Daily driver worth it?
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 35
Daily driver worth it?
So if your truck gets about 10 mpg, is a daily driver (car) worth it?
I thought so, but then look at the total cost of ownership:
Intitial purchase - where can you get a reliable vehicle for less than 5K?
Gas - it too needs gas! Say 25mpg, so you get 15mpg more than with the truck.
Insurance.
Repairs.
Normal service like tires, oil change, filters, spark plugs. You now have to think about these on 2 vehicles.
Taxes. County stickers. Possibly emissions.
The good thing about your daily driver is that it saves wear on the truck. And better ride quality, and cornering ability.
When I looked beyond total vehicle ownership cost, it exceeded the gas savings it would offer me. Unless you drive *a lot*, I am not sure what the break-even point is. But savings with extra +15 mpg are not significant enough to make up for that second vehicle expenses, unless you get it real cheap and it suffers no catastrophic breakdowns like tranny/ engine work. (That too is a big assumption, the daily driver can turn into a loss if it experiences a failure... and with cars in that price range, whose history you don't know.... )
I thought so, but then look at the total cost of ownership:
Intitial purchase - where can you get a reliable vehicle for less than 5K?
Gas - it too needs gas! Say 25mpg, so you get 15mpg more than with the truck.
Insurance.
Repairs.
Normal service like tires, oil change, filters, spark plugs. You now have to think about these on 2 vehicles.
Taxes. County stickers. Possibly emissions.
The good thing about your daily driver is that it saves wear on the truck. And better ride quality, and cornering ability.
When I looked beyond total vehicle ownership cost, it exceeded the gas savings it would offer me. Unless you drive *a lot*, I am not sure what the break-even point is. But savings with extra +15 mpg are not significant enough to make up for that second vehicle expenses, unless you get it real cheap and it suffers no catastrophic breakdowns like tranny/ engine work. (That too is a big assumption, the daily driver can turn into a loss if it experiences a failure... and with cars in that price range, whose history you don't know.... )
Last edited by carpe_diem; Sep 14, 2003 at 12:06 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,157
Likes: 1
From: Central Kali
Daily driver worth it?
I tend to agree with you. I had to do pick something in a two week time period for a 35 mile one way commute. I ended up getting a 01 Ranger with 19,000 on it. If I would have had the time, I probably would have gone thru something older and re-built it. 
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,230
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From: Near Bloom, PA
Daily driver worth it?
Just because of where we live and work a daily driver is a necessity. We each have a work vehicle (beater) and since mine is a Buick (for sentimental reasons only)I also have a winter beater pickup for snow driving. It's been banged off guiderails and slid into mountains. It only costs me an extra $125/year to insure it and it keeps the "good truck" out of the weather. Plus repairs are minimal, parts are available at any junkyard and the value is depreciated so much that I wouldn't get anything out of selling it anyway.
So comparing that to potential repair$$ to the Bronco, plus keeping the mileage down, it's worth it. Just my 2 cents.
So comparing that to potential repair$$ to the Bronco, plus keeping the mileage down, it's worth it. Just my 2 cents.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,513
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From: La Tech University, La
Daily driver worth it?
Well, I can see what you are saying with that one, I jsut bought a winter turk also, but it will also be my 'play in the mud' truck, I mean, If I bend the body up a bit in the winter, as long as the frame is straight, who cares?
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 35
Daily driver worth it?
I may actually use a daily driver, contradicting what I said --- but only because I got it as a gift. Don't know if I will get another one if it breakes.
What I REALLY want is Gear Vendors Overdrive. Then with more like 14mpg instead of 11, it wouldn't hurt so much at the pump.
What I REALLY want is Gear Vendors Overdrive. Then with more like 14mpg instead of 11, it wouldn't hurt so much at the pump.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 0
From: Canada
Daily driver worth it?
Well see your "second vehicle" needs to be something you like for more then just "necessity" otherwise it really isn't worth it...but for instance, lets say you want a motorcycle..well its easier to justify the cost when your getting 40MPG and saving money on gas, and repairs are cheap enough...and initial cost is cheap as well (depends on what you want, I'm happy with anything that runs) so for me, I am considering a 79 Kawi 500 as a daily commute during nice days and truck during bad days. I figure even if it evens out $ wise I still have a bike I didn't have before 
Chado
Chado
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Central Kali
Daily driver worth it?
That sounds good but I don't like the odds if someone should run into you. 
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,027
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From: Canada
Daily driver worth it?
Organ donors...yup I have heard that before to her newest fav. is murdercycles though. Around here I suppose they are (on the highway anyway) I would only ride it in town (where injuries are minimal WHEN they hit you) and on my way to work, out in the stix where the traffic is very light and not hard to get away from.
Chado
Chado
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 2
From: Conway Arkansas
Daily driver worth it?
Try beating this :
I got a 1991 Ford Tempo for $100 bucks
Had been "wrecked" a guy at work had it, someone backed into the side of it, busted turn signal lense, and put a dent in door.
I borrowed the money from a lady friend of mine, she refused payment on it :P
So I got it for free
Had a new set of tires on it, and a full tank of gas when I bought it
Insurance costs me 15 bucks a month on it for liability only, because it is a 3rd vehicle...
:P I think it'll pay for itself
I got a 1991 Ford Tempo for $100 bucks
Had been "wrecked" a guy at work had it, someone backed into the side of it, busted turn signal lense, and put a dent in door.
I borrowed the money from a lady friend of mine, she refused payment on it :P
So I got it for free
Had a new set of tires on it, and a full tank of gas when I bought it
Insurance costs me 15 bucks a month on it for liability only, because it is a 3rd vehicle...
:P I think it'll pay for itself
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,027
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From: Canada
Daily driver worth it?
Now 15$ insurance would make it worth while.
Even my truck is 150$/month just liability (we had a topic about this not long ago...cheapest insurance in Ontario is 1 million Liab. and I live in a tourist area, and I am a single male 20 years old...my rice burner insurance was 500$/month full coverage clean record when I got it...got it down to 260$/month and that was with really high deductibles...then I sold it after I had it sitting in driveway and was just driving truck.)
Some other guy on here got a civic for 50$ that was roadworthy...I guess you get lucky.
Chado
Even my truck is 150$/month just liability (we had a topic about this not long ago...cheapest insurance in Ontario is 1 million Liab. and I live in a tourist area, and I am a single male 20 years old...my rice burner insurance was 500$/month full coverage clean record when I got it...got it down to 260$/month and that was with really high deductibles...then I sold it after I had it sitting in driveway and was just driving truck.)
Some other guy on here got a civic for 50$ that was roadworthy...I guess you get lucky.
Chado
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 2
From: Conway Arkansas
Daily driver worth it?
Good deal.
Id rather had a Civic honestly, better resale to some kid
Im about ready to sell my Tempo... prob ask about 850 for it
Ive cleaned it up, tuned it up, and did the minor repairs it needed
Id rather had a Civic honestly, better resale to some kid
Im about ready to sell my Tempo... prob ask about 850 for it
Ive cleaned it up, tuned it up, and did the minor repairs it needed