Get That Bank Loan, 'Cause You Own a Car

Crain's New York says that fewer New Yorkers own cars, due to lack of parking spaces, increasing costs (insurance, gas), and more fines. According to a study, it costs almost $10,000 to maintain a car in New York City, which has led to the 5% decrease in car ownership since 2000. Hmm, $10,000 would be at least around 500 late-night car rides to or from Brooklyn. Interestingly enough, preserving mental health was not specifically called out, though that's the implicit suggestion, because what else can Gothamist think, when we read "$400/month parking fees" and "$2.29/gallon gas." And think about the potholes! And the crazy pedestrians! The cabs, the bad drivers from not-NYC, the delivery trucks, the bike messengers...riding in a car is almost as bad as driving a car in the city, but driving would force Gothamist to up our hours on the therapist's couch. Then again, Gothamist has barely driven since the new millennium and we will lie, steal, and cheat in order to befriend people who are nuts enough to own cars, with hopes of roadtrips to NJ malls where there's no sales tax. And there may be nothing truer than this wonderful quote in the article:

Susannah Perlman, who recently sold her 1989 Honda Civic, says: "Owning a car is not a crime. But in New York City they certainly make you feel like it is one."

Calvin Trillin captured the insanity of city car ownership in Tepper Isn't Going Out. And Gothamist still doesn't get how Jerry Seinfeld owned a car in the city, before his days as a garage owner, but the Parking Space is a great episode.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on February 14, 2005 12:07 PM

Comments [rss]

Tim N.

With all due respect to XXX, the city has been trying to balance its budget on the backs of parkers since the first Koch administration.

I much prefer walking or riding around town to driving, so I'm certainly not upset about less cars, but the predatory practices of the PVB tows are obvious to anyone who drives a car in this town.

christina

I was always curious as to what people's experience with Zipcar was. It seems like a great alternative...

XXX

Susannah Perlman has apparently never heard of Supply and Demand. You see there is a very small Supply of parking spaces and road space. There is a very large Demand. This equals very high prices. Always. I know she probably wants to live in Manhattan with a car, but SO DOES EVERYONE ELSE.

MT

It gets a little easier to own a car on Staten Island. We are blessed with a lack of alternate side of the street parking. Plus, it's worth the car payment alone to avoid the ferry late at night. Talk about creepy.

Kevin

I've found Zipcar (www.zipcar.com) to be a great option for occasionally using a car to run errands. It's definitely pricier than public transportation, but infinitely cheaper than buying or leasing a car.