Change car for 22 mile per day commute?

[dontfollowme]

I'm currently driving a 1.8 2003 petrol focus. Is it worth changing to something more economical for this sort of cummute? I currently walk to work but a change of job means I will be driving. It will be a messy commute too - from west Birmingham to South Birmingham.

I'd appreciate people's thoughts

[mnkiboy]

The Focus won't be worth much, so i'd probably run it in to the ground first. It certainly wouldn't be worth trading it in for a diesel for just 22 miles per day, if that's what you're thinking?

[martin84]

You could chop it in against something newer and more economical if you wanted but you'd still be waiting for it to 'pay for itself' if the only reason for doing so is to save money.

[ImDesigner]

I currently commute 22 miles a day in my Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo. It does the job just fine tbh, but I'm sure a Ford Focus does it better

[sim16v]

If you compare your car doing a hypothetical 25mpg to a new car doing 40mpg, you'll save about £6.25 per week by fueling the new car.

How much will the new car cost?

[300bhp/ton]

dontfollowme said:

I'm currently driving a 1.8 2003 petrol focus. Is it worth changing to something more economical for this sort of cummute? I currently walk to work but a change of job means I will be driving. It will be a messy commute too - from west Birmingham to South Birmingham.

I'd appreciate people's thoughts

fk that! 22 miles a day and I'd be looking at running a V8 muscle car or some ridiculous 4x4.

EDIT: or maybe a kit car of some kind.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Wednesday 19th October 15:35

[Mr2Mike]

ImDesigner said:

I currently commute 22 miles a day in my Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo. It does the job just fine tbh, but I'm sure a Ford Focus does it better

I do 60 miles a day in mine!

[Liquid Knight]

I cycle most days it's sixteen miles each way. A half decent dual suspension mountain bike for the potholes and a set of Curio slick tyres to reduce drag. It only take ten minutes longer than driving. Keep the Focus for when the weather's crap and keep you're knobbly tyres for when it snows as an ATB will be quicker than driving in those conditions.

You'll save, fuel, gym fees, park easilly and get to be smug about tree killing colegues who can't get out of their tin boxes.

[martin84]

Cycling 16 miles?!?! I'd be fked by the time i got to work and be of limited productive use i feel.

[Deluded]

Why are you all assuming he wants to chop in the focus for a brand new car?

If you sell the focus and buy something more economical for the same price or less then you cant lose.

how about a lupo/arosa seeing as its all town driving?

[falkster]

300bhp/ton said:

fk that! 22 miles a day and I'd be looking at running a V8 muscle car or some ridiculous 4x4.

EDIT: or maybe a kit car of some kind.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Wednesday 19th October 15:35

I went from 128 miles a day to 24 miles - ML55!!

[ImDesigner]

Mr2Mike said:

ImDesigner said:

I currently commute 22 miles a day in my Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo. It does the job just fine tbh, but I'm sure a Ford Focus does it better

I do 60 miles a day in mine!

[stewies_minion]

22 miles a day is defo 3 litre plus territory.

Or as someone suggested, a good distance for cycling assuming there are showers etc.

[Sir_Dave]

If i only did 22 miles a day, i'd be driving a supercharged M5.

Unfortunately, i have to do 95 a day, hence the sensible purchase of an e46 M3

You will save bugger all by buying a derv lol.

[Ozzie Osmond]

sim16v said:

If you compare your car doing a hypothetical 25mpg to a new car doing 40mpg, you'll save about £6.25 per week by fueling the new car.

How much will the new car cost?

^^^^^ This.

It's pretty much impossible to save money by buying a new car.

[vit4]

Not worth changing from a money point of view, certainly. Cycling's worth a look, if it's 11 miles that's really not that long, well under an hour! My journey to work is either 30 minutes driving (14 miles) or 40 minutes cycling (about 12 miles). I'm not particularly fit and I don't arrive knackered, so probably worth a look at! Decent second-hand bike can be found for peanuts

[va1o]

Wish my commute was that short! Don't think there's any justification in changing cars

[martin84]

va1o said:

Wish my commute was that short! Don't think there's any justification in changing cars

Theres plenty of justification for changing the car if the OP wants something else. But if the sole reason for changing is to save money then i agree its difficult to justify.

[Tom H]

I agree why change, I assume you moved jobs and maybe a got a pay rise. Therefore more disposable income more money to spend on petrol!!!

I'm not advocating living beyond you means. But if you enjoy your car and don't want to downgrade your enjoyment of driving then don't.

My theory and justification of commuting 80 miles a day in my Golf R32 with quite low MPG is that more tine in the car then may aswell enjoy driving. As previously had a diesel to drive less than half the distance.

Driving = Enjoyment = Pistonhead

... Simples

[Liquid Knight]

Tom H said:

Driving = Enjoyment = Pistonhead

Driving to a job you don't like but are putting up with because there's a recession and nothing else about spoils your enjoyment of driving. That's why I either cycle or drive my Rover. There's no point driving a decent car to a crap job.