[mhneu]

Disagree. First, time value of money. The Prius costs $24k that you don't get to invest over the time you're driving. Let's call that $1-2k. Plus, most drivers will pay interest on financing the car. ($1-5k depending on credit rating). Then add: Car washing/cleaning (and/or time spent doing so). Repair (as you noted). Maintenance: oil changes, wiper replacement, tire changes. (In the opposite direction, depreciation is overestimated because you're throwing the car away after 5 years).

That gets your $15.5k down much closer to zero.

The article's bottom line is that Uber/Lyft drivers are getting paid way, way below minimum wage when all expenses are taken into account. That's left intact by the above calulcations, even if the numbers vary by 20% high or low.

[sokoloff]

> First, time value of money. The Prius costs $24k that you don't get to invest over the time you're driving. Let's call that $1-2k. Plus, most drivers will pay interest on financing the car. ($1-5k depending on credit rating)

You can't assume that the owner has paid cash for the car (forgoing investing the $24K) AND assume they finance the $24K and ding their P&L with finance charges. (It's double counting.)