Better House vs. Better Commute: Enthusiast Version

"Poor_Sh" (ar4x)
02/23/2019 at 12:54 • Filed to: None

Hey Guys,

I’m looking at houses now and have a pretty common dilemma. My current commute is almost negative minutes, so I know any house will be a big change, but what am I willing to accept for what payoff?

Got my cracked windshield replaced, took them 4 tries but they had great customer service.

I do a lot of research so I’ve seen a bunch of answers to this question. Essentially it boils down to get a lesser house for a smaller commute if the commute will ruin your life and you don’t care as much about your house specs, or get a better house if you like driving and it isn’t horrible traffic. However, I haven’t really seen a lot of responses from the enthusiast perspective.

My Cayman is my only car, and I love driving it pretty much every time I get to. So by that measure a commute that isn’t stop-and-go should be an increase to my happiness if not a net neutral at least. On the other hand, what if having to wake up earlier and come home later while not being paid for the time I’m dealing with other drivers makes me not like my car as much? (No I’m not going to buy a cheap commuter car and relegate the Cayman to weekends.)

I just like the texture of rain drops. But my new place will have a garage.

Where I live definitely won’t have nice twisty back roads or anything. My max distance would be about 20 miles which is a conservative increase of 10K miles a year. I regularly go about 12K currently and that’s with no commute, so what if I start putting 20K+ miles per year on my Cayman? Even with a better fuel economy on those commutes vs. my current one, it’s still going to be over $1000 more in gas alone, I’ll have more oil changes (which I do myself but still about $80). My other wear items will wear faster and replacements/maintenance will increase on a not-so-cheap car. I can afford this all, I just want to be as informed as possible.

DISCUSSION (41)

ranwhenparked > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 13:04

Honestly, go for the shorter commute, it will make your life happier in the long run. I've got an hour drive through mostly country back roads. It's not bad, kind of enjoyable for awhile, but gets annoying fast. You can't pop home quickly during the day to let a contractor in or something, and when you're done work, you just want to be home, and it means your mornings have to be precisely timed. If you hit unexpected traffic or road work, it can throw things off badly.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 13:05

For me, it was a question of time available to spend with my children. I bought a fun/fast car that could hold my kids too. I shifted my hours so I could be available to coach in the afternoons. As the kids got older, I spent more time driving them to their schools in the morning and picking them up in the afternoon so we could go do sports. Eventually, my daughter started driving so some of the school commuting burden fell to her.

I say all this because you don’t mention it as a factor. I’m not sure if it doesn’t apply to your current or future situation or if you just forgot.

E90M3 > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 13:05

When I was looking a really long commute in Savannah, I decided I didn’t want to drive the M3 that much. I was also looking at all the maintenance costs associated with putting 25k/year on a car like that and decided that it would be better for me to get a commu ter car. Now I know you said that you didn’t want to get a commuter car, but no one said it had to be an appliance ; I mean, my commuter car is another manual BMW. If you’re ok with putting 20k+/year on the Cayman, then go for it. If you’re concerned about the drive ruining it for you, then get something else. Now that I’m, not driving the M3 everyday, it feels more special to me every time I drive it. Plus I have the peace of mind that it’s safely tucked away in its garage.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 13:09

i vote for short commute... nothing sucks more than added unpaid hours of work and driving the same stretch of road day in day out come rain or shine is boring... it probably wont make you hate the car... but odds are you’ll hate that drive sooner or later

that said... 20 miles aint so bad if traffics moving (says the guy with a commute of about 3 miles..for now)

shop-teacher > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 13:15

This is a very personal decision. I found out early on that I hated long commutes, so I have always moved close to work since then. Some people I work with actually prefer the commute, they think of it as their personal time to just themselves. No kids, no email, no work ...

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 13:15

I’ve been there. For about five years, I had 52 mile (virtually all 80mph interstate) round trip commute everyday, and I used an enthusiast vehicle as a daily driver for most of that time. I did the commute with a 2nd gen Acura Legend coupe, NB Miata, E39, Corvette and finally my ecoboost F-150 at the end . Last spring we bought a house close enough that I could walk to work if I wanted to. We could’ve gotten a bigger/nicer/better house further away, but the location might be the best money I’ve ever spent.

That commute was an hour of my life every day that I’m deeply glad to have back. Even in a fun car, it was still an hour spent with (primarily) the same stupid people on the interstate. My view of humanity has improved not spending an hour on the road with those people ever day. While the fun cars made me feel better about spending that time, it wasn’t worth the trade off.

There’s also the fact that putting 20-25k a year on cars I was emotionally involved with has a cost. It really changes the long-term life expectancy of these machines, and the financial cost of putting that kind of mileage on an enthusiast car that isn’ t an appliance (or is old, or both ) is a thing. This was especially true of the corvette.

CB > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 13:16

Would the house further away be cheaper than a closer house? That could offset some car costs. Plus living in a place you like makes long days nice. On the other hand, what are your hours like now, and how would you feel taking however much of your leisure time out of your day to commute?

Also, if you’re out in the boonies, factor in drive times to things you would find convenient living closer (groceries, fast food, friends, whatever).

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 13:28

I guess I’m not really an “ enthusiast,” but your house is far, far more important than your car. Putting on extra miles (and thus speeding towards the horizon that will require you to replace the Cayman) seems a small price to pay if * you’d* rather live further away because the home is so incredible. Love where you live.

That said, I chose to live to close to my work for something more important to me than either a car or home: time. I’ll be damned if I sit 2 more hours a day in the Taco so I could drive to a big house with a half an acre up north, which I would never get to enjoy. My job also requires me to drive everywhere as it is , so more commuting on top of it would be miserable. I now live 8 miles from my office, and it still takes 30 minutes to get home. Once you move north or east of here, even a few miles, you’re looking at an hour each way depending on the time of day. Hard pass.

In summation: my cars do not factor in this hierarchy of decision-making. I adjust the fleet to accommodate my life, not the other way around.

Poor_Sh > E90M3
02/23/2019 at 13:40

Yeah I get that, and it crossed my mind. But, I got the Cayman last year so I’m not inclined to budget even a couple grand for a cheap commuter right now. Also, as you say I could get a fun commuter but definitely can’t buy a house and then get a fun commuter with comforts like my Cayman has. It would make more sense to have a newer high-tech daily and an older weekend toy. I might be singing a different tune in a year when I tick over 60k lol

Poor_Sh > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
02/23/2019 at 13:42

I feel like driving 40 miles a day in general would be fun. I feel like driving 40 miles a day on the main roads everyone else is driving on, when they’re driving on them, would be tedious sooner or later as you said. But it’s a hard decision.

Poor_Sh > TheRealBicycleBuck
02/23/2019 at 13:44

People do mention to make big decisions based on future possibilities too like spending money now to save it later. On your topic though, I’m not married and I don’t plan on children. At least no where near soon. Good insight though thanks!

Poor_Sh > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
02/23/2019 at 13:47

Pretty much exactly what I’m worried about. It’s certainly going to be much harder though to find a house I like, in budget, with a negligible commute. I could technically increase my house budget, but that means my total options in the area goes from like 4, to 8 lol Stupid expensive work location.

Spanfeller is a twat > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 13:53

I’m not proud of this, But I’d probably kill to take five miles off my commute. I have to drive in heavy traffic everyday though.

Take a smaller house closer to your workplace, it will make you a lot happier than a mac mansion in the middle of nowhere.

Poor_Sh > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
02/23/2019 at 13:54

Makes sense, and that’s what I gathered too about not having time to enjoy the better house you’re buying. I mean weekdays will have only a few free hours in the better house you paid for, and you might just be too tired to spend it on fun hobbies for a good life balance. Conversely, you might lose your extra time by living close to work in a cheaper house that needs more maintenance work.

Future Heap Owner > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 13:56

I would go for the shorter commute. Even if you like driving, a long daily commute gets old fast and blends into the background of life. Even just thirty additional minutes each way is an additional hour of your life every day lost to work obligations. There’s research indicating that length of commute correlates pretty strongly with overall life satisfaction, and if you make at least $60k a year, not having an hourlong (each way) daily commute is the happiness equivalent of a $40k raise.

https://lifehacker.com/ditching-your-commute-is-the-happiness-equivalent-of-a-1679698849

https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2014/feb/12/how-does-commuting-affect-wellbeing

You can always spend that time driving for fun if you want to. But losing the optionality is a huge cost.

Wurrwulf > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 13:57

I don’t know where you live, but is there a definable traffic pattern for your commute time? I have a 16 mile commute to work, but because I bought a house to the south west of my work, I never deal with traffic as rush hour traffic is always going the opposite direction of me. It might make using the Cayman as a DD more bearable with a longer distance if you’re never in stop-and-go.

Poor_Sh > shop-teacher
02/23/2019 at 13:58

I had read about that too, where people enjoy the time away from others, listen to good music and podcasts, enjoy the scenery if there is any. But, there’s counter arguments to each of those as well. Guess you’re right it depends on what I’m like, but I don’t really have the commute experience yet. I did have one that was perfect for a summer, but that was against normal traffic patterns and this would be with them.

Poor_Sh > shop-teacher
02/23/2019 at 13:58

KINJA!!

Poor_Sh > ranwhenparked
02/23/2019 at 13:58

Yup, that’s what I’m afraid of.

Poor_Sh > CB
02/23/2019 at 14:01

It could be cheaper for the same quality, or it could be the same price but better. You’re right though, the former could offset the added actual costs. A lot of my work is standard 8.5 hours with too much time alone after so I would appreciate a better house in that case, but a lot of times I have 0500-2000 or later for weeks. That would get rough. I don’t think I’d mind a longer drive to groceries and stuff, and I assume my friends will never come see me if I move so... oh well? Thanks for the considerations!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 14:01

Well that adds a different existential crisis entirely: turnkey home vs fixer.

shop-teacher > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 14:04

Yeah, that’s a whole different ballgame then. Maybe try getting a hotel room in the area you'd be commuting from for a couple nights to sample the commute?

Poor_Sh > Wurrwulf
02/23/2019 at 14:05

I had a great commute against traffic for one summer, but this would be with the traffic flow. It’s Rhode Island so it isn’t like NYC or Boston or anything, longest traffic jam is typically 15 minutes. However, work is near a very popular tourist location which adds significantly to traffic for about half the year.

Poor_Sh > shop-teacher
02/23/2019 at 14:06

Good idea! My thought was just waking up earlier and driving there, then driving back lol

Poor_Sh > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
02/23/2019 at 14:07

True. I REALLY want a turnkey after seeing friends go down the fixer rabbit hole. But the price difference is as you say, a crisis.

Poor_Sh > Future Heap Owner
02/23/2019 at 14:11

I saw those stats too and it freaks me out. I guess though I don’t usually fit in the bell curve, so I thought maybe stats wouldn’t apply as rigidly. I do HATE traffic though.

shop-teacher > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 14:13

Every now and then then those last few brain cells rub together and come up with something decent :)

I thought about driving there e arly and then doubling back, but I don’t think that would give you an accurate assessment of what it would be like.

Poor_Sh > Spanfeller is a twat
02/23/2019 at 14:13

But then I can’t laugh at the peasants as I park my Porsh-uh in my 5 car garage and sip G rey P oupon with a straw!

Spanfeller is a twat > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 14:24

Well, you can always laugh at peasants when they complain about traffic in the highway.

Spanfeller is a twat > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 14:31

Time is the most luxurious resource. Really you should push for a home office.

ranwhenparked > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 14:32

Obviously, if you get a good deal on a really good house, that’s something to consider. In my case, I already had the house and really don’t want to move right now, because moving sucks and I’m just getting the place the way I want it. I came from a traveling sales job where I was doing 200+ miles a day (in a company car), and so figured a 46 mile one-way commute to an office wouldn’t be so bad. It is doable, just, but I kind of think I may have made a mistake. Put it this way, if something closer came up, I would take it.

Future Heap Owner > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 14:39

I think that no matter where you are in the bell curves of enjoyment of driving or income, the loss of even more time every working day has a pretty big impact on your quality of life.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 14:43

There are various levels of fixers. Something that’s outdated but functional is the sweet spot. Plenty you can do without opening up the wallet and bending over.

I'm on my second fixer because reasons. It paid out like a son of a gun on the first one, long ways to go on this one.

Poor_Sh > Spanfeller is a twat
02/23/2019 at 14:52

I technically can telework a day here or there, say during storms or bridge work. But what I do doesn’t really lend itself to working from home unfortunately.

Captain of the Enterprise > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 15:03

I would love to cut down on my hour commute each way. Especially since my two accidents on it. It’s safer to be exposed less and it’s time back which is valuable too.

Spanfeller is a twat > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 15:34

Then get a home nearby

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 15:35

Work remote.

Best commute ever.

E90M3 > Poor_Sh
02/23/2019 at 15:46

I originally thought you had gotten the house already or were committed to it and wanted to whether or not you’d get tired of commuting in the Cayman. Now, I see what you were asking.

Personally, I wouldn’t want to add a commute that’s over 20 minutes each way. I did 45 minutes each way when I was in Savannah and it wore on me. Now, it’s about 10 minutes to work and 15 home. If you’re fine with that because of the benefits of the house then go for it. I would increase my commute in order to get a house. As far as the car situation, if you’re fine with putting that kind of miles on your Cayman, then drive it. I wasn’t fine putting 25k+/year on my M3 and I figured with those running costs, it would be cheaper to pay for two cars. I believe that was the correct choice living in Savannah, it’s not now, but it wouldn’t really save me much money to ditch the 3 and DD the M3. I guess it really comes down to whether or not you want that commute. I would make your cars fit your life, not the other way around. I mean, I do make some life decisions influenced by cars, but nothing of this magnitude .

Poor_Sh > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
02/23/2019 at 17:57

I’d have to change jobs, specifically outside my entire career path. But, honestly I wouldn't mind living above my own company.

Poor_Sh > E90M3
02/23/2019 at 18:31

I guess I'll probably have to experience the commute and miles first to evaluate whether I need to make a vehicle change. Maybe I'll win the lottery I don't play!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Poor_Sh
02/25/2019 at 09:37

We bought a home out in the country a couple years ago, and I really love it out there. My commute is 35-40 minutes each way - I personally wouldn’t go any longer than that (had 45 mins each way for 3 years while I was finishing school).