If you commute 50+ miles ONE WAY please chime in...
If you commute 50+ miles ONE WAY please chime in...
10-01-09, 02:10 PM
#2
for about 9 months, my wife and i commute 120 miles a day. i drive 25 miles to drop her off, and then i drive for another 35 miles to work. vise versa picking her up after work
to me, the commute was actually ok, didn't really feel it. i think as long as traffic isn't bad i don't have much issue with it. with reasonable traffic, 50 miles is like 50 mins? we left home around 8:30 in the morning and usually i got to my office around 9:35
to me, the commute was actually ok, didn't really feel it. i think as long as traffic isn't bad i don't have much issue with it. with reasonable traffic, 50 miles is like 50 mins? we left home around 8:30 in the morning and usually i got to my office around 9:35
10-01-09, 02:10 PM
#3
I think there need to be some differences as well. 50+ miles on a clear highway might take a while, but it's not that draining... however slugging 25+ miles in traffic, can be worse.
I personally wouldn't mind an hour drive to work, if it was actually driving 60+ mph. But if it's an hour sitting in stop and go with an avg speed <30 mph, heck no.
I personally wouldn't mind an hour drive to work, if it was actually driving 60+ mph. But if it's an hour sitting in stop and go with an avg speed <30 mph, heck no.
10-01-09, 02:18 PM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
I used to drive 50 miles round trip, every day, from Vienna, VA to Silver Spring, Md, in the traffic-clogged D.C. area, back before the Metro Subway lines were finished. The subway changed everything for me, as my house was less than 2 miles from the nearest station. I then decided to use mass transit for work and use my own car for my own purposes, not the Government's. That became even more the case, of course, when I retired.
Of course, there are a lot of people who, in today's economy, have to take what jobs they can get, even if it is 50 or more miles from home, and there is no mass transit close by. And, to move closer to the job would require selling off a home...or finding a new one, and going right back into debt. For a lot of people, it is simpler and easier just to drive a long distance to work in a small, reliable gas-stingy commuter car or hybrid. I get a lot of requests for advice on buying small, commuter cars like this. Several of the people I've dealt with (including co-workers and ex-co-workers) have bought new Hyundai Accents or Kia Rios for long commutes and have been very pleased with them. They get almost the same mileage that some small hybrids do, and are much cheaper to buy.
Of course, there are a lot of people who, in today's economy, have to take what jobs they can get, even if it is 50 or more miles from home, and there is no mass transit close by. And, to move closer to the job would require selling off a home...or finding a new one, and going right back into debt. For a lot of people, it is simpler and easier just to drive a long distance to work in a small, reliable gas-stingy commuter car or hybrid. I get a lot of requests for advice on buying small, commuter cars like this. Several of the people I've dealt with (including co-workers and ex-co-workers) have bought new Hyundai Accents or Kia Rios for long commutes and have been very pleased with them. They get almost the same mileage that some small hybrids do, and are much cheaper to buy.
10-01-09, 02:24 PM
#7
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My internship is one year and I will be commuting 50 miles one way, 60% of which will be in traffic. It also looks like I will be working at this place after I finish my M.A., at which point I will probably be looking for a new car. My id craves a WRX and has for sometime, but given the horrible stop and go traffic a Prius would flat out make the most sense. I hate to give up my stick shift though.
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10-01-09, 02:28 PM
#9
Here's my thought on the beater vs the newer vehicle. I commute with my IS. It's only 20 miles one way but with traffic it could easily take an hour or more. The woman has a Yaris and it would probably be more economical for me to commute with her car and have her take mine for her 3 mile drive. But, if I'm going to be in the car for a prolonged period of time I want to be comfortable and damnit my IS is comfy 
10-01-09, 02:42 PM
#10
Lexus Champion
I used to have a 30 mile (each way) commute that took anywhere from 35 to 60 minutes. That was bad enough. If I had to do 50+ miles, especially at about the same average rate of speed as my aforementioned commute, I'd be ready to quit no matter how great the job was otherwise. Life's too short to be spending 2 to 3.5 hours a day sitting in a car going back and forth to work. I mean seriously, add in a 9 hour day at work and what do you have left for your actual life? Do you only want to live Saturday and Sunday?
10-01-09, 03:21 PM
#11
I use to commute 52 miles each way but it was short term lasting about 2 or 3 months. Although it was all highway, it still did bother me that I was putting all that mileage on. Obviously I would have to fill up twice a week. I know of I were to commute 35 miles plus or so, I would get a beater.
10-01-09, 03:58 PM
#12
a nicer car, quieter, you feel more "private" and better audio helps relax yourself. moreover, the much need power comes in handy when you just want to get ahead that little bit
that's why i didn't think twice before using the gs350 most of the time during that long commute stretch. racked up 30k miles in one year
10-01-09, 05:55 PM
#15
-your back will thank you for it
Don't take your health for granted.
Unless it's a lease (the reason for not racking up the excesssive mileage), then what's the purpose of having a comfortable let alone safer to car drive while it sits in the driveway and to torture yourself?