ricoisme26
Active member
I have a serious first world problem on my hands, the desire to have one rig for everything. Commuting to and from work, picking up groceries, hauling/towing duties (truck stuff), and most pertinent expeditioning.
I have a modest truck that at one time served this role, however with new opportunities, moving houses, and so on it has began to primarily fill the niche of truck stuff. I acquired a "beater" car from a friend several years ago that has taken on commuting and grocery runs, it has made further journeys but primarily stays within the territory of home and work. My wife was then fortunate enough to land a job with a company car that we are permitted to use for personal use as well. This car has become our default mode of transportation when together, visiting friend and family, getting groceries, ski trips, vacations that are destination based. Work fills the tank, at least locally, it is fuel efficient so on long trips when we foot the gas bill we suck up the lack of luggage room in exchange for a lower gas bill. With the notification of impending electrification of her work vehicle we purchased a family hauler to take over family trips and evening errands when she rolls home with a dead EV. This new purchase may have only compounded my problem.
I feel that I am in constant flux in my vehicle travel. I am in each vehicle every other week if not every week. I have no home base, I commute in the beater because its cheap, its fuel efficient, its approaching 300k miles so there is no incentive to keep the miles off of it. The only vehicle making a more sensible case to be driven is the company car, we didn't pay for it, we don't pay for fuel (locally), we don't pay to maintain it, its a free lunch. Our new family hauler is driven once a week to keep it from sitting, low miles, a great deal when purchased, and great overall condition keep it in sheltered in the garage otherwise, protecting our "investment". My truck that I enjoy driving (though maybe not as much as the luxurious family rig) sits unless its capabilities are required. I would enjoy commuting in it but 60 miles round trip daily sounds like double the fuel bill of my beater, not to mention additional wear and tear and consumables, my financially sensible self rejects the idea long before I am truly tempted.
Does anyone have a solution to this conundrum? Maybe I just need to touch some grass, slip on someone else's shoes and walk a mile then realize I have it toolbox full, rather than one screw driver to use for all purposes.
I have a modest truck that at one time served this role, however with new opportunities, moving houses, and so on it has began to primarily fill the niche of truck stuff. I acquired a "beater" car from a friend several years ago that has taken on commuting and grocery runs, it has made further journeys but primarily stays within the territory of home and work. My wife was then fortunate enough to land a job with a company car that we are permitted to use for personal use as well. This car has become our default mode of transportation when together, visiting friend and family, getting groceries, ski trips, vacations that are destination based. Work fills the tank, at least locally, it is fuel efficient so on long trips when we foot the gas bill we suck up the lack of luggage room in exchange for a lower gas bill. With the notification of impending electrification of her work vehicle we purchased a family hauler to take over family trips and evening errands when she rolls home with a dead EV. This new purchase may have only compounded my problem.
I feel that I am in constant flux in my vehicle travel. I am in each vehicle every other week if not every week. I have no home base, I commute in the beater because its cheap, its fuel efficient, its approaching 300k miles so there is no incentive to keep the miles off of it. The only vehicle making a more sensible case to be driven is the company car, we didn't pay for it, we don't pay for fuel (locally), we don't pay to maintain it, its a free lunch. Our new family hauler is driven once a week to keep it from sitting, low miles, a great deal when purchased, and great overall condition keep it in sheltered in the garage otherwise, protecting our "investment". My truck that I enjoy driving (though maybe not as much as the luxurious family rig) sits unless its capabilities are required. I would enjoy commuting in it but 60 miles round trip daily sounds like double the fuel bill of my beater, not to mention additional wear and tear and consumables, my financially sensible self rejects the idea long before I am truly tempted.
Does anyone have a solution to this conundrum? Maybe I just need to touch some grass, slip on someone else's shoes and walk a mile then realize I have it toolbox full, rather than one screw driver to use for all purposes.
You have my permission, supposing you also have your wife's. A new "expeditioning" vehicle... pickup I guess? Get a nice one and commute in it; sounds like you can afford it.