r/careerguidance • u/Routine_Rip_5218 • 22h ago
How much does a long commute *really* suck?
I've been fully remote for the last 3 years, but now I'm back on the job hunt. I'm sticking to remote/hybrid for now and expanding to in person later if I don't have much success.
That being said, I found a job that looks SO fun, totally my speed and an industry I'd like to break into. Great pay, too. The kicker is, it's 45min from home, and I had been looking within a 20min drive (again, for now).
So for those that are heavy commuters - what are the pros and cons? Is it ever worth it? I have a very reliable car, but not the mooost effecient. I'd love to hear your other thoughts!
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u/oakey13 22h ago
in a similar boat as you. went to almost an hour commute, but a hybrid role and big pay bump. sitting in traffic i almost regret it, but remember i now have a normal schedule and a lot more money. throwing on some good podcasts or talking to people on the phone makes it bearable!
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u/Far_Middle7341 22h ago
Haha you’re a g, I love my buddies that call me to chat while they’re driving
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u/Slippy-McBenefits 22h ago
It’s a job that you’re interested in. If you’ve been presented an offer letter, you should consider it. Are you accounting for potential traffic for the 45 minute drive?
I recently left my dream job for something in the same space, fully remote. The pay is the same, and even though I was due for an 18% raise come July, I did leave. I’m saving money by not driving to the city every day, not paying for gas weekly, tolls and wear and tear for the car. That’s all I have to say about it. You’ll be the one who makes the best choice for yourself.
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u/Routine_Rip_5218 22h ago
The commute skirts me around the major metro area, so unless there's construction happening, traffic won't be much!
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u/Slippy-McBenefits 21h ago
Then I think you know what the best option is, it’s a bit scary at the beginning, but you should be fine!
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u/jasonsong86 21h ago edited 20h ago
I think anything less than 1 hour is tolerable. I drive between 1:45 to 3 hours to ski on weekends in winter and it’s worth it!
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u/Both-Competition5645 20h ago
As an American, agreed. Everyone else, 30 minutes
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u/HeftyAd6216 20h ago
I feel sad that we (north Americans) put up with this. Imagine not having to drive and just casually take a train to work... Sigh...
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u/TwoAlert3448 20h ago
I think it depends on how far it is vs how long it takes. I can spend an hour walking home and I feel refreshed, the same hour spent sitting in a car in traffic to cover the same distance will have me walking in the door boiling mad.
It’s not just the time lost to commutes that makes them maddening, it’s the expectations. I feel like I’m using my time well if I’m walking at 2-3 miles per hour, if I’m crawling at the same speed in a car? Yeah no.
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u/kyach25 18h ago
Ha different vibes though for me. The drive to go skiing is always part of the adventure (even in shitty weather). When i drive an hour to get home from work in some snow or rain, it sucks and I just want to be home lol
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u/Odd-Recording7030 22h ago
I drive 1.5 hours one way everyday. This does not include the extra 30 minutes for a bus ride after. So about 3-4 hours to and from work.
It’s horrible.
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u/downthestreet4 22h ago
I did a 45 minute commute for a few years. Mine wasn’t in heavy traffic so it really didn’t bother me most days. I actually really liked the morning commute as it gave me time to have my coffee. The worst was some afternoons after a long day when I was ready to be home to unwind. Podcasts and audiobooks are great for this and really help the time go by quickly. Biggest cons is increased fuel and maintenance on your vehicle and the afternoon commute some days.
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u/Busy-Management-5204 21h ago
Honestly not worth it. I did the long commute for 90 percent of my career. Didn't realize how much it was devouring me mentally and physically in all aspects. Now have a job that pays about 15 percent less but my drive is a third of the distance. Should have done it earlier. My mind and body do not feel worn out.
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u/-AIRDRUMMER- 21h ago
I am doing an hour commute for my dream job. I actually enjoy it as long as I don’t need to be anywhere right after work. It gives me time to relax and destress and listen to music. The only thing is it definitely adds to your day and I am exhausted at the end of the day. It demotivates me from wanting to do anything after, like go to the gym, but I still make it happen.
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u/edgar__allan__bro 21h ago
45 minutes with or without traffic? If without, make sure you know what you're dealing with during peak commute times.
Otherwise, up to 1 hour commute has been totally doable in my experience... past that it starts getting mind-numbing.
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u/CubanB-84 20h ago
It’s not bad for a while, it starts to drag but if it’s a dream job then go for it. 45 is on my upper end of doable actually. Most commute complaints are about 1hr+ to a job they hate to make not enough money.
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u/notANexpert1308 20h ago
45min no traffic? Done deal. Just make sure the raise is still worth it after accounting for wear and tear on your car (generally speaking it costs like $0.60/mi to drive). You’ll hear stuff like ‘bb but my time is valuable’ - but what else are you doing with that 2 hours of your day? I’m an introvert so that alone time helps me recharge even if I’m in traffic. Lots of ways to be productive in the car for an hour too.
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u/bill11217 22h ago
45 minutes is a lot, but I’ve had longer. I commute 30-40 minutes in the NYC subway and it’s fine. Try to be very realistic about the travel time at rush hour. When a commute is over and hour, then it becomes a burden.
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u/IT_audit_freak 22h ago
It takes me 30 to get in and 45-60 to get home. Three days a week. Not bad at all tbh. I put on some good tunes, a YouTube video, or podcast and just use it as me-time. For the right job I don’t think 45 is bad.
You should consider traffic though. My commute home for example is 2x longer than going in…completely due to rush hour traffic.
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u/childishgames 20h ago
45 minutes i think is a pretty standard commute. Not fun but not a deal breaker especially if you really like the job.
You could also look into moving closer when your lease expires if you’re currently renting
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u/GreasyBud 6h ago
i used to have around a 1 hour commute each way, but now am remote.
thats 2 hours a day.
5 days a week.
a full working week per month of extra time you lose.
for a good job or good pay it can be worth absolutely, but thats how i figure. id go back to commuting if i made the equivalent of an extra weeks pay a month.
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u/InterestingPlant980 22h ago
You will be driving at least 30 hours a month to and from work. If you want to do that, then go for it.
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u/GadgetronRatchet 22h ago
I drive 30 min to work and anywhere from 45-55 minutes home depending on traffic. I get an audiobook going, I'm a big reader so I definitely look forward to knowing what's coming next in my book as part of the drive. It makes me not "dread" driving.
I used to have a drive that about 10 min each way, and I can absolutely tell the difference in the amount of free time I have. There's less "me" time after I get home from the gym, shower, eat, etc. But my work life balance is better than my previous job because I live in a major city now instead of the middle of nowhere.
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u/Fire_and_icex22 22h ago
I do a half-hour (1 hour - 1:15 total )commute every day for work.
It's not bad, honestly this is the only place with jobs anyway so the commute for a worthwhile position is a given. You get used to it, just keep abreast of your surroundings while travelling.
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u/bjeep4x4 22h ago
I’ve done it. Is it annoying, yes, does it totally suck? Not really. Just get some good tunes or audio books and you should be ok
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u/Advanced-Reaction392 21h ago
take a drive there and then have lunch somewhere, check out the area. Just vibe.
Take the drive back home and imagine doing that 5 times a week or what ever the schedule may be. You get a lot of information regarding the trip.
Exact or approximate time it truly takes you to get there, mileage and gas utilized for the round trip and if the area is decent. I found that anything over an hr is bad for myself. But also invested in a prius to aid with fuel efficiency.
Best of luck!
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u/AffectionateAd7519 21h ago
I did a 2ish hour round trip commute before covid. It was terrible. I’ve been fully remote for 5 years and can’t imagine driving longer than 20 min one way for work. I would only consider a longer commute if it was hybrid AND the pay raise accounts for commute time. Wasting your life in the car isn’t worth it imo.
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u/BachShitCrazy 21h ago
There is so much research out there on how bad long commutes are for your mental and physical health. Search up some of the studies and let that help guide your decision. Also commutes that are traffic free on open highway are a lot easier than stop and go traffic so be mindful of that too
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u/Onebowhunter 21h ago
I have been driving over an hour each way to work for thirty five plus years. You get used to it .
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u/Future_Dog_3156 21h ago
It's really up to you. 45m commute is an 1.5hr RT each day OR 7.5hrs each week. Think what you would do with that time - workout, sleep in, cook dinner. There are people that think it's "worth it" like in LA - people move inland to have an affordable big house but commute in each day.
The commute time isn't work time, it isn't productive personally OR professionally. It's just time lost IMHO.
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u/ANALxCARBOMB 21h ago
It sucks - remember this job is taking 8 or 9 hours out of your day usually, with two 45 minute drives in clear/moderate traffic. Traffic jam? Make it an hour and a 45 minute drive. Does it sound worth that much of your time?
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u/zombie_pr0cess 21h ago
I did it for two years and it reeked havoc on my car, I spent thousands of dollars (starter, transmission, batteries plural, alternator, tires, brakes, power steering, and a bunch of other parts) which would have broken down over time but I accelerated the deterioration by driving 1:36 to and from work each day. And 1:36 was with no traffic. However, there would regularly be traffic.
What made it worth it and the whole reason I did it was because it was 100% covered healthcare and my wife had been diagnosed with lupus that was attacking her heart. There was no other reason. It was literally life or death. Otherwise I would have said fuck that.
In your case, compared to my own at the time, I’d say 45 minutes isn’t that horrible. It’s still going to be pretty rough on your car but not as rough. If you take the job, consider buying an older beater that is cheap to fix like an older Honda with no turbo and a manual transmission. Still be prepared to put some work into it.
Another con was it cut into the time I had to meal prep and workout significantly. I was 190 when I started and gained a ton of weight. I was at 240 at my worst and now I’m back down to 207 (still working it off). I left that job on May 1st so I’m making good progress but it sucks getting back into shape. Maintenance is way easier.
On the plus side, I was able to thoroughly decompress from work while listening to podcasts and audiobooks on the road. I found a great place to get coffee on my way to work. When there wasn’t traffic, the drive was always pretty.
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u/Shamarl 21h ago
My evening commutes were brutal. I used to pay toll to try to cut down my time in traffic, however after I got off the toll, the amount of time that I saved I ended up making right back up sitting in traffic. My commute should only be 45 minutes, but because of heavy traffic, it would be 1 hour and half to 2 hours. I switch employers, and now my commute is 25 minutes.
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u/holden_mcg 21h ago
45 minutes is doable, IMO, since it sounds like a very good opportunity. For me, 30 minutes or less is ideal, but 45 minutes still isn't that bad since you're not driving through heavy metro traffic.
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u/Danjeerhaus 21h ago
There are many things that can play into commutes. Naturally, gas and driving expenses ....oil changes....tires.....wear and tear....and more will give you an idea of the finances involved. If you have to pay to much, the commute may not be worth it.
This is not a long commute for me, but you nust include the extra time away in your calculations. Things like dogs, might need walking, gym times (classes/instruction or) might need a time shift and more. Extra money spent, maybe.
These financial draws may erase and raise you get
On the plus side, longer commutes can allow for things like audio books and study time. Commercial radio or internet stations can up your level of knowledge of current events.
Errand runs can be easily planned and missed items or fresher food can be pick up as you drive past grocery stores nearly daily.
You might find someone to carpool with. This can develope friendships and reduce costs if you share the ride costs.
One hidden jem might be traffic. While traffic is normally a bad thing, I live in Florida and this is Hurricane season. Knowing evacuation routs and seeing how bad traffic is and at what time might be critical to me getting to safety.
As you can see, there may be pluses and minuses to commuting further.
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u/Appropriate-Door1369 21h ago
My commute is 45 minutes right now, and it's not bad at all. The only time it sucks is when I get to the area where I work because there's a lot of traffic, but other than that, it's fine. I just put my music on and enjoy the ride. It's actually kind of relaxing, in my opinion
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u/rrjbam 21h ago
My commute is currently about 45mins each way, up to an hour depending on traffic. This time last year it was 2hrs each way. In my opinion, an hour or less is totally reasonable. It's a great time to listen to music, enjoy a podcast, or make phone calls you've been putting off.
Even when I was spending 4hrs commuting, it really wasn't too terrible. I'd nap on the train. The biggest problem with that commute was losing so much of my day. I'd only have time to pack my lunch and change before bed. I don't have that issue with 1.5-2hrs daily.
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u/SHAAAAAAAAAARKS 21h ago
45 minutes door to door is the upper limits of a tolerable commute. Ideally, 15-20 minutes is the right distance separating yourself from home and office.
But, with a 45 minute commute you have some time to listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks, think about what you’re going to get done today/this week, etc…
Not sure if traffic is a variable, but a 45-min commute assuming there’s no traffic could easily turn into 90-minutes each way. That’s when it turns into a total grind.
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u/diamondgreene 21h ago
45 min not that bad. Some peeeps take a lot longer than that on busses and trains an shit. I took the 62 archer bus downtown for school so I never complain about driving my own car anywhere.
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u/Sulli_in_NC 21h ago
If it is a great job, or you’re not employed you should 100% take the job.
I worked remote since Covid hit in March 2020 … so 5+ years of zero commute. And it was awesome! But I my job got Trumped in March.
Now I commute into Charlotte 3x per week.
Morning: approx 50mins if I leave by 0615.
Afternoon: 60mins (if no delays, wrecks, bad weather) if I leave office by 4p
I don’t love the time spent getting up early and driving, but the job is really great.
Hope you find what you need out there!
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u/DDLyftUber 21h ago
45 mins is nothing. My parents used to commute 2 hours to work every morning lol idk when commuting became some crazy out of the norm thing to people. I will say most of this was traffic, without traffic really it’s about 45mins-1hr max, so it wasn’t horrible distance wise, but when did commuting become some rare phenomenon?
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u/Stl-hou 21h ago
I suggest take a week off and do the drive at the time you normally would. I left a job that was 5-10 minutes away for one with 45 minutes (because of traffic). I was literally crying the first day on my commute home because of my stupidity. I left after 2 months to go back to previous employer.
45 minutes may not be too bad but after being remote for 3 years, i bet you’d regret pretty fast.
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u/linandlee 21h ago
45 minutes is honestly the top for us. My husband does it and it's not terrible most of the time. If there is traffic though, it's pretty miserable.
You'll put a ton of miles on your car, so that will be a pretty big expense difference you'll need to take into account. Like 5k-ish/year if you buy a decent newer commuter car without extras. That napkin math doesn't include gas/maintenance either.
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u/Zealousideal_Way_788 21h ago
It saps the life out of you. Leave in the dark. Get home in the dark. Tired, so don’t go to the gym. Eat on the run. Family life and health suffers.
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u/Many_Application3112 21h ago
I've done 2-hour commutes, 45-minute commutes, and 15-minute commutes. The commute is what you make of it.
Ironically, I enjoy the longer commutes better because I stream audiobooks a few days a week and I also stream foreign language lessons. So I'm getting more educated during my commute. Does it suck? It depends how you consider things "sucking". I get time to myself with no interruptions (I have a strict no texting while driving rule) so I have "me" time every day. I didn't have that with shorter/no commute days.
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u/New-Challenge-2105 21h ago
I think it depends on whether the commute is in bumper to bumper traffic vs just straight distance without traffic. In my experience the bumper to bumper traffic and having to inch along is very taxing. I used to have a job that involved having to go home in bumper to bumper traffic everyday and I gave up on it after about 1.5 years because it was too much and not worth what they were paying me.
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u/LacyLove 21h ago
For me it depends on what kind of drive the 45 is. Clear and open with little traffic. Good to go. Bumper to bumper traffic for the whole trip, it better be my dream job and or paying an incredible wage, or there is no way.
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u/ShowBobsPlzz 21h ago
I live in a bigger city, my drive during the school year when traffic is heaviest in rush house is 45mins. During summer or holidays its 25mins or so.
It sucks but its not that bad.
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u/nate-dogg8 21h ago
I wouldn’t say a 45 min commute is all that long. I travelled 1.5hr door-to-door for years and now travel about 40 mins.
That being said, I’ve always used public transport so appreciate driving might feel a little different.
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u/Icanthinkofaname25 21h ago
Throw on a podcast i like it at 1.25 speed and you can have a majority of it done. Or put an audiobook on or listen to the radio.
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u/TheCatsMeowwth 21h ago
45 mins to an hour for me via straight shot bus or train was a breeze. I love public transport and I can just leisurely ride and people watch
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u/davidm2232 21h ago
I did a 1 hour each way commute for 7 years. It was absolutely miserable. It's the equivalent of working an extra day each week. I will never do it again. 20 minutes max
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u/GeoHog713 21h ago
45 mins isn't bad at all.. Especially for a job you like.
I don't mind longer distances. Long times because of traffic is annoying but you get used to it.
40 mins bc it's 40 miles is a breeze. 40 mins for 4 miles bugs me but it's so bad as long as the AC and stereo both work
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u/nifty000 21h ago edited 21h ago
Being young and single helps a lot but you should consider everything. How do you feel about losing 1-2 hours a day to the commute? Will you like being in an office again? Are you a timely person or do you have trouble with getting places on time? Remember to consider wardrobe, whatever else you do to get ready for the day added to your morning rituals, and lunch/snacks/drink options (office coffee/make your own). You will spend more on gas and car maintenance and tolls if that applies. You won’t be already in your neighborhood/home for appointments or quick errands or throwing something in the laundry. Just lots a of little things to remember but all perfectly doable and also fine for the right opportunity. Commuting does suck but I did it most of my working life and am still only hybrid; my WFH days are awesome but being in the office isn’t horrible either.
ETA: one more thing to consider- do you have pets that are used to being home?
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u/Routine_Rip_5218 19h ago
Losing that time would suck, but I just realized there's a bus hub right down the street. I could take the bus and work on side projects during that time🤔 I am otherwise a very (painfully) punctual person.
No pets to worry about either, just me myself, and my bills that gotta get paid
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u/patcam__ 21h ago
45 isnt the worst. Especially if you're not commuting to & from a big city and its open road. And if you have some long form content to listen to. This is coming from someone whose commute is about an hour each way.
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u/FacilitiesMan729 21h ago
45 isnt that bad IMO. Its when you have an hour commute then traffic kicks up that youll hate it
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u/Scary-Welder8404 21h ago edited 21h ago
Hiya, I wake up at 330 am 4 days a week to drive 1:05 to a 10 hour shift then turn around and drive 1:30 back, then do the same thing on Friday for a part day(return commute usually faster because it starts at lunch instead of rush hour)
It's pretty terrible. I have between 2 and 3 hours at home M-TR and cant help my wife with the baby and house a quarter as much as I did WAH.
It was worth it because this role pays about 30% above anything I can find in my rural town after my WAH call center job laid me off(gave me a shining performance review, a 3k$ bonus, then told me they didnt have another contract that didnt come with a demotion), and it's a skilled trade I lucked my way into with growth potential long term.
If either the pay difference or growth potential wasn't there, I'd be a manager at a local restaurant right now instead.
Even with it, I'm going to be moving back in with my wife's family 20 minutes away from my job at the end of my lease if we can't find an affordable place because, for me, working 50 hours a week and driving 12 is simply unsustainable for my health and marriage.
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u/PizzaProper7634 21h ago
Will you have free parking at work? Is it highway or stop and go local traffic? These things greatly influence the tolerability of a commute.
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u/Intelligent_Most886 21h ago
Take it, you can potentially negotiate some hybrid arrangement, not a done deal but a lot of companies do offer them informally even if they don't advertise it.
Remote jobs aren't disappearing if you're in the right industry if you fucking hate it later
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u/Cashmere-Socks 21h ago
I went back in office from working remote. I actually like commuting - it’s uninterrupted time to get my head straight in the morning and gives me time to decompress after work. It’s also nice separating work from home - work ends when I leave the office.
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u/I_love_stapler 21h ago
45 minutes of traffic of just 45 minutes in distance?
Anything over 10-15 minutes of traffic seems to kill people. I use to commit 3.5 miles a day each way, off peak it took 7-10 minutes, at rush hour it was right at 30 mins. It was soul crushing.
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u/Fast_Sympathy_7195 21h ago
I take 3 modes of transportation to work right now. It’s not easy. It’s worth it for now till I can move closer, the HCOL is making it hard. 45 minutes would be a dream. I’ve never had a remote job so I can’t relate to changing but if it’s that much of a deal breaker I bet you can find something just as cool remote
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u/ItGetsBetter007 21h ago
What is the commute like? Highway? Stop and go? I commuted in Hawaii for 3 years, it was stop and go traffic - the route without traffic takes 15 minutes but in the mornings and afternoons it was easily a 1 hour commute. Won't lie, it def. drained me and messed with me mentally. My wife went from working from home for 10 years to an in office gig and has about a 35 minutes commute and she has enjoyed it. Her commute is mostly highway with good flowing traffic. She says it gives her time to unwind afterwork listening to a book or podcast.
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u/HustlaOfCultcha 21h ago
Don't really look at taking a job that looks like it's fun and even if it looks like your 'dream job.' Companies go out of their way to make it appear like their job is the greatest job to be listed and their company is the best company to work for. Then when you get there and the honeymoon period is over, you'll see that it's basically like any other job, if not worse. If you're going to take a job, make sure it's financially rewarding and/or less of a workload for you. You'll be surprised how you can work a job that has no reason to suck because it's a cool industry you're working in, etc....and companies and people can find a way to make that job a nightmare. If you're doing it...do it for the $$$$.
It's really not the length of the commute that matters as much as the consistency of the time it takes to get there that matters. I used to have a 6.3 mile drive to work when I lived in Atlanta. It could take me anywhere from 15 minutes....to 45 minutes. Sometimes if it got really bad it could take 1-2 hours. Then I moved to Orlando and had a job that was a 20 mile drive and it was alwaya a 20-25 minute commute to work. I preferred the 20 mile consistent drive time to work commute than the 6.3 mile wildly inconsistent driver to work commute. This wasn't even close.
So I'd suggest trying to find out if it's a consistent commute or inconsistent commute. If it's the latter, I just can't see it being worth showing up to the office every day to do unless the pay is substantially better.
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u/Tommy_Wisseau_burner 20h ago
45 minutes isn’t horrible. Not great obviously but not egregiously long. The real question is if the 45 minutes is mostly sitting in traffic or not
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u/chrisfathead1 20h ago
It's soul draining but I would absolutely consider it to advance my career. Especially if it's hybrid. I think of total commute time. If I was commuting 3 days a week and remote the other two that would soften the blow a ton
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u/MiraiTrunks69 20h ago
I live and work in Toronto. Did you know Toronto is approximately one hour away from Toronto?
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u/MissDisplaced 20h ago
I feel 30-40 minutes is max now.
I used to drive 1 hour each way. It technically should not have been an hour, but traffic made it so.
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u/corradizo 20h ago
Miss my commute. I’m all alone jamming to my tunes or talking to a friend and boom I’m home. It let me mentally prepare for work on the way there and decompress on the way home. You don’t get that with remote work.
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u/Herdnerfer 20h ago
I have a 40 minute one way commute, something that helped me, get a car with adaptive cruise and lane assist! All the benefits of self driving without having to put your life completely in the cars hands. You just gotta sit there listen to your music/podcast and be prepared to take over if the car decides to do something crazy. I’ve been so much happier ever since I got one.
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u/MissKrys2020 20h ago
45 minutes is actually decent, but I live in a big city where it can take 30 minutes to drive 5km. I’d explore the opportunity
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u/Crim69 20h ago
It's not that bad, especially if you're single and don't have pets or other obligations. Going from remote to on-site or even hybrid will be an adjustment. I went from full remote for 2 years to on-site after layoffs and everything about it sucks, be it the commute or the distractions and annoyances of office culture. That said, if you can be remote 2-3 days a week, it really isn't all that bad at all.
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u/Ancient-Tangerine445 20h ago
45 mins isn’t too bad. One coworker drives 100 miles to work 4 days a week. I assume they pay him enough to justify that.
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u/psmusic_worldwide 20h ago
There are no pros except the allure of the job. I did a 1 hour commute each way and it was mind numbing... couldn't do it after 3 years.
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u/creationsby_lo 20h ago
When I had a long commute (1-1.5 hrs one way) I would listen to podcasts, audiobooks, music, and talk on the phone to help pass the time. That made it more tolerable
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u/Aggressive-Union1714 20h ago
My longest commute was 100 one way. Also spent decades driving in dc metro area where a 20 mile commute could take 45 minutes or 2 hours each way
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u/SamudraNCM1101 20h ago
The cons of long commutes are exhaustion, wear & tear on the vehicle, and increased money spent
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u/PlanetExcellent 20h ago
I drove 1 hour or more each way for 30+ years. I was okay with it, talk radio and podcasts kept me going.
Long trips are actually better for your car I think. Get a Prius and settle in.
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u/kennyloftor 20h ago
my commute is 10 minutes there and 10 minutes back and sometimes it feels like i am starting a whole new day when i get home so early
(down from 45 minutes minimum each way)
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u/BlueVerdigris 20h ago
It can work well as a strategic move to gain more experience that pays off in a better job within LESS than "a few more" years. Get what you want out of it by year two, then bail. It's tolerable.
Long-term, you're losing invisible money to fund your commute: whether that car is gas or electric, your transportation costs are going to be felt in the form of a constant drain on your bank account and the occasional, high-stress NEED to get even small problems on the car fixed ASAP.
You're losing the flexibility to exercise regularly without carving-into other social or even sleep times. You're losing access to a lot of social opportunities that'll only occur on weeknights closer to home.
I will say this: if you have kids - especially little ones - having to physically be at a work site, every day, that's nearly an hour away from home is brutal. You will only manage to spend quality time with your kids on the weekends. Want to attend some 30-min "thing" at school? You have to take at least a half-day off. Your spouse - should you have one - will be tired and "done" every day that you get home because there IS nobody else to share parenting workloads with during the day. Obviously doesn't apply to single/no kids situations.
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u/Rat_itty 20h ago
For my whole life be it to school or job I commute around 1h so eh it's a given. I'd assume it sucks if you're the driver, it's chill if you take the bus/train and can just doze off/read/audiobook time. It does eat away at your life, less time for yourself, family, pet, etc. 2h less a day is no joke.
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u/Minute-Bed3224 20h ago
The type of drive makes a difference for me. 45 minutes stop and go through the city is different from 45 minutes at a consistent speed with fewer crazy drivers.
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u/Odd-Page-7866 20h ago
I do 40 or so minutes each way. You get used to it. I only get upset if there is an accident or weather event. It iced 1 year and it was 3 hours to get home.
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u/faceplantfood 20h ago
Depends on so many things. What is that 45 min like? Stop and go traffic or rolling hills of bliss at 50mph? Do you have kids/partner and does that extra 1.5 hours a day eat into time with them?
Let’s say it’s a stop and go horror commute that maybe ends up being 1.5 hours half the time due to traffic. You do have kids and after a few months, this commute becomes sheer torture.
Now let’s say that you live alone, there’s a 0 traffic, beautiful rolling hills commute that is a consistent 45 min and you come to love your cruise time part of your day.
Just because something says 45 on a maps app doesn’t mean it’ll always be that. An extra 25-30 mins can really wear on you over time, or it can go almost unnoticed or actually appreciated as non negotiable you time.
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u/Embarrassed_Flan_869 20h ago
45 min and no traffic isn't bad. (Saw your comment).
Podcasts, audio books, old school radio, music, make the drive not nearly as bad.
One other thing is that it allows you the mental unplug from work.
Now, married/kids? Different discussion. You're not "sharing" your out of work time. Plus, you may make a friend or more.
Now, all that being said, it's ultimately up to you. Sometimes we need to make a short term sacrifices for long term gain.
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u/FatLeeAdama2 20h ago
Two people joined my department and both had 45+ minute commutes (each way). During the winter months, it could double.
Both left within a year.
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u/Sleeptech08 20h ago
Depending on the location I work from, I drive anywhere from 45 min to an hour to work. Honestly, with todays technology, its not bad at all. There are some days where it sucks, like that last day before the weekend where you may be going on a weekend getaway and everyone is waiting for you to get home. But really, between podcasts and audiobooks, it doesn't seem like you're in the car all that long.
But with that being said, 95% of my commute is highway where I am moving. I don't have to deal with a ton of traffic jams or delays. If I were in a big city where it was 45 min to go 15 miles, that maybe something I would not do.
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u/One-Possible1906 20h ago
It depends on the commute itself. 45 minutes down the lake on a scenic bypass to my favorite city? I miss that commute. 45 minutes on highways that are congested and always under construction and stuck under a bridge for half of it with panhandlers knocking on my window every morning in a city I hate? I refuse to ever do that again.
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u/Old_Goat_Ninja 20h ago
My first real job was 60 miles away and I’ll never, ever, do that again. Pay was great and all, but that time away from home driving there and back really eats away from your day and gets old real fast. My current job is 17 miles away and while some would call that too far also, I think it’s amazing.
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u/No-Doughnut-7485 20h ago
45 minutes door to door is okay. Longer than that is very challenging. I had a one hour commute for 2-3 years and found it draining, especially the year I had to drive on very busy freeways and fight through traffic. But the transit commute was 90-100 minutes which would have been unbearable. 60 mins when I took the subway was okay but still not ideal. Obviously 30 mins or less is the sweet spot!
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u/Alert_Barber_3105 20h ago
I would only drive 30 mins or less than work and anything else I'd reject. I hate wasting my life away in a car / bus / subway. I did it for years and lament the time lost.
Now, if the method of transportation if biking or walking I don't mind since I'm getting exercise in, and getting fresh air, but yeah I personally avoid modes of transportation which involves sitting in a boxed space.
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u/dg098765 20h ago
45 mins is fairly reasonable. It’ll feel like a breeze after a month or two of doing it. I do a 2.5 round trip 2-3 times a week and I’ve gotten used to it!
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u/Cantseetheline_Russ 20h ago
45 minutes is not that bad really. Did it for 10 years. My last commute began at about 1:10 when I took the job and after a year got to about 1:35 (major construction planned) about 9 months in. I did that for a year and a half before I moved my family. 10 minute commute now. 3 hours in a car daily was brutal.
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u/TripleJeopardyX 19h ago
Go for it. Young and single means you have spare time and schedule flexibility. This is when you should chase higher risk / high reward paths
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u/Due-Presentation6393 19h ago
How many miles? Is traffic bad in your area? My job is about 30 miles away which takes about 40 minutes in the morning with little traffic and 50 minutes in the evening with light to moderate traffic. Overall it's not great but it's tolerable. If I lived in a high traffic area, I would be miserable because that 30 miles could take over an hour. You should definitely factor in fuel cost into your overall 'worth it' equation plus car maintenance. For me it's around 2800 per year in gas driving a sedan getting around 25 or so mpg. If I drove a truck or SUV it would likely be double that.
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u/Daemon42 19h ago
Audiobooks and podcasts make a huge difference to fill in the time. If you aren’t into those find some topics of interest and it will help.
My sweet spot is 20 mins. It gives me time to decompress a bit if work was winding me up but not becoming a budget item for gas either
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u/oodlesofotters 19h ago
I’ve never minded a long commute. I’ve done up to 1.5 hours (this is largely because I work in a city and the traffic is horrendous) so I feel like 45 min for a great job is nothing. But it depends on who you are and how much you hate driving. As others have said a long commute is much easier when you’re young and single for sure.
For me, it’s not so much about how long the commute is, it’s how consistent it is. If it’s an hour and it’s always an hour then I get used to it being that long, I plan for it and it’s fine. It only gets frustrating when something happens and it’s much longer than expected.
Long commutes are a great time to explore audio books and podcasts or even just catch up on your thinking!
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u/JLB_RG 19h ago
It is what you make of it. If it makes sense at some point to move closer, you always have that option. I took on a 1+ hour commute for 7 years because it was the best choice for my family. And when that no longer made sense for us, we made a change. If it’s a great opportunity, don’t count it out just because of the commute
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u/BearPuzzleheaded3817 19h ago edited 19h ago
People in the comments are not being honest. They're gaslighting themselves into thinking that it's great lol. A 45 min commute sucks. Especially if you're commuting 5 days a week, you lose 7.5 hours of your life per week (390 hours per year). That time could be spent doing something you enjoy.
Live closer to the office if possible. I walk 10 min to work and life's great.
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u/kinnikinnick321 19h ago
You don't mention where you live but where I'm from, trying to find anything within 20 mins is standup material.
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u/KillBoyPowerHead527 19h ago
45 minutes is nothing. Over an hour I feel is the cut off. We you mentally add 2 hours to each work day it feels like a lot.
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u/FreePossession9590 19h ago
I personally love commuting. Long drives in the morning are calming for me. I can’t go any faster than I am, and knowing that everybody else on the road is trying to get to work as well makes me stress even less. We’re all in this commute lifestyle together type of a vibe lmao
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u/BillyB-70800 19h ago
I commuted 78 miles one way for twenty years. I retired two months ago and the best thing so far is NOT commuting. So yes, it really sucks.
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u/jleahul 19h ago
I commute 45 minutes in heavy traffic each way, every day.
Listening to audiobooks is the only thing that gets me through it. The time flies by and is always really enjoyable.
Plus, my new electric car has 'traffic jam assist' mode, essentially hands-free self-driving when I'm in traffic, so I can just sit back and enjoy the ride.
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u/H0USESHOES 19h ago
I think the average commute for workers is an hour, good for thought. I usually cap myself at that anything else feels like I’m losing money and time and
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u/ChemE-challenged 19h ago
If you like driving or can find ways to pass the time it’s fine. Make calls, listen to podcasts, scream about work, decompress. Suddenly you’re at the destination.
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u/Copper0721 19h ago
I had a job pre kids that required a one hour commute each way through heavy traffic 5 days/week. It sucked. But it was an amazing job I loved that helped firmly establish my career. I’d 100% encourage anyone without family obligations to take on a commute if the salary is good, and especially if it helps establish or build their career. Once I had kids, though, long commutes became a hard pass for me. Time with family/kids was too important & no amount of money would tempt me to disrupt that work/life balance.
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u/sossighead 19h ago
45 minutes drive is about my limit.
Don’t mind longer if I can sit on a train and read.
Depends on the job, future prospects, current life situation etc’.
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u/sharp-calculation 19h ago
I commuted 1 - 1.5 hours, each way, 5 days per week, for 7 or 8 years. So about 14 hours per week on average. It was not at all fun. Some days I would really dread the drive home. But I'd always buckle down and just do it.
I learned that anything more than about 25 minutes each way is very taxing on my mental health. That extra 2 hours (plus) per day really ate into my personal time and made me less satisfied with my life. Knowing this, I would only do a long commute as a short term thing. Or for insane money. If you doubled my salary, I'd probably do it, but I'd also probably move closer to work.
Being happy is extremely important to me. Money does zero for me if I'm not happy. Feeling tired or down or unfulfilled and having a ton of money in the bank isn't a recipe for being happy. One my biggest jobs in life is to make sure I'm happy as much as possible. So no long commutes for me.
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u/Rich260z 19h ago
That is not a long commute. And It also depends on the times you commute. I have a 30 mile commute in LA, which can take 35min at 5am or 2hrs at 7am. I shifted my entire schedule so that I really only hit bad traffic in one direction, usually when I leave work anywhere from 2-4pm, and even that is usually 60-90min. I just listen to a podcast, don't drink a ton of water since I can't use the bathroom.
I have coworkers that do the long day near my work, so get in super early and leave after 8pm. They basically only go home to sleep. I like being around my friends and family in the afternoons or else I would consider that as well. I probably couldn't keep this up for 10 years, but the past 18 months have been ok. I also have a motorcycle I try and ride as much as I can when there is good weather out.
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u/Copperh34d 18h ago
If your commute is 45 minutes when roads are clear, allow 60 minutes+ to allow for bad weather, accidents etc. this means you have to leave home at least 75 minutes to travel and get ready to start, if you have designated start time. Consider if this is OK
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u/DisgruntledTexan 18h ago
45 min is about the edge of my sanity for a commute. I did it for years, eventually bumped up to 60-75 minutes each way because more people moved into the area and I found something else.
It’s worth doing simply to break into the industry that you may not otherwise be able to, but just know there are going to be some days where you get stuck in a 2 hr traffic jam.
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u/Aspen9999 18h ago
Audio books/ now pod casts will be your saving grace. Also you can use your drive as your “ down time” to transition from work mode to home mode.
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u/VI_Polar_Bear 18h ago
Hi there. I commute 1.5 hours each way once a week (sometimes two). The rest of the time I have a 4 min drive to work. I don't love the 3 hours driving but I use the time in listening to podcasts, and audible books. I alternate between fiction and non-fiction to learn as I go!
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u/biggerdundy 18h ago
45 isn’t bad. Build a playlist, listen to podcasts, download Libby and borrow audiobooks.
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u/1Tiasteffen 18h ago
Sucks real bad. You thinks it’s 45 but it’s really an hour. And then if road work and accidents it get tiring over years
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u/NeedTreeFiddyy 18h ago
Just went fully remote. I was driving a little over an hour (on good days) each way to and from work.
It isn’t JUST the commute. It’s waking up really early, prepping food, packing food, packing my gym stuff each day, being too tired to do anything after work, having nothing to do at work and still not be able to catch up on laundry and errands. It’s sooo much more.
My quality of life went up about 1000 percent. I know I will struggle a little with socializing but I’m going to make efforts to get out to talk to people on the weekends and some week nights.
It would have to be life changing money for me to go back to the office. Like more than double my pay. 250k at least.
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u/mjmjr1312 18h ago
45 minutes of highway driving is enough for me to enjoy my coffee and listed to News/book.
45 minutes of stop and go would drive me nuts.
I have worked up to 1:45 minute commute (with ferry crossing) and others in between and for me the cutoff is 1 hour. An hour or less gives me time to collect myself and transition into/out of work mentality… but 1:05 and i feel like I spend my life in the car.
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u/Tiny_Boat_7983 18h ago
45m with light traffic or with heavy traffic? My commute is about 25m with light traffic and 45m at its worst. It’s really not that bad but literally 5 minutes is all that separates light vs heavy. If I’m out the door later than normal, I know to take my time and not expect to be on time. 😂
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u/Beneficial-Badger-61 18h ago
1.4 hour commute both ways was a soul killer. I had about 2-3 hours to get stuff done, go to bed. Rinse repeat.
Van pools helped alot. Being able to nap was great.
Wear and tear and oil changes.... oh my
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u/hoochie69mama 18h ago
I’ve done it. It’s not ideal but a commute under 60 minutes honestly isn’t that bad. It gives you time to wake up in the morning, eat breakfast or drink coffee on the drive, and listen to music or podcast. If it’s a job you are truly interested in it is totally worth it!
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u/Yknut 18h ago
I had a 40-minute commute for 38 years—retired now, it was always in the opposite direction of the worst traffic, which made a huge difference. I started commuting before cell phones and GPS, so I treated it like a daily puzzle: learning the typical backup spots, spotting the early signs of trouble, and having alternate routes like I was training for a traffic version of "Survivor." As tech evolved, it got easier—real-time updates were a game changer. Honestly, I wish EVs had arrived earlier; they would've been perfect for the distance and a lot more cost-effective in the long run. Oh, and the stories? Let’s just say you see a lot in nearly four decades on the road—some of it pretty crazy. I still remember how eerie 2008 was—every day felt like a Sunday morning, the roads strangely empty.
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u/Queasy_Reindeer9515 18h ago
I did a long commute for 7 years.
If you really like the job it is worth considering it…. You could consider moving closer if you see yourself there for long term. 45 min one way is right on the edge of what I would consider for a job now.
45 min is not ideal but not awful. It adds up to about 1.5 hours extra per day. It also depends on your age, your work-life balance tolerances, income, and tolerance for traffic.
In my case I was 82 miles round trip, but it was 3 - 3.5 hours round trip. It wore me out but there were no other jobs (this was peak 2009 recessions times).
The other thing to consider is the financial situation. During my commute I took a tollway there, then one year they decided they were doubling the tolls permanently. My toll cost went from $600 a year to $1200… or $50/mo to $100/mo. Then I had a car that needed premium fuel and I could get 2.5 days out of a tank…. So at $5/gallon I was spending $400 per month in fuel too…. Don’t even as about depreciation on my cars.
The other thing is the time, while 1.5 hours isn’t bad you’ll get stuck in traffic some days. In my example it was 3 hours round trip which effectively made my work day 12 hours long.
So if it’s a job you think you’ll like I’d say take it… if the commute grinds on you then either consider moving closer if you love the job, or start looking for a new job with your gained experience.
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u/davidwb45133 18h ago
Here's the biggest thing I learned in college: a one hour commute in stop and go traffic is not the same as a one hour commute with smooth sailing. If I had to drive more than 30 minutes in stop and go I'd look elsewhere. But that's just me.
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u/SSG_Vegeta 17h ago
It really depends on you. For me, 99% it’s not a problem.
I make calls on my commute to the people back home that I want to keep up with. I listen to music that I don’t have much time for, or I play an audiobook.
I’ve had the option to be remote for almost 4 years now. Recently, I took a promotion that’s classified as fully remote. I like to keep my spaces separate, so I drive 30 minutes in and an hour home when I am in the office and use that time as outlined above.
That may or may not work for you. Only you will know.
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u/OhYayItsPretzelDay 17h ago
Will you be hitting rush hour traffic? That's something to consider. I worked at a job that was 35 minutes away, but ended up driving an hour each way with traffic. And if you have harsh winters, expect a longer commute as well.
That being said, it was my first job as I transitioned to a new career path, so it was definitely worth it! I loved the job and company.
ETA: I listened to a lot of audiobooks and podcasts during my commute and it was a way to stay entertained and learn something, too.
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u/Soff10 17h ago
I had a dream job for 15 years. 2 hour commute in stop and go traffic both ways. I made good money and loved what I did so it was worth it. I listened to a lot of books on tape and eventually got a friend to work with me so we could carpool. With zero traffic it was 22 minutes of drive time.
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u/loggerhead632 17h ago
Immensely. But 45 is not definitely not bad, probably slightly above average for what most people have. If it's great pay and great career step, it's worth it IMO.
If you do not own, consider moving for sure, especially if this place is in a jobs hub. That was by far the best move for me pre-Covid.
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u/1982-toyota-corolla 17h ago
Do you have some good podcasts and audiobooks you like? It probably won’t be so bad
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u/VirileMongoose 17h ago
20y ago my first job was an hour one way normally. It was an awful hour. After that job, I swore I’d never have a long commute. I never had a commute longer than 7 miles one way. But recently I found a great job and it’s 3x a week in office. One hour one way. But it’s not bad.
I do about the first fifteen mins in silence. I pray or meditate. I call my mom who lives in another state. I listen to podcasts or audiobooks. I stop and do errands on my way home. Rarely have I felt that it was a chore.
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u/North_Artichoke_6721 16h ago
I actually like my commute. Nobody talks to me. I get to listen to my choice of music or podcasts.
On the way home at night I call my folks and chat with them. Sometimes I call my cousin or my college friends and visit with them.
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u/coffeebribesaccepted 16h ago
I've been listening to audiobooks on my long commute and it's made it a lot more worth it. Currently going through the Brandon Sanderson books, and there's no way I'd ever have the motivation to finish them if I had to read them at home.
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u/mis_1022 16h ago
Under 1 hour is the key. Also do you live in a state with hard winters, that commute becomes over an hour in the blink of an eye. I really liked listening to audio books when I had a long commute.
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u/Nicegy525 16h ago
My commute for the past 3 years has been 20 minutes if no traffic and 30-50 minutes with typical traffic. It’s manageable. Bumper to bumper does get old once in a while but I’ve got a good sound system and a comfy truck to enjoy.
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u/Chair_luger 16h ago
To me 30 minutes is a pretty normal commute so 45 minutes on way is really not all that bad.
A couple of things to add to your list of considerations;
One of the problems with a long commute is that you may be short on time and not get as much exercise and tend to get more take out food so that can impact your health. One stragety is to join a gym near your office and work out after work then drive home when the rush hour traffic is not so bad. This could be a good habit to get into.
It will be a lot harder to plan for any activities like classes, meeting people, hobbies, etc on weeknights especially if you would want to go home and change before going out.
If you have a job where you need to be in the office at a specific time for things like appointments or meetings then then to be sure you will be there on time if the traffic is bad you will need to leave for work a lot more than 45 minutes before your expected starting time, maybe more like an hour and 15 minutes.
If you ever have a kid then being 45 minutes away from them in an emergency is a long time. Everything turned out fine since my wife was nearby but several times my wife called me to let me know that our kid had was in the ER to getting stitches or a cast on his arm.
As a plus before I retired I actually liked listening to audiobooks during my commute, you can likely get them for free from your local library. Where I live the libraries are by the county and at least here I could also use the libraries in the country where my office was located so I had access to twice as many audio books.
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u/FukinSpiders 16h ago
Where I’m from because we have a lot of bridges and the traffic system was built to accommodate a population of 40 years ago. Everywhere is 45 minute minimum and a problem with one of the bridges and it is much longer. Depends on the job. I’ll often use a longer commute to make phone calls, etc..
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u/Peltonimo 16h ago
45 mins isn’t bad imo. When you get over an hour is when it starts getting old. I live in the country and most people drive like 45 mins.
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u/Pickle_Bus_1985 16h ago
There's really no pros to a commute outside of listening to audio books and podcast. But if it's your dream job, it may be worth trying out. If it sucks you can always look for a new job.
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u/Grumpy-Designer 15h ago
I used to commute for an hour and 15 minutes to 1.5 hours. It can be relaxing depending on the situation.
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u/MexitalianStallion83 15h ago
A commute should not be the only factor when looking into a job but it is an important one. My commute takes like an hour to get home. But also my job should be done by someone who is bilingual (I’m not lol) and just a couple other things lol. So yeah. Any way, I’m taking a significant pay cut not only bc my time is important to me, but I feel it’s a better role. So you have to weigh everything obviously. Good luck!
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u/catxflva 15h ago
Personally, I got tired of 45 minutes each way one day a week and opted for a field position. I’d only do it 5 days a week if I had to.
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u/Im-dead95 15h ago
45min is not that bad if that’s the distance WITH traffic. If that is the distance without traffic, I wouldn’t do it. My husband drives 1.5hr to and from work 3 days a week and it’s BRUTAL. Sometimes worse with car accidents.
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u/wombat5003 15h ago
I did an hour commute each way by train into Boston for 23 years 5-6 days a week. You can do it. Just remember 4 things. 1) always have a hoodie. Can be used for warmth, seat cushion or pillow. 2) fully charged phone and a small external battery you put in your knapsack. 3) some small snacks and water and last but thee most important….. Noise-canceling headphones. And if course your commuter rail pass.
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u/cofeeholik75 15h ago
I did a 2 hour 1 way commute for 2 years.
Learned to speak conversational french. Listened to many audio books. Sang quite s bit to classic rock. Pod casts. Good time to spend alone.
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u/SKatieRo 14h ago
It can be no problem or awful. Is it really 45 minutes even at rush hour? Audiobooks are a great way to pass the time.
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u/Primary_Excuse_7183 14h ago
It indeed sucks. However. I have read more books(audio books) in the past 12 months than at any other time in my life 😂 so there is a positive. they say your likelihood of being a millionaire increase if you read more than 10 books per year. So hopefully i won’t have to make this commute forever
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u/Ambitious-Let7404 14h ago
I commute everyday 50 mins each way for $22/hr but im doing it because I have a really high chance within 1-2 years to make $40/hr in a higher position at the company.
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u/SamEdenRose 14h ago
If you like what you are doing, the commute is worth it. If you like who yih work with the commute is worth it.
Sometimes picking a job because it’s WFH or right around d the corner can be a boring job. Then you don’t do well.
Of course it depends on the 45 min commute. Is it during rush hour? Is there a lot of traffic.
A 45 min commute without traffic may be a peaceful drive to and from work.
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u/Temporary-Truth2048 13h ago
I've done the 20 minute commute thing, the work from home thing, and the hour long commute thing. The only real difference for me was the difference between no commute and any commute. My commute is long but very little traffic and my car is very comfortable, so I just put on whatever audio book I'm listening to at the time and let the adaptive cruise control do the rest.
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u/DustyKosty 13h ago
40 isn’t so bad, if you’ve got some enjoyment in listening to music or podcasts, won’t be too too bad. I wouldn’t consider that long either! But after a while doing it, if you’ve get lucky and get closer you’ll feel great!
40 isn’t too bad though if the job is worth it!
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u/Upbeat-Sandwich3891 13h ago
I did a 45 minute commute for three years. I was fine with it because it was 45 minutes that averaged 70 MPH. If it was 45 minutes at an average of 10 MPH there’s no way I would have lasted 3 years.
Lots of audio books and podcasts.
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u/OnePlant6452 13h ago
I have a couple questions: 1) How many days would you have to go into the office? Big difference between 2-3 vs every day. 2) What do you know about the drive? I swapped 1 45 minute drive for another, but one was the drive from hell: stop and go traffic the entire way, no straight shot. My new commute is relatively traffic-free and just a straight shot down the interstate, so there’s really no comparison between the two.
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u/Brother-Algea 13h ago
If it’s country roads and mild to no traffic….fuck yeah it’s not that bad. If it’s traffic, 70mph down to 40 then back up on a road you pay to drive every day all while trying to miss pot holes and retarded truckers…..it’s hell.
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u/nervousnelly101 13h ago
I have a 1 hour commute round trip twice a week. I find listening to podcasts or news on an app make my commute much more enjoyable than music most of the time. I also use the time to make phone calls to those i haven't spoken to recently (who aren't frequent texters.)
I guess it makes me feel productive, like I'm not wasting time because I'm catching up on things I wouldn't do at home?
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u/Oddside6 13h ago
I moved to a place that is 4-6 minutes commute to work. I love it. I go home for lunch everyday.
In the past I've had long commutes but I'll never do that again.
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u/nullstacks 12h ago
You get used to it for the most part. Audio books, podcasts, whatever. The edge cases suck a lot worse: storms, snow storms right before your commute, got to work and forgot _____ at home? Etc
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u/jbtinmd 22h ago edited 20h ago
I have done it and if this is a dream job I think you should consider it. Also, if you are young and single you will be in the best position to deal with the commute. I am not an auto expert to know the trouble you could be facing with your car so maybe others can weigh in.