Housing for Trainees not Bringing a Car

[anielm19]

Hi All,

I'm not planning to bring my car during my stay at the academy. What are the best places to stay at for those with limited transportation? I know Isola Bella has the rental/courtesy cars. Is there any other place that offers rentals or does having a car not even matter if you have the shuttle taking you back and forth to the academy every day? Thanks.

 

[yoboiconnor]

The shuttle stops at a few places like isola bella, Kim’s place, and Anatole. However everyone that comes here wishes they brought their car if they didn’t. Also anyone that went home for the shutdown brought their car back with them

 

[anielm19]

Are there really a lot of places in the area that people go like on the weekend that require a car ?

 

[Alpha_Sierra]

To anyone who's been there or knows... what about rental cars? Will they give you a parking pass for a rental car at the academy?

 

[32andBelow]

Bring your car if you can. Oklahoma sucks ass without one. Kim’s and Isola Bella and Anatole are on the shuttle

To anyone who's been there or knows... what about rental cars? Will they give you a parking pass for a rental car at the academy?

Yes you get a parking pass no matter what. I used it in many rental cars

 

[FightingIrish2012]

Bring a car or you will go nuts, consider Walnut Gardens. It is old but who cares. It comes with a rental car you keep the whole time you are there. Has a free happy hour with food once or twice a week and basics like a in ground pool. Unless you are the class A hole you will meet friends at Kim’s and other places so you will get to see them too.

 

[AMD]

How much is the average uber from Kim’s into the city? I was gonna fly over and just uber it for groceries and stuff and take the shuttle to class

 

[Phillyman2633]

When you go back to the Academy as a CPC

 

[JNev]

I didn’t bring my car and had no regrets at all. I stayed at Kim’s and both my roommates had cars and we all got along really well. They would tell me when they were getting groceries and I’d tag a long or I could ask/walk to the grocery store right across the street. Tons of food options within walking distance and there’s always UberEats/Grubhub/etc. If I didn’t get along with my roommates and/or they were boring shut ins I can see how it would be a problem though. Also by the 2nd week of basics not one person in my class took the shuttle so take that for what it’s worth

 

[CF]

+1 to bringing your car. OKC is very spread out so if you want to go anywhere you need one.

How much is the average uber from Kim’s into the city? I was gonna fly over and just uber it for groceries and stuff and take the shuttle to class

around $20 one way if I remember right but you can get nailed with surge pricing on the way back if its busy downtown.

 

[RedRedApril8]

There are two people currently in my class without cars, it works for the one staying at Kim’s because his roommates are able to drive him to class, groceries etc.. but the guy that isn’t staying at Kim’s is planning on flying back Memorial Day weekend to bring his car.. OKC is super spread out like stated above and I’m super glad I brought my car, even coming from the west coast. Can’t imagine not having it here

 

[wand_waver]

I didn't bring my car, I somewhat regret it. I stayed at Kim's and my roommate was a very isolated person so I ended up doing grocery shopping with my neighbors. Uber into bricktown or the mall hovered around $20. I did rent a car twice during my stay which was really liberating, but it was kind of expensive.

 

[Olympus]

Man, this is a rough thread for me to read. I haven't made it to the TOL stage yet so this might not matter, but if I do get there one day I'd be coming to the academy from Hawaii and there's no way I'd be able to bring my car. I was hoping it was feasible to make do without one but I guess I have to add 'buy a car' to my list of hypothetical plans.

 

[Shikaka]

Man, this is a rough thread for me to read. I haven't made it to the TOL stage yet so this might not matter, but if I do get there one day I'd be coming to the academy from Hawaii and there's no way I'd be able to bring my car. I was hoping it was feasible to make do without one but I guess I have to add 'buy a car' to my list of hypothetical plans.

Stay at Kim's or wherever the majority of your class might stay. I hooked up with my roommates on here, in a thread discussing riding a bike to MMAC (Bad Idea). You'll be fine, also Instacart delivers groceries and usually cheap or free depending on promos.

 

[Maintainvfr]

Man, this is a rough thread for me to read. I haven't made it to the TOL stage yet so this might not matter, but if I do get there one day I'd be coming to the academy from Hawaii and there's no way I'd be able to bring my car. I was hoping it was feasible to make do without one but I guess I have to add 'buy a car' to my list of hypothetical plans.

Don't worry about it. It's not nearly as important as this thread is making it out to be. I drove out my first time and it was fine but I honestly didn't drive that much. I spent most of the time studying during the week and when I did go out on weekends we got an Uber or a taxi. The cops literally hunt for you in bricktown if you drive, it's just not worth it.

I know this is the exact opposite of what people are saying above, but I've had to go back twice since then and I flew after the first time. I rented a car twice, most of the housing places have a deal with a rental agency. Or make friends, someone's gonna have a car and it's good to hang out with your classmates. Some of those people will be your friends for years and years

 

[randoturbo33]

Man, this is a rough thread for me to read. I haven't made it to the TOL stage yet so this might not matter, but if I do get there one day I'd be coming to the academy from Hawaii and there's no way I'd be able to bring my car. I was hoping it was feasible to make do without one but I guess I have to add 'buy a car' to my list of hypothetical plans.

I didn't have a car for my entire 4 months in OKC, and I'd do it again if I was going back. I chose to stay at Isola Bella because they provide hot breakfast and dinner in their price and there's a Walmart right next door that's an easy walk. Ubers are also insanely cheap. I don't think I ever paid more than $12 to get anywhere in OKC, and usually it was less - getting to Anatole for a study session before a night class was usually around $5. And even the guys with cars had to use Uber every time we were getting a drink to avoid the risk of a career-ending DUI. I basically found out that I could Uber pretty much wherever and whenever I wanted and still save money versus the cost of gas, insurance, the inevitable repair bill when hail dings up your car, and avoid the inconvenience of having to drive 20+ hours across the country.

 

[AMD]

I didn't have a car for my entire 4 months in OKC, and I'd do it again if I was going back. I chose to stay at Isola Bella because they provide hot breakfast and dinner in their price and there's a Walmart right next door that's an easy walk. Ubers are also insanely cheap. I don't think I ever paid more than $12 to get anywhere in OKC, and usually it was less - getting to Anatole for a study session before a night class was usually around $5. And even the guys with cars had to use Uber every time we were getting a drink to avoid the risk of a career-ending DUI. I basically found out that I could Uber pretty much wherever and whenever I wanted and still save money versus the cost of gas, insurance, the inevitable repair bill when hail dings up your car, and avoid the inconvenience of having to drive 20+ hours across the country.

It would be a 20 hour drive for me. Not down. I loathe the drive from LA to Vegas and that's only 3.5 ?

 

[tacoking]

I flew in from California and I am about to start my last week of basics. I am staying at Kim's place and no car.

Regarding the shuttle, the shuttle comes every day to take us to class whether you are on day shift (7AM to 3:30PM) or night shift (3:30PM to Midnight) Getting to and from academy is no issue. (I would actually recommend it since you are fully covered if you are on the shuttle) (If you decide to drive to academy and for ANY reason you are late, the responsibility is on you. If you take the shuttle, you are not responsible.)

With that being said, I will admit that not having a car here is a minor inconvenience. You don't have the freedom to go out anywhere whenever you want. But in my case, my other two housemates both brought their cars and usually don't mind me tagging along IF they are going to get groceries, haircuts, to the gym, etc.

I had a classmate who stayed at Isola Bella for a few weeks and his main reason was because of the courtesy cars there. He moved to Anatole because the living conditions aren't great. My class has about half staying at Anatole and half at Kim's. Definitely helps to stay close to classmates so you guys can study together. People in previous classes always talk about the importance of study groups so being close by is helpful.

Uber and Lyft are both available in the area and roughly costs about $20 if you want to go into the city. In my class' example, we've had some classmates' birthdays and so we went out to the city a couple of times and if you want to indulge in some alcoholic beverages, splitting an uber 4 or 5 ways really isn't bad.

Regarding rental cars, there is an Enterprise nearby that offers weekend specials.

They give you parking passes day 1 after you take your pictures for your ID.

My opinion: Not having a car is a small inconvenience. But do you NEED a car while you're out here? I'm getting by perfectly fine without one. Just make friends with your classmates as you'll need each other to pass anyway.