Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
[quote user="jeaton"] New York to Atlanta goes this way.  Drive (per Mapquest) 890 miles in 14.5 hours-assumes no traffic problems, rest or food stops.  At 20MPG and $4.00 gas fuel cost is $180.  Amtrak Crescent is an 18 hour run.  The coach fare next week is $191 but the same seat in August is offered at $151.  AAA and NARP members can get 10% off and Age 62+ get a 15% discount.  Your call.[/quote]Whether one drives or takes a commercial carrier depends on numerous values. Here are a few items one has to consider.   As a rule it costs me less to take a plane, train, or bus as long as my assumptions regarding the operation of my Toyota Corolla are valid, and I am traveling by myself. The variable cost of driving my Corolla from New York to Atlanta would be $151 plus meals, one night accommodations and tolls.  I follow the National Safety Council's advice and never run more than 500 miles in one day.  However, the cost of driving jumps to $259 if I assume, as most cost accountants do, that all costs are variable in the long run.  The cost of driving includes more than the consumables.  It includes insurance, depreciation, etc.The per mile cost of operating my Corolla is a function of the purchase price, financing charges, if any, time of ownership, estimated salvage value, gasoline, etc.  If I had a big gas guzzling SUV that I only planned to keep for three years, the cost of driving could increase significantly. The Amtrak fare for August 15th would be $153.  It would be a better deal than driving, even after adding three meals and a drink or two in the lounge car, because I would not incur the accommodation and toll charges associated with driving.  However, if I have to rent a car in Atlanta, this could change the numbers significantly.  It depends on how long I would need the rent car.  If I chose to fly from New York to Atlanta on August 15th, it would cost me $126 on Air Trans.  It would require no Enroute meals or accommodation charges, other than perhaps a snack at the airport.  The same assumption regarding a rental car applies for the train or plane.    The cost structure for a family, however, changes dramatically.  The cost of the train, assuming the first adult gets a NARP discount, the second adult gets no discount, and two children do not qualify for any discounts, would be $443.  Driving a family of four from New York to Atlanta would increase the cost somewhat because of the greater weight, but it would be minimal.  Also, if the family decided on two rooms as opposed to having the kids sleep with the adults, an extra room charge would have to be added on.  But the incremental charges associated with driving in the family chariot would not approach$443.  This is the real reason that most middle class families choose to drive.
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag