20k Annual Commute

Nazbit

Nazbit

Nazbit

Soldato
Joined
11 Dec 2004
Posts
3,871
Hi all,

Let me apologize upfront for this post, which has no real structure, just my rambling thoughts! Hopefully you can add some ideas.

I currently have a W reg mk5 1.25 Fiesta, and do about 8,000 miles a year, this is 70% town and 30% motorway.

From early next year I will have a new commute to work, this will be 19,500 miles a year and is all motorway and dual carriage way.

So, there are a few things on my mind.......

1. Its a big increase in fuel outlay. I should get 40mpg on the trip in my current car, which I suppose is as high as I'm going to get from any petrol engine.....hmm is diesel a consideration.
2. Comfort - Do I want to do that mileage in a 10 year old 1.2 fiesta.

But I'm also conscious of the whole spending a few grand on a car, to "save" a few quid a month on fuel.

I suppose my options are...
  • Keep the car - No outlay on a replacement - 40mpg is fair enough
  • Get a 1 - 2k diesel motorway muncher - increased comfort - long term savings
  • Spend up to 5k on something nicer - make the commute as enjoyable as it can be - savings argument goes out of the window

I realize that these options are vast opposites, with some saving money and some spending it, but I cant help but worry about the comfort and enjoyment (I use that term relatively) of the commute, I think I need to find the balance of economy and comfort.

Again sorry for this random and disjointed post.

Any input welcome.
 
I'd be tempted not to bother unless there is a significant pay rise. A short and quick commute is one of the most valuable things you can get.

Assuming you have to take this job, I think I'd be tempted to replace the car with something nicer just because that sort of distance in a Fiesta would drive me bonkers.
 
If you current car is serviceable and cheap to run, I'd say stick with that for the time being. It wont be particularly comfortable, but it will be adequate. And it will give you time to settle into your new job, arrange your finances, and look around for something better if you choose.

A diesel will obviously give better MPGz but it will, as you say, cost more outlay in the first place. That said, in the long run, it would be a good replacement if you are going to keep it and be doing this commute for a long time.
 
I'd go for the new car option if it's affordable, just for the comfort etc. You'll be in the car a fairly long time! It'd take a long while to make a diesel worthwhile savings wise over keeping your current car, though if you're changing it anyway, it'd make sense.
 
I do 75 miles a day

When I took the job it was my first after uni so I thought "ahh, it will be alright" and put up with it.

Now, 2 years on, and moving to a new job, I am NEVER going back to a commute like that again. An hour each way, it just drains you.

Seriously, your time is worth more. Get a new job.
 
Morba said:
How long will the commute take?
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It will take about 50 mins in the morning and an hour to 1.10 in the evening. It currently takes me about 30-40 mins to commute just 7 miles across town through traffic.

[TW]Fox;17862071 said:
I'd be tempted not to bother unless there is a significant pay rise. A short and quick commute is one of the most valuable things you can get.

.
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I agree totally and Im very lucky at the moment, and its all about to change, on the one hand although its a big mileage increase it is perhaps only an extra 20 mins on a good day...hmm that sounded ok in my head but now Im reading it back its a fair chunk of time considering its a daily thing.

Skeeter said:
I do 75 miles a day

When I took the job it was my first after uni so I thought "ahh, it will be alright" and put up with it.

Now, 2 years on, and moving to a new job, I am NEVER going back to a commute like that again. An hour each way, it just drains you.

Seriously, your time is worth more. Get a new job.
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this worries me :-(
 
I do 35 miles each way to work and back up and down the A1. Takes 30-40 mins each way and I can't say I find it a problem at all.
 
Nazbit said:
this worries me :-(
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When I first started the commute I thought it would be ok.

Now, I dread it. I dread driving to work. It can take me anything from 50 minutes to 90 minutes depending on traffic and roadworks and all sorts.

Its 2 hours of my day every day that I loose.

Plus, I have now reached the '2 year or 12,000 mile service' interval in 9 months, spent £3000 on fuel in a year, and totally ruined the driving experience of my Clio as 99% of its time is spent at 50mph in a massive queue behind some lorries or a Honda Jazz.

While you may think you can financially do it, its just not worth it for the time and hassle it causes.

Howcome you are changing? Are you moving or is the job? If its the job is there relocation expenses?

But bottom line, my advice, dont do it. Look for another job.
 
I'm doing 125 miles a day at the moment temporarily, all my petrol is being paid for but I still want to cut my face off half the time. It's round the M25 though. Hate it.

In fairness I'm doing it in a 306 with a silly exhaust that's also blowing, so it's pretty much BWARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR all the way
 
Whether it's worth it is purely down to individual circstances.
The time it will take isn't too different to what you do now, though I know what you mean with the shorter journey. If i leave my office between 4.30 and 5.30 then it will take over 30 mins to do 7 miles :(
 
I will give my view, however bear in mind my job is slightly different as I don't commute but instead travel to various sites across the midlands and north of england covering 25-30k business miles a year.

I would go for comfort every time. Long journeys home in rush hour traffic are much more tolerable when you have an armchair of a drivers seat, and all of the options to make things that bit more bareable (cruise control, bluetooth handsfree, decent sound system, low road noise, torquey engine, sat nav). Some days it's actually nice to get back to the car to chill out with music or catch up with friends/colleagues on the phone.

For reference I drive a Volvo S60 D5.
 
Just give it a go, ignore anyone saying you'll want to cut yourself for being in a car for 20 minutes longer each way. They aren't you, don't do your job, and don't do your commute.

The novelty will fade, so give it a few months before deciding. Pointless to spend money on cars straight away.
 
My commute is 12 miles, and ranges from 20 mins to 60 mins, certainly helps being in a more comfortable car when theres traffic, especially when its cold, my old Fiesta took an age to warm up! (Even the Focus seems too >.<)

If you have a crappy commute it can affect you, get something nice :)
 
Telescopi said:
ignore anyone saying you'll want to cut yourself for being in a car for 20 minutes longer each way. They aren't you, don't do your job, and don't do your commute.
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Unless his commute involves being chaffuer driven in a Rolls Royce then frankly most people here, including myself, have experience of such commutes. Mine was straight up the A38 with the cruise control on in a BMW 5 Series - I doubt many had an 'easier' several hour a day commute.

It's something that has to be considered - once you've quit your existing job and taken up the new job it's rather too late to just 'see how it goes'.

For me, I would want a substantial payrise of at least £10k to be worth trading my existing 2200 mile a year commute for a 19.5k mile a year commute. The effect it has on your time, your quality of life, your bank balance and your car should not be underestimated.

Especially when the costs involved with such commutes are set only to rise as oil prices and fuel prices continue to increase. Why expose yourself to that unless absolutely neccessary?
 
[TW]Fox;17863408 said:
Especially when the costs involved with such commutes are set only to rise as oil prices and fuel prices continue to increase. Why expose yourself to that unless absolutely neccessary?
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Because not everyone works in an industry which has job opportunities on every street corner, people want to live in the countryside and stay out of more crowded city areas.

Seems quite simple to me.
 
Skeeter said:
I do 75 miles a day

When I took the job it was my first after uni so I thought "ahh, it will be alright" and put up with it.

Now, 2 years on, and moving to a new job, I am NEVER going back to a commute like that again. An hour each way, it just drains you.

Seriously, your time is worth more. Get a new job.
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An hour in a car is a hell of a lot nicer than millions of people experience every single day commuting into London via public transport. I regularly experience both depending on contract, and i must say i am loving my hour long door to door car commute with this long term one, rather than the trains/tube at rush hour.

You just get in, sit there listenting to chris evans/steve wright, then appear home after a quick daydream. Its bliss in comparison to that which millions of others experience. Do you have any idea how minging it is waiting for a train in the winter, only to find you can barely squeeze on it when it does arrive? Then we have the tube after that, plus often a walk when into the city.

You either have little tolerence to driving or the wrong car. I really do not notice my 100 mile round trip commute, its relaxing, warm, ideal.
 
Yours is different Jez due to the nature of your work. Travelling for work is fine, commuting is different. It's done in your personal time at your personal expense.
 
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