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To Carpool or not to Carpool adding weight

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Old Sep 7, 2007 | 10:00 AM
  #1  
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Default To Carpool or not to Carpool adding weight

I'm considering taking a car pooler downtown everyday and will get $50 for my gas. Is it worth it?

I travel 25 miles roundtrip

80% highway

How much will the extra 175lbs cost me in gas?
 
Old Sep 7, 2007 | 11:25 AM
  #2  
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Default Re: To Carpool or not to Carpool adding weight

Originally Posted by Washington DC
I'm considering taking a car pooler downtown everyday and will get $50 for my gas. Is it worth it?

I travel 25 miles roundtrip

80% highway

How much will the extra 175lbs cost me in gas?
Is that a one time, $50?

Bob Wilson
 
Old Sep 7, 2007 | 11:37 AM
  #3  
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Default Re: To Carpool or not to Carpool adding weight

I will receive $50/month to drive one person roundtrip.
 
Old Sep 7, 2007 | 12:28 PM
  #4  
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Default Re: To Carpool or not to Carpool adding weight

Its not a bad deal for you as $50 pays for at least the entire fuel cost.

25mi x 20 wkdays = 500mi/mo

500mi/42mpg = 12gal x $3/gal = $36/mo fuel cost

the extra passenger should not cost you more than 2-3mpg or about $2/month in fuel.

500/40 x $3 - $36 = $2/month
 
Old Sep 7, 2007 | 02:25 PM
  #5  
bwilson4web's Avatar
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Default Re: To Carpool or not to Carpool adding weight

I think the real challenge is not the weight but the additional distance to pickup your rider and possible extra start/stop or idle if you have to wait for them. But using cell phone coordination, you can minimize this. Overall, the $50 would easily cover any additional cost of any reasonably close rider.

What is really a challenge would be dealing with parking costs! It used to cost me nearly $20 a day to park in DC. I much preferred walking or biking to the Metro.

GOOD LUCK!

Bob Wilson
 
Old Sep 7, 2007 | 09:35 PM
  #6  
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Default Re: To Carpool or not to Carpool adding weight

Originally Posted by bwilson4web
I think the real challenge is not the weight but the additional distance to pickup your rider and possible extra start/stop or idle if you have to wait for them. But using cell phone coordination, you can minimize this. Overall, the $50 would easily cover any additional cost of any reasonably close rider.

What is really a challenge would be dealing with parking costs! It used to cost me nearly $20 a day to park in DC. I much preferred walking or biking to the Metro.

GOOD LUCK!

Bob Wilson
Or in my experience, the real challenge was putting up with the passenger. I'm not sorry those days came to an end ...
 
Old Sep 8, 2007 | 07:45 AM
  #7  
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Default Re: To Carpool or not to Carpool adding weight

thanks for all the advice . Yes, I need to ensure that the person is on time. We plan to meet 1/2 mile from my house and I already pay well over $100 for parking, so I want to defray the cost.

Also, appreciate the reminder on "dealing" with a car pooler. I will do a trial 2 weeks and state so upfront, so I can decide if it will work for me.

thanks!
 
Old Sep 8, 2007 | 08:54 PM
  #8  
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Default Re: To Carpool or not to Carpool adding weight

Of course it's worth it. It worth it if he pays you nothing.

Keep that guy's car off the road!
 
Old Sep 9, 2007 | 06:34 AM
  #9  
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Default Re: To Carpool or not to Carpool adding weight

I agree about keeping the car off the road - he is already taking the bus & metro.
 
Old Oct 29, 2007 | 12:40 PM
  #10  
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Default Re: To Carpool or not to Carpool adding weight

Originally Posted by bwilson4web
I
What is really a challenge would be dealing with parking costs! It used to cost me nearly $20 a day to park in DC. I much preferred walking or biking to the Metro.

Bob Wilson
Bob,
Before we got our FEH, my wife and I did a cost break down of driving our Explorer vs commuting via metro. We don't live close enough to bike to the metro station, so driving to and parking at the metro station was still a requirement. Ultimately, it turned out to be $30 cheaper to drive in and pay $100/mo for parking. It's a shame the DC metro doesn't incentivize metro riding and make it cheaper than driving.
 


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