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For those of you college students like me fortunate enough to own a car or borrow one from your parents, you know the pains that come with that four-wheel, pre-owned blessing.
No, not the sting of your leather seats on a hot day, the ache in your back from a worn driver’s seat or even the discomfort of a freezing car that won’t heat up quick enough in the winter.
There is something inherently maddening about being one of the students with a car in college.
Yes, it is quite convenient to have ready transportation for daily errands and life’s perpetual grind. But over my time at Tech, I have grown to realize that a car is more like that annoying friend you never want to call, but really can’t live without.
As a freshman, depending on your school, you may or may not be granted the opportunity to bring a car to school. Those that aren’t allowed often kick and scream at the disparity of being automobile-handicapped.
Little do they know the intuition of universities in having the foresight to stop them early from being dependent on a gas-guzzling ball-and-chain.
No offense to my dear university, which allows freshmen to join in on the “fun” of having a car at school. I give you all the thanks in the world for the fantastic opportunity to park my Ford Mustang in the Cage freshman year. The nearly 15-minute walk to the Cage from Pritchard Hall was especially fun, even on cold, rainy days — a nice preparation for the mindless search for my car amongst the seemingly thousands parked there. That parking lot seems bigger than the actual university.
There is also the mechanical aspect of the automobile — where if parts aren’t correctly connected to other parts, you can’t drive it. I admit I’m not the manliest man, and that many members of the male gender were sent to school understanding automobiles and how to repair a broken vehicle when necessary. But I barely know how to talk to girls, how am I gonna fix a car?
A version of this article appeared in the Feb 8 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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Don't have any friends, like me. Then you don't have to give em rides.
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Hold on there's no way your name is actually Billy Mitchell. You actually expect us to believe that the world's best Donkey Kong player would write a letter to the collegiate times. I understand why you'd lie about your name, you're statements about your knowledge of women and automobiles is embarrassing for a gay. Don't drag Billy Mitchell's name through the mud, lord knows he does that well enough himself.
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Eloquently written joban. You have described the hell that is having a car perfectly. The only time it is useful is when you need to visit your bros at nearby colleges.
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Eloquently written joban. You have described the hell that is having a car perfectly. The only time it is useful is when you need to visit your bros at nearby colleges.
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I disagree, many of these inconveniences can be avoided if you :
1. Maintain your car regularly including oil changes so it doesn't break down.
2. Get a cheap fuel efficient compact car. I drive mine everyday and fill up once a month.
3. Live off campus, parking can still be a hassle at some apartments during busy times but no where do you have to walk as far as you do from the cage on campus.
I didn't have my car my freshmen year and got by fine using the bus. I've had my inherited car for the past 3 years. Last year I just used it once or twice a week and took the bus mostly but this year I'm using it everyday because my bus stop is 200 yards away, it's cold and windy, I often have multiple errands to run after class and its nice to go to my car rather than waiting 15 min for the bus, and another 15 to go home and get my car.
The only cons though are paying extra for the parking permit on campus. But I got mine for spring and summer(since I'll be here) for $96 which was a bargain so I took it.
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It's really preference. If you have a crappy car, or a gas guzzler your right it's an inconvenience but if you have a nice well maintained car that can go a long time on gas. It's incredibly convenient if you do a lot of errands. The bus system is nice but it's been to packed and too slow for me lately and buses don't go everywhere.
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Also you have the liberty and independence to drive anywhere you want. You don't have to ask for rides home and you can give other people rides. Shopping is much easier too. It's really handy.
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