I just picked up a 2010 Sport Trac Limited with low miles. I actually like driving this vehicle. One thing that I really like are the hard floors, no carpet. Wash out and keep going. I put cost of wearing out my diesel to cost of repairs or replacing commuter and decided to make the leap. So far gas and diesel prices are the same and fuel mileage is the same, but repair bills should be less and also its a toy also its gets around a lot easier in the cities that do not cater to big vehicles, like Austin Tx. If you have a big truck, no place to park.

 

I already had a paid for '09 Fusion when I bought my truck that I use for commuting etc. It's nice not running up miles on the truck, but the best side benefit is that I don't have to run it for those short empty trips that aren't good for these trucks. When it gets used, it's usually for towing, or hauling. That aspect is worth having the car for me.

 

Carl, you remind me of something that really gets under my skin. Badly.

My father has a smart car that sits in his garage, hasn't been driven in over a year. He and I run our little business. He will not let me drive that smart car around town, doing as you do, keeping the truck parked for when it's needed. He says "you let it sit outside". So, in theory, if I spend the money required to build a 3 car garage from the ground up, he would then let me Putz around in a cheap little car in an attempt to conserve the $80k truck.

Things that make you go hmmmmm.....

 

Wow Joel...he doesn't want it parked outside for some reason? Seems a bit excessive to me.

 

Precisely. Maddening

 

When I first bought my truck I thought about doing a commuter car.....then I got the option of a vehicle allowance and a fuel card from work. Now my truck is a daily......I rack up some miles but I get to drive this bad *** loaded ride everyday which makes my 1 1/2 commute more tolerable. I have thought ahead also.....I could pay the truck off and the allowance I get I will just keep in a separate account for maintenance items. I plan on keeping this rig a long time and by the time its ready to trade in it will have some mileage on it but for the amount of money these things cost I'm gonna drive the hell out of it and get my monies worth!

 

It will take 7 more years for my truck to get to 200k miles even with my daily 12 mi commute plus farm work.

Not worth buying a commuter and having to deal with another set of wheels.

Mabey by then the hideousness of the current 150 and next SD will be corrected.

 

Like many others here I use a getabout daily and the truck naps unless it's pulling the 5th. Last year the truck logged 2k miles, the getabout 12K miles. Other than ease of entry/exit I find it more comfortable than the truck.

08 Hyundai Santa Fe; also in white - which provides the best fuel mileage [Grin].

 

My garage would not allow three cars in it and I will never park a vehicle outside. Hate how that makes the house and subdivision look and I'm not going to scrape windows half the year. All my vehicles make it into the garage each and every evening. Same is true for my neighbors. A few neighbors have teen kids with a car outside but that's a short term problem until they are off to college.

Some years back, I used to live in a neighborhood where lots of the garages were filled with hoarding crap that needed to find the dump. Lots of people parked outside and there were cars on blocks, snowmobiles that never ran next to the garage. Some people love the lived in look but this look is just not for me. Although, this seems to be a sign for Frank and Mike to stop if they are driving past. (American Pickers reference).

When my truck gets near 100,000 mile on it, happy to start looking for another.

bruce....

 

If the weather is too bad to ride my scooter, I drive my truck. Gave my old beater to my son.

 

Since I drive my crew cab dually every day, its my work truck, a commuter car to me would be an Excursion. About 3 shorter and no hips and a heck of a lot lighter.