Would You Consider A Subscription Plan Over Car Ownership?

For now, the new feature of the car-sharing service is restricted to the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco, where Maven allows the members of the service keep the cars for up to 28 days.

The newly introduced feature has been named Maven Reserve, and comes as an expansion of the regular daily and hourly service already in place in the same area. But users looking for a month-long commitment will only be given the choice of two vehicles – the Chevrolet Volt or the Tahoe SUV, and it won’t come in as a bargain. Getting the Volt will be a $1,100 deal while the larger SUV will set you back $1,500. Those prices include insurance, a dedicated parking space, and $100 worth of fuel – and there’s no membership fee or other costs.

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TheSteve - 3/6/2017 4:30:01 PM

+4 Boost

Subscription plan? Is that the new word for "lease"?

I've leased cars in the past when I was able to write off the entire lease cost, versus writing off only the (declining) annual depreciation and financing costs associated with ownership. After the lease was up the second time around, I financed the car and continued to write it off.

MDarringer - 3/6/2017 8:24:21 PM

-1 Boost

I'd rather lease than to change my car right and left.

mre30 - 3/6/2017 9:07:55 PM

+2 Boost

I actually signed up for the mailing list for this plan (which was marketed thru Cadillac at first) because it sounded very innovative and interesting.

I think there is definitely a seasonal market for cars - the obvious one is a fleet of Cadillacs in Florida so everybody can get to Mar A Lago in style for dinner.

I also think there are people who would prefer to Uber in the winter but want a car for the warmer months.

I think the scheme all comes down to figuring out which cars to offer and how to price them. Many of the people in this group are not very price sensitive and I think if the vehicle mix was right, it could be a big moneymaker as well as putting excess inventory to work.

I wonder why the Tahoe is included? I would be that there are many uber drivers who would sign up for the service and just lie but really use the Tahoe as an uber for 5 months and then give it back.

Surely, some smart techie can figure this out - its about having the fleet where the customers are, at the time of the year that they want the vehicles.

I think its a great idea, not for me, but a great idea.

TomM - 3/7/2017 12:29:28 PM

+2 Boost

THe real question is cost of use.

IF some people can justify doing this based on cost per mile with other possibilities - that would be great - BUT - IF the cost per mile of use is way out of kilter - then it is another con-person's scheme.

Holydude - 3/7/2017 7:39:45 PM

+2 Boost

Yes, would be great to change cars every month or two.