-
If you are having trouble with your password change please click here for help.
What vehicle would you buy to drive 85 miles a day in Atlanta?
- Thread starter Cadcom
- Start date
I have an engineer buddy that commutes from Cumming to just off of Wade Green in Kennesaw. He has been commuting to this job in Toyota trucks for about 20 years. He generally trades in every 5 years or so, he absolutely swears by them...
Anything comfortable more creature comfort the better. That’s a good deal of driving for the Atlanta area. I used to be a sales rep for Gordon food service I used a used Mercedes most of my counterparts got hybrid Toyota camerys and a few Hondas civics since we did 150 to 200 miles a day. On a Finacial stand point get something that has had a good deal of depreciation already because if you do that kind of mileage on a newer low mileage unit you will really get hit on sale or trade in. That’s why I got the Mercedes they are cheap for what you get and last awhile they maintenance is higher but I do that myself so not so worried there hope that helps
The last 7 years I've done 450 miles a week in a 2002 civic si. Came to work every day during the chineze virus.
It has a newer (2023) clutch. If, I need another commuter I would look for about the same. Or a Camry. I love my 2500 truck but the gas prices suck. And I had way too many near misses on the moto. 🏍️I'm just hoping this civic makes 300-375k miles( and it should) That'll put me at retirement.
It has a newer (2023) clutch. If, I need another commuter I would look for about the same. Or a Camry. I love my 2500 truck but the gas prices suck. And I had way too many near misses on the moto. 🏍️I'm just hoping this civic makes 300-375k miles( and it should) That'll put me at retirement.
Porsche Macan
I buy nice used cars. I get the transmissions serviced first thing, tune up if they need it, do the brakes and run some good fuel system cleaner thru them. Most used cars just need a little maintenance to run like new. I'd get a pre-covid Toyota
I have had good lock with Nisean Frontier pickups I am on my 3rd one now. I buy them with around 100k miles then put around 100k miles on them with only normal Maintenace and sell them for what I paid or a small profit.
Toyota Corolla or Camry.
So around 17,680 miles a year give or take...If I knew that was the commute I was going to have for the next 3-5 years I would up my budget just a bit and spend about $25K on a new or might as well be new Corolla Hybrid LE (Base).
I would plan to trade the car every 3-4 years or so for another one and lose about 5-6K, effectively driving a new car under warranty with no outside maintenance cost for $5-6K.
The Corolla and all Toyota Hybrids have an E-CVT the only thing in common with a regular CVT is the 3 letters in the name.
Most of the other vehicles mentioned except for some of the hybrids have a CVT with the exception of Mazda and some of the VW's unless you go back a few years. None of those will get you Hybrid fuel mileage. The Corolla Hybrid will get you 47-53 MPG and is capable of more. ( I can get close to 60 in my kids corolla hybrid when I drive it) The latest models have everything that makes a city commute more tolerable, (CarPlay, safety features etc) Do the math on the difference fuel savings at 25-27 mpg common with some of the other mentioned vehicles and 47-53.
17,000 miles a year at 25MPG would be roughly 680 gallons at $3.00 (for demo purposes) $2040
17,000 miles a year at 47 MPG would be roughly 361 at $3.00. $1083
Savings $957 Over 3 years $2871. Eating up some that extra 5k or so thrown into the budget.
Same applies to Camry, all 2025 Camrys are hybrids but they are a bit more and unless you need more room, unnecessary for what it seems you're trying to accomplish. Keeping the commute comfortable, reliable and inexpensive.
A Prius would also get the same thing and you may be able to find a reliable used Prius easier since they have been out longer. I think the Corolla is more comfortable and quieter than the Prius.
I would plan to trade the car every 3-4 years or so for another one and lose about 5-6K, effectively driving a new car under warranty with no outside maintenance cost for $5-6K.
The Corolla and all Toyota Hybrids have an E-CVT the only thing in common with a regular CVT is the 3 letters in the name.
Most of the other vehicles mentioned except for some of the hybrids have a CVT with the exception of Mazda and some of the VW's unless you go back a few years. None of those will get you Hybrid fuel mileage. The Corolla Hybrid will get you 47-53 MPG and is capable of more. ( I can get close to 60 in my kids corolla hybrid when I drive it) The latest models have everything that makes a city commute more tolerable, (CarPlay, safety features etc) Do the math on the difference fuel savings at 25-27 mpg common with some of the other mentioned vehicles and 47-53.
17,000 miles a year at 25MPG would be roughly 680 gallons at $3.00 (for demo purposes) $2040
17,000 miles a year at 47 MPG would be roughly 361 at $3.00. $1083
Savings $957 Over 3 years $2871. Eating up some that extra 5k or so thrown into the budget.
Same applies to Camry, all 2025 Camrys are hybrids but they are a bit more and unless you need more room, unnecessary for what it seems you're trying to accomplish. Keeping the commute comfortable, reliable and inexpensive.
A Prius would also get the same thing and you may be able to find a reliable used Prius easier since they have been out longer. I think the Corolla is more comfortable and quieter than the Prius.
Similar threads
