Long Distance Commuters
 

I'm planning on getting an 8 in the spring (got to pay off the spouse's Kawasaki first) and was looking for feedback from folks who have a long (50+ miles) daily commute they make in their 8.

Let me outline my daily commute: 100+ miles round trip (depends on if I run errands while in Austin) that is a mix of stop-n-go city traffic (about 10 miles) and the rest is either highway (65 mph) or some nice 2-lane twisties (70 mph legally). Currently, I drive a boring econobox (aka Ford Focus). I want something fast (to deal with passing the farmers) that brakes very well (to deal with the idiots in Austin) and something that will relax me during the drive instead of pounding the steering wheel begging for More Power.

I test drove the RX and was very impressed. My local dealer has a nice loop to test drive that includes highway (the one I live down, in fact), curves (20 MPH legal, I did 60+) and town driving. The car handles very, very well and seems to have more than adequate passing power (when a civic tried to cut me off on the highway merge, I dropped into 4th and all she saw was my taillights :) ). The car just looks great and I think will offer me a relaxing drive no matter what the traffic. The only real downside I've read here is the problem with MPG. But you don't buy a car like the RX for it's MPG.

So, long distance commuters, what are your thoughts on the 8 and 100+ miles a day?

I do 88 miles a day.

It's a great commuter car.

My issues are.

I get about 255-270 miles per tank so I fill up every three days.

tach needle is flat @ 80. (it's more of a visual thing for me. I like my needles at sweeping angle.

That's really about it.

you will care about mpg when you only get 12 mpg and gas money empties your wallet

Thanks!

The tank on the Focus is small enough I have to fill every 3 days already :)

So far, I've not found anything on this forum or any other to disuade me from buying.

I commute 96 miles roundtrip .. it's fun. There's a curvy highway through the mountains which is tough on any car but it's fun in the RX-8.

Yes, with ~ 20mpg I get to fill up a lot as well.

Sometimes I just think that the car is too nice to be taken over the hills all the time, and racking up all those miles, but I don't want to have 2 cars.

-Peter

I thought about putting 600 miles/week on the 8 and the real answer is, I'm going to put that on any car I buy and why buy a new car to have it sit in the drive? :)

I drive about 95 miles round trip on my daily commute to work. Most of it (80% or more) is highway driving. I've been averaging around 22/23 mpg, and I have to fill up every 3rd day.

I LOVE this car as a commuter. It is comfortable, but sooo fun to drive. On my commute, I only have a couple passing opportunities and they are pretty short in distance, so I usually drop down into 3rd to get the job done, and it is a BLAST!

There are some nice twisties on one road, but usually there are slow people in front of me, so I rarely get to really enjoy them. I'd love to drive that road when NO ONE else is around. Ha!

Part of my commute is a short stretch on the Interstate, and the car handles so well at relatively high speeds (75-90 mph). And, yes, the brakes are very good. Ask the person who hit me from behind two weeks ago. :mad:

I drive around 112-114 round trip every day. 90% hwy. I get roughly 21-22mpg and fill up every 3rd day. I'm 6' and this is the only car that i can fit in so comfortably. I am so relaxed when i"m behind the wheel. Its just a fun car. My plates are FUNRX8.

Its even a pleasure when my 3 year old son asks "Daddy we go zoom zoom".

With all the airbags for protection its a relief knowing my son will be safer in this car than most others.

I have the automatic and love it, if stuck in traffic I don't have to kill myself with the clutch. If traffic is good I go into the shift mode and use the paddles on the wheel. Great car in both worlds.:D :D :D

my commute is 100+ miles a day and avg 19.5 mpg like clockwork but have not been any higher than 20.8(best)and 17.2 (worst).i also came from a focus(svt version)and this car has been far suprior in every aspect and being here in ak with 4 ft of snow and -15f mornings im very happy thus far.im at 9900 miles as of today i have only had the oillight problem and no other problems at all.i say go for it.

Yeah, the Focus is serviceable, but not very much fun. Especially when I need that get up and go to get around another cattle hauler.

Luckily, here in Texas, I won't have the snow/cold issues :D

Thanks for the input, I hope to be in a winning blue 6mt by spring!