Turbo Kraft

Arizona's Porsche Authority

Commuter Car Options

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commuter car

The daily slog getting to and from work can be brutal. If you spend a chunk of your work day commuting, you have probably already looked at the “best” commuter cars on the market. We’ve decided to take a look at the Toyota Prius, the BMW i3 and the Porsche Cayman. All very different vehicles, but all with the potential to be the best commuter car. When considering which car is best for the many hours you will be logging on the road, there are several criteria you need to keep in mind: cost, mileage, comfort, reliability and performance. But you also need to consider the option that’s going to bring you the most joy. There’s no reason you should log all those miles in misery.

Sticker and Pump Prices For Commuter Car

The Toyota Prius finds its strength in its affordable price tag and mileage. The base model MSRP starts at $23,475 and boasts up to 53 highway mpg. This hybrid further tempts commuters in some states by qualifying for the coveted energy efficient license plate that allows single drivers access to the HOV lanes.

The BMW i3 is an all-electric car and it challenges the Prius in mileage and energy efficiency but comes with a higher price tag. The i3 takes mileage high honors with an electric charge that can carry you 80 – 114 mpg. Those additional miles and more energy efficient vehicle come with a base model MSRP of $42,400.

The Porsche 718 Cayman is the last of the pack in these categories. The base 718 Cayman retails at $67,700 and comes with plenty of upgrades and sport add on’s available that can increase the sticker price significantly. In addition, the Cayman gets 26 – 28 highway miles per gallon making your monthly gas expense manageable, but not even close to the savings of the Prius or i3. In the interest of fairness, we should mention that the Cayman is not a hybrid or electric vehicle and because of that is at a disadvantage in terms of mileage. Porsche is scheduled to release the Mission E, a fully electric vehicle by 2020 with a range of 310 miles and a 15-minute charge.

Comfort

The Prius, with its low-price point and get the job done attitude, emphasizes fuel economy but skimps on luxury. The interior space and mileage abilities of a Prius are respectable with standard features such as hands free blue tooth and steering wheel audio controls. But the infotaintment system is user friendly by basic by comparison to other manufacturers. The interior feels spacious at first blush but passengers may find the legroom a bit cramped.

If luxury is your priority, the BMW i3 kicks it up a notch. While it should be noted that the i3 seats four and the door style forces you to open the front door before you can open the back door, your passengers should be relatively comfortable. The cabin feels spacious and for the most part upscale. Some of the i3 interior materials are recycled and may feel a bit less luxurious than in other models. The infotainment system has a console mounted controller and a swift response time making it user friendly and comes standard with a navigation system.

While the i3 takes comfort up a notch, the Porsche Cayman ups the ante several more times. The Cayman can comfortably accommodate two people and features Porsche’s typical high quality interior including partial leather upholstery. The infotainment system is Porsche’s own Porsche Communication Management or PCM. Standard features include Bluetooth, HD radio, satellite radio, sensors for parking and a rear-view camera. This doesn’t include the plethora of additional upgrades that are available including full leather interior or sport seats.

Commuter Car Performance

Over time, Toyota has designed the Prius to have a decent ride and smoother handling but overall sacrifices in performance have been made in exchange for mileage. The 121 horsepower generated from the 1.8 liter, four cylinder engine simply can’t doesn’t have the power or performance of the Porsche Cayman or the BMW i3. It will take a Prius over 10 seconds to get from zero to sixty. While this option may get you farther for less, it won’t get you there faster.

The BMW i3 focuses on a smaller carbon footprint and tries to maintain performance with a lighter, more streamlined design. The i3’s get and up and go potential is a bit more respectable as it can get from zero to sixty in 7.2 seconds with 170hp. Top speed is 92 mph. The i3 comes standard with narrow tires which are not great for handling. These can be upgraded to a wider, better performing version. The i3 is a good example of compromises made for performance and commuting.

While the Porsche Cayman doesn’t take high marks in the mileage or price categories, performance is where it shines. The high price tag includes all the expected Porsche features with the Cayman boasting 300 horsepower and hitting zero to sixty in 4.9 seconds. The Cayman S clocks in at 350 horsepower and zero to sixty in 4.4 seconds. The newest Cayman models also include updated brakes, and a turbocharged 2.0 or 2.5 engine respectively as opposed to the naturally aspirated flat six engines of models before. You can use that turbocharged speed to avoid dangerous drivers and potential collisions on your way to work. While the Prius sacrifices performance for mileage, Porsche goes the other way, making sheer speed and performance the priority.

When considering the best commuter car for you, you need to look at reliability, durability, mileage, efficiency and last but not least, the quality of time you spend in the vehicle. If you are spending two hours a day in your car, there’s no reason you shouldn’t make them the best two hours possible. If you are considering purchasing a Porsche to serve as a commuter car, call TurboKraft and let our expert technician’s check it out for you.

Commuting in a Porsche

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Best car for commuting photo

How many hours a day do you spend in the car?  Even in the best of circumstances, your drive to the office may be 10 or 15 minutes a day, each way for a total of about 30 minutes a day.  30 minutes a day, five days a week translates to 7,800 minutes a year.  Now, still assuming you work 5 days a week, if you commute an hour each way, you are looking at spending 520 hours or 31,200 minutes a year in the car on your way to or from work.  That’s a ridiculous amount of time to spend as a captive audience on the road.  Some people decide to purchase two cars: one for fun on the weekends and one to use for the monotony of the commute.  Can a person have the best of both?  Make sure that you are making the most of your commute time by spending it in a vehicle you love.  Make sure you are commuting in a Porsche.

Porsche: Best Car for Commuting?

Commuter cars typically have certain qualities to make them effective.  They need to be durable and able to log a lot of miles with minimal maintenance.  Reliability is a must in any vehicle, but especially one that is going to get you to and from work every day.  Also, good gas efficiency is also a hallmark of a strong commuter car.  The good news is Porsche has several different models that meet these criteria with the all the perks of being a Porsche.

While the Porsche brand is synonymous with speed and high performance, it can also provide the best car for commuting.  The best Porsche for you will depend on a number of factors including the type of vehicle you prefer to drive, the length of your commute, the climate you live in and your budget.

The Porsche Cayman could be an easy choice for a commuter.  The new 718 Cayman and 718 Cayman S offer the expected Porsche features with the Cayman boasting 300 horsepower and hitting zero to sixty in 4.9 seconds and the Cayman S clocking in at 350 horsepower and zero to sixty in 4.4 seconds.  The new Cayman received some notable changes including upgraded interior design, updated brakes, and a turbo charged 2.0 or 2.5 engine respectively as opposed to the naturally aspirated flat six engines of models before.  You can use that turbocharged speed to avoid dangerous drivers and potential collisions on your way to work.  The revisions to the Cayman give it excellent maneuverability and handling.  The Cayman also gets 26 – 28 highway miles per gallon making your monthly gas expense manageable.  The base 718 Cayman retails at $67,700 but comes with plenty of upgrades and sport add on’s available.  While the Cayman’s retail and maintenance costs are higher than your typical commuter car, it’s worth every penny.

The Porsche 911 series also offers standout commuter car options.  The 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo S tips the scale at the very high end of a budget at a base retail price of $188,100 and offers the best commuter car you could hope for.  It’s scores high in every category: speed, maneuverability, handling and comfort.  The Turbo S’s new sports 580 horsepower and the Dynamic Boost feature provides faster engine response.  The Turbo S is designed with a permanent all-wheel drive system that includes a liquid cooled front differential and an electronically controlled rear differential to make sure that the speed of the vehicle doesn’t compromise the handling and drivability.  This car excels on the track and in stop and go traffic.  This particular Porsche will have you singing for joy every time you get into the car.

Find the Most Comfortable Car for Your Long Commute

While speed and handling are important that the actual mechanics of your commuter car; the comfort your car provides is important for your sanity.  If you are spending several hours a week in your vehicle, you should make sure you are comfortable.  Porsche excels in making luxurious sports cars in all the best ways possible.  The Cayman, and all newer Porsches come standard with PCM, or Porsche Communication Management.  The PCM is a centralized technology infotainment system that allows the driver to easily manage audio and phone connectivity with an easy to use touch screen display.  The Porsche interior is exactly what you would expect with easy to access gauges and ergonomic design, all contributing to the incredible comfort and luxury these vehicles have to offer.

Make Your Porsche Into the Best Commuting Car Ever

Porsche’s are cars that love to be driven.  If you have to spend your workdays in the car, make it as enjoyable as possible.  If you are considering purchasing a used Porsche to serve as a commuter car, call TurboKraft and let our expert technician’s check it out for you.  If you have purchased the Porsche of your dreams but want to customize it to make it perfect, we can customize, build and invent whatever you need.  Don’t dread going to work.  With the right car, you can look forward to heading to the office every single time.