Hanging up my 4 decades old commute spurs.

[Jseis]

My driving style is changing

I retired April 1st though really back in March as I had a lot of PTO built up. 40 years in a gaggle of jobs. Averaged about 25K miles a year rural highway commuting. Drove vehicles an average of 100K (variable year to year). A couple at 60K, several 150K-200K or until a major repair & usually engine-tranny. Other than a couple of flat tires & smacking two deer… no major accidents. One infamous midnight speeding ticket…for 10 over when I was more like 30 over (!). Another time spun out out with the XT & did a 180 on a curve, killed the engine dead & ended up in the opposite lane pointed back to where I came from.

Background: My first commute vehicle was an ‘83 Subaru GL wagon and my last is the current ‘23 Lariat ER. Between those? A Subaru XT, 2 Mustang GTs, a 7.3 F250 (w/6 spd stick!), an Expedition, 4.6 Adrenalin, twin turbo Flex, Escape, Mustang Mach E…. and a lot of miles… probably 850K or thereabouts . I tended to average 20K-25K miles per year, not excessive though one year I laid down 56K. I put 56K with the Lightning in 33 months including a 2000 mile RT to Great Falls.

The two Subarus were 32-37 mpg, ICE Mustangs 23-25 (depending on foot!), trucks & Flex 18-22, Escape 23, MachE 110-120 MPGE. These are at rural road speeds, w/curves & small towns.

I commuted with the Mach E for two years & averaged 3.6 m/kWh in 56K miles. The S.O. and I had discussed the likely savings in $$ of gas when we debated buying the Mach E and the Lightning proved efficient as well. My 2.75 year average (56K) on the Lightning is 2.38 mi/KWh.

I charge the Lightning at home nightly with a charge point knocking out 9.2 KW on a 240V 50 amp service. The Mach E idles along on a 120V service.

However.. I did some maths and discovered that instead of averaging 93 miles a day.. now… I’m averaging…10 miles a day . A typical charge lasts, ahem, nearly a frigging month!!! My average KWh is 2.7-3.0 miles/kwh. Or in gasology speak 91-101 MPGE. A trip to the hardware store won’t even trip the mi/kwh estimate.

Driving the Mach E (spouse) since July ‘21 and Lightning (me) since July ‘23 has resulted in a net fuel savings since August of ‘21 of $30,000+. When I took the Lightning in for the two recent recalls, the dealer service staff explicitly said to me that they noticed the minimalist maintenance needs of the BEVs, and mentioned the Lightning in particular. The S.O. said to me that I’d be surprised how many people ask her about Mach E (Does she like it, why?). My sis bought a Mach E and loves it.

At the rate I’m driving I’ll be seeing 100,000 miles in 12 years. Time to start hauling the ‘41 9N & brush hog to the old farm and hit the beach on my fatbike!

Laying 100 watts down with this is work!

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[K6CCC]

Congratulations! Last October 3rd was my last work day - Welcome to the retired club.
My commute was 52 miles round trip, but I'm driving more since I retired. However it's now driving for fun rather than getting to work. The other big change was February of 2025 I replaced my 10.8 mpg Dodge with my Lightning. Substantially less expensive to drive which has substantially reduced hesitation to taking my truck anywhere.

 

[hturnerfamily]

Retired/Semi-Retired...living in the lap of luxury, following my wife around on the last legs of her career, which has increased her pay tremendously...

being in the Insurance Industry for over 1/4 Century, well, actually much more than that, overall, but the last many have been a pleasure... I weened my small-town customer base away from the traditional 'brick office building', and moved to completely 'on-line', more or less, via 99% text, email, and, voice: I vaguely remember a 'phone call' the other day : ) Medicare Plans have been good to me, but the other 1/2 of the equation is still the good old Auto insurance everyone needs, and the small-business coverage for traditional businesses in the downtown. Home insurance, though, is a bust - as most companies have lost favor with me, and I just assume to let another agent/company handle that - I get much less grief now, and I just make it up some other way.
I have no less than 8 Chromebooks, spread around the house in my various 'sitting areas', near the bed, on the back porch, etc., and even in both of our vehicles, just in case. I also carry a 'plug in' Tmobile whole-home internet 'box', which uses their cellular signal for unlimited internet, whether at home, 'working', streaming tv with DirectTV(mainly Perry Mason and The Andy Griffith Show!), and carry this same 'internet box' while traveling. It makes life so much easier - no cords, no cables, just 120v power is all that is required - the LIGHTNING has it! (her Kia EV9 does, too)...

I'll start Social Security at the end of this year, at age 62, officially(don't tell anyone!)... I'll take every penny my FICA taxes have paid into over the last 45 years of official income, and I don't care if they ding me some of that because I still 'have some income', or not, or 'tax' it because our joint income is 'above the limit' ... I'll still have a LOT MORE cash in the Social Security savings account over the next 5 years, versus 'waiting' until that 'magic' Government-stated age of adulthood, or retirement, or whatever it's called... call me crazy.

The LIGHTNING is just the bread-n-butter to all of this. I LOVE, just LOVE - did I say LOVE?? it! and still am IMPRESSED every time I sit behind the wheel and enjoy the POWER, enjoy the QUIET, enjoy the SMOOTHNESS, and enjoy the EASY DRIVING, anywhere, anytime, anyplace I want to go.

Life is good. Gas prices are not. Oh well. Enjoy!

 

[TaxmanHog]

Congrat's on the retirement, welcome to the club.

 

[Maquis]

Enjoy your retirement. I definitely recommend it. We put about 13K per year on the Mach-E and maybe 6K on the Lightning. We may never need to buy another vehicle!

 

[RickLightning]

@hturnerfamily, visit https://opensocialsecurity.com/. Collecting at 62 often leaves money on the table.

 

[TaxmanHog]

The dynamics of life adds an element of uncertainty, do I want quality in early retirement or optimized timing for quantity of dollars, doesn't always balance the ledger of life.

 

[bc1]

@hturnerfamily, visit https://opensocialsecurity.com/. Collecting at 62 often leaves money on the table.

I've run those figures for a few people and it comes out at generally about 78+ years of age at a straight dollar calculation without messing with future value interests rates. So you balance about 5 years of early usage and enjoyment until age 67, if you need it and it helps, versus a few extra bucks every year after age 67. It really boils down to a matter of choice and needs. Collecting at 66-67 often leaves money on the table for those with increased morbidity factors. Besides morbidity, a person has to look at their future mobility as all the money in the world may not help if you can't hardly travel and enjoy it. Also have to consider the spouse in these factors.

 

[RickLightning]

The dynamics of life adds an element of uncertainty, do I want quality in early retirement or optimized timing for quantity of dollars, doesn't always balance the ledger of life.

I've run those figures for a few people and it comes out at generally about 78+ years of age at a straight dollar calculation without messing with future value interests rates. So you balance about 5 years of early usage and enjoyment until age 67, if you need it and it helps, versus a few extra bucks every year after age 67. It really boils down to a matter of choice and needs. Collecting at 66-67 often leaves money on the table for those with increased morbidity factors. Besides morbidity, a person has to look at their future mobility as all the money in the world may not help if you can't hardly travel and enjoy it.

I posted the link because many collect too early, without understanding the impact of their decision.

In general, waiting until one's FRA (Full Retirement Age), 67 for people not yet at that age, is usually best. Then, the higher earner waiting until age 70 usually makes sense for a couple.

What impacts the decision is very personal. Your and your spouse's expected longevity (which may be impacted by family history or a disease), and your financial needs, are top of the list.

My wife collected at her FRA, I will collect at aged 70.

The OpenSocialSecurity website helps people see the impact of their proposed plan.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Everyone should exercise the analysis, unfortunately some folks don't and worse so aren't prepared in the least for retirement, I'm guessing a good majority of folks on this forum have thought through this, but educating just one more person especially while they're young is worth the discussion.

 

[bc1]

I posted the link because many collect too early, without understanding the impact of their decision.

In general, waiting until one's FRA (Full Retirement Age), 67 for people not yet at that age, is usually best. Then, the higher earner waiting until age 70 usually makes sense for a couple.

What impacts the decision is very personal. Your and your spouse's expected longevity (which may be impacted by family history or a disease), and your financial needs, are top of the list.

My wife collected at her FRA, I will collect at aged 70.

The OpenSocialSecurity website helps people see the impact of their proposed plan.

I know where you are coming from and not try to argue. Nowadays there are alot of early retirements and alot of company forced early retirements who all have a decision to make. I know people who have taken at 62, 65-67, and 70. My dad died right after he applied for social security at 65. I read the obits everyday and many are in their 60s and 70s.

I just assumed that the OP as #1. an enlightened Lightning owner and #2. an insurance agent already understands all this as does about everyone who reads this forum and you and I are just conversing on the subject.

That said, I'll drink to enlightened Lightning owners living a life style where we "Live Long & Prosper".

 

[Lytning]

Welcome to retirement! I highly recommend it to family and friends as soon as financially possible.

I was laid off during the 2009 financial crash in the 5th round of cuts at a former Fortune 100 company. I visited a financial advisor (also highly recommended). He told me that I had done everything right financially, and I did not have to work again if I did not want to. I made him repeat it to make sure I had heard it right.

Retirement is what we aim for during our entire working career. So, enjoy the hard earned fruits of your labor, and the sacrifices made to save money all those years. I bought my new Lightning as a retirement gift to me.

The ONLY negative I have found in retirement is that time goes into warp speed and passes too quickly to imagine. In a flash I have now been retired for 17 years. Enjoy every day!

 

[MaintGrl]

Welcome to retirement! I highly recommend it to family and friends as soon as financially possible.

I was laid off during the 2009 financial crash in the 5th round of cuts at a former Fortune 100 company. I visited a financial advisor (also highly recommended). He told me that I had done everything right financially, and I did not have to work again if I did not want to. I made him repeat it to make sure I had heard it right.

Retirement is what we aim for during our entire working career. So, enjoy the hard earned fruits of your labor, and the sacrifices made to save money all those years. I bought my new Lightning as a retirement gift to me.

The ONLY negative I have found in retirement is that time goes into warp speed and passes too quickly to imagine. In a flash I have now been retired for 17 years. Enjoy every day!

When I was working, the maintenance Dept supervisor printed out a work sheet, with names and running duties for the day. I kept a copy (the format) and after I retired in 2018, I modified it for just me. Keeping track of jobs, repairs, things completed for the day (Ya, I know, kinda anal) BUT, I go back and see ALL the stuff I accomplished over the last week, month, and it slows the rapid time progression down.
It's helpful when trying to recall . . when did I do that brake job on the Ranger . . .

 

[Wendy]

@hturnerfamily, visit https://opensocialsecurity.com/. Collecting at 62 often leaves money on the table.

Generally age 86 is the break even. If you plan on living past 86 then wait closer to 70 to start taking your SSI. If you expect you won't hang in that long then start early.

As you guys always say when answering the question about 'which ground wire should I disconnect' ... "I'm not an Accountant, Attorney or Retirement Planner" This information is just for entertainment!

 

[RickLightning]

Generally age 86 is the break even. If you plan on living past 86 then wait closer to 70 to start taking your SSI. If you expect you won't hang in that long then start early.

As you guys always say when answering the question about 'which ground wire should I disconnect' ... "I'm not an Accountant, Attorney or Retirement Planner" This information is just for entertainment!

Actually, it is between 78 and 82.

Source 1:

Imagine two scenarios:

You claim early and start receiving checks sooner. Each payment is smaller, but over time, the amount you receive grows.
You delay your benefits. Once you start claiming them, you'll receive a larger check, and that begins to accumulate.
When these two scenarios intersect, that's your break-even point—the total benefits received are roughly the same. That's typically somewhere between ages 78 and 81.

Source 2:

You’ll notice that the break-even between claiming at 62 and claiming at 67 is around age 78. Meanwhile, the break-even between claiming at 67 and claiming at 70 is around age 82, and the break-even between claiming at 62 and claiming at 70 is around age 80.

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