I Really need some help
 

My son (His first Porsche) and I are going to Palm Springs Calif. to pick up a 1990 C4 Carrera. It has been sitting for several years and we need to do a few things before we drive it back to Louisiana.
We need to ship the items needed for the trip, filters, belts etc. just small items. I will Uber to your house to pick up the items. I will arrive in Palm Springs on the 6th of June at 11:00 am.
Also we are taking I-10 the entire way back, anybody along the way I can reach out to if we run into trouble?

Knowing this community I'm sure a local will offer to help.

Why don't you want to ship your items to the same place you're going to do the work?

I'm going to do the work at the home of the owner. However he only uses the place as a weekend getaway, sometime. He will not be there for some time, he's in China as we speak. he lives in LA. No one there to get the package. We are taking the cheap flight, no check on baggage without adding cost. I can see the stuff getting lost too.

Makes perfect sense. Good luck!

You may want to post your route back home so you can get some contacts along the way. You never know when the Pelican help is needed.....

Taking I-10 the entire way back.

What airport are you arriving? Your packages can be anywhere in between your arrival point and PS. BTW, you are coming to the PS area at a good time of year. It will be windy at times so you want to plan your departure in the car well or you could lose the front paint and windshield to sand. Many times that time of day is before dawn.

How will the purchased items be shipped from seller(s) ? Or will you be shipping them yourself?

If you are doing the shipping, consider what backpackers do on long trail hikes - mail to the post office for "general delivery".

Check out https://faq.usps.com/s/article/What-is-General-Delivery


Otherwise, perhaps a mailboxes-etc or ups-store account ?

Couple questions; how long has this car been sitting? Miles? Has it had the cylinders updated? I've owned the exact car, if not updated you can possibly count on significant oil leakage while driving. As in, buy it by the gallon for the trip.

It's still a 3.6 and basically unstoppable but that is a major concern on that year/model. They were updated by the factory in '91 or '92, (can't remember when exactly). Forgive me if you already know all of this.

I'm looking at buying a house in the Palm Springs area as we speak but even if I had it already, it would not be my permanent residence so the package receiving problem would be the same. I'm out there a bit and know these cars, so if you want me to look it over or anything, let me know.

As for the trip home, there are some good Pelicans in Phoenix, Houston and I'm sure other places along the route.

Unless you are confident that the car can make it from CA to LA with only the repairs intended, you might consider doing a one-way truck/trailer rental. A bit more costly, but would certainly reduce the stress factor and potential for break-downs en-route. Then you can tackle any repairs at your own pace, with your own equipment/shop, and no need to ship any tools. Just a thought...

Or, if you know it's going to be a project, and the purchase price is low enough to gamble with a sight-unseen purchase, maybe even consider having the car shipped.

i wish i were closer. or the car was closer. that would have been a nice fun quick project to get you on the road.

I'd have it shipped in any case, it's a no-brainer for me. Once you add up the plane tickets, gas, motels, possible break downs...it doesn't pencil-out. One flying stone into the windshield of a 964 and you just paid for shipping.

hahaa..

nowhere like PPOT where we love torpedoing a complete strangers plan.

i salute the OP's spirit of adventure.

i bought a used truck sight unseen. sent the seller $500 paypal to hold it until the weekend. (i think i said, at 10:00am on Sunday morning, if you dont hear from me, the $500 is yours free and clear). i flew up, test drove it to bank of america and transfered the balance into his account.

i did not post about it here, i was afraid of all the scary stories you would tell me :)

!@#$!!#$!@ the tires were bald as hell, but we made it, slept and the next morning i got tires.

Dave Radmacher is in Tucson and still open for normal M-F business hours. He's close to the freeway.

Dave only works on the cars of his era, so no Boxsters or 996 or trucks.

I've known Dave since I got my first 914 20 years ago and never had a problem.

I plan on drop shipping parts from Pelican. I'm flying into Palm Springs, (PSP).
I have been working on these air cooled cars for over 40 years. I can change oil on the run as they say.
.The car has been stored inside all of its life. Well maintained, but not used in 5 years.
I will change the belts, filters,oil and the like. As far as fuel goes, I will see how much is in the tank and work on it from there.
I have AAA and a cell phone If it breaks down I will rent a truck and get it home.

Thanks Vash.

You can do it man. The story of your journey may be more valuable to you than the car someday.

"Sitting for several years"...is an ominous statement regarding a car you're planning to drive across half the country (are the tires even safe?). Airline tickets, hotels, parts/tool shiptment, roadside nightmares, etc., will likely cost you more than it would cost to simply have the car shipped to you.

Just trying to offer a bit of common sense to the discussion. If nothing else, could be a memorable adventure that your son won't soon forget.

Me? I'd ship it.

Get a bottle of Techron.

Can you get a gig delivering a vehicle from Slidell to LA? Makes the balance sheet look better, and you get a two way adventure.

What sort of inspection have you done on the car? Is it going to be engine/transaxle oil bleed the brakes buy a battery and bolt? Have new tires lined up ahead of time, I think Tire Rack will ship them to an installer of your choosing. 5 Years is too old for a trip like that.


I would maybe just drain the gas that is in it, though if not doing that, Mr Dudley makes an excellent suggestion.

Denis, money isn't everything. I would gladly spend a grand extra to take a drive across the country with my son in a car like that. So what if they chip the windshield or a headlight

I've done it both ways, more times than I can count. Fly in/drive out, trailered them myself, paid for shipping, you name it. The best is having them shipped, take my word for it. That's an ugly drive, from CA to LA on the 10.

My office is 45min to an hours from PS. PM me if you'd like to use my office.

And regardless, congratulations, and good luck!

All good advice gents. But we are looking forward to this trip.
I am buying this car from a friend that I have known for a long time. The car had not been abused, just in storage.
If I feel we need to tow/ ship it home we will.
I will keep you guys informed as we make this trip.

Good luck - sounds like an awesome adventure with your Son if you ask me. Memories get made overcoming obstacles.... I've done a few of these over the years and I can tell you the ones I look back on fondly are the ones that didn't go 100% to plan...

You should be able to ship the parts to a UPS store, call them ahead of time and pick up when you arrive. Sounds like an adventure. I love a road trip and have bought several vehicles and drove them home from all over the country including one from Speeder who's telling you to ship it :-)

If you are buying from a friend, please have him check the date codes on the tires
.
Go check out Carlsbad Caverns, it is right on the way, pretty much. Plenty of other stuff to see en route, take lots of pictures.

Great idea about the UPS store. I will look into it.
Thanks

PM sent
 

Sent PM with Phoenix contact info for help along the way . . .
Regards,
Roy T

Looking forward to the trip report.
I-10 this time of year should be pretty spectacular as the temps haven't gotten all that hot yet.
Be sure to check the brake system out. I once bought a car from an old guy out in PS. It was in August. It was hotter than hot. Drive home was memorable as we stopped at every off ramp for water to cool the radiator down (old Alfa).
Got it home and later found a flex line on the front that was one panic stop away from failure.
We dodged a bullet for sure and didn't blow up the Alfa either.
My son was about 12-13 then if I recall. I think we had a great adventure. I'll have to ask him how he feels about that trip now that he's a dad and 30-something years old.
Good luck!

I'm probably a good 30 min. away from I-10 in Phoenix, but I have a garage and all the tools in the world. Still, that time of year it will be hot in my garage. But we can tackle anything you need to do.

Roy:
Thank you very much.

Mr.Lee:
Thank you very much. If we run into trouble in your area I'll call.

Bill

True but there is a bit if a difference between a low mileage, dealer serviced Lexus and a 1990 964 that's been sitting in terms of a drama free x-country drive. :)

Will you have all the tools available there that you’ll need to prep the car for travel? How about a floor jack? If not, let me know.

Son here.

I know that the math on this doesn't work out and that the safest and easiest thing to do would be to have the car shipped. And I appreciate the folks who are pointing it out, because it really is prudent advice.

BUT :) ... We're doing this road trip for the journey more than the destination. I live 500 miles away from the old man, so having the opportunity to hang out with him for a few days is something that doesn't happen too often and this is a great excuse to make it happen.

I appreciate all of your comments!

One thing that has been overlooked is that this car is for your son. Lucky son even if the money to purchase the 964 is 100% his hard earned. My dad would not have ever supported a venture like yours is to be. His idea of getting me my first car was to hit the used car lots. I had 'almost' all the money but I did appreciate his bit of wisdom making a deal for a 16 YO. Not sure that I could have signed the purchase contract anyway.

You should trailer it unless you are going to remove the gas tank and clean it and clean out all the fuel lines.

Son's first Porsche, not first car if I understand the 1st post correctly. He's probably 35 and makes more $'s a year than most of us here.

He is 45 (How the sthiet did he get that old) and he does make a good living. He is paying for the whole thing, trip and all. I am just the help.
I am so looking forward to this event. If the thing breaks down, we rent a truck and trailer and bring it home. No big deal.
In two months his family and I will be on the beach talking about the trip.

My (then) 12 y.o. son and I made a similar trip - but with a 72T. Got lots of advice not to do it; did it anyways. We had a minor issue or two along the way, but I'm SO glad I did it.

IDK if you've ever read any Peter Egan, but his tales of road trips, breakdowns, and the great people you meet as a result inspired me to get off my butt and do it. And we did meet some exceptional peeps along the way!

Ps - I hope you guys post your road-trip stories and pics!

Perfect. Nobody ever starts a story with: "Then the transporter shows up with the 964..."

Perfect again.

Everybody starts an interesting story with the improbable, that is why they those stories are interesting.

Have a Plan B and launch the Alert when needed.

When my son is 45 I hope to be in a position to plan the these type of events with him...enjoy. I'd do it tomorrow.