Take car to Uni or not?

  • Thread starter Thread starter box
  • Start date Start date

box

box

box

Associate
Joined
20 Nov 2005
Posts
1,228
Location
Bristol
I was torn as to whether I should post in Motors or not, but I'm hoping I'll get some more varied opinions in GD, so here goes...

Question is simple: Do I take my car to Uni this September or not?

Background Info
I'm heading to Sheffield Uni in just over a week to start a 4 year MEng course. I'm currently insured with MoreThan in London for £1300 (fully comp) - this would drop to ~£650 in Sheffield. I have 2 years NCB.
I have savings that could insure the car at this price for the entirety of the course, so obtaining the money isn't a problem. But these savings could equally be put to other uses (e.g. emergency cash, expensive books etc).

For
- Much easier to take junk to and from Uni
- Can easily visit mates in Leeds/Manchester Unis
- Can go on random weekend journeys
- Can split journey to London with mates making it cheaper than train
- I'm guessing garaging a car for 4 years won't do it any good (clarification?)
- Pick up NCB while at Uni (6 years NCB by end of course - I hope!)

Against
- Will lose roughly £1000 a year in money that could go towards accommodation/expenses/having fun.
- Won't be able to drive to lectures (no parking), and so only use will be at weekend/trips into Peak District/holidays etc
- Cost of parking permit
- Will feel obliged to drive often having paid for insurance
- Being pressured for lifts all the time

Please give me some honest opinions. The alternative is to just take my bike! My main worries about leaving the car in London though are it sitting uninsured for 4 years, and its state deteriorating over this time.

Thanks for your input!
 
I took mine. made everything so much easier. Be wary of always being the designated driver though and being taken advantage of.
 
tim80bwi said:
I was torn as to whether I should post in Motors or not, but I'm hoping I'll get some more varied opinions in GD, so here goes...

Question is simple: Do I take my car to Uni this September or not?

Background Info
I'm heading to Sheffield Uni in just over a week to start a 4 year MEng course. I'm currently insured with MoreThan in London for £1300 (fully comp) - this would drop to ~£650 in Sheffield. I have 2 years NCB.
I have savings that could insure the car at this price for the entirety of the course, so obtaining the money isn't a problem. But these savings could equally be put to other uses (e.g. emergency cash, expensive books etc).

For
- Much easier to take junk to and from Uni
- Can easily visit mates in Leeds/Manchester Unis
- Can go on random weekend journeys
- Can split journey to London with mates making it cheaper than train
- I'm guessing garaging a car for 4 years won't do it any good (clarification?)
- Pick up NCB while at Uni (6 years NCB by end of course - I hope!)

Against
- Will lose roughly £1000 a year in money that could go towards accommodation/expenses/having fun.
- Won't be able to drive to lectures (no parking), and so only use will be at weekend/trips into Peak District/holidays etc
- Cost of parking permit
- Will feel obliged to drive often having paid for insurance
- Being pressured for lifts all the time

Please give me some honest opinions. The alternative is to just take my bike! My main worries about leaving the car in London though are it sitting uninsured for 4 years, and its state deteriorating over this time.

Thanks for your input!
Click to expand...

Take car up there with bike etc... then drive home, and leave car. what i used to do is hire a car taking my stuff there and back home.
 
tim80bwi said:
Please give me some honest opinions. The alternative is to just take my bike! My main worries about leaving the car in London though are it sitting uninsured for 4 years, and its state deteriorating over this time.

Thanks for your input!
Click to expand...

This would settle it for me. Take it with you.

It's a godsend when you need to go shopping or places where walking would be a pain.

You'll have to learn to not let people take the mick when it comes to lifts though. Luckily I laid the ground rules with my friends early - if you ask in advance a bit and chip in i'm happy to ferry you around, but I won't be dropping everything to come running to pick you up because you've been a plank while out on the razz.
 
It will make life a lot easier yes, but realistically unless you have a huge amount of savings or parents who'll pay for it; you will not be able to run it.
 
Jono8 said:
I took mine. made everything so much easier. Be wary of always being the designated driver though and being taken advantage of.
Click to expand...

My plan was to just not tell anyone I had a car for a good few weeks into the course. Then I guess I know the people I get on with aren't just looking to do this.
 
Huge no. It's far too expensive, problems with parking it somewhere safe all the time, petrol costs, being the designated driver etc. Admittedly i don't know what the public transport is like in Sheffield but it can't be that bad? Stick to a bike. :)
 
In Plymouth nobody had a car in first year, and few in second year. By final year about half the people I knew had a car down, perhaps just over.

But then in Plymouth it's simply not needed if you live close to a supermarket, Sheffield I expect is more spread out so it might be useful? Esp. for trips but it's an expensive thing to do for just the occasional trip!

Given the cost of £1k/yr I don't think it's worth it. But then I don't know what it's like being at uni in a bigger city :)
 
If you can afford the insurance then take it. If you have good transport links (train, bus, bike!) then don't bother.

I lived 5 mins walk from train station and countless bus stops when I was at Uni so I had absolutely no need for a car other than some occasional trips to restaurants/rare day trips.
 
Just dont, you dont want to be that sober guy who dives a lot...

Sometimes things sound fun with a car (mate at solent wanted to go urinate on fratton park one evening which sounded like a funny trip) but overall theres too much freedom to miss out on the pointless uni fun :D
 
I sold mine in preparation for uni.

A lot of time was spent pondering whether or not I should sell it but I decided that it would be best for me to go without. I don't know what it's like in your town but in Plymouth the public transport is fine and I bought a bicycle for when I'm feeling adventurous. The money that would otherwise be spent on running a car would be better off else where I think.

At the end of the day it depends on what your priorities are I guess.
 
i personally wouldnt. all the money you can save helps and you wont miss it too much because mostly everyone else you meet there will be in the same situation

it might not do you much harm to take it there for a few month to see how much you use/need it though. will be useful for the move there too

oh and congrats on getting onto the Meng course at sheffield... i failed at that :p
 
I'd say leave it. Most other people will be walking to the shops etc, so you can just tag along with them. It's only really useful for moving things to and from uni, but that only happens occasionally, doesn't it.

I think it would be a weight off your shoulders not having it there, you could go out and drink without being persuaded to drive, don't have to set aside money for petrol etc. :D

Hope you enjoy uni either way! :)
 
Don't, well not in the first year for sure, as you will be in halls and probably close to your uni. Also people will expect lifts to the supermarket and stuff, it just happens and it's very rare they will pay your petrol costs all the time.

In the second year depending where you live and how much money you have it may be wise to take your car.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom