commuting 60miles each way, 40mpg, stupid?

[numnutz]

Tbh, a long commute just plain sucks. I've done 110 miles daily, for almost 2 years now, in various cars (including my 200sx for 6 months). I do the commute to get to a fairly specialist job, and get paid enough to justify doing it. However it's a real drag some days. Winter is especially hard, as it's just dark on both journeys.

Working from home days are a godsend, see if you can get any of those in the deal. But seriously consider if it's worth it, can you not move closer to the job? If it's a stepping board, how longs it going to take to where you want to be, i.e How long are you going to be doing the drive.

 

[GeX]

No way in a million years would i do that drive in such a small engined eggbox of a car, thats going to be a nightmare.

I commute 70 miles per day at around 28mpg and don't have any problems with it.

Looking at your Sig your car has 210 bhp but what kerb weight? I have around 120 bhp and 700kg, the engine is only 400cc smaller

 

[Janesy B]

Didn't realise power = comfort

 

[GinG]

Assuming £1.05/L, I make that over £70 a week in fuel - unless its a very well paying job, it isn't something I'd consider - perhaps consider a Diesel?

That said, if you will go for the job regardless, you need to really think whether the extra 10MPG of anything but the most modern Dervs is going to be worth it.

This is why I want a more economical car, I have a ~25 mile commute and in my ST24 I am paying approx £40 a week in fuel!

I could pay a loan & fuel costs for the same price in something like a Mondeo TDCI!

 

[Firestar_3x]

Looking at your Sig your car has 210 bhp but what kerb weight? I have around 120 bhp and 700kg, the engine is only 400cc smaller

What’s that got to do with how good the car is on the motorway?

Mine has far more interior comfort / soundproofing / doesn't get bashed about by the wind / better weighted steering designed for long drives / cruise control / climate control the list goes on.

Coupled with the fact that not only is the engine bigger but it’s geared differently, my car will sit at over 120mph on the autobahn all day long, yours can't do this.

Usually bigger cars are better for longer drives, i should know i've had several smaller cars and done the same trips in them the difference to how tired you feel is night and day.

 

[Dup]

Looking at your Sig your car has 210 bhp but what kerb weight? I have around 120 bhp and 700kg, the engine is only 400cc smaller

But he has a longer wheelbase car with larger diameter wheels. Those alone will make sitting in one lane at a constant speed quite a bit easier.

The main difference is his car will have longer gears and will rev lower at speed than a small hatchback. It will also have plenty of sound insulation which is another factor. You don't want to spend an hour+ at 70mph with the interior panels resonating through your head becasue your car is revving at 5krpm at 70mph.

 

[Howard]

Yeah in this case I think the comfort aspect outweighs the power/economy argument. My MX5 has more power than my Honda but I feel a great deal more vulnerable and uncomfortable on a dark cold wet motorway in the MX5, let alone a Cinquecento. I had one, btw. Although it didn't quite have 120bhp

 

[Columbo]

Fir 4 years I drove Worksop > Nottingham Commute was around 76mi round trip via M1 or A614.

It soon becomes an absolute chore to do.

Some mornings would take an hour + and coming home was worse. Car was a Mondeo ST 2.2TDCI which was a lovely drive but it wasn't long before I hated my car and driving in general.

I now do a 3.3mi commute couldn't be happier.

 

[Dogbreath]

I would advise against it if at all possible. It will probably be fine for a bit whilst there is still a novelty factor but it will quickly become a massive chore. You have to get up earlier, get home later and deal with thousands of idiots on the roads everyday. You will put huge mileage on your car with the associated costs and if it breaks to the point of not being immediately fixable you have a problem.

 

[smokedog]

silly idea?

Depends how much you are getting paid, 6 figure salary... maybe.

 

[jaysus]

It'd need to be a big enough pay rise to be able to comfortably afford, a) extra running costs, wear and tear, insurance etc, b) a well equipped motorway cruiser and c) still have lots of change left over.

Assuming its 9-5 I couldn't do it myself personally - shift work maybe, when you're not using the motorway at peak times - but seems a bit much really.

 

[LiE]

Pretty much what everyone else said. The only reason I do this commute is because my car and fuel are paid for, I work from home 2 days a week and I get paid decently. I wouldn't do it for any less.

 

[Adam]

Assuming £1.05/L, I make that over £70 a week in fuel - unless its a very well paying job, it isn't something I'd consider - perhaps consider a Diesel?

That said, if you will go for the job regardless, you need to really think whether the extra 10MPG of anything but the most modern Dervs is going to be worth it.

I pay more than this each week and commute to work on the train. The cost is very much dependant on the compensation package you are offered.

I would be more concerned about the travelling time when commuting to work.

 

[numnutz]

Looking at your Sig your car has 210 bhp but what kerb weight? I have around 120 bhp and 700kg, the engine is only 400cc smaller

What the hell man, firstly It's not standard and puts out closer to 270hp. Secondly, why the hell does it matter? 200SX's were designed as grand tourers anyhow, but as it stands it's not the most comfy of things to ride around in. It does however benefit from being a lazy drive, i.e the engine + blower provides enough power to waft around in, without having to press on.

A cinq isn't going to be a nice place to rattle around in for 3+ hours a day, period.



P.S. I've got a passat TDI that I commute in now, that has a kerb weight of 1415Kg, and wheelbase of 2.703m. It also has 4 cupholders so when I'm really thirsty I can (relatively) safely have 4 drinks on the go.

 

[LiE]

It's all about the cupholders and heated seats.

 

[Firestar_3x]

Bah, its all about the chilled glove box and you know it!

 

[Cyanide]

It's all about the cupholders and heated seats.

Bah, its all about the chilled glove box and you know it!

I wish I had these things

Cars should be bought on the quality/inventiveness of their cupholders alone

 

[I get around]

My dad commutes 50 miles, his car does 25-35mpg. I keep telling him to get a diesel because he uses his own car and has no fuel allowance but he won't listen. The amount he spends on fuel is ridiculous.

Knackering on him, but it's doable.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Totally stupid here. Here is why.

a) Work life balance will suck. Up to 3 hours a day, outside your working day, in a car. Great! Sounds good.

b) It will suck a load of cash and ruin your enjoyment of your because it'll become just a tool. You'll spend a fortune fuelling it and reliability will suddenly become mission critical. If anything goes wrong, you cant get to work. A Cinq isnt the most reliable of cars for this sort of punishment day in, day out, is it?

c) Commuting in a Cinq is a great idea, if you live in a city. It is not a long distance car. You need to arrive at work relaxed, refreshed and ready for a days work. You wont in a Cinq. Neither willl you arrive home after work ready to enjoy your free time.

I did 100 miles a day for a bit, it sucked and thats despite:

i) Doing it in a BMW 5 Series
ii) My employer paying relocation expenses which completely covered the cost of doing so.

I now drive 4 miles to work and 4 miles back. It's awesome and I'd need a £10k payrise before I'd consider doing 100 miles a day again.

Unless this is a decent job with a decent (£60k+) salary, dont waste your time.

 

[Gaygle]

The car is 1.4 16v cinquecento sporting.

I have around 120 bhp and 700kg, the engine is only 400cc smaller

You sure? What year is it? Did they make a 1.4 Cinquecento?