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news

Zipadeedoodah

By Shari Kasman

2006_06_13zipcar.jpgTTC news has calmed down considerably but we’re still placing bets on what’s on the next episode of TTC: The Saga Continues. If you’re interested in an alternative, you might want to look into car sharing. Yes, AutoShare has established its name in the city but there’s a new competitor: Zipcar. Zipcar has recently opened for business here after having already established locations in 6 cities in the US of A.
For a split second, I was entirely perplexed, being unsure who their target market could possibly be. Their “catchy” lingo says it all:
“Zipster n. (slang) a: Someone who rejects the established car owning culture; advocates extreme savings. b: One who is exceptionally aware of the latest trends and tastes; lounges in Zipgear. [syn: Zippie, Zipper, Zip-child]”
and used in a sentence….
“Flashing her Zipcard, the Zipster was escorted past the line of would-be diners to a choice table where an icy tray of fresh oysters awaited.”
What a way to make carsharing sound FUN! and HIP! and TRENDY! The remainder of the “Zipster” and “Zipcard” and “Ziptrip” references (boy oh boy, what a marketing scheme) are equally overwhelming.
The big question is this: how does the new, hip, American Zipcar compare to the lowkey, Toronto-based AutoShare? Well, Zipcar has the “Zip N’ Save Cash” plan and the “Pay As You Zip” plan and they tell us that “zipping is more fun in groups.” All we know right now is that there it says “Zip” at least 1001 times on the Zipcar website whereas AutoShare provides us with a less ridiculous interweb page. Check out the websites for rates and info but we’d choose AutoShare to support our local economy.

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Comments

  • Johnlee

    My wife and I use Zipcar and love the convenience as a Zipcar spot is just around the corner to us. But the real clincher is that our plan is transferable to other cities. For examples if we decide to fly out to San Francisco or New York. We can just as easily rent a Zipcar for an out of city excursion as we can in Toronto.
    Cheers

  • shari k.

    A transferable plan is certainly a bonus.
    Another Torontoist reader/Zipcar fan informed me that it’s quite expensve to join Autoshare. He wrote:
    “I recently joined Zipcar after comparing it with Autoshare, because of the initial sign-up fees.
    Autoshare: How much does it cost to join?
    $ 25 Insurance Approval fee + GST
    $100 Membership Fee (one time) + GST
    $250 Deposit
    Zipcar’s basic plan (plus tax, of course):
    $55 annual fee
    $30 one-time application fee
    With taxes on Autoshare, it adds up to over $400. After tax, Zipcar is less than $100. That’s a big difference for me!”

  • Kevin McLaughlin

    Actually, with tax AutoShare is $383.75 to join (of which you’ll get back $250 if you leave).
    And, we won’t bill you until the next month after you drive (without a deposit, Zipcar needs to bill your credit card every time your drive).
    Our average member saves over $20 a month with AutoShare (based on typical driving of about 11 hours a month). Drive more – save more.
    Compare a trip to IKEA or a date in a mini, and you’ll see that Zipcar get expensive fast. Add that up over a fwe months, or years, and AutoShare’s deposit really saves you alot of money.
    Finally, since we offer a 30 day money back guarantee, you really have nothing to lose. :-)

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/dstopping David Topping

    Is that $20 saved/month compared to ZipCar, or just regular driving?

  • Kevin McLaughlin

    That’s $20 saved/month compared to Zipcar.
    (Based on driving about 3,000 km/year, AutoShare can save you about $400/month over owning.)

  • http://www.zipcar.com saul

    HI Everyone!
    Not looking to get into a war of words here but as a Zipcar employee I would like to point out that Zipcar only bills your credit card once a month (if you use the service since we have no montly fees on our occasional driver plan) and that while our membership fee is in fact $55 we are offering with that a $50 dollar free driving credit and (as if that wasn’t enough) we also offer a 30 day money refunded policy if you are not happy (but really, why wouldn’t you be happy?)
    Check out http://www.Zipcar.com for more info!
    saul!

  • http://www.zipcar.com saul

    Again I am not looking to start up with Autoshare since I feel they are a great company but I would love to see this chat of how you save over $20 per month using AutoShare over us. If a person is driving 11 hours a month then they would be best served signing up for one of our extra value plans (for even further reduced rates). Did you the EVP rates to figure out your numbers?
    Just wondering
    Saul
    http://www.zipcar.com

  • Kevin McLaughlin

    Consider this average member’s month (based on our 8 years, 6 million+ km’s driven here in Toronto):
    a) 6pm – 10pm in a Mini Cooper (35km)
    b) 6:30am – 11:30am Mazda 3 (50km)
    c) 6pm – 8pm Toyota Yaris (25km)
    d) plus monthly plan fees
    e) less plan credits
    f) taxes (no pst on monthly plan)
    g) total
    –AutoShare —-Zipcar
    a) $34.00 $45.90
    b) $36.00 $49.50
    c) $16.50 $19.80
    d) $10.00 $50.00
    E) -$0.00 -$50.00
    F) $13.72 $17.28
    g) $110.52 $132.48
    Save) $21.96
    Although I have used a Zipcar vlaue plan to compare, the reality is that a much smaller percentage of people choose to commit to $50, $100 or $200 per month with Zipcar than choose an AutoShare monthly plan fee of $10 or $25. (In the months in which someone drives little or not at all – and it is very common – they still have to buy the whole enchilada with Zipcar.)
    So bienvenue ‘Zipsters’, more car sharing is great for Toronto – and AutoShare remains the best value when you’re ready to join.
    Kevin
    AutoShare.com

  • http://www.zipcar.com saul

    I wish to clear up a previous post of mine that was possibly unclear. Zipcar will only bill your monthly plan fee once a month and this is only if you choose to select a monthly plan.
    As for the chart Mr. McLaughlin has posted I do find it interesting that the examples he used were for low milage. On average our members use our vehicles approx 60-90 kms per reservation. This is pretty standard since our drivers get 150 kms included and may not feel the need to watch where they drive. I will play with the numbers myself but am confident the savings will be far less then stated. Other things to consider are the convenience of the Zipcar service. Drivers at the age of 21 can use our service. We don’t carge a deposit and lets not forget the fact that our cars are opened by a very cool and futurist technology called “Zipcards” when you make your reservation you simply walk up to the car and zap you zipcard to gain aces to the car and off you go.
    Couldn’t be easier if you ask me!
    saul
    http://www.zipcar.com

  • Kevin McLaughlin

    Saul, what you really mean to say is:
    “Yes, Zipcar bills yours credit card every time that you drive. NOT once a month.
    And, if you prepay a monthly plan fee, it will hit your credit card once a month.”
    AutoShare drivers average about 10km per hour. This is based on more than 6 million km’s driven, and thus is a very real example. How many “Toronto” trips is your data based on ;-)
    Kevin

  • shari k.

    Saul,
    You mentioned:
    “On average our members use our vehicles approx 60-90 kms per reservation. This is pretty standard since our drivers get 150 kms included and may not feel the need to watch where they drive.”
    Why does Zipcar encourage longer driving trips? This doesn’t seem like a “Green Benefit.” Your drivers should be encouraged to watch where they drive…

  • http://www.zipcar.com Saul

    HI Shari,
    to answer your question “Why does Zipcar encourage longer driving trips? This doesn’t seem like a “Green Benefit.” Your drivers should be encouraged to watch where they drive…”
    We don’t encourage long trips or short trips but we do offer freedom to do as you wish. When you are in a Zipcar, it is yours for the length of the reservation and we would never tell you how much or how little you can drive. That is why we include 150 free kms. One thing we do however encourage Car Sharing. Our studies have shown that for every one car sharing vehicle added to a city on average twenty come off the road. The concept itself is the green benefit because the more people use car sharing for their car needs they also use the TTC more and cars in general less.
    saul
    http://www.zipcar.com

  • http://www.zipcar.com saul

    One other thing I forgot to mention….to address your comment of “Check out the websites for rates and info but we’d choose AutoShare to support our local economy.”
    Please remember that this is Zipcar Canada Inc. Our offices are in Toronto, we pay Canadian Taxes, have bought 100 cars in Canada in the last month and most importantly….I’m Canadian (born and raised in Toronto).
    We support the Canadian economy as much as anyone!
    saul
    http://www.zipcar.com

  • http://www.zipcar.com saul

    I type so fast I need to slow down and re-read these posts!
    My comment about 100 cars this month should read over the last few months.
    Sorry for any confusion!
    Saul
    http://www.zipcar.com

  • TD ©

    While the two reps from both companies are arguing about all these complicated and interwined rates. I have recently been trying to look into car sharing and looking at the basic or average rates of both companies on their websites I found that Autoshare goes $5-9 per hour and Zip is $10-13 I didn’t look into any of the special packaging and stuff you are offering but if and when I jion I think I’d probably go with Autoshare because it’s all about the money baby.

  • http://www.ssscomcs.com Saul

    TD,
    Thanks for taking the time to check us both out. I wouldn’t call what we are doing as arguing as we are just trying to convey our joint passion for Car Sharing. If I may add my .02 I will just say that if it is about the “money” as you put it then the fact that we don’t charge a $250 deposit may be something that is attractive to you.
    saul
    http://www.zipcar.com