bringing a car

[Bubbles36]

Is it smart or stupid to bring a car and have it shipped to the island. It is fairly brand new an 07, and I dont know what would be better. anyone currently living on the island who has done this what do you think too? Thanks

[longchode]

It is fairly brand new an 07
Leave it at home!!! The roads are bad, the traffic can be retarded, and cars get broke into all the time, not to mention the salt. You would be wise to leave it home. Just my opinion.

[Bubbles36]

ok thank you for the input. So it shouldnt be hard to get an actual car on the island right? how are the prices?

[kemper6036]

i wouldn't bring a car either. you will probably need it when you get back and the island will chew it up and spit it out.

the biggest proponent of car shipping was slevit=lmx1b but he has retired from vmd. i think it cost a couple grand but i dont know the company who does it.

[Nelphus]

I'm on the island now and haven't found what I'm looking for regarding car purchases. Since I'm stuck on this rock, I want to have something that would at least make my infrequent trips a bit more enjoyable and be a reliable means of transportation on these rough roads/rains etc. I've been looking for a jeep but most of them on the forums or around campus are at a very high premium. Currently I'm having family back home check out cheap jeeps that they can get mechanically checked and even after shipping the total cost would be close to what I would pay here....

[mower1000]

Do you have to own a car while at AUC? Is it possible to do without to save $$.

[kemper6036]

how come you need a jeep? they are fun but as you've found, not necessarily the best option economically.......save the fun driving for the US. the getz is the ultimate island car!

[FOID]

Do you have to own a car while at AUC? Is it possible to do without to save $$.

i had a car starting 3rd semester. for the 1st and 2nd, i would rent a car for a day every 2-3 weeks just so i can load up on groceries. i'd buy food for 3 weeks just enough to last me. renting a car is about 50 bucks or less so it isn't that bad. you can save a lot of money doing that.

[Nelphus]

Mr. L at the sapphire takes good care of the students, I've seen him quite a few times during my 1st semester so far and been very happy with this service (through thrifty/dollar). Having the flexibility and freedom to get out of here for 30 minutes is unmatched though..... i love being able to take a quick drive to escape the library/books from time to time. Plus I dont cook and am still exploring the island.

[c13]

I shipped an 89 Volvo to the island. I cost me a lot less than renting a car here and it is a lot more dependable than the junk you buy here. Especially for the same price. And I've driven it pretty much on every road on the island, certainly on every one that leads to something worth visiting, so I'm not quite sure what one would need a Jeep for. But, as others have said, I would not bring a good new car here.

[longchode]

I would get a car so you can get up to Orient Beach and hang out at club O... I love it up there, go whenever I can!!!;)

[SchoonerJay]

In speaking of transportation, what are your thoughts about getting a bike? I hear that biking on those roads can be like asking for a premature death sentence.... However, if the roads were doable, then that could perhaps be a cheaper transportation option and also a good way to sneak in some fitness!

[FOID]

the roads are so small you might get hit by cars... and the roads are badly maintained

[FOID]

you don't really need a jeep on the island. i had a 4 dr sedan that got me through the island with no problems at all.

[kemper6036]

i would not ride a bike here, period. of course a bike is cheaper and healthier and greener but after doing some time in the sxm ER, you wouldn't want to go there, ever

[Nelphus]

no one NEEDS a jeep... I'm just saying they're fun and nice to drive on the island --> more so than on the 405 in stop n go traffic. If I will ever have a beat-down jeep with no doors or windows, now's the time

[HopefulMD21]

How much would it cost (roughly) to rent a car for half a day or so just to do grocery shopping?

[FOID]

no one NEEDS a jeep... I'm just saying they're fun and nice to drive on the island --> more so than on the 405 in stop n go traffic. If I will ever have a beat-down jeep with no doors or windows, now's the time

and you can drive through the golf course as well... and drive through lake cupecoy when it rains as it wasn't there

[FOID]

How much would it cost (roughly) to rent a car for half a day or so just to do grocery shopping?

about 20-40 dollars

[Skittles23]

Is it smart or stupid to bring a car and have it shipped to the island. It is fairly brand new an 07, and I dont know what would be better. anyone currently living on the island who has done this what do you think too? Thanks
If you have a good car you can bribe newcomers for gas money in xchange for grocery store trips. hee hee.

But, I want to ship my car too. It's a 05' Scion and I heard someone say you can put a bunch of stuff inside the car, it takes about a week to arrive and is like $1000 dollars from Four Star Cargo company in Miami.
I don't want to waste money purchasing a dingy car that might or might not break down on me, and it cost like $8000 total to rent a car for 20 months.

What are your thoughts on this? How bad is it really with cars?
Thanks
Skittles23

[kemper6036]

the island is rough on cars, theres no doubt

[SchoonerJay]

If you have a good car you can bribe newcomers for gas money in xchange for grocery store trips. hee hee.

But, I want to ship my car too. It's a 05' Scion and I heard someone say you can put a bunch of stuff inside the car, it takes about a week to arrive and is like $1000 dollars from Four Star Cargo company in Miami.
I don't want to waste money purchasing a dingy car that might or might not break down on me, and it cost like $8000 total to rent a car for 20 months.

What are your thoughts on this? How bad is it really with cars?
Thanks
Skittles23

Since so many people are saying the roads are bad, I'd personally be nervous about taking an '05 scion to the rock, just as much as I would my '00 camry. This is probably one thing you can wait a semester and see for yourself before taking the risk and expense of shipping your car and finding out you don't want it there after all and having to ship it back (hopefully in the same condition). I don't think it's too much of a hassle to rent for this first semester until you see what conditions are like there. Of course, these are only my opinions! :)

Best of luck!

[mower1000]

If you live in the dorms, are there any grocery stores within walking distance? Is there a bus service around the island? I'd like to do without a car if possible.

[kemper6036]

you can walk to food express in maho in about 15 minutes. there is le petit market which is also in walking distance.

there are buses but not what you think of when you think of a bus back home. they are erratic.

its tough to get by without a car. there are people that do but they bum rides from people or use their cars

[Itempest]

If you live in the dorms, are there any grocery stores within walking distance? Is there a bus service around the island? I'd like to do without a car if possible.

The buses are like vans that go either clockwise or counterclockwise around the island. You basically stand on the side of the road down which you want to proceed and wave the bus down when you see it (it will have the name of its destination in its window). You tell him where you wanna get off anywhere before the final destination indicated in his window sign and it costs about $1-2. Neat service but like Kemper said, it can be erratic. There are times when you'll see 3 buses go by in 3 minutes and times when you might have to wait 20 mins to see one go by. I visited the movies in Simpson Bay when I was there and had to wait 20ish minutes for a bus going my way at 9:30. Good things the roads were fairly crowded. :p

Can't say I have any first-hand experience with grocery shopping per se, but I can see the sense in maybe taking the bus to the grocery store and a taxi back? Wouldn't that work out a bit cheaper than renting a car for the day, which is $30ish? More expensive than bumming a ride, though, of course. :)

[CaptainInsaneO]

The grocery store is a good distance away...