Commuters, what kind of car do you drive?

[daxzy]

About 13 miles from work, takes about 25-30 minutes. This is about 60% 55 mph road and 40% city roads. Drive a 2016 Subaru WRX; it was a replacement when I totaled my former Subaru Impreza.

When only commuting, I get about 27 combined mpg, which I think is decent for a car of this power (but apparently people on other forums say the WRX is a gas hog).

 

[local]

2005 Cobalt with the paint falling off that I bought new. I get a $220/wk vehicle stipend and a gas card from work. 1hr drive each way. I liked the $220/wk raise but eventually I will get something fun to replace it. With a gas card I care not about mileage.

 

[stargazr]

2001 Mazda B4000 Pickup - 4WD. It's a hybrid - basically a Ford Ranger. Very reliable for my commute on I-35.

 

[ultimatebob]

I commute in a Chevy Cruze Eco. It gets about 35 MPG in traffic during my hour long commute.

I listen to podcasts on my phone to stay sane during that drive.

 

[rh71]

You know, my wife's a commuter who parks at the train station. No shot we would buy a nice car for that 5 minute drive and to leave it in a public lot all day every day.

Personally, I like driving and it's my alone-time that I enjoy. Saving gas is so at the bottom of my list. When I commuted to an office, I didn't care that my SUV got 14mpg.

 

[Jeeebus]

shaguar

 

[Red Squirrel]

2004 Alero. Before that it was a 98 Buick. I buy used, and pay cash. Much cheaper in the long run even though I might have to do repairs more often. I see people buying new vehicles left and right, and then buying new again a few years later. I don't get it. I could never justify spending that kind of money when I could put it towards something that will last longer like a home improvement.

I would love an electric car though, but I think it will be a very long time till they hit the used market. Heck I barely even see new ones for sale. What would be neat is to mount a couple 100w of solar panels on an electric car. Considering it would spend most of the time parked it would trickle charge a bit.

Edit: Oh and I'm like 3 minutes from work, so I guess I don't really fall in the "commuter" category.

 

[core2slow]

No electric option? Are we not smug enough for you people?!

My commute is 25mi round trip so I have a Spark EV for the daily duty. HOWWWEVVA, if I forget to charge it or planning on driving somewhere far then I bust out the Audi RS5!

 

[Chaotic42]

2016 Subaru WRX. Love the AWD in the ice and snow.

 

[Deeko]

Option 1 + Option 2 - Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. I get good mileage and its a nice car, best of both worlds.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Thankfully, I don't have to commute by car anymore but it didn't stop me from picking up a new vehicle yesterday.

 

[brianmanahan]

I drive a Fit but the way I drive it, the mileage ain't all that great so the worst of all worlds I guess. Still beats the '86 Hilux.

i get 38 mpg on my fit

 

[olds]

Motorcycle

 

[JulesMaximus]

I swore up and down that I'd never have a long commute (even on ATOT). But then a job came along with enough salary bump to make the long commute worth it.

My perfect answer doesn't fit into your poll. I really want enough luxury to make the long drive pleasant, but a fuel sipper since I'm cheap. Sadly, no car really fits that bill. Apparently some luxury features and fuel efficiency don't go together in the minds of automobile manufacturers.

I got as close as I could: a Camry XLE hybrid. I get 36 MPG at 79 MPH, about the same as my old Civic. But, it has comfortable, heated leather seats, a decent ride (far better on snow/ice than the Civic which is important to me when commuting at interstate speeds), and a good enough sound system. Not really luxury, but it isn't bottom of the barrel either and the fuel economy is certainly good enough.

Lexus makes a hybrid version of the ES which is based on the Toyota Avalon platform but shares the Camry Hybrid drivetrain. Mileage is about the same as the Camry Hybrid but you get all those nice Lexus features like full leather interior, heated and cooled seats, more room, the Lexus infotainment system which I thought was quite good.

I loved my Camry Hybrid. Wish I still had it sometimes.

 

[TheGardener]

i get 38 mpg on my fit

Good to get great mileage. But a Fit is a deathtrap if you get into an accident with an SUV.

 

[herm0016]

Wife: volt, 25 miles, no gas. Costs a bit less than a dollar a day for energy. Me: truck 30 miles, 17 to 18 mpg.

 

[skyking]

we both drive 45 miles or so daily and have TDI beetles. 45~47 MPG plus a seat I find comfortable.

 

[lxskllr]

Company truck. ~15mpg, and I don't pay for it. If I was using my vehicle, it would be some kind of suv/truck-like thing that has 4wd, moderate carrying capacity, and the best gas mileage I can get with that form factor. My brief time in a malibu made me realize I hate passenger cars. Getting out of that thing was like climbing out of a manhole.

 

[zerocool84]

Commute 24 miles each way in a 2016 Accord V6. It's a very comfortable car so it's a pretty easy commute. I don't average great MPG, around 22-25mpg because I don't get to cruise, stuck in traffic. Those times I do get to cruise at one speed I easily get over 32mpg.

 

[Ruptga]

Motorcycle

I did that for a while, then I got rearended by some dipshit that didn't notice the entire interstate was stopping for an accident ahead. That chapped my ass. I'll ride again but I will not commute on a bike again.

 

[brianmanahan]

Good to get great mileage. But a Fit is a deathtrap if you get into an accident with an SUV.

no more a deathtrap than the old 80's/90's compact cars i used to drive

 

[who?]

If you want to get good mpg set the cruise control to 55mph.

 

[Ruptga]

no more a deathtrap than the old 80's/90's compact cars i used to drive

The 3rd gen Fit's crash rating is fine, the older models are the ones that are subpar. If you actually get 38mpg then you probably have a 3rd gen, so you're quite a bit better off than you'd be in a Geo. Hell, a smart car is probably safer than an old Geo.

If you want to get good mpg set the cruise control to 55mph.

Cars made in the last 20 years have much better aerodynamics than the ones from the 70s, 65 is about where you'll get the best mileage unless you're driving something brick shaped.

 

[skyking]

Company truck. ~15mpg, and I don't pay for it. If I was using my vehicle, it would be some kind of suv/truck-like thing that has 4wd, moderate carrying capacity, and the best gas mileage I can get with that form factor. My brief time in a malibu made me realize I hate passenger cars. Getting out of that thing was like climbing out of a manhole.

The camry was like that. 2 hours and I'd get out and stretch and groan, and get back in. 2 more hours and I was hating life. The beetles have two big doors and upright seating closer to my pickup than a car. I can jack the seat to the highest position and not hit my head, and I am really long in the trunk.
I put 4th generation ram seats in my 3rd gen truck and it still wins the comfort game, but not by a ot.

 

[LevelSea]

20 mile roundtrip. 2011 Mustang GT. No idea on gas mileage, don't really care.