Might be getting a new job, but it's a 30 mile commute each way, which equates to about 14000 miles a year just for the commute. Currently I only run one car, my S. Trying to decide if I should get a beater for the commute. I can't decide if the figures add up, once you take everything into account. I already do a ton of miles just for fun a year so Insurance and most of the depreciation isn't a factor. However it'll mean an extra 1.5 services a year, 1.5 sets of tyres a year extra.

But buying a beater will have to have it's own tax, insurance, MOT, servicing which would have to be low enough to offset the initial purchase price. And be reliable and comfortable enough to do the journey.

Is there where "bangernomics" works out? ie get something really trashy.

 

You also have to add in the grin factor of getting back into the seat of the S after spending a week or two driving nothing but the beater.

It's worth it for that alone, IMO.

 

I bought the Prelude, sort of on that basis.

I have to say, it's fantastically good to drive and is far more comfortable.

It's a Honda, so interstellar mileages shouldn't be a probem.

I'd not really be comfortable with a real POS.

IIRC, Bassoctopus was happy with an Accord coupe on the same basis.

 

My Focus is great.
Although if I only did 14k miles for commuting I wouldn't bother.

 

I had a 95 mile commute for 4 months, and bought a

 

Lee, Shouldn't you change your coming soon to a Gayman?
Or are you going to keep the S for the commute and the Gayman as a weekend?

It doesn't help that I don't have a drive or a garage.

 

Having bought a second car last month, with the S having previously always being an only car, I have to agree.

 

I do a 30 mile round trip commute every day at the moment, for me the grin factor is in getting the car every morning It actually helps me get out of bed knowing I have an hour in the S (even though a proption of that is sitting in traffic).

Though I must admit I hate putting the miles on it, if it was 30 miles each way I would seriously think about a beater.

 

If you need to do a commute that might also change the way you use your S, ie can I risk breaking it on a track day etc.

I would get a beater, 14000 miles a year extra is a lot, what mileage is your insurance policy set for ??

 

I'd get a beater, sell your S and get a piece of serious track day machinery!

I've got an Alfa 156 that I've had for 18months. I do about 20K miles a year in it.