Contemplating 160 mile daily commute - crazy? Advice needed.
Discussion
Hi All.
I have just been offered a new job that would be a 160 mile daily commute from/to my home. The route would be primarily motorway (M40), travelling north in the morning. I will have a choice of diesel company cars and would only have to pay for fuel (no chance of getting it expensed). I currently do a daily 80 mile commute. Moving house to be closer to the new job is not an option for the next 18 months due to the OH.
Is a 160 mile daily round trip too much do you think? Does anyone have any experience of this length of daily commute they are willing to share?
This role is pretty much a dream job for me and thus I need a bit of perspective from you guys as, right now, I am thinking that 160 miles won't be too bad in a comfy car.... :-)
Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.
I have just been offered a new job that would be a 160 mile daily commute from/to my home. The route would be primarily motorway (M40), travelling north in the morning. I will have a choice of diesel company cars and would only have to pay for fuel (no chance of getting it expensed). I currently do a daily 80 mile commute. Moving house to be closer to the new job is not an option for the next 18 months due to the OH.
Is a 160 mile daily round trip too much do you think? Does anyone have any experience of this length of daily commute they are willing to share?
This role is pretty much a dream job for me and thus I need a bit of perspective from you guys as, right now, I am thinking that 160 miles won't be too bad in a comfy car.... :-)
Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.
Hi All.
I am genuinely blown away from all the advice; and great advice as well. Thank you all. Reading your posts has really helped me to step away from the excitement of the new job and think more objectively about the commute time, fuel costs and impact on myself and herself after such a long commute.
The OH & I have no kids - yet! But I have a feeling within the next two years one may magically appear. According to Google the commute would be between 75 - 90 minutes on average, depending on time of day. The company do have a flexible working policy so, after the initial few months getting up to speed, I expect I could work at least one day a week from home.I'll have a laptop too to be able to wfh.
The commute is 80 miles each way, double what I do at the moment. Not yet sure on the start time but I expect there would be some flexibility to leave earlier to/from work. Staying over the odd night could be an option but I would prefer not to; still, it is possible it would become more appealing! I've looked into the train as an option but, crikey, is it expensive. It is much cheaper to drive, especially as it will be a company car.
From speaking to the OH last night, she is up for a move further north from where we are in a year's time; can't do it before that as she has some work commitments.
Dan_1981, I'll have a look at your thread from two years ago - thanks for the link. And that is great mpg from the Saab!
SWH, thanks for the mpg from your cars and the advice on type of car. I'll definitely be getting a diesel with gadgets and a good stereo so I can listen to Radio 4.
SidewaysSi, you've raised some points I hadn't thought about that are important. I'll have a think about that.
Piersman2, you sound like me! I'm in Berkshire too and will be heading a similar direction.
What have I learned so far? A long commute, while do-able, would not be anyone's preference. But the M40 is a good road to have to do it on and, with the right car, not too horrific. Short-medium term, it should not drive me crazy but best to make the move closer to the job long term. WFH at least a day a week will help and there is always the option to stay overnight now and then. For a dream job, is the reward worth the pain? After reading & thinking about all the above, I think it just might be.......I'll have a proper think over the coming days.
Thanks again all and I will keep you posted.
I am genuinely blown away from all the advice; and great advice as well. Thank you all. Reading your posts has really helped me to step away from the excitement of the new job and think more objectively about the commute time, fuel costs and impact on myself and herself after such a long commute.
The OH & I have no kids - yet! But I have a feeling within the next two years one may magically appear. According to Google the commute would be between 75 - 90 minutes on average, depending on time of day. The company do have a flexible working policy so, after the initial few months getting up to speed, I expect I could work at least one day a week from home.I'll have a laptop too to be able to wfh.
The commute is 80 miles each way, double what I do at the moment. Not yet sure on the start time but I expect there would be some flexibility to leave earlier to/from work. Staying over the odd night could be an option but I would prefer not to; still, it is possible it would become more appealing! I've looked into the train as an option but, crikey, is it expensive. It is much cheaper to drive, especially as it will be a company car.
From speaking to the OH last night, she is up for a move further north from where we are in a year's time; can't do it before that as she has some work commitments.
Krikkit said:
What I'd do is test it out - take a day off work, get up and do your potential new morning commute and see how it feels. Repeat at tea time.
A great idea and one I will do over the next week.Dan_1981, I'll have a look at your thread from two years ago - thanks for the link. And that is great mpg from the Saab!
SWH, thanks for the mpg from your cars and the advice on type of car. I'll definitely be getting a diesel with gadgets and a good stereo so I can listen to Radio 4.
SidewaysSi, you've raised some points I hadn't thought about that are important. I'll have a think about that.
Piersman2, you sound like me! I'm in Berkshire too and will be heading a similar direction.
What have I learned so far? A long commute, while do-able, would not be anyone's preference. But the M40 is a good road to have to do it on and, with the right car, not too horrific. Short-medium term, it should not drive me crazy but best to make the move closer to the job long term. WFH at least a day a week will help and there is always the option to stay overnight now and then. For a dream job, is the reward worth the pain? After reading & thinking about all the above, I think it just might be.......I'll have a proper think over the coming days.
Thanks again all and I will keep you posted.
ZOLLAR said:
What company car did you choose?
I chose an auto Range Rover Evoque (HSE Dynamic Lux) with the higher output diesel engine. I've never had an SUV/4x4 before and thought it would be a good time to try it. From what I am told they are comfy, filled with gadgets, decent mpg with the Ingenium engine and make good motorway cruisers.An alternative is a Jag XE which is also tempting...Right choice? What do you think?
Hi All.
I thought I would update you after c. 4 weeks commuting 148 miles daily from Berkshire to Warwickshire and back. Well, it isn't as bad as I was fearing! It's taking me c. 1hr 10mins to travel the distance, starting out between 0630-0700 each morning. I have 11 miles on fast A roads and 63 miles on the M40. Besides a 2 3/4 hour time to travel 2 miles yesterday due to an accident, I think this might just be doable. I am relieved.
Currently, I am driving more like an old man to keep the fuel cost down in the Evoque but, now with cheap fuel, I think the lead foot will return...
I have the Evoque since 21 Dec and an now just over 3k miles! As I have to change the car at 6k miles I will be choosing the next car. So, I'd appreciate your thoughts. Here's the choice; XE 2.0d R-Sport, XF 2.d R-Sport or an XE S with the 3.0d v6. Also, what colour do you think look best?
Looking forward to reading your views.
I thought I would update you after c. 4 weeks commuting 148 miles daily from Berkshire to Warwickshire and back. Well, it isn't as bad as I was fearing! It's taking me c. 1hr 10mins to travel the distance, starting out between 0630-0700 each morning. I have 11 miles on fast A roads and 63 miles on the M40. Besides a 2 3/4 hour time to travel 2 miles yesterday due to an accident, I think this might just be doable. I am relieved.
Currently, I am driving more like an old man to keep the fuel cost down in the Evoque but, now with cheap fuel, I think the lead foot will return...
I have the Evoque since 21 Dec and an now just over 3k miles! As I have to change the car at 6k miles I will be choosing the next car. So, I'd appreciate your thoughts. Here's the choice; XE 2.0d R-Sport, XF 2.d R-Sport or an XE S with the 3.0d v6. Also, what colour do you think look best?
Looking forward to reading your views.
Mikees, yes you're right :-). Glad to also hear you dd Maidenhead to Solihull for two years without going mad.
Daemon, I did a round trip to Ireland over Christmas and that accounts for about 1k miles of the total but I guess you're right; probably get to change cars between 2 & 3 times a year with the build times factored in unless they balk at that; but I've heard other people have done it. I've never had a new car before and said to my wife that I would treat myself at some point in the future; I didn't expect the treat to be this big...
Zx10R, I was leaning towards the XF myself but hear from people at the office that the XE is a better drivers car. But I guess on the motorway it doesn't matter.
Well thanks for the thoughts guys; appreciate it. Have a good weekend!
Daemon, I did a round trip to Ireland over Christmas and that accounts for about 1k miles of the total but I guess you're right; probably get to change cars between 2 & 3 times a year with the build times factored in unless they balk at that; but I've heard other people have done it. I've never had a new car before and said to my wife that I would treat myself at some point in the future; I didn't expect the treat to be this big...
Zx10R, I was leaning towards the XF myself but hear from people at the office that the XE is a better drivers car. But I guess on the motorway it doesn't matter.
Well thanks for the thoughts guys; appreciate it. Have a good weekend!
crazy about cars said:
1 hours 10 mins for your 160 miles commute? That's good!
I commute 18 miles each way and that can take from 30 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes each way if traffic is really bad. My average is around 50 minutes of commuting each way.
Just re-read my post and realised it was misleading. it is c. 1hr 10min each way (74-odd miles). Still, based on previous experience driving from Maidenhead to SLough when it could take up to 50 mins to drive c. 10 miles door-to-door, 1h 10m for 74 miles ain't bad. Your commute sounds similar.I commute 18 miles each way and that can take from 30 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes each way if traffic is really bad. My average is around 50 minutes of commuting each way.
The only slight concern is that the commute will never be much quicker but could get a lot longer over time. not yet succumbed to the boredom of driving the same long route. I am hoping the constantly changing cars will keep the interest up.
Craikeybaby said:
That is bloody good going! I'm guessing by the car choices you're at JLR? It usually takes me 45 minutes to get to Gaydon from Coventry when I'm there for meetings first thing.
I don't envy you heading to Gaydon. I see the line of backed-up traffic heading to the J12 M4 exit as I head north to J15 & Wellesbourne. The traffic to the site looks crazy. If I was based there I expect my commute would almost double.silent ninja said:
Time is more of a factor than distance. I go through a congested part if the country so the 60 mile commute one way takes 1hr45...if there are incidents like this Monday - it took 2hr40 there then 2hrs bsck- then it can get pretty frustrating.
Impact on personal life is great. Sometimes I feel like a taxi/hgv driver. There's no time for gym after work and no quality time with family - can't even find time to help kids with homework on weekdays.
I'm now doing 1 day from home and commute either super early (5.30am set off) or late (8.30am) because I've found traffic in the middle just too heavy. If I leave late its a mere 1hr10 journey which is not hard at all.
I say if the experience and role is worth it's value, aim to do it 6-12 months. Long drives really wear you down...
You're right there; time is more of a factor than distance. I was getting caught up in the "it's 74 miles away!?!" but the average commute time is better than some friends who are much closer ditance-wise to their offices (much like some of the other posters). Once I got the distance from home out of my head, things settled down. ALthough, if the M40 ever closes.....well I might just bring a tent in the car as a precaution.Impact on personal life is great. Sometimes I feel like a taxi/hgv driver. There's no time for gym after work and no quality time with family - can't even find time to help kids with homework on weekdays.
I'm now doing 1 day from home and commute either super early (5.30am set off) or late (8.30am) because I've found traffic in the middle just too heavy. If I leave late its a mere 1hr10 journey which is not hard at all.
I say if the experience and role is worth it's value, aim to do it 6-12 months. Long drives really wear you down...
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