Is 100 miles a day too far to commute?

Five_Star

Five_Star

Five_Star

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After reading the How many miles do you do a week commuting thread its got me thinking about just how far is too far when looking for the next job?

I've been lucky in that I used to get the train to work, all of 15 minutes, then later in another job 20 minutes of walk / bus to work.

Now I'm looking at spending more than an hour each way and about 100 miles per day total in the car just to commute.

Having never experienced this before am I going to hate the job and resent the work because I'm forever travelling and stuck in traffic? The route is mainly A roads and some dual carriageway here in the North East but with some nice parts notorious for congestion.

So is it worth it?
 
It depends on a number of things... if your were working an 8hr day then an hour drive either end should be no problem. But also depends on what job you do.
I do a job that is very physically demanding and in the past have done 12hr days with an hour travell either end, but this was empty motorway door to door. After a few months it got very boring...
 
When I'm in the UK I commute 120 miles per day. I sit in a good-sized automatic car and think about the day, life, the universe and everything. I have been doing long commutes combined with long work days for years now, and while I would appreciate shorter ones, it's worth doing for a good job.
 
PMKeates said:
When I'm in the UK I commute 120 miles per day. I sit in a good-sized automatic car and think about the day, life, the universe and everything. I have been doing long commutes combined with long work days for years now, and while I would appreciate shorter ones, it's worth doing for a good job.
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But you need to be earning big money - how much a month do you spend in fuel?
 
This is my concern. The job I am looking at is the same money I was on before redundancy just the new position is now 54 miles away on the map.

I'll be sat at a desk for the 8 hours at work, not physically demanding but tough mentally sometimes.

Its interesting that the drive home could be relaxing, travelling by public transport is anything but.
 
50 miles each way I'd do, all depends on the journey/how long it'd take.

If it's the choice of no job or this, then I'd take this. Even if it costs, you still actually have a job :p As much as it pains me to say it, get a diesel that'll do at least 500 miles to a tank and it doesn't now seem too bad.

My current commute is 25 miles each way and takes about 35mins in the car to the park and ride, then about another 15mins bus into town.

I'm looking for new jobs though as in 18months I'll be made redundant, however down here they aren't that many suitable roles so will have to look further afield :(

[TW]Fox;17403308 said:
But you need to be earning big money - how much a month do you spend in fuel?
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Out of interest what price would you put on having to travel 100 miles a day? ;)
 
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[TW]Fox;17403308 said:
But you need to be earning big money - how much a month do you spend in fuel?
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Probably £500 a month.

But then, I am running a 3 litre automatic petrol. I personally would dislike doing it in anything less, but I could probably do it in a car with better fuel consumption.
 
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I used to commute 70 miles a day during a work placement, didn't bother me at all. I quite enjoyed it.

If the job was good then 100 miles a day wouldn't concern me.
 
Yes with the prospect of no job or 54 miles at the start and end of the day it isn't the end of the world I guess.

The Focus ST will have to be sidelined for a diesel, the short list is:

Mondeo
Volvo S60 or V70
BMW 320d

There may well be a further 'spec me' if I actually need to get something in the coming weeks
 
Ev0 said:
Out of interest what price would you put on having to travel 100 miles a day? ;)
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£35k+. Otherwise when you look at the takehome pay its just not worth it. PMKeates fuel bill is £500 a month. My fuel bill in the same car is £50 a month for commuting.

Taking into account tax etc etc you'd need to earn what, another £7k a year before tax just to break even?
 
For the right money to allow you, as above, to offset the drastic increase in fuel/running costs, yes. Otherwise, no. Pretty much wont matter what car you run, 100miles a day will eat a hole in your pocket if the pay isnt high enough
 
[TW]Fox;17403452 said:
£35k+. Otherwise when you look at the takehome pay its just not worth it. PMKeates fuel bill is £500 a month. My fuel bill in the same car is £50 a month for commuting.

Taking into account tax etc etc you'd need to earn what, another £7k a year before tax just to break even?
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You'd want a lot more than £35k a year.
For me' it was needing over £45k, but then i have other commitments I guess as well.


As already said, if it's an hours drive on average after a normal shift, 100 miles and more is ok.
It's when the average creeps to over 3 hours travelling a day and longer shifts. The drive becomes very annoying then!
 
PMKeates said:
Probably £500 a month.

But then, I am running a 3 litre automatic petrol. I personally would dislike doing it in anything less, but I could probably do it in a car with better fuel consumption.
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Lol. Wouldn't do it in anything less than a big engined petrol? Anyone would think you drive a bentley or an Aston :p
 
I commute 75 miles each way just to go to medical school. I thought it would drive me mad but actually it gives me time to unwind before I get home. I take the 911 ocasionally but most days I do it in the Cooper S, hardly a luxury vehicle compared to the 911 or the rx350 but I don't get out upset or mad at the world.
 
I couldn't do it. I want to be home as soon as I can when I've finished work; having to drive for an hour or more in peak hour traffic would drive me insane.
 
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