I spent about $600 last year on a Specialized Sirrus with the intent of commuting, which I did for five months. A change in my commute happened, and six months later I'm just now figuring out how to get my bike back on the commuter run.

It's a great bike for commuting, though. Narrow but not too narrow tires, flat bars, easy to shift and handles well. It's got a semi-upright position from the flat bars, which makes surveying the road for commuting more comfortable than when stretched out on a road bike (and may or may not make a body on a bike more visible to traffic) but still maintains an aggressive enough riding position to make it comfortable at moderate speeds. It's a little on the heavy side.

I'd highly reccomend fenders and lights for ANY commuter, no matter what bike they ride. And I've been glad of a rear rack and cargo net which has allowed me to shop and bring home my loot comfortably!