The Valley Chronicle - Uber or Lyft. What’s Your Choice?ng

■ RICHARD PERRY / Contributed Greetings from the Hemet Car Guy I’m finding more and more people are getting out there driving for Uber or Lyft. Some people do it as a full time job and some just do it here and there for a little extra money. I’ve used the Uber service many times and every driver has been very nice telling me their reason for driving Uber. With that said I’ve discovered some issues. Uber and Lyft drivers, need the right car for the job. For starters, they want a model that is reliable. Besides you don’t want to be dealing with repairs and down time. Fuel economy is another important thing to consider. You’ll be driving many more miles than most drivers, gas costs can quickly add up. Buying a fuel-efficient model will save your bottom line. A spacious rear seat is a good idea as it will help your drivers be more comfortable – and heck it’s all about that five-star rating. Many drivers Lease directly from the driving service to work, however I find that to be very expensive $1,000 -$2000 a month! Now you are committed to doing this full time, some of the drivers that have done this told me they wish they didn’t do it that way. If you need to buy and finance a car that you are considering to drive for Uber or Lyft. Here are some tips: *Buy late models that are still under factory warranty / that always saves you money. *Get the financing with your regular job don’t list the driving service as your primary source of income Reason being they will know you are using it for commercial and may deny the application or charge more interest. These are 5 of my recommendations based on reliability, EPA gas mileage estimates, rear-seat dimensions, etc. the numbers I give you will be based on 2018 models., but again buying a year or 2 older will have close numbers too and will save you money. I think sedans are the best options for rideshare drivers, along with SUVs . A sedan is likely the better option over an SUV for the vast majority of Lyft and Uber drivers, since they generally have a lower base price and get much higher fuel economy . Toyota Camry or Honda Accord Reliability Score: 4.5/5 (2018) | 29/41 mpg city/hwy Both have been at the top of the midsize car class you’ll find the Toyota Camry. This is another sedan that’s stood the test of time (sometimes quite literally, since it’s famously reliable).The Camry, like the Accord, offers a roomy interior, loads of standard safety systems, and good fuel economy. Not as techy looking as the Accord but easy-to-drive model, so you won’t get too tired driving all day. Overall, the Accord and Camry’s cabin is upscale and attractive, and it has spacious seats. Rear-seat legroom clocks in at 38 inches, while hiproom for back-seat passengers stands at 54.7 inches. A Wi-Fi hot spot comes standard – an appealing extra you can offer your riders in the hunt for a five-star rating. Ford Fusion or Chevy Malibu (consider Hybrid models) Reliability Score: 4.0/5 (2018) | 43/41 mpg city/hwy . The Ford Fusion and Chevy Hybrid is a midsize sedan like the Accord and Camry from the previous slides, but some have hybrid powertrain that helps it earn better gas mileage. Its performance is perfectly suited to city driving, with a comfortable and composed ride. The cabin is high end and has loads of standard features, including a Wi-Fi hot spot you could let your passengers connect to. This sedan has good back-seat space, with 54.4 inches of hiproom and 38.3 inches of legroom. Most adults will be comfortable sitting in the back. Now the SUVs As with the best sedans for rideshare drivers. Some of you may prefer something a bit larger with a higher ride height. SUVs are a good choice especially as a a few models feature a third row of seats, giving you the option of taking higher-value Uber XL or Lyft XL fares. Kia Sportage and others similar Reliability Score: 4.5/5 (2018) | 22/29 mpg city/hwy Compact SUVs like the Kia Sportage are a good choice because of its excellent blend of performance and interior comfort. This model is reasonably athletic while still being smooth on rough roads, and it has a peppy engine, along with a quiet and high-class cabin. its rear seat isn’t as roomy as other models with 38.2 inches of legroom and 51.2 inches of hiproom. You can always go bigger , however consider the gas mileage. Kia Sorento Going a Little bigger Reliability Score: 4.0/5 (2018) | 22/29 mpg city/hwy the Kia Sorento, is a midsize SUV. It has a more luxurious and comfortable interior. This model has a wider back seat, with 56.4 inches of rear hiproom. Its 39.4 inches of legroom is great, too. And some mid-size SUVs like the Sorrento have a third row of seats, so you can sign up for Uber XL. Just be aware that the third-row seats are on the cramped side, so passengers back there may not be particularly happy. If you are not sure about my choices here is the top 10 list from US News 10 Best Cars and SUVs for Uber and Lyft Drivers Best Sedans for Uber and Lyft Drivers 5) 2019 Honda Accord - Reliability Score: 4.0/5 (2018) | 30/38 mpg city/hwy 4) 2019 Toyota Camry - Reliability Score: 4.5/5 (2018) | 29/41 mpg city/hwy 3) 2019 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Reliability Score: 4.0/5 (2018) | 43/41 mpg city/hwy 2) 2019 Honda Accord Hybrid - Reliability Score: 4.0/5 (2018) | 48/48 mpg city/hwy 1) 2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid - Reliability Score: 4.5/5 (2018) | 51/53 mpg city/hwy Best SUVs for Uber and Lyft Drivers 5) 2019 Kia Sportage - Reliability Score: 4.5/5 (2018) | 22/29 mpg city/hwy 4) 2019 GMC Terrain - Reliability Score: 4.0/5 (2018) | 26/30 mpg city/hwy 3) 2019 Ford Escape - Reliability Score: 4.5/5 (2018) | 21/29 mpg city/hwy 2) 2019 Kia Sorento - Reliability Score: 4.0/5 (2018) | 22/29 mpg city/hwy 1) 2019 Ford Explorer - Reliability Score: 4.5/5 (2018) | 17/24 mpg city/hwy Hope this helps Good Driving The Hemet Car Guy