Cars on Campus

<p>Could someone enlighten an incoming Freshman to the possibility of having a car on campus? Not only Freshman year but the remaining years? And the costs thereof. I have been told to read "The Rule of Four", but have not yet done so. Thanks for any input.</p>

<p>freshmen are not allowed to have cars, but soph. year on, you're allowed.</p>

<p>there are a lot of bmw, lexus, mercedes, etc.</p>

<p>PENN was the same lol</p>

<p>There are fewer than you might think. Many of the bmws/lexuses/mercedes dont belong to students there, rather the people that live in the princeton community (which is an upper-moderate community). Ive been on campus several times and each time I only see a handful of each car (perhaps 4-5 mercedes, 9-10 bmws, etc). </p>

<p>New Jersey gas is also very very very cheap. Wow, it was $2 when I was there (arizona is around $2.42 rite now). Parking spaces arent very close to the dorms so you would be walking a bit. But having a car is very convenient. The major stores (walmart, bestbuy, grocery stores) arent in walking distance. the cheaper restaurants are a distance a way as well (well like 2 miles). It will cost you, i forget how much though, to buy a parking permit (but they arent very expensive).</p>

<p>Thanks to all responses. Any idea of the % of upper class (Soph +) that have cars?</p>

<p>Not many. And the parking garage is way far away. You really dont need a car. Mostly everything is within walking distance.</p>

<p>most people that have cars have them because they live within driving distance and drove themselves to school. People who fly usually dont have cars (however my brother was an exception and we shipped a car there). Having a car is useful when you need some supplies (you dont have to bum rides off people) but really most everything is within walking distance (with the exception of like best buy etc)</p>

<p>It's easy to get a ride. Also they have Zipcars you can rent by the hour. </p>

<p>The parking lots for student cars are so far away you practically need a car to get there. ;)</p>

<p>the parking lot isn't that far away.</p>

<p>from the huge one to the frist hall, it's about 10 minutes of good exercise. the tiger tram takes 5 minutes to just arrive...</p>

<p>hehe amnesia, just wait til there are 20 inches of snow with chilling wind at 11 pm. we'll see how far it is :D</p>

<p>the student parking lots are much closer (still a good 10 minute walk) to upper classmen dorming so as a sophomore, it probably wouldnt be the best to have a car.</p>

<p>from what alums are telling me, a car is unnecessary for most freshmen.</p>

<p>you cant have a car as a freshman, after that its really easy to have, if not the most useful thing. Its something like $100 a year to park. I would say that having a car is very useful unless you are expecting to use it to drive to class or something. But it's nice to be able to go to the supermarket, or go out to dinner on route 1 every so often. The bus does go to the supermarket, but who wants to be taking a bus lugging waters or something. Tigerfoods will deliver groceries from mccaffereys, but they charge extra and you have to tip the person. Also, after a while food choices on nassau street get a little old, as there is basically panera, hoagie haven, and pizza thats affordable. Its nice to be able to go to chilis or olive garden or fast food every so often. Also the dinky can be a pain if youre trying to get into new york, and its cheap to park at princeton junction for a day (although expensive for a permit)</p>

<p>In the winter, lot 21 is really far from most dorms, but in the nicer weather its a nice walk, but it depends on where you live (i live in wilson, so its close) </p>

<p>that being said, there are always students who live in princeton who have access to cars or people with older siblings at princeton. Its defiantely not necessary during freshman year, although by the end of the year a lot of freshmen bring cars to campus and just get vistor permits for the last few weeks. However, if you live close to princeton, I would recommend bringing a car for the rest of the years, if only to make it easier to get back and forth</p>