John lives in Annapolis and has to outlive a brutal day by day commute across the Baltimore/DC Beltway. His plans on buying and selling his two vehicles into one that may deal with the drive in consolation and hopefully maintain his gas prices down. What automobile ought to he purchase?
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Here is the state of affairs.
I’ve a brutal commute, 75 miles one-way, across the Capital Beltway. I’m killing new vehicles at a fast clip. I at present am splitting miles between my 2019 Volkswagen Alltrack (58,000 miles) and my 2017 Mini Cooper 2-door Hardtop S (38,000 miles). I’m planning on promoting them each and shopping for one automobile that may cost-effectively deal with this commute for a very long time.
I would like Fuel Efficient, or a big fuel tank, or electrical. Comfortable to take a seat in for lengthy intervals. Good tech (Android Auto, Heated Seats, Backup cameras, Adaptive Cruise Control)
The automobile will need to have first rate pep. We have a hidden driveway, so we have to hit the fuel onerous to keep away from getting smushed by folks flying across the nook in entrance of our home. Also I’m a bigger fellow, 6 foot, 225, so it wants to suit me comfortably. Budget us wherever between $40-$65k
Quick Facts:
Budget: $40,000 – $65,000
Location: Annapolis, MD
Daily Driver: Yes
Wants: Comfort, Tech, Good MPG
Doesn’t need: Something too gradual
Expert 1- Tom McParland: Fit For A King
John, I can’t think about driving the hellscape that’s the Beltway each day. While your Alltrack and Mini Cooper are definitely enjoyable vehicles, they’re higher fitted to zooming round and carving turns. You want an isolation chamber to maintain you comfy in that site visitors mess. You additionally need one thing that’s sturdy to maintain your working prices low.
The all-new Camry might be a compelling selection, however it seemingly lacks the pep you might be in search of. However, the Toyota Crown may be the improve you want. With the next trip top and a bit extra room the Crown was made for cruising in consolation. You will need the absolutely loaded Platinum trim that will get you the two.4-liter Turbo Hybrid Max motor which pumps out round 340 horsepower. These aren’t low cost, as a top-spec Crown will put you in Lexus pricing territory with an MSRP of about $58,000.
The excellent news is that the Crown is without doubt one of the few Toyotas you could benefit from some used automobile depreciation. A market scan of your space reveals a number of frivolously used fashions within the low-mid $40,000 vary.
Expert 2: Collin Woodard – An Air Of Superiority
![Lucid Air Pure](https://i0.wp.com/i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60,w_645/4d3e7cf10284899b3aa766a959f2826c.jpg?w=788&ssl=1)
John, I’ll be sincere, once I first learn your submission, my preliminary response was that it is best to simply transfer both nearer to work or nearer to a practice station. Driving 150 miles a day in DC site visitors appears like absolute hell. Then once more, one thing tells me you’ve in all probability already considered that sooner or later throughout your, what, four-hour commute? More? So let’s discover a automobile that may make the commute from hell a bit extra fulfilling.
The apparent reply is, in fact, a Lexus hybrid, however I say we must always assume outdoors the field on this one. You mentioned you’re open to going electrical, so why not go together with a Lucid Air? If you need know-how, it’s received know-how. It’s additionally among the best EVs we’ve ever examined, and because of the magic of depreciation you may truly discover an Air Pure in your value vary with 410 miles of vary. In principle, that may be sufficient so that you can get away with charging each different day, though you’ll in all probability nonetheless need to prime off each evening simply to make sure you have loads of cushion if one thing sudden occurs.
The draw back is that there aren’t a ton of used Lucid Airs available on the market, so that you’ll in all probability should have one shipped to you. Here’s what seems like an amazing deal on a 2023 Air Pure with solely 2,106 miles on it for lower than $60,000. It’ll be simpler to simply stroll into the closest Lexus vendor and purchase no matter hybrid you want finest, however did you actually ask Jalopnik for car-buying recommendation hoping to be informed to purchase a Lexus? Get the Lucid, John. You know you need to.
Expert 2: Bradley Brownell – Long Name, Good Wagon
![Image for article titled My Brutal Commute Is Killing My Cars! What Should I Buy?](https://i0.wp.com/i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60,w_645/b482d140b9fcabebcbd0be40ca529349.jpg?w=788&ssl=1)
I assumed we had been fanatics round right here? Where’s the enjoyable in a lux hybrid Toyota? I’ll admit I like Lucid rather a lot, however it doesn’t have the verve that you just need to reside with every single day. No, you want a Volvo V60 T8 Recharge Polestar Engineered eAWD to get you thru the boredom and monotony of your ridiculous commute.
The 2024 model of the V60 hybrid is a bit higher with extra electrical vary and improved energy, however it’s out of your funds, so seize a used one. Why wouldn’t you need an all-wheel drive wagon with 22 miles of battery vary, 415 horsepower, and adjustable Ohlins dampers? It’s the final word commuter.
There are half a dozen of them obtainable at any time. This one has 20,000 miles on it and it’ll run you $54,904.
Source: jalopnik.com