practicality | Things of a Vehicular Nature

So, as it looks like I may be moving out to East Van, I'm seriously considering a vehicle of some variety. The two major options on the table are buying a car, as I can't legally import my current one, or getting a motorcycle license and buying a motorcycle. As I am a compulsive list maker, here's the break-down for the two options:

	Car	Motorcycle
Upfront Cost	Approximately the same (~$2000). Varies slightly depending on what car/motorcycle I buy, but used prices are comparable
Parking On Campus	$84 for one parkade	$20 for all parkades + special motorcycle spaces
Parking Elsewhere	Pain in the ass (parallel parking)	Slightly less of a PITA
Insurance Costs	? (less for motorcycle, though, but ICBC doesn't give quotes without a vehicle)
MPG ($4/gallon)	20 mpg	40 mpg
Passengers	3-4	1
Stuff Carried	Furniture	A weekend camping
Coolness Factor	This piece of shit is supposed to have style?	Badass

Any input? I know most of the people here are car owners, but I'm open to all opinions.

Also, my touchpad and trackpoint are acting up - neither left-click button works, and the right-click seems to keep pulling in left-click functionality. Cheapo USB mouse is fine though. Weird.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

While I agree motorcycles are pretty terrific, cars are more useful in the long run. It's better to go with the safe and practical option unless you know someone who is almost always available to help for when you need a car.

MPG often depends upon the user, although the numbers are good to know. But that number varies from how far you go, where you go, how much you use that mode of transportation, its condition and even fuel.

Also consider where you'll mainly be traveling (city streets, how crowded they can get, weather patterns, etc) and what you may have to bring here and there whether for school or other things. The thrill of a motorcycle can be cut down sharply if you're stuck in traffic or have constant stops (in my opinion). And will you be working while attending school? Maybe leasing a car will bring you that style you want.

Yeah, that first bit is a big sticking point - basically none of my friends have their own cars, and the very few that do live waaaay out in the suburbs. A motorcycle would be more convienent on a day-to-day basis (better gas mileage, cheaper parking on campus) but a car would be better for those times when nothing else will really work. I'd join one of the car sharing plans, but out of the two here, one requires being 21, and the other requires a three year driving record, which I won't have until next August :\ And I think I'd rather buy an older, crappier car outright than lease - I may be selling it off four years down the line when I graduate, depending on what I decide to do afterwards.

Things of a Vehicular Nature

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