If your commute to work takes 1 1/2 hours which is worse on your vehicle...?

Question

My coworkers are having a dispute, help me settle it. If you drive for 1 1/2 hrs to work and it is straight driving, is that harder or easier on your car then sitting in bumper to bumper traffic, and only driving half the distance in the same amount of time. Which is worse on your car? Which is worse on the driver?

Answer 1

bumper to bumper!

But both are very wearing on a car! No doubt about it. But the bumper to bumper thing doesn't allow for air to cool a car, so it has to work even harder to keep everything working right. Also, areodynamics help the gas mileage... once you get to 50 mph, the car goes into a cruising mode, and it's far easier on the overal useage. That's why when you see cars with lots of highway milleage, people prefer them over a normal commuter car!

Answer 2

Bumper to bumper driving is normally considered worse for you engine and car.

so yes you are right, go and rub it in ;)

Answer 3

Say you have a 75 mile commute.  Assuming gas to be $3 per gallon and that your car gives 33 mpg on a highway and 23 otherwise:

Case1:

75 miles@33 mpg = 2.3 gals -> $13.8/day = $276/month

Case 2:

37.5 miles@23 mpg =1.6 gals -> $9.6/day -> $192/month

Similarly, for a 20 mile commute, you spend $72 per month and $52 per month respectively.

So, from the gas money perspective bumper to bumper works out better.

But wait.. you have more expenses in this case because of wear and tear(tires and brakes).

But wait again.. you have lesser mileage on your car after say, 7 years, meaning slightly better resale value.

But then.. bumper to bumper crashes do relatively less damage than high speed crashes.

Answer 4

sitting in bumber to bumber traffic is worse on your car.  The constant stop and go. When you go to buy a used car and they normally tell you if the car was driven on mostly highway. If was city driving they dont brag about it.  Because highway miles are less wear and tear on the car.   And bumber to bumber is worse on the driver.  Its frustrating causes stress ect....  Both take the same amount of time I would Definitely choose the one that is straight easy driving.  But then again which pays better? LOL!     $$$$$$$ is an important part of the equation. Its a big deciding factor.

Answer 5

Bumper to bumper traffic is the worse for both fuel mileage and the driver.  Constant speed will get you better fuel mileage and is less stressful for the driver

Answer 6

highway driving is considered easier on your car and gas mileage - provided that it is not typical rush hour traffic (the type that is either stop and go or slow bumper to bumper at times).  If it is rush hour type, that is cancelled out and it is considered the same as the stop and go type of traffic (bumper to bumper is the same as stop and go for a car).  How many stoplights/signs are involved in the non-highway route?  Is the speed limit less than 35?  Those factors must be taken into consideration as well.  The driver's stress is another story... that depends upon the way a driver feels about highway driving vs regular roads, and if worrying about hwy accidents and other drivers that cut off / zigzag / ride brakes during rush hour is higher stress than driving at a slower speed with traffic light patterns and having access to only one or two lanes.  In other words, it is an individual choice.  I like using the regular roads and have figured out the traffic light flow pretty well.  Some coworkers would rather use the highway as they feel they can navigate better with more lanes even when it is more like a parking lot at times.  We tend to get there at about the same time regardless anyway!  One thing I have found, it is better to let things go if someone does get rude, as that is something that can be helped even when traffic gets bogged down (which happens at times no matter what route is taken!)  Choose battles wisely - and why get uptight when it isn't going to hurt anyone but yourself anyway?  That other person is oblivious to your reaction and is focused on getting to work...