Driving the I95 Corridor this summer

[mclmk8d]

I'll be going to NJ this summer as usual to visit family and friends and I've taken my WRX wagon up to now. I have a couple of question for the folks here.
1) Has anyone taken their Porsche on the auto-train? I've read where they are usually very careful, videotaping the car before it's loaded, put the owner's cover on it once loaded, etc. It saves approximately 900 miles of driving in each direction.
2) A just-in-case question...good, reliable, and trustworthy shops along the way? Names, locations, your recommendations?

Any help is appreciated...thanks
Serge

[mclmk8d]

No one has suggestions? Anyone? Bueller?

[RichardNew]

I've taken my '73 911 and my '58 Corvette on the Auto-Train. I loved it and my cars were perfect.

Richard Newton
Newton's Laws

[S2GART]

I too have taken the Autotrain, but it was our Volvo V70 that we took to FL. However, when we made the return trip we saw a Boxster get off loaded. So they are not foreign to uploading Porsche. They do in fact video tape the whole car prior to loading it.

I highly recommend the Autotrain just from a time savings perspective. 900 miles with only 1 stop in the middle of the night for a crew change and refuel. Meals are included. For dinner, you're given up to 2 hours to eat and have 4 choices for an entree' and complimentary white wine. Coming from just north of Hartford CT, we left at 7 am drove to Lorton VA (just outside of DC), got on the train. 8:30 the next morning we were in Sanford, FL (just North of Orlando) There is no way we would have been able to make the same time frame, if we drove all the way.

I have actually given thought to doing what you're planning on doing and that is make the trip in our 911. My only concern is ground clearance. Per Amtrak's site, I think they require at least 4 inches of ground clearance. My car was lowered by the PO, to European specs. I actually haven't taken a measuring tape to check the clearance, but again, that would be my only concern.

[sailchef]

I took the auto train south to florida with another car, it was OK, a little tiring and boring. A few years later I drove the Porsche down and back; it was a blast.

[mclmk8d]

I took it around 5 years ago...not bad and saved time and wear and tear.

I measured the clearance this afternoon, all above 4" except for the rear sway endlinks(? see the photo below). This was 3 inches between the ground and the very bottom of the endlink clamp. I've put a rectangle around this part...it is equal on both sides of the car. I'm wondering if the 4" number is at the very front and rear of the cars as they drive them up the ramp? Time to call Amtrak.

Originally Posted by S2GART

I too have taken the Autotrain, but it was our Volvo V70 that we took to FL. However, when we made the return trip we saw a Boxster get off loaded. So they are not foreign to uploading Porsche. They do in fact video tape the whole car prior to loading it.

I highly recommend the Autotrain just from a time savings perspective. 900 miles with only 1 stop in the middle of the night for a crew change and refuel. Meals are included. For dinner, you're given up to 2 hours to eat and have 4 choices for an entree' and complimentary white wine. Coming from just north of Hartford CT, we left at 7 am drove to Lorton VA (just outside of DC), got on the train. 8:30 the next morning we were in Sanford, FL (just North of Orlando) There is no way we would have been able to make the same time frame, if we drove all the way.

I have actually given thought to doing what you're planning on doing and that is make the trip in our 911. My only concern is ground clearance. Per Amtrak's site, I think they require at least 4 inches of ground clearance. My car was lowered by the PO, to European specs. I actually haven't taken a measuring tape to check the clearance, but again, that would be my only concern.

[sennasixty8]

Is there an "auto train" equivalent cross country west to east ?

[S2GART]

The Autotrain only exist on the East Coast. There are so many people making the trip to and from Florida especially in the Winter and then again in the Spring, that Amtrak created this Autotrain. There is just isn't a mass group of people heading West. I too wish they had other Autotrains. I have family in Colorado and would ove to take my 911 out that way.

The train is just for those traveling with their cars/motorcycles/SUVs. It leaves every day at 4 pm in Lorton VA (just outside DC) and arrives in Sanford FL, at 9:30 am the next morning. As the South bound train leaves VA, the North bound train leaves FL.
When we traveled on it last August, the train literally measured 3/4 of a mile long.

[ScottT80]

So how much does it cost to go on the auto train? And is that the only places you can get on the train?

[David in VA]

Recommend Lufteknic in Richmond VA, right off 95 and very familiar and good with any vintage Porsche.

[wwest]

Auto-train, AMTRAK, government employees, I DON'T GIVE A DAMN employees.

After a few BAD episodes, 2 out of three, I'm even reluctant to trust myself to those idiots.

[Jesse16]

No way, I say drive it. Wear and tear ?? Save it for what ? There are good shops in every town along the drive. I have my PCA-DE inspection list of shops for VA, NC, SC, and GA in my car at all times. Its in Excel if you want a copy. Florida begins with Brumos in Jacksonville and plenty more to the south. You're never far from P'car lovers. I have no specific love of I-95 but if you don't stress about the hold-ups and usual issues, its fine. I always prefer taking matters into my own hands vs leaving the driving to "others".

[GoldenGreek]

Hello All,

This seemed to be one of the only threads I could find regarding taking a Porsche on the AutoTrain and some of your experiences. I'm extremely worried about it because I'm new to the Porsche community (since 2008) and I'd like to take "The Mistress" down to Florida for a week to soak up some sun. I can only imagine how much fun Florida will be with my GT3!

I just stuck a tape measure up against the lowest part of the car and it is EXACTLY 4" of clearance which is what the train requires. They do not allow car covers which bothers me. The Amtrak employees are the ones that drive the car on and off the train which bothers me even more.

Someone give me a warm and fuzzy...



Our "Collection"
2007 Porsche 911 GT3 (only comes out of the garage if 0% chance of rain)
2004 Porsche 911 Limited (697 of 1964 made - never comes out of garage)
2012 Ford F350 Diesel Super Duty (10" lift kit - Red Neck Fridays - can't get in the garage)
2010 Toyota 4Runner Limited (for my wife who thought the Highlander was too girlie)
2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid (tax credit and daily driver)
2009 Dodge Avenger SRT (just because and second daily driver)

[BoxsterGT]

Your warm & fuzzy is driving it yourself. Anything else is cold & prickly.

My suggestion is to take I 81, its much more pleasant and less traffic, etc.

However you can get over to it, it's so much better a drive.

Len

[Jesse16]

Just leave the car at home so some else can drive the heck out of it in the future. Pretty sure GT3's don't melt in the rain.

[mclmk8d]

I read about someone who asked the Amtrak employee to put a cover on it and it was done without a problem or discussion.

[des28h2]

Provost Motorsports in Burlington, NJ not far from major interstates, Robby is a PCA club racer, previous dealer tech and now owns his own shop.

[66DC]

Originally Posted by mclmk8d

Has anyone taken their Porsche on the auto-train? I've read where they are usually very careful, videotaping the car before it's loaded, put the owner's cover on it once loaded, etc. It saves approximately 900 miles of driving in each direction.

I'm thinking about doing this in late summer, but I have a 901 transmission and am concerned about Amtrak loading/unloading it with the dogleg first gear. Maybe I should make up a sign to put on the steering wheel!

DF

[GoldenGreek]

@BoxsterGT - I would love to do this, but I'm trying to keep the miles low on the GT3. It would be a 1700 mile round trip plus whatever miles I drive down there. In addition, the "swamp bugs" in lower SC and GA take forever and a day to get off of the paint!! I know from experience because we just did the drive three weeks ago and it took me four hours of scrubbing to get the bugs off of my wife's 4Runner.

@Jesse16 - you haven't heard?!? GT3's do melt in the rain!! Mine has NEVER seen rain. It's seen hose water only and gets at least one bath a week so that when it does come out of the garage it is a head-turner.

@mclmk8d - thanks for the heads up! I'll call Amtrak and let them know I'd like to put a cover on it for the trip down.

@66DC - I did learn that you can request to be one of the last cars loaded or one of the first cars loaded. However, they MUST load the car...you cannot. So the 901 tranny will be an issue if they've never worked with one.


Our "Collection"
2007 Porsche 911 GT3 (only comes out of the garage if 0% chance of rain)
2004 Porsche 911 Limited (697 of 1964 made - never comes out of garage)
2012 Ford F350 Diesel Super Duty (10" lift kit - Red Neck Fridays - can't get in the garage)
2010 Toyota 4Runner Limited (for my wife who thought the Highlander was too girlie)
2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid (tax credit and daily driver)
2009 Dodge Avenger SRT (just because and second daily driver)

[onboost]

Originally Posted by mclmk8d

I'll be going to NJ this summer as usual to visit family and friends and I've taken my WRX wagon up to now. I have a couple of question for the folks here.
1) Has anyone taken their Porsche on the auto-train? I've read where they are usually very careful, videotaping the car before it's loaded, put the owner's cover on it once loaded, etc. It saves approximately 900 miles of driving in each direction.
2) A just-in-case question...good, reliable, and trustworthy shops along the way? Names, locations, your recommendations?

Any help is appreciated...thanks
Serge

A few years back I flew down to Fla for the 24Hrs of Daytona but flew into Tampa/St. Pete to check out a well cared for, one owner, 1990 560 SEC.
The car was schweet..

I bought it, drove it up to Daytona and hung out for awhile and drove back down to Sanford. Put her on the AutoTrain and drank beer, slept, and caught-up on Excellence and Pano articles the whole way home.

Smooth, easy and no damage to that fine automobile. The trip ends in Lorton. VA about 20 miles outside of DC. Plenty of good Porsche shops between there and Deleware.