So my current commute consists of a 40 minute drive to a commuter train station then a 1 hour train ride to the city then either a 30 minute walk to my office or a 5 minute subway ride followed by a 5 minute walk. My company pays me a $600 a month car allowance, mileage and picks up the public transit fees. Fair deal all around.
My next project has me going in the opposite direction. It'll be all driving but about 100 miles each way. My mileage compensation remains the same at just over $1 per mile but they're open to increasing my car allowance somewhat to compensate for the extra wear and tear.
I'm taxed on the car allowance but the mileage compensation is considered reimbursement so is therefore tax free. Our company has no requirement as to the age or type of car you drive.
I'm a GRM guy at heart and always drive something odd. My current daily is a vert well kept 2006 Mini Cooper R50. I love driving it and it's treated me well but throwing this kind of mileage at it will likely kill it in short order.
This is where I finally get to my question. Do I get a couch on wheels or something that's going to get me the best MPGs? I can't justify buying a new car then driving it into the ground in a couple of years. I know lots of people who do this but it just isn't me.
Sonic
UberDork
1/13/24 3:05 p.m.
Avalon hybrid. Nice enough to be very comfortable for the time you are spending in the car, very good mileage, very reliable, get one that already has miles and run it up.
Can you charge an EV at home? This sounds like a perfect use case for a depreciated Tesla.
I do love me some Gen2 Prius but it will fail in the "couch on wheels" category. However, the Avalon version will excel at being exactly that.
Do you have any options like free office charging for an EV? That would really offset costs. A double dip of "free fuel" and reimbursement!
11GTCS
SuperDork
1/13/24 5:38 p.m.
Sonic said:
Avalon hybrid. Nice enough to be very comfortable for the time you are spending in the car, very good mileage, very reliable, get one that already has miles and run it up.
Echoing Sonic on this, Avalon hybrid or high trim Camry hybrid (XLE or XSE). (Disclosure; my wife's daily is a 2022 Camry XSE hybrid) Near Prius level mileage, not a penalty box with heated steering wheel and seats, 9 speaker JBL sound system, quiet, decent ride. What's not to like?
Dark horse would be a Fusion Titanium hybrid if you can find a good one. The battery takes up some of the trunk space but is the rough equivalent of a high trim Camry. The wild card will be if you can find a Ford dealer that can service it.
The answer for this is always older Lexus LS or newer Avalon. Boring, dead reliable, eats up miles.
In reply to 11GTCS :
On the mention of loaded Fusion Hybrid...They are rare, but the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is very popular (a tarted up Fusion.) I find the MKZ to be an interesting rarity of lux and economy. Lincoln depreciation is a real thing too. I'll bet you can find a used Lincoln version cheaper than a Fusion Titanuim version. I do however agree that servicing can be spotty. Even DIY info seems to be hard to come by.
Honda Civic Si: they are fun to drive, comfy and you'll get 40 mpg. You won't find a more fun to drive car that does better and is more comfortable on long hauls. You can get more comfort, more economical or more fun to drive, but the Civic Si is the best blend of all 3.
Tesla model S with under 100k miles and in the low-mid $20's should last a good while
Tom Suddard said:
Can you charge an EV at home? This sounds like a perfect use case for a depreciated Tesla.
The used ones qualify for a $4k tax credit too, right?
I'd be looking at any hybrid, but I like smaller vehicles so I would look for a mid-sized one. One son rented a Fusion hybrid and was crowing about the mileage he got on a trip to Pittsburgh, and his DD is a Fiat 500. My other son has a Kia Niro hybrid for a DD and he was whining about dropping below 48 MPG on a trip to Chicago last year. A used hybrid and getting paid $1/mile, or more makes sense to me.
Re: $4k credit and $1 per mile
The OP uses Freedom Units like miles but his profile says The Greater Toronto Area. If GTA, then no $4k and a relative $0.75 per mile (which i still great) and $600 allowance is a relative $447 (also still great.)
Just drive the MINI, miles don't hurt them, esp hiway miles.....
MiniDave said:
Just drive the MINI, miles don't hurt them, esp hiway miles.....
And this is the most economical solution and probably more fun than many other choices. However if you want lots of fun and 40 mpg, Civic Si. If you are willing to live with 30 mpg there are lots of fun options. If you want a commuter appliance, sure get a commuter appliance like a Prius.
