Originally Posted by
fastflyer
Last week, on my Sunday evening 25-mile trip from the airport into town, I called a Lyft. I usually alternate between Lyft and Uber on the route -- based on time to pick-up (sometimes it's as long at 10 minutes for Uber at this airport, Lyft is often faster).
The car that arrived was a 2007 (meaning built 13 years ago, in 2006) Honda Accord, with a completely shot suspension. Combined with the rough highway and the interstate highway speeds, the experience was downright frightening. Not sure if this vintage car was even road-worthy. Note -- this was standard Lyft service, not some discounted shared or "cheap car" service offering. Total fare was over $70.
Total fare was over $70, of which, if the driver was lucky they got $40 of.
Originally Posted by
fastflyer
Naturally, I contacted Lyft the next day to ask about the appropriateness of a teenage car doing airport runs in a major metro. Lyft responded that the car met their criteria. Gobsmacked! I would never accept a car like this from any rental facility, nor from any taxi service.
1. Does Lyft really feel it is OK to dispatch seriously old cars ? How much value does a 13-year-old Accord hold anyhow, like $3000?
2. Even for newer cars, I would hope that Lyft has a maximum mileage criteria -- I wouldn't want to get into a car of unknown maintenance, with greater than 100k mileage, for example.
Yes I realize this original post is several months old.
Uber and Lyft do not have a maximum mileage limit, nor do most states, unless it's a regular limo service. As someone else pointed out you should be concerned about the overall vehicle appearance. Given the poor rates at which drivers are paid, see above, most drivers are struggling to eat, let alone repair their vehicles. Recently I was at a tire shop getting a flat fixed on my vehicle, a young woman that I know (I've talked to her before at rideshare holding lots around town), who drives full time for Uber and Lyft (she's in college and caring for an elderly parent) came in for new tires on her 10 yr old SUV. The most she could afford was $350 for 4 tires, the minimum tires for her vehicle, mounted, balanced, tax, etc., out the door was $470. She had been scrimping for 4 months to buy tires and didn't have enough. Luckily for me, I have the ability to buy the correct tires for my vehicle, I stepped in and helped her out and picked up the difference for her, no she doesn't owe me anything. The store manager and I were talking about it, he sells 90% of his used tires to rideshare drivers, as the majority cannot afford new tires, or the tires they want.
I too have ridden in some sketchy rideshare vehicles, it sucks, but until drivers are paid the correct amount, until riders realize how bad drivers are being screwed over, and stop with the "find a better job" line of BS, it will only get worse. Guess what, depending on the state your in, there's a good chance your rideshare driver doesn't have car insurance either, simply because they can't afford it. The oldest, and newest, insurance situation, buying a 6 mo. policy, only paying the minimum and letting the policy expire. Uber and Lyft only check once to see if the policy is active, if they check at all.