In the fast lane

For most University students, leaving the nest for college also means leaving the car to idle at home with Mom and Dad. But for others, driving their cars for hours or even days to Philadelphia is worth the perks of having an automobile right on campus. College junior Sarah Kotler has elevated the concept of luxury to new levels. On a typical day, Kotler can be found cruising about the thoroughfares of University City to such distant locales as The Food Court, Chile's and Bennett Hall. "It makes [me] very lazy," she said of her 1991 Buick Regal, which she described as "very sporty." "I drive it to ridiculously close places," Kotler said. Though Wharton senior Drew Headley lives only four blocks from his girlfriend's High Rise South apartment, he often forgoes the sidewalk for the road. "I've been getting lazy with it," he said. "If I'm going to High Rise South, half the time when I'd walk and meet her, instead I'll just drive up." Sometimes, however, what seems like a way to save time actually ends up creating more trouble than it's worth. "I once went to drive to the library and I ended up parking at 31st and Chestnut," said Kotler. · College senior Michael Sharbaugh saves his Dodge Charger for journeys of greater distance. He cited Great Adventure, Hershey Park, Atlantic City, and his hometown of Buffalo, N.Y. as some of the exotic destinations to which he has driven. Sharbaugh said that Buffalo is the most visited of the four. "I have it here mostly to commute to home," he said of his Dodge, although he admitted using it for "killing time roadtripping." Other car owners vacate their parking place only for that bimonthly trip to Thriftway or to run other local errands. College senior Stephanie Saltzberg said that she uses her car twice a week to do things in and around the city. "It's just more convenient to go to places around Philadelphia," she explained. Wharton junior Jeff Toback said he has his car on campus for convenience and the independence to whimsically come and go as he pleases. Toback's trip to school was a little bit farther than most, however. He drove his Honda Accord all the way from Miami. "It just gives you freedom," Toback said. "You can just get in your car and go as far as you want, whenever you want." Yet, Toback added, wheels do not replace feet as his primary means of transportation. "Walking still isn't a bad thing," he said. "[Driving] is just convenient when it's cold out or when you need to go a long distance quickly." Headley agreed. "I never thought I would need a car here or want a car here," he said. "When I got off campus, I found it's nice to be able to get out and hop in the car and be able to go where you want." College junior Blake Jacoby relies on his car when college -- particularly its culinary options -- start to make him crazy. "I just like the freedom it gives me," he said of his Fiat X19, which he called reliable "for an Italian car." "I can get out of the Penn campus when it starts to drive me nuts," he said."[And now] I'm really bored of the food around here, and if I go down to South Street there are a lot of restaurants." If it were not for his car, Jacoby said, he might just starve. If I take a cab down [to South Street], it's going to be six dollars each way," he said. "If I drive down, it feels like it's free. I go a lot more places because I have a car." Michael Saul, a senior in the College, decided to spend his senior year with his 1989 Pontiac for company. "I'm applying to medical schools, so I thought it would be easier," Saul said. Yet, aside from interview overnight excursions and occasional trips home, Saul said he stays off the road. "Sometimes I use it to go to the supermarket, but that's it," he said. College sophomore Dafna Gold also cited the supermarket as a favorite stop. "Instead of walking back from Thriftway with three packages in each arm, you just throw them in the car," Gold said. She named home, downtown, center city and liquor trips as runner-ups. "[I used it for] alcohol runs, things like that, and running errands with it around town," Gold added. Last year, Gold's "seats-ten-comfortably" Buick Electra stationwagon suffered from the perils of West Philadelphia parking when it was broken into and vandalized. "My brother put some suitcases in it overnight, came back in the morning, and the suitcases were gone," she said. · Fear of crime has prompted some students to make The Club their car's best friend. Kotler is one such person. "I have a Club," she said, although she went on to explain that such an anti-theft device may not be entirely necessary in her case. "The person who has a lot next to me has a BMW convertible, which is clearly a nicer car and easier to break into," she said. Car owner and College junior Peter Spier does not take any chances. He parks his car in the garage at 38th and Spruce, where access is by card only. "They can steal the car and drive around the garage, but they can't take it anywhere," he said. "This is my third year there, and I've never had any problems." Second year Wharton graduate student Jonathan Schwarz goes so far as to use a substitute car as his security device. "I actually have a nicer car," Schwarz said. "The reason I have a beat up truck [here] is because there are problems." "No one's even touched it," he added. "They look at it and say, 'I'm not going to break into that car, it's a 1984 Chevy Suburban." However, Schwarz confessed that though the appearance of his vehicle may be a deterrent to criminals, it functions as a "very fuel efficient chick magnet." Sharbaugh also depends on the lousy looks of his car to keep it away from the hands of lawbreakers. So far, he said, this has proved to be a dependable system. "I've never had anything happen to it," he said. "If you'd seen the car, you'd realize no one would really want to break into it." Not even the best alarm system available would have helped Headley last Monday morning. His car was one of those involved in the accident on 42nd Street, in which a University Police Officer collided with parked cars in order to avoid a pedestrian. "I just heard a 'boom-boom' and looked outside," Headley said. "I said wait a second, I don't remember parking my car on the curb. "This is just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said. Aside from this rare circumstance and one attempted theft of his battery, Headley said that he has had no security worries. But, he added, any theft of his 1985 Chevy Cavalier would not be met with too much disappointment. "Mine and my family's approach was, if it does get stolen, at least I won't have to drive it home," he said. · Many students said they park their cars in a garage to keep their vehicles away from the dangers of the open city. Open lots provide another alternative, as well as the knowledge of a certain spot every day. However, the high cost of these options, which can range anywhere from $70 per month to $675 for the year, has convinced many to save a few dollars and risk parking on the street. Paying for space in a lot or garage does not make a lot of sense to Headley. "It's not worth it for the value of the car," he said. "I park it in front of my house." Although this means that overnight parking becomes a gamble, some students say that finding a space is usually not a problem. "There are plenty of spaces," said Sharbaugh. "Sometimes they're down on 43rd or something, but you can always find a space." Added Gold, "You keep driving around until you find one." Toback said he believes that parking on the street is asking for trouble. "You can't park anywhere overnight," he said. "If you don't have a parking space, then it's almost impossible."