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O/T Guys who commute to work.

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muddyjoe23

Member
Just wondering what the guys who commute a fair bit to work are driving and what kind of mileage you get. Thinking about buying a beater car just for the mileage.
 

how far are driving and what kind of roads???

don't know what you folks have available, but a VW passat is a nice car and a diesel is very economical.
Whatever you do, don't sacrifice comfort for a couple MPG. VW Golfs are also nice cars that are still in the comfort size. Subarus are real dependable also. Wife has a kia sorento (diesel which may not be available to you folks) that gets as good or better MPG than a gasoline golf of the same year.
 
I'm driving around 30 miles each way, and I'm driving a '97 Pontiac Sunfire with a 2.2 4-banger and 5-speed. We bought it as the wife's car back in 2000, and when the wife received an inheritance after her mother passed, she bought a new 2007 Hyundai and I inherited the 110,000 mile Sunfire.

Other than the 1st owner-replaced Goodyears giving out within about a month of each other, it's been relatively trouble-free and cheap to maintain. I had to replace a seeping water pump and a leaky coolant reservoir cap [there is no radiator cap] within the last year, and at 133k on the clock it still gets better than 37 MPG on the highway, which is most of my driving. In fact, it's geared slightly higher than the Hyundai, so it actually gets better MPG than the Hyundai...plus it has more legroom [I'm 6'1", so that's important].
 
Now, let's do the math on that one....the 2012 models are just out...your car is a 2008....oh, WOW! That's some kinda BEATER you drive!
 
(quoted from post at 06:37:41 10/20/11) Now, let's do the math on that one....the 2012 models are just out...your car is a 2008....oh, WOW! That's some kinda BEATER you drive!
Click to expand...

Got bees in your knickers already this morning?

The OP asked what those of us who commute to work are driving and what mpg we get. He also stated that he was thinking about getting a beater.

He did NOT ask those of us who commute to work with only beaters what mpg we get.

I never implied my car was a beater. It wasn't a requirement. I did imply I commute in it. That was a requirement.

Now go sit in the corner until you can play nicely with the other kids.
 
I drive a '01 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP (supercharged) w/ 136k on it 80 miles/day (80% freeway but at rush hour). Can get 29 mpg on the freeway at 70 mph but overall I get 21-22 mpg.

Daughter was rear-ended in it this summer on the freeway. Trunk pushed in but would still close, hood slightly dented from being pushed into the car ahead, completely drivable. Insurance company totaled the car. Gave me a nice check and I bought it back from them for $800. Fixing it myself for less than $500. Best $800 I ever spent.

Thinking about getting a diesel Passat to get up into the 30's overall mpg wise. My concern with "beaters" for a work car is that if you drive a long way, the chance of a breakdown while you're on the road increases as the mileage rolls up.
 
(quoted from post at 11:34:52 10/20/11) Just wondering what the guys who commute a fair bit to work are driving and what kind of mileage you get. Thinking about buying a beater car just for the mileage.
Click to expand...

I don't commute to work I walk,,, my beater is a 92 Toyota Celica ST 5sp 290K,,, I replaced the engine with a smaller jap 1.5 (1.5's are cheap they almost can not give them away) ,,, if you keep it under 65MPH it will get 35 are better,,, not bad for a $200 car.... Total investment $1000 with new tires,,, my son drove it to collage 3 years and I have drove it 4 years...

I could not keep my wife out of it so brought her a extra nice 93 Celica ST 5sp 165K for $300,,, rebuilt the 1.6L engine because It has about 10 more HP than the jap 1.5L,,, it gets 33.5 are better just depends on how you drive it but I have yet to get less MPG... I have had it 2 years total investment $1800.00 with new tires ( Had to built the engine twice something got the crank after the first 400 miles)... add $100 for cruise control...

I found a 94 COROLLA 1.8 5SP 180K 4 dr.but had a bud that really needed a small 4dr car bad so let him have it ($1400) it averages 34 MPG... Its a fun car to drive and has plenty of power,,, All these cars a EZ to work on and are dependable...

If those celicas were geared different I am sure they would top 40MPG easy... My next choice would be a Honda Civic but they are hard to find cheap.... For mileage you need a small engine with a 5spd...
 
1993 Buick Century (V6). Mostly freeway driving inside of Houston. I am almost exactly 25 mile one way from my house. The MPG ranges from 25-28 depending on traffic.
 
2001 Honda CRV---198K---average 28-30 mi/gal..25 miles each way....

Hope to run it a few more years....

Tim
 
My other half commutes about 60 miles to and 60 miles from work each day. Shes driving my 07 chevy cobalt 5pd. Since 95% of her commute is at 55mph it averages between 37-40mpg.
 
Round trip 120 miles. Mostly freeway till I get to the city. Commute with wife in 2000 Tahoe. Small cars are at a premium and not wanting new car payment now. Tahoe is paid off. Had a 96 Mazda 626 that was great on mileage but lost transverse tranny and repair cost more than vehicle.

Tahoe gets approx 18 MPG but not verified.
 
My round trip is 54 miles, a little city driving at the work end. My 2007 HHR average 30 MPG with every tank of fuel. Not the best mileage but it creams the 14-16 MPG or so average most of my coworkers get with their pickups and SUVs.
 
'04 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 with the 4.7 gets 15 mpg on a good day!
Good thing my work commute is only 11 miles one way!
If I had a long commute i would own a little gas sipping bug!
 
100 mile round trip, mostly 4 lane. Drive a 2003 Ford Ranger and geting about 20 mpg. Currently the truck has a touch over 221K and at a 5000 mile oil change interval, oil level still remains above the add mark.
 
Anyone else notice that back in the late 70"s/early 80"s you could get an econobox car that got 45 mpg and you can"t now? I can recall my Dads early 70"s F100 getting over 25 mpg regularly. Now we weigh them down with so much garbage and power everything you have to buy a high dollar import to get over 40 mpg. Strange. I understand over in Europe there are small diesels that get over 50 MPG in light cars and over 40 in light trucks. Seems like some smart American would bring back the bare bones econobox that gets 40 mpg and sells for $15K.
 
Only commute 12 miles round trip, but occasional hundred mile trips during workday. About 24 MPG around town, nearly 30 on the freeway. Who needs an econobox- its a '99 Buick Park Avenue (with 3.8 V6).
 
muddyjoe23, I run somewhere between 100 miles on my shortest days to 300 + - miles on my max days 4.5 days a week. I am a Insurance agent and am in different towns most of the time.
I put 300+K on a 97 F-150, Supercab, long box, 4.6 Auto, 3.55gears,,,, 15 MPG when we still got straight Gas no ethonol blended fuel.
Now I drive a 01 F-350 Crewcab Long box 7.3 DSL Auto, 4.10 gears I get about 15 MPG still .
I just feel safer in a larger truck.
I believe If I am in a wreck with a car....
You go Under you Die....
You go Over you Live!!!!!
I run in excess of 70,000 miles/Yr. Personally I would not go that route.
Hope this helps.
Later,
John A.
 
Average around 120 mi roundtrip, but my office is my home shop and run to client mtgs or job sites daily. Daily driver is a 2001 Jeep Cherokee at 263k miles, 232k of those are mine. Still looks newer and still tight. Just had tires put on last week and the only thing the front end needed was a steering stabilizer shock. All else still tight. I get 20mpg.

It fits my needs - 4wd, good room behind back seat for tools, small ladder, and my bass rig for weekend musician work (sometimes have to pickup the kids, so really don"t fold down the back seat), and ok mileage. And have been caught in a blizzard with snow up to the floorboards and pop up downpours on muddy sites and never left me hung (I try to keep out of the mud as much as possible though...). Easy to work on and get parts.

In a couple years, the boy will be driving so I"ll have to find something like it. Haven"t seen anything out there yet I like though. The newer small SUV"s don"t have the room behind the seat and none of them seem to have the 4wd capabilities.

Don"t need a bigger SUV - have a 04 GMC 3/4 ton crew cab for the heavy work or hauling, but only drive it when needed.

Hope that helps

Tony
 
I drive 62 mileas each way (164 round trip) in a 2008 F150 4 door.Gets about 18 mpg , I've gone the beater route a few times in my life, but here's the rub- when you're spending an hour and a half each way in a vehicle, do you really want to be driving a heap?
My commuter requirements: it's gotta be "turn key", every moment of every day. Traffic is enough of a risk, who needs to add breakdowns into the picture? It's gotta be tall enough for me to see out of and long enough for me to stretch out in. I need to be able to do what I want with it when I want to, where ever I want to- haul stuff, or kids, or business associates, or feed on the weekends. The F150 has 160,000 miles on it and has never had a problem so far.
Plus...the company gave it to me. That's why its a Ford and not a Chevy.
 
I drive a 2009 malibu with the V6, and my commute is 150 miles round trip every day (for the past 10 years). I know it"s not a beater, but I put between 50-60,000 miles a year on a car. I"ve been averaging 26 mpg since it was new. My next car will be a Diesel.
 
Unfortunately I drive 60 miles one way to work.

Also unfortunately I just got a good deal on a '03 Toyota Highlander. I say unfortunately because I'm 6'4" and still working on the seat to try and get it comfortable.

I had a '98 buick beater but got rear ended back in the Spring. I got the highlander because it sits up a bit more than most cars but still gets 25 mpg.

In 3 years it will be ready for recycling and I'll get another beater.
 
At the prices they are getting for new trucks these days your company would be cheaper to buy you a house closer to work ?
 
I can do the commuting on foot,..from the house to the shop. :wink:

The wife on the other hand has to do a 50+ ml round trip to work.
She drives a 95 GMC truck with 6.5 TD diesel,and fills up out the farm bulk tank(dyed diesel) since she started driving this old thing 4 yrs ago.
 
Car has to be light to get that kind of mileage, and there are so many safety requirements and emmission standards now that you end up with a heavy car, and the little diesels don't have enough oomph to keep up with traffic anymore. Would love to have one of those rigs from Europe (or Mexico or Central America- seems like everyone has them but us).

Wish they'd let US decide how "safe" we want to be, and build cars accordingly.
 
VW Jetta diesel with 5 spd. manual transmission. Drive 85 miles round trip each day...get 46 to 50 mpg. Bought new and now have 225,000 miles on it and still going strong.
 
I don’t any more but for 15 years I drove 86 miles each way (172 miles RT). When I first started I had a mini van that got 16-18 mpg. Good van just got old. Come time to replace it I got the mind set I need a car that would not have any issues. So I went and bought a new Ford Contour. A mid sized, 4 door car, that could haul the family and got 28-30 mpg. In 4 years I hit 160,000 miles and was getting to a point I didn’t trust it to not strand me. My daily cost for the life of the car was $21-22 a day depending on the price of gas ($14 excluding fuel). Only repair made other than normal maintenance and tires was a fuel pump and wheel bearing. The next one was a new Ford Taurus (2001). A little bigger car, but the Contour was discontinued in 2000 and I didn’t like the Focus. Mileage on it was 24-26 (not the SHO) and the daily cost rose to $26-28 per day ($16 excluding fuel). One month short of 4 years, and at 159,000 miles the transmission went south. By this time I had been looking in to alternate energy and decided to re think my next purchase. In 2005, I had picked up a kid car (car for the kids to drive). An ugly little Toyota Tercel. When the Taurus died I decided to “make” it a commuter. I dumped a little more than $2,000 into a $500 Toyota. I overhauled the engine and transmission, new drive axels, wheel bearings, brakes, and tires. Inspected just about every part on it and replace or repaired anything that looked suspicious. My SIL still drives that car today. It had 130,000 miles on it when I rebuilt it. I put 180,000 more on it in 5 years. But I averaged 36mpg and my daily cost was $12-14 a day. Most of that was fuel. If you take out the fuel cost it was under $2.50 a day. If I was in that boat again the last thing I would do is buy new, or slightly used. About the only thing I would do different is fix the stinking radio…….
 
If I were you I'd keep that little fact to myself.... Dunno about where you're at but here... the tax man can come and dip your tank, at will, without warrant. They've also been known to do this at roadside spot checks.
First offences here are not too bad.... mabey 500 bucks minimum fine but they escalate quickly from there depending on the volume of fuel they suspect you've used and the number of offences.
Not really worth it for the pittance you save.

Rod
 
Who'd want to live any closer to DC? I'd hafta quit!
I'm already infected with Beltway Budget Math- see how my one-way 62 mile trip turned into 164 miles round trip? Congressional math!
 
I drive a 1997 GMC Sierra 4x4 with a 305. Gets anywhere from 13 mpg right up to 18 mpg. drive it easy and it's 13, drive it harder and it's 18(not a typo) It's 16 miles each way to work. wouldn't want to drive much farther in this truck.
 
If you need 4WD, the little Geo Tracker wagons with the 16 valve 4 banger and a 5spd get 31. My 97 is relatively new with 95K on the clock.
 
65 miles per day round trip

In the fall and spring I drive a 88 escort 1.9L auto gets about 27 MPG( 140,000 mi). In the winter I drive an 92 K 1500 4x4 5.7 5 speed gets about 15 (230,000mi) with all the weight in it
 
i had a old a old 89 honda i was driving but a guy ran into the back of it last year,since then ive been driving a 3/4 ton chevy pickup about sixty miles a day.I need to get a car desperatly but I'm getting to where i cant hardly get in and out of them anymore.
 
About the only thing that got close to that kind of mileage (40+) back in the late 1970s and early 1980s was a Volkswagon diesel - and they had about 60 hp and topped out at 65-70 mph. Even the little Datsun B210s and Chevy Chevettes only got into the high 20s.

As for the F100s getting 25 MPG - I'd have to see that. Some claimed the I6s would break 20 mpg but all the ones we had were doing well to do better that 15-16 mpg. Even the late 1980s F150s with ODs and electronic fuel injection were doing well to hit 20 on long trips.
 
I hear you loud and clear about getting in and out of cars.
I have found my 2008 Honda Fit Sport pretty decent to get in and out of. and with auto tranny I still get 30-35 MPG it seems to vary somewhat depending on how/where I go.Those figures are about the lowest and highest I ever get.
Another good one for room and getting in and out of is a Nissan Cube boxy looking things but yet with auto tranny still gets 30-31 according to the dash read out. Wife still can't figure out how to keep track of writing this down.
 
Me too if she gets the average of 17 mpg I see it still is roughly about 900 gal a year @ 16 gal a week if they go back 3 years and compute the less than 15 MPG no telling what road tax and fines would be . Better get this deleted.
 
I drive 80 miles round trip four days a week. Have a 97" Ford Ranger 2wd 4cyl 5 speed, it only gets about 22. I would like to find a car but anything with less than 150,000 miles around here is 5K plus, cant see how another car payment will save that much money gaining 10 miles to the gallon.
 
30 mile one way two vehicles a full size pick up aith a 360 that gets around 14 M.P.G. and a Neon that gets about 32 M.P.g. the truck is more comfortable but I drive the neon
 
muddie........60-mi and 1-hr in morning to Boeing Seattle, 60-mi and 1-1/2-hr in evening to the foot of 14K Mt Rainier. 385k mi on 165hp semi-race 1969 BMW 2002 28-mpg. Changed to Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel Pick-up's 'cuz I was pickin' feed up fer sheepie animals that I used to train my Australian Shepherd dogs for competition against Border Collies. Wife chose where we lived in the country. When she divorced me after 32-yrs, she let me keep the country ranchette and the mortgage. She kept the credit cards but I got the bills. .......Dell
 
I drive a 2000 Ford Explorer, that I bought at a farm equipment auction 2 1/2 years ago for $2500. I never did well with Fords, but we happened to be there when it was brought in, and it had been the building inspector"s car for a nearby town, and it was beautifully maintained. My wife and I figured we"d go $2500 for it, and we got it for exactly that. It"s been almost trouble free, and I drive it on my 25 mile each way commute and it usually gets 21-22 mpg. It"s been a great vehicle. It has about 155,000 miles on it now, and I hope it lasts a long time. Being 4wd it does great in the snow we get here in upstate New York, and the mpg is much better than my Silverado 1500 that I used to commute in.
 
I drive around 25 miles one way to work every day, Drive a 1991 GEO METRO 4 door, 3 cyl 5 speed, average about 45 mpg with it, odometer just clicked over to 74,000 original miles... Was driving my 03 supercrew f150 that gets at best 12mpg, what a difference that little car makes..Best 700 bucks ive ever spent! Bob
 
This thread hits on my original favorite "hobby".

My commute consists of a 275 miles from 03911 to 10004. Basically from my front door in york, Maine to Wall Street in NYC. I typically drive down on Tuesday AM, work 3-4 days staying in River Edge NJ, approx. 52 mile round trip to Wall street.
I do this 3-4 weeks a month, works out to 850 to 900 a week on the weeks i work.
The 5 speed, 2.2 liter 4 cylinder Camry is a comfortable long range cruiser and can get as high as 38 mpg under ideal conditions.
Ecomods:
1. Scangauge II
2. 6.25 oversize diameter tires.
3. upper grille block
4. front air dam.
5. full moon air dynamics wheel covers
6. removed all mud flaps.
7. remove stock air intake and install 4" wide open intake with high flow air filter.
8. glide in neutral as much as possible.

BTW, I used to "commute" every week from 29464 to 11010 and then from 11010 to NYC every week!
757 miles from SC to LI/NY and then about 50 miles round trip to NYC 3 days a week for a 1650 miles a week!

Pete
Camry Ecomods

Ecomodder MPG site
 
Dad had an 85 short wide manual transmission F150 with that 300 six that would break 20mpg on a long road trip. Short trips & around the country side probably more like 14-16.
 
93 HONDA ACCORD. very comfortable ride even on dirt roads. dependable in snow ice and rain and 28 miles per gallon. paid 1700 dollars, it had 117000 miles now has 235000
 
Iam retired. But I commute daily down to the coffee shop for some java and the paper. Nine miles to the gallon with my truck
a52002.jpg
 
50 Miles of interstate each way. I have a 2003 S10 4 cylinder 5 speed 2wd. It gets 23 mpg on average. I bought it new. It was never in for warranty and the only "major" repairs have been two u-joints. The second set of tires lasted right at 100,000. It now has 190,000 miles on it. The previous car was a 94 Beretta with a 3.1. It never got below 30 mpg. I loved that car, but decided it was getting unreliable with 280,000 miles on it.

As much as I can, I ride a 93 ST1100 Honda to work. It gets 42 mpg and now how 90,000 miles on it. Unfortunately, last week the alternator went out of it (about $650 in parts). When you include tire prices, it is probably my most expensive vehicle to drive (but it is more fun).
 
106 miles one way, 95% hwy, once or twice a week.
Car is a 1981 Camaro. I bought it as a body for $350 bucks and proceded to build driver out of parts I had laying around and a $400+ set of Michelin tires.

Had a basically stock 400 s.b. that would best at 23mpg. After several years I tried a bone stock 292 I-6 that I pulled out of an old C-60. All I did to it was make an adapter to put a 2 barrel rochester (1-7/32 venturi) instead of the 1 barrel and add HEI distributor. The 6 would consistently knock down 28mpg on any kind of junk fuel. After a year or so the piston slap got noticeable and not wanting to run it to death I built a 350 for it. Short cam, tight quench and low side clearances, the 350 will do as good as 26 mpg if I run easy. Slightly less mpg but it has it all over the 6 for passing.

Next plan is to go through and build the 292 but with LP pistons for higher compression and a slightly warm cam.
 
Forgot to add that I have been driving this one since 2004 and have never been on the side of the road. Not even once. Very reliable.
 
What car/truck do you have now.?
How many miles per day do you drive?
I drive 40 miles per day, 6 days per week + other small trips.
About 1600 miles per month average.
Getting a "beater car" is good idea as long as you get a cheap one that needs minimal maintentance, but tires/brakes/repairs cost money.
 
Dodge Colts got well over 40. Dodge Omni got way over 30. As for the rest, you need to keep your foot from pushing the gas into the firewall.
 
Pretty simple. Pull out the laneway, drive six miles and into the company parking lot without even having to turn a corner.
 
35 miles each way, every weekday for about 16years. Mostly interstate on increasingly bad roads in all of Iowa"s weather. Current and best-ever-for-me commuter beast is a 2002 Buick Park Ave. Bought it for $1000 with 175k on the meter. Owned it a year, have put in another 2500. Long wheelbase soaks up the bumps, mid-to-high 20"s mpg @ 80mph. Police ignore it. Full-size comfort and safety. Bullet- proof 3800 engine. Cheap to insure.
 
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