincoln Town Car would be a good choice. You can actually spend pretty big on these things if you want a minty example (as high as $46,000 by our last accounting), but we don’t need a showroom-condition car here. No, just a clean copy that’s been well maintained, nice-old-lady style, is all we need. Acquiring such a machine shouldn’t require a huge outlay of cash, and with the Town Car being about as time-tested as a car can be, and produced in copious quantities for decades (until it wasn’t), the luxurious Panther platformer should be easy to keep running while keeping customers happy in the back seat.
Your turn: You’re Going All-In As An Uber Driver. What Vehicle Are You Choosing For The Job?
Top graphic image: Bring A TrailerÂ
I’d go for a restomod Checker Marathon, with a swapped in hybrid powertrain from the aforementioned Toyota Avalon.
What else will do the job besides a vehicle with the Jatco Xtronic CVT? Smooth, so the passenger is never disturbed by the unpleasant shifting of an archaic transmission style, and good fuel economy to help save you money too.
The summer of 2016 I drove for Uber as a side hustle. Used a 2014 Grand Caravan, and it was pretty much the perfect vehicle. Plenty of room for several passengers, or for a family of 4 and their luggage to and from an airport. Easy ingress and egress. Not so huge that driving it on narrower/ busier streets downtown was a hassle. Plenty of USB ports for people to charge up. Gas consumption was not too outlandish.