Temporary Car Commuting

[400bhp]

1. The consumption of my current car is WAY better than my old Astra.

2. as I drive past in my BMW!

1. That's only part of the story though isn't it.

2. You disgusting individual [sub]i have 2 Bimmers[/sub]

 

[Rhythm Thief]

The things that have struck me:
1) Petrol prices. My local pump was £1.27/litre. This was for just standard petrol, not posh optima stuff. And my car (a 10 year old 1.1 Saxo) took £55 before it was filled. I reckon if I took it in running on fumes that I could get £60 in there. Just imagine what a 4x4 takes!
Conversely, My Saxo also did about 380 miles of city driving (can get about 500 on motorway runs). At 380miles/£55, I worked out that my commute was about £1.83 for petrol a day. That's not as bad as I was expecting.

My 4X4 takes around £60 to fill it up, and will do 345 miles on a tank, which works out at around 34 to the gallon. And I'm afraid I commute in it, since it would take me far longer to cycle to work.

 

[tyred]

A 46 mile round trip for me so I drive. I have an old Peugeot 205 1.1L and I can coax about 50-60mpg out of it, so the cost is bareable. It's mostly rural roads so I have no real traffic to deal with until the last two miles or so. I love driving and always have done and don't find it in the least bit stressful. The only small issue is the that the road surfaces here have deteriorated to such an extent that driving or cycling is now an exercise in obstacle avoidance and I can't help but mentally add up the cost of replacement suspension bushes as I crawl over the worst of it. Anyone who has ever driven 205 (or any other Pug or Citreon from that era) will be well aware of the endless elusive clonks and rattles that these cars produce, which makes the bad roads all the more noticeable.

 

[BrumJim]

I now very rarely drive to work.

For someone who is a serious petrolhead (can't believe this is happening) I am going to be selling my car and go without.

I'm going to see what it's like for 6 months or so.



I might start another thread on the topic.

Did this myself. The best bit is that every time you drive, its a different car.

Hertz are the best. Book just a few days before you need it, and invariably you get an upgrade. Got an Alfa GT once for the price of a Fiesta!!

 

[nightoff]

For me, the incentive to cycle commute was mostly fitness.

As a desk jockey with a healthy appetite I have had to periodically take up exercise to keep my weight in check.

I have tried the usual activities like gym membership and jogging but found them to be either a drain on my leisure time or an expense I could do without.

Cycle commuting has ticked all the right boxes for me by giving me a good daily workout without impacting on my free time and I should start to see some savings when I realise I have to stop buying shiny upgrades for the bike

 

[nightoff]

Not related but I just realised this is my 100th post.

 

[potsy]

Took the car today for a change, filled up on the way in, £60 of diesel didn't even touch the sides, guage is showing about 2/3rds full

mind you I won't have to fill it again until May

 

[fossyant]

I've got 2-3 weeks commuting by car to come soon once I am off "the sick". £4 a day on fuel and £2.70 parking (that is if the 'car parking office' at work will let me park on site as I can't cycle). Anyway, I'll be claiming my costs back off the third party at some point.

 

[Holdsworth]

I don't have the privilege of hopping in the car on the off days, unfortunately being a young male with 0 years no claims bonus makes insurance for a first car sky high

I have been quoted around £2500 from various companies to insure a few 1-1.3 litre cars which is something I simply cannot afford, the monthly premiums are over half my wages.

I am thinking of doing my CBT and getting a 50/125

With costs for all the aspects of motoring I don't whether it is a good or bad thing to be without a car?

 

[fossyant]

Holdsworth..don't bother with a car. The stupid amount's I've been quoted being 41 all full claims up to the hilt, with for a 8 year old saloon, that does about 3000 miles a year - all off peak, no commuting, at weekends is stupid. It's half a good bike in price !

 

[Norm]

On the other hand, my 8 mile commute in the car usually takes under 15 minutes and has never taken over 20, whereas my time for the 10 miles it turns into on the bike (different choice of roads) is usually 45 minutes. If you add in the 10 minutes it takes to get ready on the bike and the 15 minutes it takes to change when I get to work, compared to just jumping in the car, the difference is getting on for an hour.

I still do the run by bike a couple of times a week but there's not always a strong argument for doing so.

 

[fossyant]

Norm..... you shall be shot........... just ride.....

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Like Nightoff, it's the fitness for me. I don't seem to get the time (or inclination) to go to a gym or anything, but the cycle commute costs me little in time as I would be commuting in the car anyway. 25 miles round trip: the journey in takes about the same time as in the car (50 minutes) and the return journey takes about 20 minutes longer (1 hour). In exchange for that, I have lost 4.5 inches off my waistline since last year!

It I start to get weary of the cycle commute, one trip in the (admittedly very nice) car reminds me why I am doing it.

 

[pshore]

I took the bike today - used 400 calories to do 14 miles and then refueled at the supermarket. Had to buy a sandwich which cost £2.50 - 17p a mile I tell ya. I'm taking the car next time as petrol is cheaper ! ;-)

 

[Norm]

Norm..... you shall be shot........... just ride.....

Shoot me? You'll have to catch me first, cyclist.

Yeah, ok, pick a window, I'll leave now... (a line which sounded better when I worked on the 26th floor )

I have to take the Smalls on the school run most days, I do try to ride as much as I can (another bike-train-bike commute into London today) but it's frustrating wheeling the bike out of the garage thinking that I'd already be at work if I was driving. Or, more probably, thinking that I'd still be in bed and able to get to work on time if I was driving.