Author Topic: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger  (Read 6990 times)

KarefulKactus15

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Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« on: October 13, 2015, 05:53:09 PM »
Okay, I'm looking for advice.

My commute is 22 miles 1 way, all interstate.  Used to the average safe speed was 65, over the last 5 years the safe flow speed has moved up to 75 mph. It sucks but its really not safe to do 65mph during my rush hour commute.

My 2006 ranger is a fantastic ride, but I don't think it was engineered for these speeds. It doesn't feel very stable over 65mph.

Does anyone have any suggestion for good stable cars at speeds around 75 mph?  Budget 3500-5800$ Any more and ill just tough it out.

So far I'm finding alot of old people cars, like mercury marquees and lincoln towncars.  I would actually consider one of those if it was a stable ride. + Those cars could easily pull a small utility trailer the 4 times a year I need. 

Suggestions?

windypig

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2015, 06:01:52 PM »
https://greenville.craigslist.org/cto/5220908892.html

Worth a test drive perhaps. Not as fun as a truck...

GuitarStv

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #2 on: October 13, 2015, 06:10:16 PM »
As someone who lives in a city where it's exciting to break 60 kph (37 mph), what makes it so unsafe when you drive slower?

Exflyboy

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2015, 06:33:10 PM »
just about any compact car is quite stable at 75mph.. heck we drive compact cars at 90mph on the motorways in the UK.

I once drove a VW Golf at 129 mph on the autobahn for 4 hours a few years ago.. it was perfectly fine.

My Wife's Chevvy Cruze.. 95mph.. no problem. My '99 Dodge Neon.. 110mph.. yup that too... Both in the US.

I think "tall" vehicles like some SUV's are a lot more scary at high speed.

Compacts are great.. unless they get hit by a large vehicle of course.
« Last Edit: October 13, 2015, 06:50:04 PM by Exflyboy »

labrat

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #4 on: October 13, 2015, 06:36:28 PM »
Lived in Greenville for 6 months a few years back! Your best bet for that price would be a 2000's vintage Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, or something similar.  Traffic wasn't too crazy there, but it was definitely easier to zip around in a smaller car.

innkeeper77

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #5 on: October 13, 2015, 06:38:38 PM »
Agreed.. As someone from chicago originally, I have heard the "its not safe to not speed" from MANY people.. And I don't understand it. Just stay to the right and you are fine. I drive a Scion XA now and since I grew out of the "I need to speed" mindset, its been fine. Really. Just don't let tailgating get on your nerves... It happens evenwhen speeding. If you are going fast enough to avoid tailgaters in congested traffic, you are probably driving at unsafe speeds.

Not all compacts are great.. I feel like the steering is too loose/twitchy to be comfortable over 70, and it feels unsafe above 85. However, that is fast enough for 99% of US roads!

KarefulKactus15

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #6 on: October 13, 2015, 07:08:57 PM »
What does not as fun as a truck mean? Lol.   And yeah I spose I could keep rocking 65mph.  Even still a ranger doesn't seem like its made for interstate travel.  Maybe more city speed designed.   I actually like the Mazda 6.   And it being a 4 cylinder fixes my biggest complaint of the Mazda 6.  Around here, Mexicans bought all the vintage Japanese cars.  Or they are riced out.

Retire-Canada

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #7 on: October 13, 2015, 09:47:35 PM »
I had a Ranger I kept for 13yrs and gave to a buddy several years ago who is still driving it.

75mph was no problem in my truck. Maybe there is a problem with your suspension/wheels/tires/steering???

dragoncar

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #8 on: October 13, 2015, 09:49:26 PM »
Tailgate a semi.  Problem solved.

former player

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #9 on: October 13, 2015, 10:25:58 PM »
The MMM approach would be to move either your residence or your job, cutting out the clown-car commute.

Singularity

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #10 on: October 13, 2015, 10:32:31 PM »
The MMM approach would be to move either your residence or your job, cutting out the clown-car commute.

+1

Agreed and why can't you spend 5-10 minutes more and drive at 65 mph or whatever the speed limit actually is?  Trust me the vehicles will just pass you and you will get much better mpg. 

brainfart

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #11 on: October 13, 2015, 11:22:04 PM »
> Does anyone have any suggestion for good stable cars at speeds around 75 mph?

Coming from Germany this question sounds ridiculous.
Every "regular" car built during the last 40 years would be my answer. If it's not stable at that speed it shouldn't be allowed to drive on public roads.

KarefulKactus15

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #12 on: October 13, 2015, 11:37:22 PM »
Okay I found the problem with my truck. 
I hate my current commute, no amount of money wasted on a vehicle is going to fix that. I guess I was looking for a car to make clown-like commute feel better. But alas, no car can make a 22 mile commute not feel clown like.   

However I've recently taken a new job at the same company with different hours, I will no longer be in rush hour traffic and will have the freeway to myself coming and going starting November. That should cure one part of what I hate about my commute.

As far as the other part (the distance) Ill tough it out for 4 more years then take a lower paying job by my house (there are 2 id really enjoy).       

Glad we found the problem. 


brainfart

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #13 on: October 14, 2015, 12:13:52 AM »
Have you done the math? 4 more years of clown commute with a truck vs. 4 years using a small fuel efficient car? Is the added cost worth it to you?

csprof

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #14 on: October 14, 2015, 12:21:08 AM »
Have you done the math? 4 more years of clown commute with a truck vs. 4 years using a small fuel efficient car? Is the added cost worth it to you?

44 miles / day @ 25mpg highway = 1.76 gal/day.  (!!).  That's about $5 or more.
@40mpg saves $2/day on the commute alone, not to mention other driving.  $10/week, or $500/year.  $2k over the 4 years of clown commute.

KarefulKactus15

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #15 on: October 14, 2015, 12:42:51 AM »
Not including the other higher cost of a truck...

No I hadn't really considered any changes but perhaps I could.  My current truck is worth about 4k with 70k miles.  A few leafs and Prius around, but the purchase price would set me back pretty substantially.  Any 40 mpg cars for around 4-6k?

frugaliknowit

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #16 on: October 14, 2015, 09:21:58 AM »
75 should not be a problem for any well maintained vehicle. 

Syonyk

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #17 on: October 14, 2015, 09:39:32 AM »
As someone who lives in a city where it's exciting to break 60 kph (37 mph), what makes it so unsafe when you drive slower?

If traffic flow on a highway is faster than you by a good margin, people have to make aggressive lane changes to get around you, and you're basically an obstacle in traffic.  Yes, it's legal, but you're being a jerk and it makes things rather unsafe around you.  I'm quite familiar with this - I-25 between Albuquerque & Santa Fe is theoretically a 75mph road.  Really, if you're going any slower than 75mph in the right lane, you're a hazard.  You should be doing closer to 80, and traffic flow in the left lane is around 90.

75 should not be a problem for any well maintained vehicle.

"Can do" and "Can do without tanking your fuel mileage" are two different things.  A lot of trucks are geared fairly low, and your fuel consumption gets stupid rapidly as you exceed 60-65mph.  The truck can do 75 or 80, but it's not happy up there, and will burn a lot more fuel to do so than it does at 65.  I'm fairly familiar with this, having a truck geared for towing.

No I hadn't really considered any changes but perhaps I could.  My current truck is worth about 4k with 70k miles.  A few leafs and Prius around, but the purchase price would set me back pretty substantially.  Any 40 mpg cars for around 4-6k?

Geo Metro.  Ford Festiva.  Honda CRX.  Pretty much any of the late 80s/early 90s tin cans will do it for your budget.

But, really, given the $2k savings in fuel, I'm not sure you'll make it up on purchasing a new vehicle.

Exflyboy

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #18 on: October 14, 2015, 11:06:44 AM »
> Does anyone have any suggestion for good stable cars at speeds around 75 mph?

Coming from Germany this question sounds ridiculous.
Every "regular" car built during the last 40 years would be my answer. If it's not stable at that speed it shouldn't be allowed to drive on public roads.

Yes us Europeans have a hard time believing a nation as large as the USA can drive so slowly.. Until you live here that is and car sit at 60mph in the OUTSIDE line while people overtake on the inside.

They think 80mph is "scary fast"...:)

Fishindude

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #19 on: October 14, 2015, 11:44:57 AM »
A full size half ton pickup will ride and handle a lot better at those speeds, you will still have a truck, and mileage won't be horribly different than a Ranger.

Cole

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #20 on: October 14, 2015, 12:27:21 PM »
75 should not be a problem for any well maintained vehicle.

This for sure. If your truck will only go 65mph safely you likely have completely worn bushings, bad tires, and dead shocks.

Edit: And an alignment issue.

ShoulderThingThatGoesUp

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #21 on: October 14, 2015, 02:38:30 PM »
An i-Miev costs like $7000, but you mentioned wanting to carry big things around elsewhere and it also tops out at 80.

Tester

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #22 on: October 14, 2015, 02:46:30 PM »
22 miles of commute seems long, but if you do it at 70 mph then it takes less than 30 minutes (I am counting time from door to desk).
When I searched for a place to stay I said 40 minutes one way for the commute is my maximum.
I started searching for 30 minute walk distance, then moved to 30 minutes by bus.
I was lucky to find one and more, now I am using my bicycle instead of the bus as I get some exercise too.
Not to mention that by bike it is faster as I don't have to wait for the bus.

Will see what happens when the winter comes, I still did not get fenders :).

EDIT:
My point was that your commute is not really a clown commute in my opinion.

csprof

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #23 on: October 14, 2015, 10:23:53 PM »
Not including the other higher cost of a truck...

No I hadn't really considered any changes but perhaps I could.  My current truck is worth about 4k with 70k miles.  A few leafs and Prius around, but the purchase price would set me back pretty substantially.  Any 40 mpg cars for around 4-6k?

Blue book thinks you could buy a slightly higher-mileage version of my car (2007 ford focus with 50k miles in good condition) for about $5k.  Lots of stuff in that range, and I've found MMM's good car list a pretty reasonable starting place.  But, realistically, one of the better ways would just be to watch craigslist (&c.) for a while and see if something in a good range comes up.

(Note that the EPA doesn't think the focus does 40mpg.  I disagree, from experience, but you have to do a bit of hypermiling -- and keep it at 65 and below. :)

gas mileage keeps me driving much closer to the speed limit.  strange, that.

bobechs

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Re: Need a good car for 75 mph commute - Currently have ford ranger
« Reply #24 on: October 15, 2015, 12:57:04 PM »
Ferkrissakes, just add another motor:







http://www.ronpatrickstuff.com/

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!