M25 commuting

[bjd]

Hi folks,

Would appreciate some thoughts. So today, I had an initial interview with a company in Surrey (this was skype based so I've not actually done the drive yet). I've now been progressed onto round 2. Now, as I'm based in Hertfordshire (near j23) and the job would be based j11/12 of the M25, am I insane for considering this commute on a daily basis? I have an M so am thinking I'd have to get something a little more economical to run

The train seems to be an expensive option, I'm hoping there might be the option to stagger working hours so I could travel out of the worst times but I wondered if anyone does M25 commuting?

Thanks!

// Edit - Just to clarify, I'd keep the M but get something for a daily driver!

 

[Bing]

That's no distance at all. In my last job I had to go to Hatfield from Maidstone at least 3 times a week - 140 mile round-trip. It'll get wearing sometimes, but that would happen in any car. Just in my opinion. Of course if the job comes with a company car / allowance then take that...

 

[Disca]

Around Heathrow is notorious for traffic. I used to commute from Woking to Birmingham and got stuck Coming back round past Heathrow most weeks. So I would expect slow traffic there.

I now go clockwise every morning joining at the m40,there is always a queue to go anticlockwise

 

[bjd]

Yeah, it's the Heathrow bit that concerns me. Oh, and when someone has a bump and the wombles come out to play

Good to hear there's no, "don't do it" comments so far though

 

[ocrx8]

Between J15 and J11 seems to be a permanent car park, no chance I'd be doing that each day no matter what car I had.

 

[srhutch]

Between J15 and J11 seems to be a permanent car park, no chance I'd be doing that each day no matter what car I had.

X2, even weekends seem to be worse as well.

 

[MrPT]

My commute takes me from j16 to j12. Need to get to j12 before 6:30am otherwise that stretch doesn't free up until about 11:30. Sometimes I just bail and take the M4 instead.

Sent from my GT-P6810 using Tapatalk

 

[Nelly Welly]

I take the M4, A329m, A322,M3,M25,M23 and A23 everyday and so long as it's before 7 am arrival it's not too bad but as everyone says one bump and it becomes the road to hell...... :headbang:

 

[Stratts]

Four years ago, I left a job five minutes down the road from my house for a job that involved a 110 mile commute between J29 and J16 on the M25. It was almost double money so I decided that a work-life balance was less important than material things.

If I had my t&e again, I'd never do it. It may only be a few miles, but having to get up at silly o'clock just to beat traffic, forever listening to the traffic reports on the radio, and then rushing to get away from the office to beat traffic at the other end made the whole thing far too stressful. I was in the car on average for three hours a day, sometimes more, and I never had time for my family or leisure time in the evenings.

One saving grace was that I had the option of getting a train. It was a two hour commute each way but I often did it just to escape the driving, and that's why I stuck at the job for so long. But after three years, I ended up taking another job much closer to home.

I wouldn't say don't do it, just go in with your eyes open and consider as many routes or alternative modes of transport as you can. Maybe your potential new employer will allow flexible working or even better, working from home, these all make a difference. Just remember that J18 to J14 in particular are permanent car parks all day, so if you are going to drive it, get an automatic.

 

[Disca]

so if you are going to drive it, get an automatic.

I recommend a 3.0si auto for all thou commuting needs :-D

I am a big fan of the community driven mobile satnav app waze, very good in populated areas for taking the fastest route from a to b, alot of users on the m25 so the traffic info is normally accurate on it

 

[pvr]

I used to go to Borehamwood daily for a while, so had to take the M25 "the long way" around via Dartford as the LHR bit is just horrendous.

I had my 740 at the time, and the auto box and massaging chairs were a delight

Would not do it again though, but that is because the last 15 years I have only done airport runs, on site abroad for a week, or work from my own office which is about 30 seconds walk from my front door 8)

 

[Disca]

I can post up my cam footage of this mornings drive if you want OP so you can see how the ACW looks as it approaches the Heathrow junction at around 7:45..

You'll see why everyone goes on about being early

 

[pvr]

I leave at 6 to get past there when I have to travel ...

 

[Stratts]

I also learnt that sitting in the inside line between J15 and J18 (clockwise) saved me about 20 minutes every day. The outside two lanes were always a car park but the inside two always flowed a bit better.

I used to join at J15 and didn't move off the inside, it rarely came to a halt and a lot of cars filter off of the inside lanes onto the exits so the traffic is always a moving.

To be honest, this rule normally works on most motorways, but you learn these intricacies as you go...

 

[bigshurv]

Buy yourself a motorbike.............................................................................................................

 

[Fast3000]

Between J15 and J11 seems to be a permanent car park, no chance I'd be doing that each day no matter what car I had.

X2, even weekends seem to be worse as well.

X3, If you google search the journey it doesnt seem so bad, but worth taking a day / morning off and do a trial run! helps make that big decision. I know folks personally who travel the M25 on a daily commute and regret every minute of it!

 

[srhutch]

Buy yourself a motorbike.............................................................................................................

I wish they would let them use the hard shoulder. Hate them travelling down between lanes 3 and 4, the number that must get knocked off.

 

[pvr]

Or should be for that matter the way they sometimes behave

 

[Disca]

I have camera footage from tonight's drive back supporting pvr's comment lol...

 

[Nictrix]

Or should be for that matter the way they sometimes behave

Sounds like jealousy