Am I crazy to think of this? (shipping a car for a road trip)

Otter74 · 12-20-2015, 06:26 PM

I really, really want to take my 911 on a road trip on the west coast. Even more so after seeing SOAZ's photos from his trip. Last year I took three weeks off and did a big road trip in UT and CO in my boring-but-useful Honda, which was my only road-trippable car at the time - it was fantastic. I have been drawn to the west for a long time and love going out to CA or OR to visit friends. Unfortunately I live in Chicago, which makes this a bit difficult - transit time to/from the west coast is a week, and actual fun-trip time gets added to that. With planned trips to France, Iceland, etc. next year I can't devote that much to a road trip. So it occurred to me the other day that, what the hell, I could ship my car to a friend's address in Santa Barbara or Portland or wherever, then fly out there when it arrives and do everything I want with a week or a week and a half, which is manageable. Yes this cost is non-trivial but so is the fuel cost at 22mpg on 91 octane to get to the west coast and back. A little research will get me a rough idea of relative costs. The question mark is the risk factor of entrusting my car to a shipper. Do I need some sense smacked into me? Does anyone actually do this? Does anyone have a car they need moved up/down the coast? (just kidding)

id10t · 07:35 PM

What would the shipping cost both in time and dollars? Even at 1k each way as well as not having your car for X amount of time before and after you fly (while it is being shipped), it would probably be cheaper in dollars to drive it out.

Again working with a minimum of $2k in shipping costs round trip, why not just fly out and rent a 911 or other exotic... quick google reveals $250-450/day for Boxster, Cayman, 911 at Hertz. Enterprise also offers exotics but I couldn't get a price on my slow azz 'net connection... shipping costs would give you 4-8 days rental, and 2k for two way shipping is probably waay cheap

aigel · aigel's Garage

It takes an extra 4-5 days to drive back and forth from Chicago to Cali. Unless you are really strapped for time, I'd go for the drive. I like long drives. I can do 1k miles / day without much sweat. Actually, I do sweat, because I usually stop half way and go for a jog. Gets you ready for the next 500 miles!

Shipping the car will be on the order of $2k for a decent carrier. Plus, you have hassles with drop off / pick up, possible damage etc.

G

Bill Douglas · 12-20-2015, 07:45 PM

Drive it man. I hitch hiked it in two days - you can do it.

Jim Bremner · 12-20-2015, 08:16 PM

ammo is good to go

look 171 · 12-20-2015, 08:24 PM

Save your money. Fly out and I will rent you mine for 1000 bucks a day

. I am sure you wouldn't do any damage cause you will be sitting in traffic anyway.

Heck, drive out and test top speed on that lil' car of yours.

Otter74 · 12-20-2015, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

ammo is good to go

Sorry about that, I had a space-cadet moment and entered what I meant to be a separate post as a reply!

Otter74 · 12-20-2015, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by id10t

What would the shipping cost both in time and dollars? Even at 1k each way as well as not having your car for X amount of time before and after you fly (while it is being shipped), it would probably be cheaper in dollars to drive it out.

Again working with a minimum of $2k in shipping costs round trip, why not just fly out and rent a 911 or other exotic... quick google reveals $250-450/day for Boxster, Cayman, 911 at Hertz. Enterprise also offers exotics but I couldn't get a price on my slow azz 'net connection... shipping costs would give you 4-8 days rental, and 2k for two way shipping is probably waay cheap

Yikes. I've got better things to do with $2k. I'm not sure I'd be up to spending $2k on renting something like a newish 911, but I could rent something pretty fun for a lot less. I have thought of just flying there and renting something nice. I have always liked to use my own equipment, though - that's why I have it, after all.

As for long highway drives, I do ~800 miles a day no problem, but 1000 borderline beats me up. About a decade ago I drove from Dallas to Detroit in one shot in my G20, and I had to pull over and nap for a few hours in the middle of IL somewhere and it kind of kicked my butt. I've done 4-5 all-day drives in my 911 (including driving it home from Atlanta, where I bought it) and it is not the most relaxing highway car (a Pechtel front top seal would help that a lot) but it's a lot of fun no matter where I'm driving it.

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

Heck. People do this sort of thing all the time (with motorcycles) for Sturgis and Bike Week. Why not with a car? Actually, a few entrants do this every year for TRE's Targa California.

daepp · 12-20-2015, 09:52 PM

Ship it to the Inland Empire (see where the 10 and 15 interstates meet). If the truck doesn't have to go all the way into el lay it should be cheaper. Then fly into ONT.

aigel · aigel's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noah930

Heck. People do this sort of thing all the time (with motorcycles) for Sturgis and Bike Week. Why not with a car? Actually, a few entrants do this every year for TRE's Targa California.

"People" with a lot of money, that is. Some keep the car at TRE for a while too, before or after the rally, while it gets further upgrades!

Consider it!!!

G

robertocravallo · 12-21-2015, 01:08 AM

I would just love to do that, but shipping from germany is just a no go. Problems with customs (both ways) included. Hey, if that is your dream, live it. Life is short...

The 2K mentioned here are just guestimates. Can't be that hard to get a 'real' quote for shipping! I envey you...

ckelly78z · 12-21-2015, 02:35 AM

For the cost of shipping and the worry of hassles and damage to your car, maybe you could renrt a 911 when you get out there. Do some research on costs of doing that.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

I have met with a couple that flew their car TO Chicago, and drove R-66 to California. I met them at a local R-66 place that has great food. Of course they had a two weeks just for the trip out.

It is two long 12 hour days and one more 3/4 day of driving for you. I have driven my 911 to California three times now. The trip to Monterey, CA took me through some real arm pit places like Needles, CA and Barstow, the end of I-40 (or the start depending on your direction of travel)

Highway 1 is pretty cool, but millions of people around the world think so as well and they fly out and rent a car. Convertible Mustangs seem to be everywhere driving along at 10 under the speed limit.

This is from the 2014 trip.

The biggest reason I made the trip was to do this! Wheeeeeeee

You have a tough decision to make, I get that. The money spent on shipping your car both ways would pay for the rental of a nice car, but it is NOT going to by YOUR car.

Driving out and back will kill a minimum of 6 days.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

I understand your time constraints. Do you have to do it THIS year? The whole experience would be much better if you drove out and back. Why not wait to do it until you have time to do it right?

I did part of a lap of the country in 1970 in my '64 356 coupe. Ohio to Seattle to San Diego to New Orleans, then home. The worst part of the trip was Highway 1 in northern California. From what I cold see, California looked like the back of a Winnebago.

Several years ago Jerry Kaiser and I drove our 356 coupes from Ohio to Jasper, Alberta, down through the mountains to Colorado Springs for the 356 Registry Holiday, and then home in one shot. It took three weeks. THAT was a ride!

recycled sixtie · recycled sixtie's Garage

Otter 74 life is for living. You do not say what time of year you want it moved. But if it was me I would be driving it. My experience many years ago of having cars shipped was my cars got minor damage, keys broken etc.

Okay so you have a rare car so there are risks in driving it. Theft? Make sure you have a good alarm. Accident? Got insurance. A drive cross country would be an exciting experience. That is what you have the car for.

Guy

Jim Richards · 12-21-2015, 05:49 AM

If shipping, how do you handle the uncertainty of which dates the car is picked up and which dates it arrives at it's destination? I the one time I shipped a car, it came in a few days later than planned.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Good point Jim. When I was looking to have a car shipped, the narrower the pickup and delivery windows were, the more it cost. I don't recall any shipper promising pickup or delivery on exact days.

nota · 12-21-2015, 10:25 AM

there is no east/west auto-train ?

there was a auto-train from DC to the mouse [orlando]

Deschodt · 12-21-2015, 10:38 AM

I fear the $2K number is low... I paid $2000 one way to have my P-car moved from FL to CA - not sure it'd be substantially cheaper from Chicago, but certainly not half. I looked at anotehr quote recently to do that to another car and I think I got $2200 !!! one way again !

Then the pickup windows was 2 whole weeks (that may be an issue to plan your trip and or to get your car back quickly) plus actual shipping time ! Maybe it's cheaper or more predicatable if you put it on a train or something, but if you want your car over there and you like your car, it's not a cheap thing to do via transporters !

I'd rent something fun instead for a few days, then trade it for a normal rental for the less spectacular roads... Or better yet I'd buy another car on the west coast, use it, then ship (or drive) it home ;-) (or resell it in CHI as a california car, no rust, etc...?)