<p>There are very few places you will want to go in Philadelphia that you can’t get to easily from Penn on public transportation. </p>
<p>It’s nuts to keep a car for going to New York City. Going to New York costs $20-$40 round trip on the Megabus, Bolt Bus, or SEPTA/NJT trains. (Amtrak round trip is more like $150-$200.) Tolls and gas to NYC are in the $20 range already, and then you have to park your car when you get there. You could basically take the train to NYC every weekend, and have money to spend while you are there, for what it would cost to keep a car.</p>
<p>For other things – a lot of students (and a lot of grownups who live around Penn and in Center City) use Zipcar or Philly Car Share. It’s a lot cheaper than owning a car. (Don’t forget the registration, inspection, and insurance costs, too. Philadelphia is a very expensive place, car insurance-wise.)</p>