Alfa advice- pile on the miles or weekend car??

[Dave Shimano <dshimano@domain.elided>]

Dear fellow digesti,

I own a 95 164Q with 67k mi. A career change now has me looking at a 150
mile round trip commute each day vs. my previous 10 mile round trip. The
answer to this question may seem obvious to some, but I find myself
confused and appealing to the collective wisdom of this forum-

My company is offering the option of a commuter car, likely of the
antiseptic Japanese kind, or the option of a car allowance that would
almost cover my cost on the Alfa before maintenance is factored in. I do
want to drive the Alfa- there is nothing more satisfying than spending
3-4 hours each day with a great car like this one. In a way though it
hurts me to think of piling all this mileage- 40k a year on the Alfa
just to head straight up the interstate through some stop and go and
back. It's not as if I=92d be taking a winding route to work- there isn't
one- and the car would have 150k+ in no time. This is NOT a resale issue
to me- 164 values drop like stones any way you look at it, and my
feeling is I don't want to ever part with this car. Since Alfa has
abandoned us, and the possibility of purchasing a new Alfa as a daily
driver is a fading dream I'm dazed and confused=85 to top it all off I'm
unsure of how far one can practically take a 164- 200k, 300k?

I worked the pros and cons in my mind and here is how I see it:

Con:
1. 100k this year, 140k next=85
2. cost of maintenance- timing belts, wear items=85
3. 65 mph speed limit- first name basis with all the state troopers?
4. Can my marriage withstand another =93weekend=94 car in the garage?

Pro:
1. What's an Alfa for?
2. I can't bear to think of driving anything else, worst of all a
ToyonissmitsmazhonGMforchrysake
3. I can't bear the thought of leaving it in the garage
4. On ramps and off ramps.
5. Working through the gears out of every toll booth.
6. Spreading the Alfa faith on a daily basis.
7. The law of =93You always see another Alfa on the road when you're in
the other car=94

Any advice, commiseration, million mile 164 stories appreciated.

Thanks,
dave s.
95 164Q
83 Aston Martin Lagonda
??

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