John lives in Annapolis and has to outlive a brutal each day commute across the Baltimore/DC Beltway. His plans on buying and selling his two automobiles into one that may deal with the drive in consolation and hopefully hold his gas prices down. What automotive ought to he purchase?
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Right here is the state of affairs.
I’ve a brutal commute, 75 miles one-way, across the Capital Beltway. I’m killing new automobiles at a fast clip. I presently 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 automotive that may cost-effectively deal with this commute for a very long time.
I want Gas Environment friendly, or a big gasoline tank, or electrical. Snug to take a seat in for lengthy intervals. Good tech (Android Auto, Heated Seats, Backup cameras, Adaptive Cruise Management)
The automotive should have respectable pep. We’ve got a hidden driveway, so we have to hit the gasoline laborious to keep away from getting smushed by individuals flying across the nook in entrance of our home. Additionally I’m a bigger fellow, 6 foot, 225, so it wants to suit me comfortably. Price range us wherever between $40-$65k
Fast Info:
Price range: $40,000 – $65,000
Location: Annapolis, MD
Day by day Driver: Sure
Desires: Consolation, Tech, Good MPG
Doesn’t need: One thing too gradual
Knowledgeable 1- Tom McParland: Match For A King
John, I can’t think about driving the hellscape that’s the Beltway each day. Whereas your Alltrack and Mini Cooper are definitely enjoyable automobiles, they’re higher fitted to zooming round and carving turns. You want an isolation chamber to maintain you snug in that site visitors mess. You additionally need one thing that’s sturdy to maintain your working prices low.
The all-new Camry could possibly be a compelling selection, however it possible lacks the pep you might be in search of. Nevertheless, the Toyota Crown is likely to be the improve you want. With a better trip top and a bit extra room the Crown was made for cruising in consolation. You want the totally 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 can reap the benefits of some used automotive depreciation. A market scan of your space reveals a number of frivolously used fashions within the low-mid $40,000 vary.
Knowledgeable 2: Collin Woodard – An Air Of Superiority
John, I’ll be sincere, once I first learn your submission, my preliminary response was that you must simply transfer both nearer to work or nearer to a practice station. Driving 150 miles a day in DC site visitors feels like absolute hell. Then once more, one thing tells me you’ve in all probability already considered that in some unspecified time in the future throughout your, what, four-hour commute? Extra? So let’s discover a automotive that may make the commute from hell somewhat extra satisfying.
The plain reply is, after all, a Lexus hybrid, however I say we should always suppose exterior the field on this one. You stated you’re open to going electrical, so why not go along with a Lucid Air? If you would like know-how, it’s acquired know-how. It’s additionally among the best EVs we’ve ever examined, and due to the magic of depreciation you may truly discover an Air Pure in your value vary with 410 miles of vary. In concept, that will be sufficient so that you can get away with charging each different day, though you’ll in all probability nonetheless wish to high off each night time simply to make sure you have loads of cushion if one thing surprising occurs.
The draw back is that there aren’t a ton of used Lucid Airs in the marketplace, so that you’ll in all probability should have one shipped to you. Right here’s what appears like an excellent deal on a 2023 Air Pure with solely 2,106 miles on it for lower than $60,000. It’ll be simpler to only stroll into the closest Lexus supplier and purchase no matter hybrid you want greatest, however did you actually ask Jalopnik for car-buying recommendation hoping to be instructed to purchase a Lexus? Get the Lucid, John. you wish to.
Knowledgeable 2: Bradley Brownell – Lengthy Identify, Good Wagon
I assumed we have been fans round right here? The place’s the enjoyable in a lux hybrid Toyota? I’ll admit I like Lucid loads, however it doesn’t have the verve that you simply wish to dwell with day-after-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 finances, 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 accessible at any time. This one has 20,000 miles on it and it’ll run you $54,904.
