Isaiahc72

The cash. I'd probably buy a touring bike or a cargo bike

joao_pimentel

they are more transportational and less toys, than automobiles; and I believe segways are even faster than automobiles
Virtual speed - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Roody

Well, at a cost of $6,000, and a maximum kinetic speed of only 11 mph, I doubt if the Segway's virtual speed is much faster than a car's.

joao_pimentel

if the segway lasts 7 years you get an average of $70 per month, much less of an automobile average monthly cost
Automobile costs calculator

loky1179

I'd put that value at $3. For $3, I could still get a cup of coffee. For less than $3, I'd take the Segway. Which I could then ride to the coffee shop, and abandon. Or donate! I'm sure someone would want it.

Jseis 

Segways strike me as a device in search of a TV show...oh yes! Portlandia. $3K please.

Roody

You still have to charge them, and I don't know about insuring them.

joao_pimentel

insurance I suppose is not mandatory, and the electricity costs shall not be that expensive, though you may add $30 per month, still the total is much lower than the automobile

Roody

And much higher than the bicycle.

prathmann

Going by your link for my car it came out just a bit higher based mainly on depreciation cost since the calculator assumes this is a linear function over time. Actually almost all the depreciation has already happened so my actual monthly cost is well under your estimate for the Segway (which assumes no maintenance cost ever). But the Segway isn't suitable to replace any of my automobile trips. It could replace some of my shorter bike rides and a little walking. Both of those have much lower costs than the Segway.

joao_pimentel

you say that your automobile has an average monthly cost of $70? Sorry, I don't believe it!
If you don't mind kindly copy-paste the final report, because I think that is really implausible!
Thank you

joao_pimentel

sure, that is certain

wolfchild

Segways are not an alternative to cars or bikes. I've never seen anybody commuting on one and sharing the road with cars. They would also be useless in winter time....My bicycle has gotten me through the worst of the winter weather.

Zedoo

If they sell enough to make more models, I want two: a compact folder and a recumbent.

prathmann

Don't have any 'final report', but the main expenses are:
insurance (liability only) - $20/month
gas ($4/gal., 30 mpg, 2000 miles/year) = $270/yr or about $22/month
inspection plus assoc. maintenance = $50/two years or $2/month
veh. lic/tax - $100/year or about $8/month
repairs - none needed for last 6 years, but let's alloc. $120/yr or $10/month

Total: $62/month if depreciation isn't a factor - car is almost 20 years old and the minimal residual value fluctuates with the used car market and doesn't change much based on age.

But the main point was that the Segway wouldn't substitute for any of my car uses which are either for rare trips to pick up particularly heavy/bulky items (my bike can handle up to 100 lbs) or for trips that are too long to do by bike

joao_pimentel

I'm not a car expert nor a mechanic but with a 20 years old car, you tell me that you spend with repairs, inspection and maintenance an average of $2 per month!

We're talking about engine oil substitution, filters, lights, tires, breaks, air conditioning, steering alignment, car parts, glasses, modifications, faulty repairs, dents, collisions, tuning, etc.. $2/month? I don't bite it!

I-Like-To-Bike

Your talking about those expenses doesn't make them so. I didn't spend a single dime on any those items on my 2000 Honda Civic for the last 4 years.
It never failed to start and get me around and on the short trips that I bought it for in 2009, and added about 14,000 to its 144,000 miles before selling it this week. I got tired of looking at it in my driveway and paying about $250/yr for insurance. Unfortunately I will now lose the multicar insurance discount on my wife's car.

Roody

You were driving less than 3,000 miles a year, far less than typical. This probably explains a lot of your lower than typical repair expenses.

In my state, people spend closer to $250 a month for auto insurance.

Average Car Insurance By State | AverageCarInsurance.com

I-Like-To-Bike

Don't hold your breath waiting for Segway to sell many items. The novelty has worn off for the tech crowd and government entities probably won't continue to get them when they are so limited for outdoor use. Maybe Mall Cops might buy them to save some shoe leather.

Rowan

And therein lies the problem with your comments.

Rowan

The issue with the Segway running at full throttle is its limited range and high wear and tear on the components. I'd like to see a Segway do a trip from NY to LA.

Rowan

The future of Segway was always going to be in doubt after its inventor ran one off a cliff with him on board and killed himself.

I-Like-To-Bike

I pay what my State Farm agent bills for car insurance, not some average figure gleaned from the Internet. My last bill for 6 months coverage onthe 2000 Honda Civic was $117.96. So it wasn't $250/yr, it was $235.92/yr. Coverage included $500,000 liability, no deductible comprehensive, medical payments, uninsured motorist, and emergency road service. No collision insurance on the car itself. The rate included discounts for multicar, multiline policy (homeowners), and accident free record and less than 7500 miles driven per year.

The rate is $466.44/yr for my wife's 2003 Sentra which has the same coverage plus 250 deductible collision insurance as well as being driven over 7500 miles/yr.

Before someone posts about average inspection or emission testing costs; there are none in Iowa.

I-Like-To-Bike

Carrying bulky items or a passenger; snow or rough road or sidewalk conditions; non ADA compliant buildings or sidewalks? Too Dang Bad if a person depends on a Segway, Fuggediboutit!

I-Like-To-Bike

I doubt that any Segways, anywhere are driven over 3000 miles in a year in outdoor use; maybe possible in amusement park/carnival ride use.