To all the daily commuters out there, I have a 911 as a daily driver, and I would like your opinions.

I have a choice of commuting 50 miles to work or 5 miles to work. Commuting 50 miles would allow my family to live in our dream house in a fabulous community with great schools, close to friends, and great sports car friendly roads. The 5 mile commute puts me close to work but living in a place that we are not particularly thrilled about. A place where it is congested and has poor roads.

The 50 mile drive would be almost all freeway driving with little traffic in the morning (50 minutes) and lots of stop and go traffic in the evening (90-120 minutes).

The 5 mile drive only takes 10-15 minutes but goes through busy and bumpy surface streets with few curves and almost nowhere to open up the car.

Would it be worth the 2 extra hours of driving ?

 

It sure sounds like it, but that's really something you and your family have to decide.

 

For me ... This is would be the clear choice. No question. If anything, just for the schools/community for the family.

 

Yes, for the schools alone.

I'd never daily drive a 911, but that's just me. I like to DD an SUV.

Negotiate with your boss, and only go in 4 days per week. Work one day from home.

 

2 hours is a lot. In the long run, I don't thinks that is tenable. I do 2 hrs each way on public transportation and that is pushing it, sanity wise.
The 10 mins to and from the train station in the 911 is the highlight of my commute. The endless farting on NJ transit is the low point. (Not me, them!)

 

Dan, I would definitely do the 50. Everyone in your family, except you when commuting, sounds better off with the 50. From the sound of it, you might live in the DMV, most likely in the I-66 corridor. Either try to get a 4 day week or get the boss to agree to a bit of a time shift where you get in an early hour and get out before the heaviest commuting hours.

 

If nothing else, your wife will actively pity you and let you indulge in your car fantasies.

 

I was not married then, but I used to commute 60 miles each way in a manual E39 525i. After about three months it got very tiring and the time I had to enjoy life was diminished by the time of the commute. When home, I was tired and not in the mood for much. I got a job closer to where I lived (took a pay cut) and could not be happier.

 

Have done both. Having said that, 50 miles each way is ok for a little while. After 2 years I wanted to drive off a bridge every night. WAY more stress and anxiety. When I wasn't driving to and from work, I was constantly worrying about driving to and from work Bad weather, road accidents/ Closures, leaving way early to and from work so as not to be late for something. Clear choice for me would be the shortest commute.
Last 10 years 9 mile commute, life and attitude are much better...just ask my wife.

 

Sh*tty schools for your kids, not as good of a community, and not getting as much for your money for housing might be more stress than a drive in a nice car.

Throw a non-happy wife in the mix not liking her kids school, their friends, community, or the house she lives in, and you really have more stress. Not to mention, you'll be home longer to hear all about it!

 

If you have great schools and dream house, go with that -- and then change jobs so you have a shorter commute

 

are there no decent homes within 50 miles? what about a home 20 miles away? 50 miles is really FAR imho. no happy medium?
personally i'd never waste 2.5 days of my life per month commuting to a job.. (approx three total hours a day x 22 days a month = 2.5 days in the car.. EACH MONTH!). hope you find a good solution! if you do make the move, i see a Prius in your future!

 

Might even want to get a reliable beater for the daily commute. Save the 911 for the fun!

 

I kind of face the same situation from an options standpoint but have zero desire to move to burbs. Our dream house is the suburban house but in an in-town neighborhood. Also working 70-80 hours / week makes that commute a non-starter (though not much traffic at midnight!)

In your case it sounds like you view everything about the burbs as a positive other than the distance. if that is the case I would do it.

 

Choose what's best for your family not the best commute.