[Btown335]

Hey guys, so I just moved out to CT and am living with my girlfriend. My new commute is going to be 135 miles per day... 32-33k per year. I know its a pain in the ass but am leaning towards dealing with it so I can live with my girlfriend.

So my problem is that the long commute is going to skyrocket my gas, maintenance and potential repair costs for my car not to mention depreciation. My true ownership cost used to be about $10,000 per year when I only drove 10k miles per year in Boston. I calculated the new ownership cost at 32.5k miles per year and it is about $18,000 per year.

I love my bmw but I'm having trouble justifying paying $18,000 per year to keep it. If you think about it, that's M3 ownership cost range for someone who drives a normal number of miles. What would you guys do? If you sell the car, what car would you get to replace it? I've been looking more into fuel efficient options rather than performance cars. For example a Jetta TDI would cost me $10,300 per year driving 32.5k miles annually. Audi A3 Diesel would be $12,750 per year. Passat TDI would be $11,200. Definitely not going to enjoy a new car as much as my 335i but I'm trying to look at best alternative in the scenario that I do decide to sell my car.


So fuel economy is important but I really have to watch out for maintenance and repair costs too because I found that's where a good chunk of costs comes from when you drive over 30k miles per year. I obviously looked into the 335d but cost would still be pretty steep at $14,700 per year. Would you guys bite the bullet and pay $18,000 per year or would you sell it and what would you buy if you sold it?

Thanks for the advice.

[mike-y]

keep the bmw and park it in the garage.

Then go out and buy a used corolla/civic/focus or something around $6-$10k that gets good gas mileage.

[Potty_Pants]

gfriend cant move any closer ???

perhaps split the difference ?

I'll refrain from my normal comments... im sure somebody else will chime in

ppp

p.s. add into the equation how much you'll be saving combining the incomes... 1 cable bill, 1 rent,bla bla bla...


p.s.s..s.s.pspsps... i wouldnt drive a beater for a 130 mile drive each way... Screw that if your going to be in your car 25 hrs a week or so... why not be comfortable... KEEP THE CAR.

[taibanl]

The obvious answer:

335d

[Btown335]

Girlfriend can't move closer... she just got her driver's license in the US. She's from Australia and not comfortable driving on highways here haha. And also has to be close to home so she can take care of her puppy during lunch break.

And I save about $2,400 annually by living with her over living by myself in Hartford but living with her is same amount as I was paying in Boston last year.

[Btown335]

Originally Posted by taibanl

The obvious answer:

335d

Like I mentioned in my first post I did look into that too and definitely saves money on fuel but maintenance cost, repairs, and depreciation still cause it to cost about $15,000 per year. Definitely an improvement over $18,000 per year though.

[Bajan Loch]

Originally Posted by mike-y

keep the bmw and park it in the garage.

Then go out and buy a used corolla/civic/focus or something around $6-$10k that gets good gas mileage.

+1 I agree, do this, save your E92 for the weekends, drive it occasionally for work

[smallseafishie]

You buy a car to drive it. So enjoy the damn thing.

Here's my thinking, if I had to spend that much time in a car, it better be something I really like and enjoy! If it doesn't hurt you financially, do it.

[FVM3]

how can you spend like $10000 for a year on a 335i?

[bimmertt]

335i + shorter commute > living w/ gf that needs to take puppy out on lunch breaks and can't drive (isn't this a given?)

[Potty_Pants]

Originally Posted by Btown335

Girlfriend can't move closer... she just got her driver's license in the US. She's from Australia and not comfortable driving on highways here haha. And also has to be close to home so she can take care of her puppy during lunch break.

And I save about $2,400 annually by living with her over living by myself in Hartford but living with her is same amount as I was paying in Boston last year.

Pics or i call BS...





Man driving 260 miles a day... for a woman... she must have fallen from heaven !

still i say keep the car.

ppp

[g_rant]

Get a Prius?

[plague]

option 1- keep your car

option 2- if you want a sweet ride with great gas mileage get a used mini cooper. and make it a vert!

[Btown335]

Originally Posted by christopherchenm

how can you spend like $10000 for a year on a 335i?

That $10,000 per year is ownership cost which includes fuel cost, maintenance, repairs, insurance, depreciation, and interest from financing.

Out of pocket cost is different because I pay $9,000 per year for it plus the rest of the costs I mentioned about except depreciation obviously so I did pay out of pocket of $15,600 for my 335i per year when I was in Boston.

[carogers86]

Buy cheap car. I was looking at 10 year old camrys and accords between 3-5k.

[etichi]

Lucky to have a girlfriend from Australia. Love the accent.

[968tomr]

Its great, you get to keep the girlfriend and a place in the city.

I mean, giving up a 335 for a woman - where are your priorities man.

Okay - now that I have the formalities out of the way - I think an alternate car is not a bad choice, but not if you sell your 3er for 28k and buy a new X6 Active Hybrid for 100k.

Perhaps one of these... http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national

-Tom

[3_runner]

Coming from a guy who drives long distances, I hear where your coming from (just came back from Maine last week). I do about 300-320 miles per week or more, depending, with two cars. Your over thinking this. Like the others have said, buy a small fuel efficient car and be done with it.

[wrickem]

I'd just keep driving it until it dies from too many miles then buy something more fuel efficient.

Who am I kidding, I'd probably buy another BMW when I wore that one out. Driving that many miles I want to be comefortable, safe and have fun.

[BTTGMan]

check your math, and methodology. then, consider your alternatives. use the same methodology to run the alternatives. how much cheaper are reasonable alternatives.

i find your math to be highly questionable. likewise, how are you running depreciation? it should be falling off year-to-year. Unless you simply can't afford to, i'd be awfully tempted to stay in the 335. (is the car paid off, or not?).

if you sell it, consider buying a low-mileage saab. they are dirt cheap and get good gas mileage, and you can run it up to 180K and dump it. likewise, a set of nokians on that fwd car will get you through anything that your 335xi can handle.

[FVM3]

Originally Posted by Btown335

That $10,000 per year is ownership cost which includes fuel cost, maintenance, repairs, insurance, depreciation, and interest from financing.

Out of pocket cost is different because I pay $9,000 per year for it plus the rest of the costs I mentioned about except depreciation obviously so I did pay out of pocket of $15,600 for my 335i per year when I was in Boston.

im driving 35k miles a year too , the only way you can save money is get a prius

[marv85]

dude you must be really into her to give away your car and drive 135 miles a day so she can walk her puppy
but anyway that's your choice... To answer your question and using your math, I would get a cheap Japanese car that gets good mileage and is simple and cheap to fix. Keep your 335 for weekends. you never know may be she won't be into you any more if you buy a prius :P