A 21-year-old grad student — just moved here from overseas to study bioengineering, living in Hoboken — sat down with me for about fifteen minutes. He wanted a small car, cash in hand. Made sense on paper.
After we talked it through — parking in Hoboken, insurance for a 21-year-old, a car he'd really only drive once or twice a month — I told him what I actually thought: he probably didn't need one. Everything he needs is a walk or a train ride away. When he wants out of the city for a weekend, renting beats owning.
He thanked me, we swapped numbers, and as he was leaving he mentioned he was taking the bus back to Hoboken. I pointed him to the light rail instead.
But if I ever pass him on a street in Hoboken, I want to be able to look him in the eye.