Taco replacement... IS or Vibe?

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck) 03/11/2018 at 15:45 • Filed to: He's more indecisive than Mr. Burns selecting condiments at a grocery store

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Long story short, I may have to briefly (or not briefly) use one of my cars for my job instead of the Taco, which is owned by my employer. I’m not sure if I should use the IS or Vibe.

The Vibe is:
1) much better on gas
2) has a disposable vibe (heh) that is suitable for working on job sites
3) can actually drive off pavement if necessary
4) cheaper running costs in general
5) also doesn’t require premium fuel
6) in summation, would save me hundreds and hundreds of dollars

The IS:
1) more comfortable
2) a lot nicer looking, which may impress potential clients
3) more enjoyable overall
4) superior air conditioning. Like. BIGLY.
5) Sportcross!

Basically, the Vibe makes by far the most sense, but I am leaning heavily towards driving the IS anyway. My logic is that I’d rather be comfortable than save money, which is something I never thought I’d hear myself say. I spent good money on that car, and to just have my wife commute in it instead... I would just sell it and get something more practical and cheaper, pocket the difference, and my wife would get to keep her car. And I do NOT want to sell the IS :/

“What about the longbed?”

The longbed is a truck you can drive to the moon and back, but not one you want to shuffle around Eastside and Seattle during business hours. It’s biggest drawbacks are obvious:
1) manual transmission
2) no safety whatsoever, so if I get in an accident (law of averages here... I drive over 20,000 miles a years for my job) my odds of walking away are much lower than the other cars.
3) kind of unacceptable to drive up to certain projects. It’s not exactly pristine. While most of my work is for new construction, I do enough residential work for it to be a factor
4) might leave a little drip of oil wherever I go
5) has an intermittent stalling problem when it gets warm whilst idling.
6) needs some TLC before making it a daily again
7) even worse on gas than the IS
8) I would have to get it insured (currently on “suspended” insurance as I only use it for dump runs)
9) no AC
10) an awful idea in general

Anyway, that’s what I’m wrestling with at the moment.

InFierority Complex > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/11/2018 at 15:57

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I mean, can’t you switch between vehicles depending on the needs/ wants of a particular day?

promoted by the color red > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/11/2018 at 16:00

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If you have to take stuff in & out, the Vibe.

If you’re just driving from place to place and/or shuttling clients around, IS.

Then again, I took the Miata on a business trip so maybe I’m not the best judge of what’s an appropriate commuter.

fintail > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/11/2018 at 16:02

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Unless you are wanting to preserve the IS as some kind of heirloom “forever car”, take it. You’ll be happier. Life is too short.

vicali > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/11/2018 at 16:02

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You should buy a cruiser.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > promoted by the color red 03/11/2018 at 16:03

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No shuttling, just some smaller things that would fit in either vehicle.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > vicali 03/11/2018 at 16:03

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That’s the most expensive suggestion yet

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/11/2018 at 16:04

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Ketchup or catsup?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > InFierority Complex 03/11/2018 at 16:06

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It’s an either-or scenario, and my work day is too volatile to predict any particular need. Moving my crap back between cars sounds like a pain too, and it’s not fair to my wife.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo 03/11/2018 at 16:09

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MM54 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/11/2018 at 16:15

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Life is too short to drive boring cars.

Steve in Manhattan > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/11/2018 at 16:23

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No question - the Vibe. If something happens to that Lexus you’ll rend your clothes, cover the mirrors, and sit shivah for weeks.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Steve in Manhattan 03/11/2018 at 16:25

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I don’t disagree with the hyperbole, but then I’d own a car a liked that I was too scared to drive... No point in even owning it at that point :(

50ford500 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/11/2018 at 16:47

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Yeah as others have said, I’d use the one you would be the least concerned with getting wear/tear and damage to

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/11/2018 at 16:56

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Get a rental car? See if your employer will pay for it.

Steve in Manhattan > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/11/2018 at 17:31

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And that’s legitimate. On the other hand, if the Vibe gets beaten up because of something you have to carry, it’s less of a deal. And your wife could drive the Lexus, and be comfortable. Or is that not how it works?

vicali > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/11/2018 at 20:01

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It’s been awhile since your neighbour noticed your parking though..

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > vicali 03/11/2018 at 20:53

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Yes, a whole 14 months I believe

E90M3 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/11/2018 at 22:04

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Are they paying you mileage?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > E90M3 03/11/2018 at 22:27

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That will probably be negotiated, to be determined.

E90M3 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/11/2018 at 22:37

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It if was out of pocket I would say the cheapest one, since this is for your job I assume that there will be something whether it be a car allowance or something. It’s cost me 40¢/mile to drive the 328i.

There is also something nice about not racking up the miles on your car. It’s the reason I got the 3 and didn’t put 30k miles on the M3 last year.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > E90M3 03/11/2018 at 23:20

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The difference between our scenarios is that whichever car I don’t drive, my wife does. So if I drive the Vibe, miles (albeit fewer) will still get racked up on the IS by my wife.

E90M3 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/11/2018 at 23:30

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True, but we’re talking about a substantial difference, right?

vicali > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/11/2018 at 23:38

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Better get on that- a new Toyota parked in the driveway should do the trick..

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > E90M3 03/11/2018 at 23:55

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Yes, I would guess that it would be ~37% more expenisve overall if I drove the Lexus. However, choosing the Vibe basically means I will almost never get to drive the Lexus, period. My wife and I have different careers, different schedules. When I come home from work, it’s not like the Lexus will be there waiting for me.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/12/2018 at 05:55

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go with the IS

E90M3 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/12/2018 at 06:17

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Sounds like you should drive the Lexus then. Unless this is going to be permeant and they’re going to offer you mileage or a car allowance. In that case it might make sense for you to get something dirt cheap and drive it.