please tell me I'm not thinking rationally

So the new gig don't come with a company car. It's also going to be really hard on a car and in bad parts of different towns. Horrible roads, clay driveways, inattentive drivers coming the wrong way down one way streets, random crackhead throwing things at your windshield ( all happened within the last week ).

I've got two nice dailies with residual value. 2002 Subaru Legacy wagon, 2002 protege5. Both worth 3-3.5k in local market.

Wife been driving the Subaru, I've been driving the p5. Wife wants p5. I don't really care for the Subaru.

So my thoughts were to sell the Subaru while it's still woth something, and buy a sub 1k 4x4 s-series.that would give me something I wouldn't feel guilty about beating to death. But it would be an unknown quantity, and need work at the most inopportune times. Which requires time I don't have enough of.

Or, I could beat the Subaru to death, thereby using up any residual value it might have, but I know it well.

I'm really torn here.

What do yall think?

Are you getting some sort of mileage allowance that would allow you to save up money for a replacement for the Legacy while you use it up?

32 cent a mile, $350 a month cap.

So if the Legacy lasts for a year, you can spend up to $4k on a better suited replacement without factoring in that you might get some money for it? That would probably be my choice.

But that doesn't factor in that I'll be blowing through at least that much a month in fuel/maintenance.

You'll have the fuel cost if you buy a cheaper vehicle, too, right?

This gig sounds like you want the vehicle equivalent of safety boots, with good air conditioning. That says "used police package" to me. $350 a month would get you a "new" P71 twice a year, from what I hear. If you "don't really care" for the Subaru, sell it for $3k, get an indestructible P71 for max $2k, make it look a little less like a cop car if required (non-black grille, wheelcovers, whatever) to calm the crackheads and other nervous citizens, and have a cushion in the bank. Then take your car allowance and proceed. If FWD and a smaller size would help, 9C1 Impalas get the job done too.

Can you buy something more reliable than the Subaru for that 3 grand? Run it til it drops says I.

wheelsmithy wrote: Can you buy something more reliable than the Subaru for that 3 grand? Run it til it drops says I.

And that is exactly why this thread exists. That's half my brain. The other half thinks I can pocket money selling and buying a piece of E36 M3.

Stealthtercel wrote: This gig sounds like you want the vehicle equivalent of safety boots, with good air conditioning. That says "used police package" to me. $350 a month would get you a "new" P71 twice a year, from what I hear. If you "don't really care" for the Subaru, sell it for $3k, get an indestructible P71 for max $2k, make it look a little less like a cop car if required (non-black grille, wheelcovers, whatever) to calm the crackheads and other nervous citizens, and have a cushion in the bank. Then take your car allowance and proceed. If FWD and a smaller size would help, 9C1 Impalas get the job done too.

This.

More important question... Why is you mileage rate less than the IRS set value of $0.575/mile? Are they expecting you to absorb the difference and claim it as a business expense?

I've worked for many companies with car/mileage packages and never known one to utilize a rate other than the IRS value.

NordicSaab wrote: More important question... Why is you mileage rate less than the IRS set value of $0.575/mile? Are they expecting you to absorb the difference and claim it as a business expense? I've worked for many companies with car/mileage packages and never known one to utilize a rate other than the IRS value.

Agreed. Although the 2016 rate is now 54 cents/mile.

If driving for your job is that important, then I'm surprised they don't pay the full amount and/or give you an allowance to get a decent, reliable car.

In reply to Ian F:

Wow... I just looked it up because I was confident with the $0.575 rate... turns out there was a drop to $0.54 with the new year.

Resource:2016 IRS Standard Mileage Rates

Dusterbd13 wrote: 32 cent a mile, $350 a month cap.

The IRS says it cost 54 cents per mile on the average car.
Being GRM, sure, we can do it cheaper. But, you can still take the deduction on the difference.

54 cents allowed
32 cents reimbursement

22 cents deductable on your taxes at the end of the year.

Once you exceed the monthly allotment and therefore are getting reimbursed no more then you can take the entire 54 cents.

Keep a a daily log of miles.

Yes, P71 may be wise.

$350 per month at 32 cents is 1093 miles per month or 13125 miles per year.

How many miles do you think you will drive per month/year?

How many miles a month do you think you will drive?

Is gas mileage a concern?

Are you hauling a bunch of stuff or people?

Dusterbd13 wrote:

wheelsmithy wrote: Can you buy something more reliable than the Subaru for that 3 grand? Run it til it drops says I.

And that is exactly why this thread exists. That's half my brain. The other half thinks I can pocket money selling and buying a piece of E36 M3.

200k mile corollas are that cheap. You have to look around though.

Dusterbd13 wrote:

wheelsmithy wrote: Can you buy something more reliable than the Subaru for that 3 grand? Run it til it drops says I.

And that is exactly why this thread exists. That's half my brain. The other half thinks I can pocket money selling and buying a piece of E36 M3.

I don't think you will. If you were selling a $10,000 car to buy something cheaper, I'd say the return would be worth the effort and risk of new problems. But for a $3,000 car that you already know, just keep it and drive it till it explodes.

I would look at a Hyundai Accent or Elantra. They are nice cars, very reliable, but "only a Hyundai" to most people.. So I doubt anybody would give such an appliance a second glance. They are also good on gas and seem to handle rough roads well stock.

In reply to NordicSaab:

Yes, I know. My company sends out a new Excel expense report spread sheet every year, but I double-checked before posting. As I'm looking at riding the per diem train for the next year or so, these things are relevant.

As John posted above, keep a log. If they are only paying you 32 cents, then you can absolutely deduct the remaining 22 cents, but you'll need to make sure to have the paperwork to back it up, just in case.

drive subaru into ground while saving up your mileage reimbusement, then when you feel it's close to the end of its usable life dump it on CL for a grand and buy a p71.

i pounded the crap out of my 99 p71. bombing gravel driveways, i took it in the woods a couple times, jumping tracks, road trips, etc... it was a $1800 64k mile car and it took everything i could throw at it until the frame rotted. i would buy an 03+ in a heartbeat if i needed another sedan, but my needs have changed.

Even crack heads resist throwing crap at P71s.

Given the neighborhoods you described, P71 wins.

After sleeping and thinking on it, I think my course of action will be to use the Subaru for the next while. Save up for a replacement. It's a known quantity, and the statement earlier about what can I buy for the money that is more reliable and suited really hit home.

I will be on the lookout for a cheap cop car though. That rally makes sense.

I don't think it makes sense to sell a reliable $3500 car that you will need for work to buy a sub-$1000 unknown quantity that may or may not get you back and forth to work. The devil you know is better than the devil you don't know. Drive the Subaru.