Drive cross country in new (used) 911 or tow?
 

I have a 1984 911 coupe that I have arranged to purchase about 450 miles from me. PPI done today checks out ok with no major issues, a few leaks here and there but nothing major. Compression test shows 8% leakdown on 5 cylinders and 10% on the #4 cylinder.

My options to get the car back here are either drive up in my SUV, rent a trailer there and trailer it back (total 14-16 hours driving) or fly up, rent a car to drive over to where the 911 is and then drive it back here (about 8-9 hours driving and a 1.5 hour plane ride). Cost is a wash between the two. I considered shipping it but it's about double the cost and takes weeks.

The plus of flying up and driving back is less time in a driver's seat and I get to drive my shiny new Porsche back.

The minus of flying up and driving back is the possibility of a breakdown or a blowout. The PO says the tires are old (about 10 years...) and I'm a little nervous about putting 450 miles on 10 year old tires. No cracks in the tires or anything, just old.

Obviously the trailer option nearly removes the breakdown possibility but it's more driving and less fun.

Which would you choose?

Have it checked for safety, get a good extinguisher and then drive it. The best way to tell what it needs.

I did that when I went to pickup a Turbo Esprit. By the time we got home (13 hours later) it was clear that it should have never been brought into the stable.

450 miles is a day trip. I would be somewhat concerned about the tires, but if you keep the speeds down and have correct pressures, you should be OK.

Now it's funny that I said that, because when I went north to pick up my car, I left town as soon as the paperwork was finished and never checked a thing. Next day I was pushing 120 in a car that I had 100 miles in.

Not real smart.

Are you kidding me? I drove my 1970E from LA to Charlotte twice. And my 1980 SC from LA to Charlotte in 3 days. And you are worried about 450 miles. :D

I did it! 600 miles.

Fly out, drive home. Take a Credit Card and a Cell phone, and have fun!!

Buy a little fire extinguisher before the drive home just in case.

The only drawback is if you get there and HATE the car, you need to be mentally prepared to turn around and fly home. But, looks like you've done everything you can.

I drove my 993 from DC to Phoenix in exactly two days. I've bought a few motorcycles that were 400-500 away and then ridden them home. No better way to do it.

Fly in, hop in, stab it and steer.

Buy some tires, have them dropped shipped to where the car is and installed, get it caught up on any fluid changes that are due and drive it back.

Where's the car?

JR

Not much chance I drive out and hate it, I have seen multiple pics and had a good PPI done. This is my 2nd 1984 911 so I know the cars and how they drive. My first was a targa, now I'm going coupe.

I'll look into the driving home option, if the current owner says he wouldn't have issues with it I may go for it. Makes me a little nervous though! I guess worst case scenario is having to have a friend drive up and tow me back somewhere a couple hundred miles outside of D/FW....

I bought my 911 in Austin (150 miles away). Drove it home (with no rear window, no interior except for dash/seats) with a friend's trailer on cellphone standby. After 15 minutes of driving, stopped to check everything, little puddle of oil from leaky valve covers. Uh oh. Drove another 15 minutes, for some reason it stopped leaking, but plenty of oil in the engine.

Take tools. Take extra oil. Take duct tape. Take a laser thermometer to make sure it's not over heating. If you fly, don't get Gate Raped.

Drive. Worries of things going wrong makes it an adventure. No worries just makes it a trip.

Go for it!

Speedy:)

Congrats, I particularly like 1984 Carreras. They still have the SC interior but have the mechanical improvements of the Carrera.

Unless the tires are severely dry-rotted, I would not bat an eye driving it back. It has a spare and jack, right? A blow-out is extremely unlikely unless there is something visibly wrong with a tire. 10 years is no big deal if they are not rotted or flat-spotted. Enjoy it!

Fly drive.

Get the seller to pick you up at the airport.

Take tools, buy what you need after you get there.

450 miles is a tank of gas. Gopher it

Yes, I would fly in and pick it up, take it to a tire dealer and get some new tires, have the fluids checked. Drive it home. I can understand the 450 miles in Texas, could get boring, take someone with you.
I bought one I never drove up by Stockton once, took it to a Jiffy lube to look at it, I bought it to sell but by the time I got over the Grapevine I was in love with the car.

drive it home, it's a bonding experience.
all you need is a cellphone and a credit card.
you might want aaa plus if you're more nervous than nervy.

Trailer it! It might not make it and you'll be stranded! You might hate it if you drive it a long way, even though it's your second 84.

(Just thought I'd offer the contrarian opinion. I drove mine from Monterey to Austin)

No brainer DRIVE IT!!!!

Drive it. It's an adventure!