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Current situation: driving 130 miles to work on Monday and the same home on Friday in an old car which although reasonable for its age and very reliable is noisy, uncomfortable, lacks safety features and is making the drive very tiring, and making me want to work on it. Staying in nice hotels on expenses, and bringing bike and kit with me to ride in the week.
Options:
1) Save/borrow a few grand for a less crap less old car
2) Mostly borrow 10-12 grand for the car I really want
3) Mostly borrow even more money and scrap the old car for a brand new one (on much better interest rates)
4) Get a serviced appartment instead of a hotel, leave my bike down here and get the train.
These are organised in ascending order of eco-friendliness, which is a factor given the large number of miles involved.
depends on what you can afford / justify TBH.
sorry.
Commute daily.
By bike!!!
Is 130 miles really a long distance to you?
I only ask as I regularly do that as an each way commute
You don't need a new car, just a new outlook...
I am asking what you would do, not what I should do 🙂 They are all options in that they can all be afforded/justified depending on my state of mind...
1 or 2
get a job closer to home.
I'd keep the old car and save up for when it breaks down irretrievably
to be honest, I would just keep doing what your doing.
seems like you're willing to get into debt because of a mildly uncomfortable >4 hour drive twice a week?
I take public transport is out of the question?
Its a tough call, but I would have though you could get a decent car for £4-5k to do that mileage and be reasonably economical and reliable.
I don't think I would be looking to spend £12k on a decent car at the moment, think I would rather have the money banked and see how things are looking in a year or two.
Just my humble opinion.
btw my Mrs does exactly the same, no public transport option for her drives once a week round trip of 240 miles to work in a £3k boring VW golf, not let her down yet.
5. Get a really good stereo. And a big amp.
What car/model is it, year and current mileage?
How much did you pay for it?
We can work something out with minimal outlay ontop for a change of car I bet.
What you driving at the moment?
I'd go either 1 or 4.
You should be able to get a safer car for a couple of grand.
If you get the train it will be more relaxing and you could explore all accomodation options then. You're looking at rent territory with hotel/serviced apartment prices.
4. For simplicity's sake.
Aren't you contracting? I wouldn't borrow money then, unless I was damned sure of my income.
My wife had a similar issue a year ago-she had a job up north, she was living in a hotel for a while, but in the end we rented a small house, and decamped the whole family, with the intention of going back home at weekends, which in the ned we couldn't be bothered doing. It was like being on holiday . All on expenses.
Buy an insane car and make the commute more fun. I find commutes boring in a slow, uninteresting frugal machine. Nothing better, IMO, than doing 200 miles in a deafening monster that's huge fun, even if that fun is only exploitable for 10% of the trip.
I used to look forward to the commute home in my car, even though it took an hour to do 20 miles 🙂
No.1
Yeah, I'd stick to the least risky option (sounds like 4) I think if I had recently been out of work and in sticky situations workwise.
look for a job closer to home and then option 1
if a job closer to home is not an option i would go for option 3 but borrow less and buy a new smaller car for around £8,500?
get a job closer to home.
Not a sensible option. Do you think I chose to work ont he other side of the country just for a laugh?
I take public transport is out of the question?
It's option 4!
What you driving at the moment?
15 year old Passat Estate diesel. No ABS, minimum of airbags, dodgy ride etc etc. My feeling is that for 2-3k I'd not improve on that much, and potentially be buying some problems. For all its minor faults I now know the Passat inside out and I know that it's going to be reliable.
seems like you're willing to get into debt because of a mildly uncomfortable >4 hour drive twice a week?
Considerably uncomfortable, not particularly safe, and yes I am willing to get (further) into debt for a new car. I like new cars 🙂 Although any new car would be kept for a v long time.
vinnyeh - yes, I am contracting, and you raise a good point. That's why I haven't just gone out and bought a car 🙂 There are issues with renting flats - thinking that serviced appt might be best. I would need some place to leave my bike + kit if I wasn't driving.
EDIT: Hora - what do you mean?
Is 130 miles really a long distance to you?
It is in my bloody car! Takes me 2.5-3 hours and is pretty busy.
You don't need a new car, just a new outlook...
Go on then.. what should I be thinking?
I tink Hora is suggesting that we (and I'm sure I could) could get you a significantly "better" car for around £1k plus your passat but as you mention you do run the risk of buying unknown problems that way.
Yeah? I'm interested. I'm crap at shopping.
I needed to know more about your car first.
Problem is- keep driving it and it might last another 1-2yrs. If you sold it now you'd get upto 1k max? However if you keep running it, in a weeks time it could throw say a conrod or other big end failure and you'd get scrap value only.
Circa 200mile commute a week is NOTHING though. Which worries me- if you think its tired now on just 200kmiles a week I think you should get rid of sooner rather than later.
I'd look at a newer Passat estate - spend an additional 4k or so to get a 54reg and run that for a year and take it from there. Buy new- lose lots though.
Problem sub 2k is almost always banger-territory unless you know a very good mechanic and do alot of homework. Bangernomics can work though.
4.
Problem sub 2k is almost always banger-territory unless you know a very good mechanic and do alot of homework. Bangernomics can work though
Yeah. I've done loads of work myself on this one and I'm a bit sick of it. Thing is I know it'll do loads more miles but the driving is just hard work. I bet all you folk who say 230 miles is nothing are driving better cars.
I was of the opinion that it could be fixed up into a decent driver, but I've learned a few things.. For example I had the shocks done at the local garage, and they just fitted any old shocks got for a good price, but really they are crap. The car just isn't that stable which makes it nerve-wracking; the seats are also old and saggy which coupled with the ride means my back and torso are working all the time I am driving.
Jeesus, sounds like even a Toyota Aygo would be better!
Better the devil you know than the devil you dont IMO.
Also true. From the sounds of your car though I'd look to sell it now. Tcut- full valet and stick it on autotrader asap.Better the devil you know than the devil you dont IMO.
E get a new job closer to home.
If you regularly commute 130 miles, you need to examine the impact you are making on the world. Why do you need to travel so far?
Twice a week though nbt- not daily.
Considerably uncomfortable, not particularly safe
It's the driver that's the the safety part, not the car. 🙂
Problem is- keep driving it and it might last another 1-2yrs. If you sold it now you'd get upto 1k max? However if you keep running it, in a weeks time it could throw say a conrod or other big end failure and you'd get scrap value only.
If it lasts 2 years and he gets _nothing_ for it, it's cost £41.66 a month. You won't beat that on any new(er) car.
Get a new car because you WANT one, but there's nothing wrong with buying an old car every so often, IMO.
From what you've written , I think you relaise it's more sensible to keep the old one, possibly until it dies. 🙂
I have an S Reg Mazda 626 105k and drive 100miles to Lakes or wherever and its fine. I think your cars just sh1te, get a cheap Jap one.
Obviously you have to verfy the mileages.
If you regularly commute 130 miles, you need to examine the impact you are making on the world. Why do you need to travel so far?
Oookay. I work in IT as a developer, right. So us geeky folk have two options - either permanent jobs, or short-term contracts. I've been a contractor for what, five ish years, and that's mainly because I hate work. I really really hate it. So the idea is to work shorter contracts, stash the money and then take time off in between. Now - I live in Cardiff, and there are bugger all contracts there. So either I become a permie and basically resign myself to hating 90% of my life and wishing it away for a few short weeks trying to cram in the things I've been desperately dreaming of the rest of the time; or I take a bit more control over things and try and sort my life out closer to the way I want it.
I could move to the South-East to work but frankly I hate how busy it is down here and everyone seems to be travelling all over the place anyway except that for them it's not far enough to stay away so they are doing like 2 hours a day every day. Plus as above, moving isn't an option in the near future.
So I travel to work. I am concerned about my impact on the planet which is why I am leaning towards option 4. But this shrieking screaming monster is sinking its claws into my brain making me look at the wonderful shiny cars......
hora - MemberTwice a week though nbt- not daily.
Maybe, I wouldn't want to stay away from home all week either though. I was more referring to this post
uplink - MemberIs 130 miles really a long distance to you?
I only ask as I regularly do that as an each way commute
So I travel to work. I am concerned about my impact on the planet
Why? If even 50% in the UK stopped driving- really, what environment impact would it have? Negligible I bet. China is growing phenomenally so a few thousand Brits collective consciences means squat. Im saying this as we now have FOUR big plastic wheely bins per house where we only had one before. Some nutcase environmental idea where you create more work/plastic use first and silly ill-thought schemes to recycle.....or it ends up in poor countries for 'sorting' huh?
Sorry, sod- it you drive as many miles as you want. The world is already on its way to global warming with or without the UK!
😀
It's the driver that's the the safety part, not the car.
Don't be a dick. I clearly do my best to avoid an accident, but given such tools as ABS, VSC and whatnot, that could be easier. And if there is an accident then a more modern car will protect me more.
The world is already on its way to global warming with or without the UK.
Do you want bad global warming or even worse global warming?
PS In the UK we are something like third or fourth worst polluters per person in the world.
PPS lots of plastic is now recycled here.
PPPS don't just keep trotting out over-used excuses; sit down and have a long think about your moral obligations, which is what I am currently doing.
To be honest I'm a little surprised that an IT contractor of 5 years standing doesn't have enough savings to buy a new car. I suppose you've been taking quite a bit of time off?
So as you are a contractor can you lease a car through your own company or something of the sort?
per person yes. How many folk in the UK compared to other countries- skewered stats...ANYWAY back on subject.
Ford Focus or Octavia- I'd look at one of those. Why? Readily available parts and many many indies who are familiar with them I bet.
Also - I dont beleive in the Jap-car reliability. How many old Jap cars do you see driving round compared to others? About the same I reckon. Its regular maintenance that counts.
To be honest I'm a little surprised that an IT contractor of 5 years standing doesn't have enough savings to buy a new car
Yeah, me too. I came from a standing start - we bought a house and complete set of furniture, equippment, car (other car), paid off loans, had a baby, have travelled, all sorts. I kind of thought that I'd never be able to spend my income without being ridiculously extravagant.. however that's not the case!
per person yes. How many folk in the UK compared to other countries- skewered stats...
No, not skewed at all... As individuals we emit what we emit. Just becase we sit in some arbitrary grouping of people from a particular country, doesn't give us license to emit more, does it? Does the atmosphere care that I am British or Chinese? No, it just cares what I emit. Your nationality is not a factor in global warming, is it?
If you don't like the commute/staying away, but there's nothign closer to home there's very little you can do about it.
I'm kinda similar, I have a lovely house in Cheshire with the wife and I used to have a 56mile round trip commute to work, cracking short journey ok job but with total lack of prospects within the company, jumped ship to a much bigger international company then was faced with a 148mile round trip commute, great job, potential to move up the ladder etc etc.
Cue one global rescession, work banks don't get released, finish one big project, whispers of a job in London arise on a major 8 year project - excellent news me thinks.
Cue move to London, get home once every 2 weeks for 3 days, but all housing/living costs are on expenses.
Commute is pants - 210miles to where I live = 4 hours on a Friday, being away from home ain't great, job is. Also I went back to the office I moved from and they've basically had nothing since I left and there's not much on the horizon either 😕
At the moment, until the world fixes itself, if you've only got the option of working away and a big commute, live with it. It pretty much can't get any worse ❓
Well I don't mind staying away, as long as my Wife and daughter can come see me. My main problem currently is the actual driving 🙂
I do get home every weekend tho, so that's 5 nights out of 7 with my lovely lady beside me 🙂
Mushn't grumble @ that then
I once had a similar think. Nottingham to Portsmouth for the working week. I decided it was too much and I didn't want to move down there so I binned the job. (there were obviously other reasons why as well)
Spend £1-2k on an older estate car. Chuck the bike in the back, drive it untill it dies or you get bored then do the same again.
Get a volvo, Audi etc.
Why would you stay over for such a short commute? I'd commute every day personally, unless you like it there of course. Get a half-decent car now (and a motorbike in the spring).
I used to live in Maidstone, Kent - and worked in Andover, Hampshire - 104 miles each way taking in the M20, M26, M25, M3 and A303.
To be honest I found it a very de stressing journey but I did have the luxury that my boss used to do the same journey but the other way round until the office moved. As a result, he was very understanding and didn't expect to see me before 9am or after 4pm.
Why would you stay over for such a short commute? I'd commute every day personally, unless you like it there of course
You'd spend 5-6 hours every day in a car? Since when is that a short commute?
Spend £1-2k on an older estate car. Chuck the bike in the back
Did you read the thread? That's what I'm currently doing and I am not enjoying it for the abovementioned reasons ie hard work driving etc etc.
Maybe I've just got soft because my other car is so easy and relaxing to drive...
I'm in what sounds exactly the same situation. I'm renting a room on a Monday to Friday basis which if you shop around tends to get you slightly more for your money. I couldn't even contemplate a flat or hotels because of the cost. I keep a road bike down here but thats because there doesn't seem to be much in the way of inspiring off road stuff in the area. With the car the choice was as good second hand as I could afford without borrowng too much.
I loved the earlier comments about getting jobs closer to home some people on here seem to live on a different planet.
I contemplated doing the commute (almost exactly the same as yours) but it works out seriously expensive and it would leave me less than eight hours a day at home.
Its less than ideal, it leaves my wife dealing with two vey young kids four nights a week, but it is a job which is more than I could have hoped for six months ago.
Instead of a serviced apt, do a house/flat share. Far cheaper and you can still keep your bike there (or even better afford a brand new bike to keep there).
I'm renting a room on a Monday to Friday basis which if you shop around tends to get you slightly more for your money
I'm extremely lucky being on expenses, and the company has a policy which includes nice hotels - so I'm not shopping around. I'm trying for an appartment tho, waiting for approval. If I get the apartment I'll be able to leave my bike there which will enable me to get the train.
molgrips - Maybe I've just got soft because my other car is so easy and relaxing to drive...
I'm guessing there isn't an option to use that car? If not you may find a high spec late 90's Mondeo comfy and quiet enough for a couple hours drive and you can easy pick one up for a grand. Scorpio's are also big and comfy though use plenty of petrol. That's not much of an issue for only 300 miles a week though. If you do go for an oldish car make sure it's a petrol as old diesels are all crap for everything other than relability and fuel useage.
If you stay in the same hotel each week have you asked them about leaving your bike and stuff there? Have you tried the train for the journey you do? Unless it's direct between to major cities you may find that the car is much easier.
Have you tried the train for the journey you do?
Makes bring the bike very hard.
If you are concerned about the environment don't buy new. Buy secondhand.
My recomendation would be a simple and subtle Mazda 6. Good extras and comfort for around 3000. Based around a Mondeo but classless and slightly more comfortable from my experience. Think secondhand Skodas are holding thier value to well.
I am fortunate enough to have a nice company car. But we have just got my wife (70miles a day commute) a nice car radio for her Seat Ibiza Tdi. Now she can call handsfree, listen to IPod etc for a small outlay of £200. This was much cheaper than dropping 3000 upgrading her car.
i looked at buying a mazda 6 earlier in the year, from the environmental point of view the emmissions are shocking so didn't bother, found a 3yr old Fabia estate (petrol) with 12k miles on it and bought that, great little motor.
as regards the original question, I'd go option 4. I've lived away in expensed hotels and also done the flat thing (we bought ours) and I found the flat much more relaxing / homely and obviousy it was possible to leave biking stuff there which made packing each week easier. Trains aren't all they are cracked up to be on monday mornings / friday evenings but if you book a seat in advance it should be ok.
I did a huge amount of riding when I was away from home and worked all hours to keep the weekends clear. Have to say being back home permenantly is a much better situation although the riding has dropped off a bit