[Karen Stein]

Saturday afternoon. I had a decent day going, well on my way to a having a $120 - $130 take-home. I had just loaded a guy in a tux, on his way to a wedding, when IT happened.

Wild driving by another caused me to jump a curb. Within a block I knew the tire was flat. Sure enough, the sidewall had split. 3PM on a holiday-weekend Saturday.

Another Uber took the fare. I could not find the jack, so I called road service. I discovered the lug wrench was way too short for loosening my lug nuts. Internet search taught me the jack was hidden under a plastic trim piece, under the driver's seat. (Who would look there?) Road service came and put on the donut.

Sunday- lost income. Shops closed. Wal-Mart doesn't have a tire. My previous visit to Firestone (to fix a flat) got me a $1200 quote that covered everything except the flat, and they didn't have the right size either.

Monday- Holiday, shops closed, lost income.

Tuesday- Shop has to order the tire, lost income.

Wednsday- Tire expected at day's end. Its income.

So far I'm looking at $300 in lost income + $200 for a new tire, plus or minus. I've also put 170 miles on the "50 miles only" donut spare.

You'd think I had the only Toyota car in the country.

With winter coming, and the need for every advantage in traffic, I'm reconsidering the value of investing in a spare rim and tire.

This is a BUSINESS. Makes you rethink some things- like a simple flat. I already pan to upgrade my lug wrench to a long breaker bar, like the road service had.

 

[BSki]

WINTER IS HERE!!!!


shitty situation, sorry.

 

[Rakos]

Halloween is in stores already...

 

[Spotscat]

What size tires do you have on your Yaris?

PS - Buy a four-way lug wrench. They work 1000 times better than a cheater bar.

 

[steveK2016]

I feel like I read this before

 

[Rakos]

I feel like I read this before

Deja vu...8>)

 

[Mars Troll Number 4]

and the cab company I drive for can knock out a tire swap/reballance in like an hour, 5 MINUTES for a headlight/turn signal ect.

And I can take out a different car for the interim.

And $*%&ed tires don't cost me a dime...

The thing about being an independent taxi driver is you have to save up the extra money you bring in by not paying a shop for rental, for these sorts of issues.

But the problem with uber is... your making less than you are in a taxi so that whole theory goes down the toilet.


driving an uber car is like using a jack in the box. Every time you turn a tire your one turn closer to it popping in your face... and by that i mean being completely %*%*&%

 

[Rakos]

and the cab company I drive for can knock out a tire swap/reballance in like an hour, 5 MINUTES for a headlight/turn signal ect.

And I can take out a different car for the interim.

And $*%&ed tires don't cost me a dime...

The thing about being an independent taxi driver is you have to save up the extra money you bring in by not paying a shop for rental, for these sorts of issues.

But the problem with uber is... your making less than you are in a taxi so that whole theory goes down the toilet.

driving an uber car is like using a jack in the box. Every time you turn a tire your one turn closer to it popping in your face... and by that i mean being completely %*%*&%

Ok...you asked for it...

I drove a yellow cab in Key West for 2 yrs.

The main issue I have with driving a cab..

Is twelve hour shifts...

I can make the same money in 8 hrs...

Also I get to decide WHEN I want to drive...

There are a few taxi companies that differ...

Butt... They are few and far between...

Also I can modify my SUV...

try doing that in a taxi...NOT...

Rakos

 

[Mars Troll Number 4]

Ok...you asked for it...

I drove a yellow cab in Key West for 2 yrs.

The main issue I have with driving a cab..

Is twelve hour shifts...

I can make the same money in 8 hrs...

Also I get to decide WHEN I want to drive...

There are a few taxi companies that differ...

Butt... They are few and far between...

Also I can modify my SUV...

try doing that in a taxi...NOT...

Rakos

The issue with Orlando is...

I can make more in 12 hours driving a cab than i can in 24 doing uber (after expenses) the pay gap in Orlando between uber and taxis is a sick joke at this point.

While yes it is nice to be able to work only a few hours, it's trumped by the ability to ACTUALLY MAKE MONEY!

In orlando getting pings doesn't mean your making money LOL.

 

[corniilius]

Saturday afternoon. I had a decent day going, well on my way to a having a $120 - $130 take-home. I had just loaded a guy in a tux, on his way to a wedding, when IT happened.

Wild driving by another caused me to jump a curb. Within a block I knew the tire was flat. Sure enough, the sidewall had split. 3PM on a holiday-weekend Saturday.

Another Uber took the fare. I could not find the jack, so I called road service. I discovered the lug wrench was way too short for loosening my lug nuts. Internet search taught me the jack was hidden under a plastic trim piece, under the driver's seat. (Who would look there?) Road service came and put on the donut.

Sunday- lost income. Shops closed. Wal-Mart doesn't have a tire. My previous visit to Firestone (to fix a flat) got me a $1200 quote that covered everything except the flat, and they didn't have the right size either.

Monday- Holiday, shops closed, lost income.

Tuesday- Shop has to order the tire, lost income.

Wednsday- Tire expected at day's end. Its income.

So far I'm looking at $300 in lost income + $200 for a new tire, plus or minus. I've also put 170 miles on the "50 miles only" donut spare.

You'd think I had the only Toyota car in the country.

With winter coming, and the need for every advantage in traffic, I'm reconsidering the value of investing in a spare rim and tire.

This is a BUSINESS. Makes you rethink some things- like a simple flat. I already pan to upgrade my lug wrench to a long breaker bar, like the road service had.

Doesn't Uber provide it's employees who drive with a back up vehicle?

 

[Notch Johnson]

If you can't find a your tire try the dealer, that is what I had to do when I got a flat in Vegas on a Saturday. They saved my butt. No way was I going to drive 200 miles back on the donut.

 

[Karen Stein]

Newer members may not know better - I spent over three years driving taxi. Believe me, even before the Uber revolution it was no bed of roses.

If you want to discuss the merits of taxi vs Uber, start your own thread.
.
I started this thread for two reasons.

The first is to underscore the need to re-evaluate some maintenance decisions in light of the fact the car IS your livelihood. Murphy's Law hasn't been repealed; every tire issue has come when ships are closed.
.
The second reason for this thread is to underscore the cost of downtime.

 

[105398]

These posts are so boring compared to SadUber

 

[RamzFanz]

What size tires do you have on your Yaris?

PS - Buy a four-way lug wrench. They work 1000 times better than a cheater bar.

This. And they have collapsible ones at Harbor Freight cheap.

 

[corniilius]

These posts are so boring compared to SadUber

Is sad Uber upset because he's not getting enough attention?

 

[Leo1983]

Why aren't you guys working for the USPS? Wayyy less stress and pays over $60,000 to start. You would have to make $100,000 driving uber to clear $60,000
Plus benefits sick pay paid vacations. And possibility for growth.
Uber is a disgusting ponzie scheme designed to exploit the poor.
They're literally recruiting poor black ppl in a pep boys in east la. "Here's a car. Now pay us to work for us."

What are you people doing? This is ****ing America. Wake up and recognize what so many fought and died for.
Stop accepting minimums
And have higher standards for **** sake
Before it's too late and America the one great beacon of hope for millions is turned into Mumbai.

 

[reaperducer]

If you can't find a your tire try the dealer, that is what I had to do when I got a flat in Vegas on a Saturday. They saved my butt. No way was I going to drive 200 miles back on the donut.

Funny. I had the exact opposite experience with tires in Vegas. I wanted to get them replaced on a Thursday. Neither dealer for my car brand had the tires in stock for my car (not all that old - 2014). Neither could get tires until Tuesday or Wednesday. And both wanted me to pay up front before they would order.

Ended up at Discount Tire Center which had three different brands of tires that fit my car in stock. They did the replacement that day and $400 cheaper than th dealers.

 

[Karen Stein]

Got to love the internet.

New rim priced from $350 to $60 -- the Internet Revolution HAS to change how we do business.

 

[105398]

People haven't used the term "Internet Revolution" since 1998.

 

[corniilius]

Always keep a full sized spare tire and rim in the garage so you will only be off the road for a limited time. After I pay a few things off and have given my last uber ride, I intend to have a set of six brand new custom rims and tires to rotate on and off as needed.