When I faced a similar situation, I found a crummy apartment very close to work that allowed me to walk and not rack up ridiculous mileage on a car I like.

If I was going to do that commute and the car I was driving wasn't a beater, I'd get a dumpy commuter car and spare that wear and tear on a "real" car.

Besides, you think that commute sucks now...just wait until the snow and sleet and ice start flying/falling/sticking.

Why bother having a nice car if not to drive? Is it supposed to be put away in the garage and maintained as artwork?

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

It's a question of degree, Larry.

Why buy a nice car just to rack up endless commute miles?

I drive my car mostly for pleasure and wouldn't mind a moderate commute, but 100+ miles a day is just nuts, not only for the car but for one's own time and sanity. That's exactly why I chose to live close to work. And it's hard on the car to drive short distances, so I walk. But rest assured, the car gets driven. 150 miles plus most weekends, plus some driving during the week. Just not usually to work.

There are lots of issues involved with this thought process, and everyone is different.

In James case he was fortunate enough to find a good job, which is a blessing in today's business world. He is working at making the most of it. For many people this means enjoying their long drive the best they can. Doing it an old beat up Gremlin might be more economical, but not nearly as pleasant.

During the hey day of my career I drove anywhere from 60 to 70 k miles per year and the vast majority of that was in a Mercedes. Why not? Comfortable, reliable, and long lived. For someone piling on lots of miles, you would wear out 2 or 3 Ford's or Chevy's during the time you're still driving the Mercedes.

Again, different people look at it differently. For ME, I'll keep a Mercedes on the road for a long time, and when it all averages out, it will be for no more cost per mile than a lesser car.

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Back a few years, my commute was 30-45 minutes on Highway...about 35 miles...for the emergencies, it would go to 65 miles and about 60 minutes. Either way, you had time to plan the day and when it was done, to decompress and get the "kick the dog" out of the leg.

Now?

5.8 miles to the office, 17.8 to one site and 100.0 to the northern site...
15 minutes/25 minutes/1hour, 35 minutes respectively.

Personally? I like the 100.0 miler better than the others...

__________________

M. G. Burg
'10 - Dakota SXT - Daily Ride / ≈ 172.5K
.'76 - 450SLC - 107.024.12 / < .89.20 K
..'77 - 280E - 123.033.12 / > 128.20 K
...'67 - El Camino - 283ci / > 207.00 K
....'75 - Yamaha - 650XS / < 21.00 K
.....'87 - G20 Sportvan / > 206.00 K
......'85 - 4WINNS 160 I.O. / 140hp
.......'74 - Honda CT70 / Real 125
.
“I didn’t really say everything I said.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ Yogi Berra ~

Yeah MG, that was kind of how I approached my long commute days too. If you have a job that is worth a long commute, it's probably not a mindless, hourly job. You have responsibilities and things that have to get done. The commute time can be spent in a productive way.

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Starting next week, 4.2 miles rt for work commute. All done via a bike, time is money and all I'll be burning up are calories.

When I was in grad school a few yrs ago, it was a 100 mile rt, all done in my trusty 300TD (now owned by Graplr). Commute was ok, but got loud @ 75 mph.

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'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

My point is that the distance of a commute -- unless your job requires you to visit clients/customers -- is up to you. After all, you get to choose where you live. The bay area is infamous for long commutes, some folks live a hundred miles or more from where they work just so they can "own a home". When you're driving 3-4 hours a day just to get to/from work, guess what? Your home owns YOU!

There is alot of truth in what you say, but it is a generalization.

I moved to my current location a little over 25 years ago, when my oldest was halfway through the first grade. We had a terrible, heinous murder across the street from us in the suburbs and I wanted to get out of there anyway.

We moved to a location 20 miles from the nearest four lane highway or railroad track. Although a few homes have been built since then in our general area, my house is still a half mile from the nearest neighbor. The quiet community offered great schools and remains a low crime, peaceful area.

My commute was a price that I paid to give my family a great place to live and grow up. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change a thing. I wouldn't raise my family in the city for all the tea in China.

Luckily I worked at home some, traveled some and did not have to make the long commute every day. Again, a VERY small price to pay to be away from the upper middle class neighborhood that behind the beautiful neighborhoods, parks and schools was a jungle of a pig stye. Clean air and peace & quiet is priceless.

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

That sounds pretty boring and very car dependent. Within that approximate radius I've got six restaurants, four bars, a coffee shop, a butcher, two pharmacies, a parts store, three mechanic shops, two churches, two smoke shops, two or three gas stations, a laundromat, and a grocery store. Were it not for the need to get to work, I wouldn't really need a car.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

How was the traffic?

__________________
1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

You know, traffic has been alright. The first day on the way up, all was good. Left at 6:40, arrived at work at 7:50. No issues with traffic at all.

When I went to leave on Monday, the road was bumper to bumper all the way to 77. I saw this coming and asked the other engineers.. One recommended taking the same road in the opposite direction (very little traffic) and getting on 480/271 South, then picking up the turnpike. I did this and it really only added 5 minutes to the hole trip. Probably saved me 15+ of sitting in traffic (would not have been fun, especially in the 190E with virtually no a/c @ idle)

Toll was cheaper too. Its $2.50 on the way up, but with the alternate route on the way back it was $2.00 I think.

Today, I left about 640, got there about 7:50, still no issues with traffic going in.. I left a little earlier (4:30) as I only took a <30 min lunch (They give us an hour).. So traffic to 77 was clear. Made it home by 5:15 or so.

The turnpike isnt bad at all, only 45 minutes once I get off the pike, the road back to my house is annoying. Right now its one lane for a portion and its only 50mph. Google insists that if I this other route..its quicker but theres construction and red lights. I'm not convinced.

I think I'm going to take the 420SEL up Friday just to see how its fuel efficiency is doing. My 190E got 24.3 mpg so far. But the 420SEL is much more comfortable and the a/c is amazing.

I just wanted to thank everyone for their kind words so far. You've all been very helpful. This is big adjustment for me and I've typically not been very good with changes so eventually I'll stop dreading the drive and thinking of time like an accountant would money. My anxiety will eventually calm down and things will seem like normal. When I was in college during the summer I worked at a GM plant locally, and took classes during the day. Up at 8, home at 5-7pm. So I think once acclimated all will be better.

Today was much better as I came home a half an hour earlier rather than 15 minutes later. I soldered a cruise control board that I modified for 123 diesels, that seemed to be relaxing.

Eventually I'll bring out my 300SD. It'll be nice to have it back on the road. Its been in dry dock for nearly 5-8 years with a myriad of issues: rear window, steering box, light rust, control arm rust, and now it needs a fender painted and fitted..and a/c recharge (at min)...

Again. Thank you everyone. Good night!

__________________
Cruise Control not working? Send me PM or email (jamesdean59@gmail.com). I might be able to help out.
Check here for compatibility, diagnostics, and availability!

(4/11/2020: Hi Everyone! I am still taking orders and replying to emails/PMs/etc, I appreciate your patience in these crazy times. Stay safe and healthy!)


82 300SD 145k
89 420SEL 210k
89 560SEL 118k
90 300SE 262k RIP 5/25/2010
90 560SEL 154k
91 300D 2.5 Turbo. 241k
93 190E 3.0 235k
93 300E 195k

We are all different. I have spent most of my weekends this year in an area as you describe. My Mom's hip broke requiring lots of attention for her and her home. To me going there is PURE HELL!

I am a car guy, so having a car dependent life is just fine with me. That said, a GOOD day for me is one where I can stay home and enjoy peace & quiet, soak up the fresh air and enjoy the wildlife.

If my life goes astray and the devil gets hold of me, living in my Mom's neighborhood in the Dallas area will be my hell.

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

James,

So thanks for the update on the commute, but what about the job? Is it something that looks like it will work out well for you?

Best of luck with the whole life change thing.

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Commute one-way is 22 miles...what used to take 40 minutes now takes over an hour due to TXDOT performing major construction on EVERY conceivable expressway and secondary roads all over the Metroplex!

Heck, even the street outside my neighborhood is getting widened, so I see cones the minute I pull out of the driveway!

Been doing this for 12 years now. I cope by getting up early and performing therapeutical and de-stressing tasks prior to seizing the day.

A big plus (believe it or not) is that the wifey works in the same building...so only one vehicle has to leave the house on a daily basis...

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car