Should I bring my car up freshman year?

<p>What do you guys think? I'm going to be living on-campus and I was wondering if it's really necessary...</p>

<p>I think it's nice having it available. The bus system is good, but not great. Stuff like getting groceries, going to the movies, visiting friends that you know off-campus are frequent occurrences. Also, you can park on campus after 4pm if you have a late class or something. Plus, you're going to need one in going back home for breaks and such. I would bring one, it's definitely possible to do without one, but it's nice that it's there to use if you need it.</p>

<p>theres a couple of threads about this but I'll offer my input. What i've heard from countless students and friends is that your car wont be touched for months at a time. Gville has an awesome transportation system and shuttles that work even late at night free for students.</p>

<p>I also heard parking is a PAIN IN THE ASS. Once you park your afraid to move it. What im doing is selling my car and buying a motorcycle. When I want to go home, ill just fly. The cost of gas is ALMOST the same as a plane ticket to miami paid for ahead of time.</p>

<p>I figure for in-town traveling ill just ride my bike</p>

<p>It's an understatement to say that parking is a pain. However, if you get there early enough you can get a space and after 4pm there are plenty of spaces. What I'm simply saying is that in case you need it, at least it will be there.</p>

<p>You guys must not know how to park, or something.</p>

<p>This is the REAL scoop, from a current UF freshman living on campus.</p>

<p>I have my car up here, and on the weekdays I keep it in the parking garage next to Hume Hall. Students on campus with less than 50 (I think, maybe 60) credits get a Red 3 parking pass, which means you can park your car in the garage I mentioned and the garage next to Norman Field on the west side of campus. The Norman garage is almost always full, but believe me when I say this, THERE IS ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS ROOM IN THE HUME GARAGE.</p>

<p>On the weekends as well as after 4:30 every day, you can park anywhere. Having a car is incredibly useful and you will be glad you brought it up. I'm never "afraid to move it." The thought of that is just ridiculous. I've never gone without a space, and I use my car at least 4 times a week to do random errands.</p>

<p>My daughter does the same as ABCB7099 (she leaves it in the Hume garage when she is not using it to go to Publix or out on the weekend). A warning though. The spaces at UF are very small (close together). We are glad that we did not get our daughter a new car before college (hers is already 2 1/2 years old) since after having it at school only since after Thanksgiving break, it has been sideswiped about 3 times in the parking garage!</p>

<p>wow 2 1/2 years is really old. (excuse my smart a$$ comments i have a 10 year old car).
It depends on what time of day you want to park in the Hume garage. I had to go to Butler Plaza during the day (around 11ish) and I knew I couldn't get any parking spots in the parking lot between Hume and Simpson. SO, I went to the garage and there was ,literally, no open parking spaces. I went back to the parking lot and thank God I saw someone leave. </p>

<p>Sunday nights are the worst as well, given that everyone is coming back from wherever they were that weekend. If you do live by the Hume area, you might be tempted to park in the service lot during the night/weekend since parking restrictions are lifted, but the police still do give out tickets at 1 a.m. (I should know, I got one).</p>

<p>Bring your car to school, it will come in handy when you have to go somewhere and you don't want to rely soley on the bus (or a friend..you'll find out) or if you need to go somewhere that the bus doesnt go. Just keep in mind what everyone told you about parking. :)</p>

<p>Ditto what ufstudent said, wow 2.5 yrs is old for a car!?!? Mine is 12. Hume-Simpson-Graham has by far the most parking for freshmen. Jennings-Beaty has parking but you have to cross the street and go to a parking garage, so its not right outside your dorm. Also sorority people park in that garage. Finally Murphree area , LOL, you will not find parking as a freshmen their.</p>

<p>Definitely bring your car. I have heard no one complain about bringing theirs, all my friends do.</p>

<p>Should I get a new car, mine is like 6 weeks old?</p>

<p>Sorry I couldn't let that one go</p>

<p>Depends where you live and how difficult it would be to find a ride home for breaks.<br>
My son didn't take a car and he hasn't missed it. What he really wants and will probably get next year is a scooter, which you can park all over campus, so you can actually USE it to get to class. Cars must be parked in a special parking lot. You won't be using your car to get to class unless you live off-campus, then you'll be driving it into Hume parking lot and walking the rest of the way. BTW, son did not like the bike.
We live in Florida, he never had a problem getting rides home. Kids fight over someone to drive home with (no one likes to drive alone).
My suggestion is leave the car at home for a while, save insurance, and if you're miserable without it, bring it back with you at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Use the insurance savings on something fun.</p>