Reluctanse
I'm Awesome
it's a pretty easy math story problem, really, and 100% depends on how many miles a day you drive. but you can always make a spreadsheet to figure out if it makes sense. here's my example.
Commute: 60 miles/day, mixed hwy/stop and go
Option A) Commute in truck
300 miles/week @ 10.5mpg = 28.6 gal
Gas price ~ $3.79
$108/week FUEL
x4 weeks/mo = $432/month for fuel
Insurance $40/mo
Total not counting R&M, tires, etc: $472/mo
Option B) Commute cheap sh!tbox
300 miles/week @30.5mpg = 9.8 gal
Gas price ~ $3.79
$37.27-week FUEL
x4 weeks/mo = $149/month for fuel
Insurance $40/mo
Total not counting R&M, tires, etc: $189/mo
It's a $3400/year savings buying a cheap car. If your commuter cost you $5k (mine was $4200 but I put another $1k into it when I bought it), it would take you about 18 months to pay for the car. Plus tires are half the price, which I didn't calculate in any of the above, but you could add that in if you wanted.
Obviously everyone's situation is different but it's not that hard to figure out your own situation and do the math.
Commute: 60 miles/day, mixed hwy/stop and go
Option A) Commute in truck
300 miles/week @ 10.5mpg = 28.6 gal
Gas price ~ $3.79
$108/week FUEL
x4 weeks/mo = $432/month for fuel
Insurance $40/mo
Total not counting R&M, tires, etc: $472/mo
Option B) Commute cheap sh!tbox
300 miles/week @30.5mpg = 9.8 gal
Gas price ~ $3.79
$37.27-week FUEL
x4 weeks/mo = $149/month for fuel
Insurance $40/mo
Total not counting R&M, tires, etc: $189/mo
It's a $3400/year savings buying a cheap car. If your commuter cost you $5k (mine was $4200 but I put another $1k into it when I bought it), it would take you about 18 months to pay for the car. Plus tires are half the price, which I didn't calculate in any of the above, but you could add that in if you wanted.
Obviously everyone's situation is different but it's not that hard to figure out your own situation and do the math.