Uber v Taxis

dogmeat

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="594398" data-time="1467769208">
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A few years ago I had a client with a new Bentley and half joking asked him if he'd take me for a fang in it. One day he turned up out of the blue told me to hop in and we went for a drive in it, I was thinking " I don't remember this corner ever being this sharp" looked over at the speedo and we were doing 100 , the countryside was rushing by pretty fast so I had another look and it was in mph not kph . That thing was incredibly smooth, it had two turbos and there was no sign of when they kicked in it just got faster and faster. 
I've never had a nice car, mine get wrecked towing stuff ,carrying tools and other gear and kayaks dripping salt water on the roof.
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I have a nice-ish car but I still wreck it carrying shit on the back seat etc. I mean it's only a box for moving shit around in innit.
 
I was seriously considering upgrading to a V12 4.2 litre a couple of weeks ago but then realised just how much more fun I could get for the money doing other stuff.
 
I would gladly not drive in Akl if I could. If I worked in the CBD for example I'd ferry or bus in, but I do like a nice car on a roadie - somewhere "quiet" with open views where you can open it out and see exactly where the limiter kicks in - (except I've never quite had the balls to take it that far)

jegga

One thing I remember dad telling me from his cab driving days was that the drivers usually had a set of wheels and tires for commodores and falcons that they put on when their meter was getting calibrated. I think they were smaller than the actual set they drove on so when they put their usual set back on the meter read faster than the set they were calibrated for which meant more $ for them.

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="594437" data-time="1467775432">
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Yeah I think that's everyone's dream. Win lotto, buy your dream car then work as a uber driver....
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Nah not my dream - just something I'd like to do when/if I get bored.
 
Let's say it was in the territory that you'd never have to work again - I still need to have the kids in school, so its not like I can suddenly embark on a world tour or anything. The wife would still probably want to work at something during that time and sure as fuck she's not spending it shopping. 
 
So why not sink $150K into a bloody nice car that doesn't need fuel, and every now and then log on and run a few interesting people around the joint for beer money. Wife still has an income, leverage my investment property portfolio over time, and just do interesting shit and meet interesting people.
 
I'm not a sit-on-a-beach kind of guy, but definitely over summer holidays I'd be hiring a Land Cruiser, getting a shmick camper trailer, and taking the family interesting places.

MN5

So how does one become an Uber driver ?
 
Given I can essentially make my own hours doing what I'm doing now perhaps I should give it a crack for shits and gigs ( and maybe some $$ ) and report back on here, this is all provided it is worth the hassle ( and hassle is something I'm not too keen on )

Rancid Schnitzel

NIck: I don't know mate. They rate the drivers and after a while you'll get a reputation as the guy who can't shut the fuck up about his Tesla products and Elon Musk. They'll avoid you like the plague.
 
I'm also not sure that I'd want pissheads on the way into town sitting in my 150k car.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="594497" data-time="1467788234">
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I don't know mate. They rate the drivers and after a while you'll get a reputation as the guy who can't shut the fuck up about his Tesla products and Elon Musk. They'll avoid you like the plague.
 
I'm also not sure that I'd want pissheads on the way into town sitting in my 150k car.
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Ok so NTA is two hopes....Bob Hope and No Hope......
 
What about me ?

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="594497" data-time="1467788234">
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I don't know mate. They rate the drivers and after a while you'll get a reputation as the guy who can't shut the fuck up about his Tesla products and Elon Musk. They'll avoid you like the plague.
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Bullshit - I'd pull heaps of nerd poontang. Maybe even chicks!

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="594498" data-time="1467788325">
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Ok so NTA is two hopes....Bob Hope and No Hope......
 
What about me ?
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As long as everyone you drive is a hopelessly fucked up Scottish git with an unstoppable ability to blather on about craft beer in Wellington being the best fucking thing since sliced bread, then you'll be sound as a pound.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="594500" data-time="1467788474">
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As long as everyone you drive is a hopelessly fucked up Scottish git with an unstoppable ability to blather on about craft beer in Wellington being the best fucking thing since sliced bread, then you'll be sound as a pound.
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On a long trip I'd also ask them their views on Star Wars, Music and West Indian cricket too.
 
Maybe even offer a few workout tips depending on the size of their guns.
 
 
It does open up a few options though, imagine in the future if you had the option of choosing cab drivers:
 
Do you want.....
 
a ) the Indian who smells like curry and will make a pass at your partner if she is remotely attractive ?
 
b ) the Eastern European with throbbing veins in his head, crazy eyes and yellow teeth ?
 
or
 
c ) The Somalian in an oversized suit who can't speak English ?

Rancid Schnitzel

"What about this MN5 driver?"
 
"I don't know bro. Last time he drove, he wanted to feel my guns and talk to me about Admiral Akbar."

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="594502" data-time="1467789566">
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"What about this MN5 driver?"
 
"I don't know bro. Last time he drove, he wanted to feel my guns and talk to me about Admiral Akbar."
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Like that's a bad thing, some people would pay double for that experience.

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="594501" data-time="1467788638">
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On a long trip I'd also ask them their views on Star Wars, Music and <strike>West Indian cricket</strike> Chris Gayle's throbbing penis too.
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Fixed

jegga

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="594501" data-time="1467788638">
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On a long trip I'd also ask them their views on Star Wars, Music and West Indian cricket too.
 
Maybe even offer a few workout tips depending on the size of their guns.
 
 
It does open up a few options though, imagine in the future if you had the option of choosing cab drivers:
 
Do you want.....
 
 
 
c ) The Somalian in an oversized suit who can't speak English ?
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The Somalian who can't speak english looks pretty promising to me after reading that.

gollum

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="594378" data-time="1467766501">
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Everything is a status symbol these days - car, house, bike, boat etc etc.
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Bit that always amazes me when I come back from NZ is what the status cars are. Old school mate of mine just bought his dream car - Commodore GTR. He was wanking on about it across every social media spectrum he could access. And I mean, cool man, thats nice. But its a fricking Commodore... I walk down my street in London & there are 3 Bentley's, a Ferari, occasionally a fricking McClaren, untold Porches, a Tesla & the resident boofhead has an M5... Its like being excited that you just got a Blackberry Bold. I always prefered the more traditional deal in NZ where your point of pride re cars was your Hilux was held together by duct tape & bog yet still never got stuck doing a beach run. Or you can open your EQ Holden with a screwdriver. And start it with one too.
 
I use Uber a lot in London & Europe in general, cheap as fuck, incredibly easy, no cash, no tipping, no fumbling for change. Bad drivers get weeded out fast by the rating system, you know the cost upfront. Its great. In contrast Black cabs are massive rip offs. Lost count of the number of times I've got in a Black Cab, they'vbe heard my accent & shot off in the longest route they can think of. While Minicabs are almost universally Pakistani or Bangladeshi blokes who are incredibly polite & pre sat nav always needed me to navigate for them as they had no idea where to go.
 
Most Uber drivers I've used have a second job & do a couple of nights a week Ubering to get spare cash. Its a great gateway into the fact that in 10 years tops you'll just use your android phone to call up a Google self driving car that'll take you wherever while you watch last nights Game of Thrones on the big arse telly where the steering wheel used to be.

Hooroo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gollum" data-cid="594547" data-time="1467802693">
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Bit that always amazes me when I come back from NZ is what the status cars are. Old school mate of mine just bought his dream car - Commodore GTR. He was wanking on about it across every social media spectrum he could access. And I mean, cool man, thats nice. But its a fricking Commodore... I walk down my street in London & there are 3 Bentley's, a Ferari, occasionally a fricking McClaren, untold Porches, a Tesla & the resident boofhead has an M5... Its like being excited that you just got a Blackberry Bold. I always prefered the more traditional deal in NZ where your point of pride re cars was your Hilux was held together by duct tape & bog yet still never got stuck doing a beach run. Or you can open your EQ Holden with a screwdriver. And start it with one too.
 
I use Uber a lot in London & Europe in general, cheap as fuck, incredibly easy, no cash, no tipping, no fumbling for change. Bad drivers get weeded out fast by the rating system, you know the cost upfront. Its great. In contrast Black cabs are massive rip offs. Lost count of the number of times I've got in a Black Cab, they'vbe heard my accent & shot off in the longest route they can think of. While Minicabs are almost universally Pakistani or Bangladeshi blokes who are incredibly polite & pre sat nav always needed me to navigate for them as they had no idea where to go.
 
Most Uber drivers I've used have a second job & do a couple of nights a week Ubering to get spare cash. Its a great gateway into the fact that in 10 years tops you'll just use your android phone to call up a Google self driving car that'll take you wherever while you watch last nights Game of Thrones on the big arse telly where the steering wheel used to be. 
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Ha ha That is funny. Are you sure is was a GTR? That is what I have and they are nothing special at all. Bog standard 6 cylinder with "spec" trim and body kit.
 
You don't get a V8 in a GTR

NTA

Bloke at work said if he won the lottery he'd get a Porsche GT3 for his flash car, then an R8 Commodore for his "everyday" car and a similarly loaded Commodore Ute (Maloo) just because he wanted one. 
He's got a V6 Commodore and complains about petrol prices. But he's going to get a V8 SS for hours next car because "it's not THAT much more, and at least it's aV8!" 
They'll all cry tears of solid VB when the factory closes

Hooroo

When does it close? I thought 2017 for some reason? Or is that the Ford one?

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="594437" data-time="1467775432">
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Yeah I think that's everyone's dream. Win lotto, buy your dream car then work as a uber driver....
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Don't be too hard on NTA, his goals are just a little bit different than the rest of us - remembering that his big trip after the lotto win is Matamata.

taniwharugby

my goals aren't so lofty as Hooroos, I'd just go for an RS6.

mariner4life

If i won big on the lottery, i would buy a Ferrari the next day. i don't give a fuck if they are a penis extension, they are a fucking big penis extension.

The Silver Fern

Uber v Taxis