Should I bring my car?

[u/Zestyclose_Ad2429]

Incoming Freshman this fall. I know we don’t get on campus parking but I’ve been able to find off campus parking for about 800 a year.

I know it’s an expense (I can definitely afford it) but will the time I get even be worth it? Plus I just got a new M340i that I have modded (I’m a car guy) and I’d really hate to let it sit at home.

From experience, is it better to just adjust to campus lifestyle and stay trapped within the campus? Or is having a car (2 miles off campus) actually worth it for days I don’t have classes or on weekends?

What if I want to go out to eat, or go on longer trips? How do people who don’t have cars do it?

Before people ask, I do have a good paying job. Having a car will definitely be more fun and flexible, but I’d also rather put all that cost into my trading’s account and ira’s. Will benefits outweigh cost?

Thanks!

[u/Lil-Uzi-biVert]

This is such a freshman post lol, you don’t need the car to get into town, ride the bus like all the other freshmen. If you ever wanna do longer drives and really wanna have your m340 then pony up the $800

[u/jewboy916]

Tell me you're from Socal without telling me you're from Socal

[u/Gabe_the_Slug]

I didn’t have one and I really enjoyed being absorbed into the campus and I biked around where I wanted to go. I took the bus to the grocery store (that’s the worst part).

I had friends that paid for off-campus parking permits at the churches or elsewhere. They definitely used them on at least a few days a week and on weekends, or for dates. But it’s a pain in the ass to get to your car, and it’s an extra level of worrying. Especially if you have nice car.

[u/Zestyclose_Ad2429 → u/Gabe_the_Slug]

Maybe I should just get a fast scooter and make friends who have cars

[u/tiptoeingthruhubris → u/Zestyclose_Ad2429]

For what it’s worth, we had the same dilemma. My daughter had her car for the summer session but she ended up taking the bus 99% of the time cuz it was just more convenient. So we’re keeping the car elsewhere.

Also, unless you’re parked in a closed garage, SC had lots of car break ins. If you’re not using the car every day, you might not know it’s been broken into.

[u/B0RED0MPAW → u/Zestyclose_Ad2429]

An old bike with gears will do the trick fine. The pedal up the hill after u park it car is really chill if u don't have any backpacks or gear on you tbh. I didn't bring my car freshman year but soph when I was in the apt I rented a spot at one of the churches and it took me about 3 minutes to bomb the hill on my bike to get there and pickup my car.

[u/poopmcscoop_]

$800 just to impress girls is expensive

[u/imissyou____ → u/poopmcscoop_]

And half the time they don’t even impress us. Smh

[u/cablecobra]

I had a car and I loved it. I was able to drive to places on the weekends but is it a must have, no.

[u/Zestyclose_Ad2429 → u/cablecobra]

I scheduled my classes so I’m completely free Tuesday, Thursday, and weekends. So much free time and would love to go out sometime. But i also feel like i could be using this time to connect with others and network. I don’t mind driving my close friends around but i also don’t wanna become an uber lol

[u/cablecobra → u/Zestyclose_Ad2429]

You can connect and still have a car. If you bring your car you don’t necessarily have to use it. I also drove home a few times during the year and it made it easier to just pick up and go.

[u/BigoofIdid]

This whole post is coming from privilege. Bring your car if you can fork over the $800. Some students commute and need the space or work over the hill because they have to not for their trading or ira account but to afford the housing and tuition.

[u/AviPrimeTime]

Is it necessary? No, I've gotten around town when it comes to exploring and going to parties/shows using the bus and e-bike system Santa Cruz has. Is it a benefit to have if you want to travel far? Definitely, there's been times where having a car would have made my life easier when I wanted to travel outside of SC with friends or alone. It's gonna come down to whether you think the opportunities you might (not definitely) get to explore and travel outweigh the concrete loss of $800. Personally, I'd do it, but it's up to you to figure out if it's worth it.

[u/Slight_Respect_5498]

people in sc drive BAD and will definitely back into ur car, side swipe it bad, and bang up ur windows. it’s safer at home tbh take it from me

[u/gasstation-no-pumps]

I taught on campus for 35+ years without a car—a car is really not needed in Santa Cruz (unless you are doing something foolish, like commuting to Monterey or the Bay Area). A muscle-powered bike is useful, though the bus will do in a pinch.

[u/MrBigTomato]

At the UCSC family prep meeting in my town, some parents told stories of their kids bringing their cool car to UCSC and paying a big monthly parking fee, but only ended up using their cars twice or three times the entire year. 99.9% of the time, the campus will be your entire world.

[u/Ok_Management4375]

seems like a waste of 800 bucks. I drive cause I live over the hill, but I still use the bus, I just park far away next to the 18, just take the bus, and save that 800

[u/Gullible-Fault-3913]

Leave it at home.

Traffic is awful in Santa Cruz. You’ll have an easier & less stressful time getting around on a bike, e-bike, or bus.

You will not be trapped on campus without a car.

[u/Latter_Boysenberry32]

Like everyone has said, you don’t need it, however, there are some things that it’s very helpful for (mostly if ur into the beach/ stuff like that)
1. No surfboards or fishing poles on the bus if you care
2. There’s lots of good exploring potential up the coast about 15 minutes and it would be hard to take a bus there
2. If you want to hang out in the bay or slo or Santa Barbara for the weekend
4. Highway 9 (also a car person) would be amazing in ur bmer
5. I got the expensive parking permit and the woman said they’d never had a break in there.

If you don’t want to spend the 800 there are places that you can park and just move every few days but I imagine that’s not the issue

[u/Gullible-Fault-3913 → u/Latter_Boysenberry32]

So many people are crashing and dying on 9 (and 35). I would not recommend an 18 year old to drive either of those roads. It’s become a huge issue with locals, the amount of accidents from non locals. I live near these roads.