toddjb122
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- Jan 9, 2006
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I've always used my LR3 for commuting, but I've always had a short commute of 10-15 minutes...
I recently changed jobs and have an awful commute of about 60-90 minutes each way which has given me a minimum of 2.5 hours of commuting a day. Some highway, mostly stop and go highway, and then normal city stop and go. It costs me $20/day in fuel plus the wear and tear on the vehicle. I have always had long life on my break pads and tires, but can just feel it all burning away with the constant stop and go! This is old news for many of you but it's new for me. Not a fan.
Soooo, I've been looking at cars. My 2005 has 160K on it and is running strong. I've been kind of holding out for the next revision of the LR4 to come out and honestly, I wish they'd make a sport version of it which has all the capabilities and solid construction, without all the flair. I believe they make versions like that in the UK but in the states all we have is an increasingly pimped out option set which for me takes away from the utilitarian aspect which is how I use it.
I'm going off on tangents here but was curious how other folks addressed this dilemmna?
I've done the math on getting a second car vs. just putting the mileage on to the LR3. It's kind of a tossup. Even if I get a very high MPG commuter and save a few thousand a year on gas it takes a while to justify the cost of the 2nd vehicle and additional insurance costs. So, if I buy a commuter it will really be because I don't want to beat up my LR3 commuting (so I can beat it up on the weekend doing fun stuff) on a commute that is also at high risk for a fender bender.
Commuter options - I've looked at the VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI, Prius and have glanced at the Chevy Volt (but haven't driven one yet). I'd buy used. I don't want one of the sub miniature commuters. I want to feel relatively safe in an accident and want a 5 door for hauling sports equipment.
New options - I could sell my LR3 and buy a diesel SUV such as X5, Jeep Grand Cherokee or VW Toureg. They'll all get me about 30mpg highway and I'd feel less guilty about the gas. If I did that, I don't mind the new car costs as much because I'd be upgrading the LR3 at some point anyway. (would buy these instead)
Problem is...I don't like 'em!
I love how solid all the doors, hood and tailgate of the LR are constructed. I love the tailgate! And what is increasingly hard to find in ANY vehicle is fold flat seating that is completely flat. My LR3 folds hard and flat. It's great for transporting stuff, good for the dog and at 6'2" I can lay down back there and take a comfortable nap or camp out for the night. I don't think the RR even does that?!
There are of course obvious 4x4 capabilities of the LR3, which I love. But I have come to accept that while I take the truck offroad often, I'm not going on hard trails. I'm headed to sand, snow and the occasionally muddy/rocky trail. Any of the SUVs I mentioned above could handle that.
Right now I'm leaning towards keeping the LR3 and buying the Jetta for commuting.
Ideally, I wish LR would bring the diesel engine to the US in the LR4. I'd buy that. Not in the Range Rover as I heard rumored. I'm sorry, but as much as I love the vehicles I can't afford an $85K starting price (and I'm sure the diesel would be more).
Thoughts?
I recently changed jobs and have an awful commute of about 60-90 minutes each way which has given me a minimum of 2.5 hours of commuting a day. Some highway, mostly stop and go highway, and then normal city stop and go. It costs me $20/day in fuel plus the wear and tear on the vehicle. I have always had long life on my break pads and tires, but can just feel it all burning away with the constant stop and go! This is old news for many of you but it's new for me. Not a fan.
Soooo, I've been looking at cars. My 2005 has 160K on it and is running strong. I've been kind of holding out for the next revision of the LR4 to come out and honestly, I wish they'd make a sport version of it which has all the capabilities and solid construction, without all the flair. I believe they make versions like that in the UK but in the states all we have is an increasingly pimped out option set which for me takes away from the utilitarian aspect which is how I use it.
I'm going off on tangents here but was curious how other folks addressed this dilemmna?
I've done the math on getting a second car vs. just putting the mileage on to the LR3. It's kind of a tossup. Even if I get a very high MPG commuter and save a few thousand a year on gas it takes a while to justify the cost of the 2nd vehicle and additional insurance costs. So, if I buy a commuter it will really be because I don't want to beat up my LR3 commuting (so I can beat it up on the weekend doing fun stuff) on a commute that is also at high risk for a fender bender.
Commuter options - I've looked at the VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI, Prius and have glanced at the Chevy Volt (but haven't driven one yet). I'd buy used. I don't want one of the sub miniature commuters. I want to feel relatively safe in an accident and want a 5 door for hauling sports equipment.
New options - I could sell my LR3 and buy a diesel SUV such as X5, Jeep Grand Cherokee or VW Toureg. They'll all get me about 30mpg highway and I'd feel less guilty about the gas. If I did that, I don't mind the new car costs as much because I'd be upgrading the LR3 at some point anyway. (would buy these instead)
Problem is...I don't like 'em!
I love how solid all the doors, hood and tailgate of the LR are constructed. I love the tailgate! And what is increasingly hard to find in ANY vehicle is fold flat seating that is completely flat. My LR3 folds hard and flat. It's great for transporting stuff, good for the dog and at 6'2" I can lay down back there and take a comfortable nap or camp out for the night. I don't think the RR even does that?!
There are of course obvious 4x4 capabilities of the LR3, which I love. But I have come to accept that while I take the truck offroad often, I'm not going on hard trails. I'm headed to sand, snow and the occasionally muddy/rocky trail. Any of the SUVs I mentioned above could handle that.
Right now I'm leaning towards keeping the LR3 and buying the Jetta for commuting.
Ideally, I wish LR would bring the diesel engine to the US in the LR4. I'd buy that. Not in the Range Rover as I heard rumored. I'm sorry, but as much as I love the vehicles I can't afford an $85K starting price (and I'm sure the diesel would be more).
Thoughts?