Advice: Replacing 2 Cars

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have a smaller lower-cost, highly reliable, gas efficient car for the long commute.

This! Look at a Prius.

(We are a one car family and have driven Subarus for almost 20 years but their gas mileage is notoriously terrible and it seems like a poor choice to be your 'long commute' car.)

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why you're looking at SUVs for car #1. Long commute, city parking lots, and potentially being a teen's learning car all scream for a small to mid-size sedan. If you think SUVs are safer, you're wrong. Do you need the cargo space for something?

[Anonymous]

I'd definitely look at a hybrid for car #1 - long commute with stop and go traffic is perfect for getting great mileage.

[Anonymous]

OP here. The commute is 60 miles; the 30 miles closest to our house are on two-lane undivided (or very lightly divided) highways, with a significant proportion of work trucks (like F-150s & 250s) & SUVs that sit high-up; the drive time for that part of the commute often occurs when it’s dark, with higher ratio of trucks. We essentially drive two sedans now, and between the bright LEDs and most other vehicles being higher than ours, it is extremely unpleasant to drive in the dark with bright lights at eye level. Additionally, the severe accidents that happen near us are most often truck vs sedan; the sedans don’t fare well. So, we are in the position of satisficing vs optimizing re: size/safety vs mileage. Otherwise, we’d happily get a sedan!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd definitely look at a hybrid for car #1 - long commute with stop and go traffic is perfect for getting great mileage.

You have to drive 150k miles before you break even, the extra cost of a hybrid absolutely is not worth it in terms of gas savings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The commute is 60 miles; the 30 miles closest to our house are on two-lane undivided (or very lightly divided) highways, with a significant proportion of work trucks (like F-150s & 250s) & SUVs that sit high-up; the drive time for that part of the commute often occurs when it’s dark, with higher ratio of trucks. We essentially drive two sedans now, and between the bright LEDs and most other vehicles being higher than ours, it is extremely unpleasant to drive in the dark with bright lights at eye level. Additionally, the severe accidents that happen near us are most often truck vs sedan; the sedans don’t fare well. So, we are in the position of satisficing vs optimizing re: size/safety vs mileage. Otherwise, we’d happily get a sedan!

My people.