Commuting by car, anyone else gone from a small to large one?

[Malt_Vinegar]

My Current commute is 80 miles round trip, wheras previously I was doing a 36 mile round trip, however, they take roughly the same amount of time..

As I said before, I always look at the commute in relation to the job, its working hours, flexibility, enjoyment, and future development.

For example some roles will be much more flexible, and allow earlier starts and earlier leaving for parents. This in itself might half commuting times! So you have to take everything into the decisions. Only you really know what is best for you.

 

[Dav4]

but it's A1 all the way, so I am just going to go and a cheap small French diesel for it.

Why do u want to make yourself miserable Hope u have breakdown cover and a bag of money as diesel and French sound like a disaster.

 

[phil675]

An hour each way is the maximum I would ever do. All my jobs seem to have been out of town. I find commuting on a motorbike is much more fun and makes the time go quicker.

 

[Dav4]

^^^ wish I could do and afford that.

It's only since changing from 7 miles to 50 miles that I noticed how utterly slow the 1.8 lump is in the mondeo.

How many mpg do u get out of the 1.8? I get 25mpg out of a 3.0 V6 that's driven hard and it only costs £10 a week more than my previous 2.0 Focus that was supposed to return 35mpg.
Think u would be surprised at some cars u can get that are quick but also have reasonable mpg.
Take the new Fiesta ST for example meant to be one of the funnest cars to drive and is a very quick car but yet still gets around 35mpg.

 

[NoNameNoNumber]

When I finally move into my new house my commute will have doubled OP... Its nearly 2.5 miles EACH WAY to work now
My heater barely has time to get warm ffs

 

[Liquid_Entity]

How many mpg do u get out of the 1.8? I get 25mpg out of a 3.0 V6 that's driven hard and it only costs £10 a week more than my previous 2.0 Focus that was supposed to return 35mpg.
Think u would be surprised at some cars u can get that are quick but also have reasonable mpg.
Take the new Fiesta ST for example meant to be one of the funnest cars to drive and is a very quick car but yet still gets around 35mpg.

Never worked it out but probably about 30 I'd say. It's more that it's just slow. Put the pedal to the metal and it just pootles along. Mpg isn't really a major factor it's more the cost of the car. I cannot afford a new or even remotely newer car than my 52 plate. No point switching from an £800 petrol shed to a similar diesel shed. Impending new family member and a big mortgage put that to bed see.

 

[atpbx]

Why do u want to make yourself miserable Hope u have breakdown cover and a bag of money as diesel and French sound like a disaster.

Nah it will be fine, the 1.5d engines in the newer french stuff is decent enough.

It really is just a case of 30 minutes each way at a decent time of day, no need to go overboard with anything.

 

[TripleT]

I'd class neither of those as long commutes.

45min - 1hr is pretty standard imo. It's the most I'd do though.

Buy a motorbike and watch that time half plus it's fun even in traffic.

 

[MichaelAwkward]

How many mpg do u get out of the 1.8? I get 25mpg out of a 3.0 V6 that's driven hard and it only costs £10 a week more than my previous 2.0 Focus that was supposed to return 35mpg.
Think u would be surprised at some cars u can get that are quick but also have reasonable mpg.
Take the new Fiesta ST for example meant to be one of the funnest cars to drive and is a very quick car but yet still gets around 35mpg.

I got 45.3mpg from my 1.8 mk3, which included an 8 hour round trip to Southampton, taking my mum to work and back twice, nipping to the local B&Q, other every day journeys over the past two weeks. It could do with a 6th gear, otherwise though it's perfectly happy sitting at 70@3000rpm.

 

[kefkef]

Nah it will be fine, the 1.5d engines in the newer french stuff is decent enough.

It really is just a case of 30 minutes each way at a decent time of day, no need to go overboard with anything.

I went from my 150 mile round trip commute to a shorter 15 mile round trip but then got my base moved and it was a 60 mile round trip. I did that in a Clio 1.5dci (04 plate) for 8 years. The only issue i ever had up until the last year of ownership was one frayed cable on the high pressure fuel line, £200 sorted that including diagnosis. In 10 yrs of owning it i called the AA twice, once for that fault and once for a snapped spring on the nearside front. Other than that it was bomb proof. So much so i am now in a 15 plate Clio 1.5dci. Still does the job, just a nicer place to be sat. Still over 65mpg for the commute also.

 

[mnet674]

I went from doing 5k a year to 2-2.5k a month and it still doesn't really feel like I spend that much time in the car. I think as long as you don't spend the trip crawling along in traffic it's quite easy for the miles to roll past without you realising!

 

[Liquidfox]

Take the new Fiesta ST for example meant to be one of the funnest cars to drive and is a very quick car but yet still gets around 35mpg.

Which the 225 will get no where near. I know I'm sat in the A1 Western Bypass roadworks every day, but I'm struggling to get higher than 24 at the minute. It was at 28 before they started... only another 12 months to go

 

[Tom_ed1987]

The key to a long commute if flexitime imo. Have to be in rigidly from 9-5? I'd never do it..

 

[TheVoice]

My last job was 11 miles away in Peterhead, my new one is 30 miles away in Aberdeen, made worse by the fact it's in the city so the last part getting there/first part getting home is slow progress.

It's okay at the moment, the drive isn't too bad but it's costing me on fuel and I'm left with a lot less free time because even on a good day with a clear run through, it's a 45 minute journey. Over the course of a week it's annoying to think you've spent 8+ hours just in your car.

 

[lude1962]

Its the short journeys on A, B roads that kill your car...
Once you done your long commute for a few weeks, its a doddle