« Super Birthday Snake | Main | Humpty Day »
August 17, 2004
Zipadeedooda
Remember the late '90s, when there was that big internet boom, and everyone and their sister worked for a start-up that was going to change the world, and you could get anything in the whole world you could ever want online, and then everything went up in smoke and none of your friends had jobs? Ah, those were the days.
Anyway, we all know how sad we were when kozmo.com and bigwords.com and all those other cool things went under. But one crazy-ass web-based service was so ridiculous and yet so brilliantly executed that it rocks the cold booty to this day. Currently lacking in wheels, Girl-E joined ZipCar last week and took her first spin on Saturday. And in all honesty, we fear this shit could get seriously addictive.
In case you don't live in Boston, DC, or New York, or live in a hole somewhere, ZipCar is a "wheels when you want them" service where you can go online and reserve a snappy little car that happens to be parked right near your house and drive it whenever and whereever you want for $8.50 an hour, including gas and insurance. They used to all be lime green with a giant ZipCar ad on the side which was like so embarrassing, but now they've changed their fleet to silver with only a small decal on the back. But here's the kicker-- while ZipCar is way cheaper than owning a car, and is designed for people in the city so they never have to buy one, the fact is that there is nothing like driving a ZipCar to give you pure, unadulterated car lust.
See, the snappy little ZipCar parked right near your house is not a Camry or a Taurus or an El Camino. It is a 2004 Prius or Beetle or Scion (xA and xB) or RAV-4. Ok there are a few Jettas and Foc...i, but they're all new and zippy. So while part of you says "oh cool, I can drive all these neat cars for very little money whenever I want," the other part of you says "if I don't go online and order a custom Scion xA right this second I'm going to die."
So anyway, Girl-E will be waving her ZipCard (which unlocks your reserved car only for YOU) around like semaphore, so just let us know if you want a joy ride at any hour of the day.
In other events, we'd like to thank the lovely Jess and Robbie and all those high school boys for being smashing hosts this weekend in Rhode Island and we are so sorry we didn't bring a gift or wash the sheets.
Also, we totally love how psyched boston.com is about Prince.
Posted by The Twins at August 17, 2004 12:20 PM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
/cgi-bin/mt-tb.cgi/349
Comments
DUDE I WANT IN.
also, i want to go to boston some weekend, i just need to pick one!
Posted by: kate at August 17, 2004 03:04 PM
You, my friend, can get in, as they are in operation in NYC.
And any weekend you want, girl (except Sept. 18-19 or Oct. 9-10, when I will be not be here, so don't do that).
Posted by: EV at August 17, 2004 03:19 PM
hmm. i will only have to drive my car for like 1800 hours to come anywhere near this prime value! and it's the same car over and over and over.
*sigh*
-the country girl
Posted by: snowy at August 17, 2004 04:15 PM
ok. i just figured it out. i am paying 8.50 a day for my car with a 5 year loan. now i don't feel so bad. of course that doesn't include gas or insurance, so maybe i am back to feeling bad again.
Posted by: snowy at August 17, 2004 04:17 PM