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
Since my state’s requirements are that an Uber Car be 16 years old or newer.
Lincoln ended Town Car production in 2011 – so any of them would have to be very late production, and then you’ve only got a couple years of service out of it.
It’s far too old for most other states – so it’s not worth the trouble.
The Infiniti QX80 is rated as the most reliable large new SUV in the US
– That’s the one I’d get for Uber Black/Uber XL service.
I’m gonna avoid the obviously practical options for a dubious round-about answer: Mustang GT convertible
– convertibles are cool and you’ll look cool riding in it
-Row your own! The passenger can even join in with shifting!
– Plenty of space for your luggage, just toss it in the vestigial back seats!
– Wind noise drowns out awkward conversation so you don’t have to force small talk
– Fun for the whole family! They aren’t gonna fit so they can walk!
GMC Yukon XL Diesel, black, black leather.
Lexus TX Hybrid. Dull as dishwater, but comfortable, efficient, reliable, and perfect for this job.
A tuk tuk. Great ac in the winter, great heater in the summer, low operating costs, and if you get in an accident you don’t have to worry about getting sued because everyone will be dead.
I saw one of these in New Delhi about a dozen years ago carrying about ten passengers plus the driver. Some were riding on the outside of it, with their feet on who knows what and their hands on a railing mounted to the top. It was in the center of three lanes all going in the same direction, packed with cars during the morning commute with everything traveling about 30 mph. It was pumping out a steady stream of blue smoke.
I was at first amazed it was keeping up, then I was horrified of what would happen if it crashed.
It was an interesting trip.
Minivan is the answer. A Pacifica could probably be had with enough cash on the hood to make it attractive. Barring that, it’s Oddesy or Sienna all day long. They’re easy to drive. Plenty of room for passengers and their stuff. Easier in ingress and cheaper to run than a full size SUV. Is there any other practical answer?
I very rarely take Uber, but the other day my commuter train squished somebody on the tracks and when that happens they send out a $50 Uber voucher and the ride back to my station was just over $50. My bike and I ended up in the back of a black BMW 5-series hybrid sedan and it was nice, it had some seriously comfy leather seats. Uber driver was on his way back home to the suburbs from picking up people from the airport all day.
C-Max Energi, or a Prius V
other good choices: Outlander PHEV, Clarity PHEV
Toyota Avalon Hybrid.
600 mile-ish to a tank of just normal driving, according to my friend that has one. Routine maintenance as needed, gas and go pretty much forever.
Comfy, large enough, quiet, non-descript, cheap to operate, reliable. A perfect livery vehicle.
I’m pretty sure the Town Car is beyond the permitted age range for Uber now – at one point, they had an age exception for Town Cars and only Town Cars, but I’m pretty sure they’ve gotten rid of that now
I’m going with a Camry Hybrid- low per mile running costs, enough luggage space for the airport, and vinyl upholstery for easy cleaning
IMO disallowing Uber, Lyft, etc to have a “permitted age range”, any vehicle categorization, exclusion of 2-door cars or anything resembling “brand standards”, along with limiting them to a one-time fee to download their app, should’ve been part of allowing them to exist under a “ride sharing” workaround.
I don’t know of Lyft has the same rule, I got an Oldsmobile Alero with them once, granted, that was about a decade ago now, but the car itself was at least 10 years old, if not older, which would be very old by the standards of a usual large city taxi
Not Uber and not a Town Car, but I had the adjacencies of both (a Grand Marquis on Lyft) twice during the year or so when I commuted via ride share (late 2022-late 2023). Same car and driver, though. I also had two drivers who drove manuals – a Jetta and maybe a Civic.
Had one as an Uber and saw many more when I visited NYC. Yep, fit a family of four’s luggage in the trunk and was overall pretty comfortable. Not to mention it had 150,000 NYC miles and the requisite bumper guards.
As pointed out below, the Town Car will age out in just two years, otherwise it’s a great choice.
I gotta go with Toyota Avalon.
Toyota Crown. Big, comfy, distinct so it’ll stand out downtown in a crowd of NPC mobiles when my rider is trying to find me, and it’s a hybrid.
Prius V. Lots of room for people and stuff, good economy,nice and reliable. No reason to bother with anything else.
Any hybrid Toyota sedan.
They’ve been the de-facto taxi since the crown vic retired, and for good reason.
Lexus ES Hybrid.
You’ll be able to do Uber Black, they’re dead nuts reliable, low fuel costs, low depreciation, and comfortable.
This. My last Uber Black was an ES Hybrid and as I rode in it I couldn’t help but think it was the perfect Uber vehicle – spacious, comfy, and reliable.
Yes, this, I had one recently, it’s kind of amazing how different they feel from a Camry, more comfortable seats, more sound deadening, softer ride, some nicer interior materials. Maybe not the most exciting thing out there, but massively competent
Elantra Hybrid Limited
Amazing MPG, roomy, quiet, comfortable, non-cloth seats for easy (ier) cleaning, ventilated drivers seat, 100k powertrain warranty, and Hyundais very good adaptive cruise w/stop n go.
For anything larger I’d try to swing for a Sienna hybrid… but that’s a huge price gap.
They also look way more interesting vs. a Toyota.
I’m going to second the hearse because if if I’m at a point in my life where my last, best option is to be all in Uber driver I’m gonna need it.
Any hearse. I bet you show up in a hearse and transport someone you get a pretty nice review and a good tip. Otherwise you don’t finish your journey.
Something like a Camry or Accord hybrid. You need passenger space and low operating costs to have any chance at making money, and you need something newer that shouldn’t need much downtime for maintenance. You probably won’t have another car in the fleet to take out if one is in the shop.
Basically you need to have the money upfront to buy a car that would likely mean you didn’t need to take on ride sharing in a desperate attempt to survive.
With Uber your car can be at the oldest 16 Years old. That means if you have a 2011 Town Car you’ll get 2 more years out it before Uber won’t allow you to uber it.
Where I live there are hardly any Ubers, and a good portion of the Ubering that is done is for Truck drivers that break down and some of them want to go over 100 miles away.
I’d go Tesla Model Y 7 Seat variant (though the upcoming 6 seat variant would be better).
Honestly probably an EV, probably something like a BYD or a cheaper ioniq given the low running costs and in Sydney you’re going to struggle to use the 500km range in the maximum 8 hour shift
Just so wrong
A Kia Carnival, i think.
So you’ve never been on the BITOG forum, huh ?
Anyway. Toyota Crown Signia.
Not Crown.
Crown Signia.
Friend of mine did just that, and the answer is Toyota Prius apparently.
Yup. My oldest did Uber for a while in Seattle, and he used a Prius C. He said more then one rider commented that it seemed like every Uber they rode in was some variant of a Prius.
Miata is always the answer.
A Toyota Camry