Ape Factory
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2025
- Messages
- 186
- Gallery
- 111
- Reaction score
- 281
- Location
- San Antonio
- Current Ride
- Bronco Raptor
I knew that would get your attention. In a dilemma that I could not have foreseen coming and was sprung on me Monday. This is more of a "thanks for listening" but if you have a creative idea, I'm all ears.
I currently commute about 18 miles one way four days a week. I find driving the Braptor daily to be liberating even if it only sees pavement with the occasional curb jump or crushing of a small Toyota that cuts me off. It does get exercised properly on weekends with the occasional camping road trip as life allows. It was one of the top two reasons I purchased a Bronco in the first place and we're trying to make the great outdoors a larger part of our life outside of work.
I'm about to take on an "opportunity" to work more hours for more pay but unfortunately, it'll also have me traveling between two cities. The one way commute is 85 miles and I'm working on logistics and how many days I'll be driving up there. My best guess is about 10 days a month.
I've run the numbers and although I'm salary, I'll be reimbursed for mileage at the Federal rate and they'll even pay for me to take a very expensive toll road all the way up. Problem is, that actually adds 20 minutes each way and time is money. Worst toll road placement ever. For those in the area between San Antonio and Austin, it's damned if you do, damned if you don't as I-35 can be Dante's 10 levels of hell. It can make those extra 40 minutes seem like nothing.
Working out the math, I'd go from traveling 8K miles a year on average to about 20K. Not horrible and I've gone much higher but again, completely unexpected and had I known in December, I might have purchased a different vehicle. I've also spent a considerable amount of time modifying with little things to make it better overall for my needs so selling it is just not an option. And I love it. I'm a "car guy" through and through and my last daily commuter was a 500hp AWD "RS" with an 8800rpm redline and a V8. But I wasn't traveling 170 miles a day either.
Maintenance isn't overkill on the Bronco and I'll be doing the wrenching myself as time permits so there's a cost savings there. I don't believe 70 cents a mile will cover wear and depreciation on something like the Bronco. I do have an extended warranty which is nice. I'm wondering if there's something I can negotiate or have integrated into my salary that I'm not thinking of.
We do own four vehicles, one being a pickup truck and another being a Jeep which is going to my nephew shortly. Neither would be better than the Braptor for commuting. I've thought about swapping into my wife's SUV for those 10 days as it likely gets double the gas mileage but she doesnt' take very good care of her cars and the thought of her in the Braptor for 10 days a month haunts me. At least she'd have a hard time curbing the wheels. Side note, if you're single and dating, and want to know something about her, just look at how she keeps the interior of her car. It's telling.
Anyway, she does only drive about five miles to work but there may be issues with her parking garage. Need to check it out first. It's an option, just not a very pleasant one.
Right now, I plan on pulling off the roof rack, side racks and likely the light bar. Maybe even remove the pillar lights and stick strictly to 70mph and see where we're at. Run the tires at 40psi cold. Keep the windows up. Clench. Maybe it'll be enough. It's just rough putting that sort of mileage on the car.
I currently commute about 18 miles one way four days a week. I find driving the Braptor daily to be liberating even if it only sees pavement with the occasional curb jump or crushing of a small Toyota that cuts me off. It does get exercised properly on weekends with the occasional camping road trip as life allows. It was one of the top two reasons I purchased a Bronco in the first place and we're trying to make the great outdoors a larger part of our life outside of work.
I'm about to take on an "opportunity" to work more hours for more pay but unfortunately, it'll also have me traveling between two cities. The one way commute is 85 miles and I'm working on logistics and how many days I'll be driving up there. My best guess is about 10 days a month.
I've run the numbers and although I'm salary, I'll be reimbursed for mileage at the Federal rate and they'll even pay for me to take a very expensive toll road all the way up. Problem is, that actually adds 20 minutes each way and time is money. Worst toll road placement ever. For those in the area between San Antonio and Austin, it's damned if you do, damned if you don't as I-35 can be Dante's 10 levels of hell. It can make those extra 40 minutes seem like nothing.
Working out the math, I'd go from traveling 8K miles a year on average to about 20K. Not horrible and I've gone much higher but again, completely unexpected and had I known in December, I might have purchased a different vehicle. I've also spent a considerable amount of time modifying with little things to make it better overall for my needs so selling it is just not an option. And I love it. I'm a "car guy" through and through and my last daily commuter was a 500hp AWD "RS" with an 8800rpm redline and a V8. But I wasn't traveling 170 miles a day either.
Maintenance isn't overkill on the Bronco and I'll be doing the wrenching myself as time permits so there's a cost savings there. I don't believe 70 cents a mile will cover wear and depreciation on something like the Bronco. I do have an extended warranty which is nice. I'm wondering if there's something I can negotiate or have integrated into my salary that I'm not thinking of.
We do own four vehicles, one being a pickup truck and another being a Jeep which is going to my nephew shortly. Neither would be better than the Braptor for commuting. I've thought about swapping into my wife's SUV for those 10 days as it likely gets double the gas mileage but she doesnt' take very good care of her cars and the thought of her in the Braptor for 10 days a month haunts me. At least she'd have a hard time curbing the wheels. Side note, if you're single and dating, and want to know something about her, just look at how she keeps the interior of her car. It's telling.
Anyway, she does only drive about five miles to work but there may be issues with her parking garage. Need to check it out first. It's an option, just not a very pleasant one.
Right now, I plan on pulling off the roof rack, side racks and likely the light bar. Maybe even remove the pillar lights and stick strictly to 70mph and see where we're at. Run the tires at 40psi cold. Keep the windows up. Clench. Maybe it'll be enough. It's just rough putting that sort of mileage on the car.
