Related Pages: Transportation, zip car
Zipcar, Inc.
www.zipcar.com
Description: A car sharing company with a motto of a creating a positive impact on the environment and local communities.Flexcar and Zipcar are now one car-sharing program, operating as Zipcar.
Category:
Transportation
Keywords:
zip car, car share, transportation, green, vehicle, prius, hybrid, efficient
Reviews of Zipcar, Inc.
Zipcar
I use it, and hate it. Ain't what it used to be. It's getting too expensive, the marketing is very annoying, and not moving forward with ideas that could make the business better.
Check out the last three questions in this article, about Zipcar's hypocrite founder...
http://www.wired.com/cars/energy/magazine/15-06/st_chase
Jesse H.'s keywords: Zipcar, hypocrite, founder
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Just right for a big city dweller
Choosing to live in a large city comes with its own set of compromises. One of the larger ones: transportation.
Where I live in San Francisco, I only have a handful of options for getting around town. However, when it comes to getting groceries or going out of town, I pretty much have to take a car. So I can either buy a car to sit mostly unused most of the time, take a taxi (expensive), or I can just share some cars with other people in the same position and make use of it only when it's needed.
This is where Zipcar comes in.
Zipcar is a fleet of vehicles placed in different parking lots throughout the city. From there users reserve a car online, use it, and bring it back to the same lot.
Getting set up with the service is dead simple. Sign up online using your drivers license with which Zipcar checks your record and sends you an email to let you know that you're approved. From there, you prepay a set amount each month according to your account plan. After you've signed up, you'll receive a plastic card with an RFID wafer inside called a "Zipcard". This is used to lock and unlock cars you've reserved.
When you're ready to drive somewhere, the process is straightforward. You call or go online to reserve the use of a particular car. Zipcar informs the car from remote to unlock the car when you use your Zipcard. When you get to the car, you just hold your Zipcard over a reader behind the windshield which either unlocks or locks the car. The keys to the ignition are kept inside, so you can just hop in and take off.
One of the biggest pluses for more regular users is that the cost of all gasoline is included. There's a gas card kept inside that you can use at the pump to pay. With gasoline prices well over $3 in California, this one feature alone can make it more cost effective to use a Zipcar over owning one's own car.
Jonathan L.'s keywords: transportation, city living, cars
1 of 1 people thought this review was helpful.
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don't forget I-GO
I think car-sharing is great for the environment and applaud anyone who uses that service. But I want to remind everyone who lives in Chicago, and at least 8 other states, that I-GO (part of the Flexcar network) is another choice. I personally am a member of I-GO and chose them because they were first in Chicago, but keep my membership because of one crucial difference - they are non-profit. Zipcar is not. I prefer the values of a non-profit, maybe you do as well.
PS- IGO doesn't charge more for hybrids, in fact some of those cars get discounted regularly!
Stephanie P.'s keywords: car-sharing, non-profit, I-GO, Zipcar, Flexcar
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zip car needs GPS
zip cars need some sort of tracking device to help aid members locate cars that are not parked at the appropraite parking space. I spent 30 minutes arguing with a zipcar representative trying to convince her that the car i reserved was not in its proper parking space....at the end of the call, she still seemed to doubt I was at the correct location. a gps device on the vehicle would have solved this problem in a few seconds.
Tina C.'s keywords: Zip Car
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If Zipcar really cared about being green and not just green backs....
..then they wouldnt charge more for renting their hybrids. While yes, the maintenance cost for these vehicles is slightly more, its obvious that they are trying to milk every dollar they can under the guise of caring about the environment. All these other reviews here are written by them. Just look at the 'witty and hip' yet obvious marketing style of the writing here that is so common on their web site and periodicals also. Dont get me wrong, car share IS good for the environment, but charging more to use the hybrids is gouging and they know it.
Jack N.'s keywords: Green, zap car
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ZipCar Makes Me Feel Like James Bond
ZipCar is simple to use and is also really cool! I just reserve a car online, swipe my ZipCard on the windshield, and the door unlocks. The keys to the car and a card for paying for gas await me inside. I can get a truck for moving furniture, or a Prius for taking me on a hike, or even something with a little more power if I fancy. With ZipCar I don't have to worry about maintenance, gas, parking, insurance, or having an expensive depreciating asset. All I pay is a reasonable hourly rate (about $9-$13/hr).
1 of 1 people thought this review was helpful.
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One less car...
Zipcar offers car sharing service in a variety of locations around the world. Here in Washington, DC, they started the service with one or two cars in a few locations. It has exploded, with a variety of cars (sedans, station wagons, pick-ups) available for car less individuals such as me, who do need a car on occasions to get to places that public transportation doesn't reach. It's also great when you want to make a large shopping trip. I used a Mini Cooper yesterday to get to Thanksgiving dinner! Cars are reserved online. You go to the location, use an access card to get into the car, and off you go. It's a great service!
Stacey M.'s keywords: automobile, car share
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Zipcar is good for me and my community
I so love Zipcar. Being able to live car free is so wonderful -- yet if I want to hike, get a load of mulch for my garden or just do a big trip to the grocery store I can easily choose and get the right car for the job. It is convenience, environmentally friendly and FUN. I so encourage anyone to try it. Doesn't matter what your motivation...want to save money ditch the car and try Zipcar, want to make your contribution towards reducing greenhouse gases, ditch your car, walk more and use Zipcar when you need. Or maybe you just had the bother of owning and maintaining a car. Zipcar is perfect -- that is all their responsibility. You just choose the car, drive and return it. I found going car free and using Zipcar encouraged me to walk and bike more too.
Laura O.'s keywords: carsharing, transit, transportation
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Zipcar
I live in the middle of downtown San Francisco, where parking is nearly impossible. In some ways living in an urban environment makes my life easier: I walk to work, use public transportation to visit friends and family in the area, and shop at local stores. However, when it comes to getting out of the city, or buying in bulk, the coordination gets more difficult. Since joining Zipcar, the community car-share company, I've been able to enjoy the many beautiful natural locations around the Bay Area and transport bigger items--all for a reasonable fee. Gas, parking, and insurance are included in membership dues and Zipcar has become an essential component in my life.
Joy R.'s keywords: Zipcar, car-share, community
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Zipcar is My Friend
I walk everywhere; when I'm not walking, I'm riding the bicycle. When I'm not riding the bicycle, I'm on the bus. When I can't do any of those things, I stay at home wishing I could go somewhere. But those things can only get you so far.
I don't want to own a car. I think car insurance is basically a scam, wasting all the money you haven't already spent on fuel, parking tickets, and parking garages.
But then Zipcar came along, and changed everything. Because they take care of insurance, gas, and everything else except the driving, I can feel like a car owner (i.e., I can get out of town when I want to) without all the attendant hassles of car ownership. I can see my family without being told by rental car people that the weekly rate is much better; I can go see friends who live across the bay without spending 2 hours on a gas-belching behemoth city bus. And I can do this in a small, hybrid-electric vehicle that makes me feel good about personal transport.
Now if Zipcar would just expand into cheap, pre-insured sailboat rentals, everything would be perfect.
Brian M.'s keywords: hybrid automobile rental car
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It's great!
FlexCar is the most convenient and reliable car rental agency around. I'd recommend it to anyone!
John W.'s keywords: Car Sharing
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Recommend Flex Car
Every time I have used Flex Car it's been easy and accessible. In Washington, DC, they have locations throughout the city that are easy to get to and one is always available and convenient. Highly recommend using this service.
Chris S.'s keywords: flex Car Washington DC
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