JayShadow

i was thinking about shippin my car to AZ instead of driving it there. i was wondering if any of you guys have ever shipped a car? what was the cost? and was it a good experience?

su_maverick

there are tons of shipping companys. I have heard anywhere from 600-800 for the ship from a known company. But then again, I am for the drive, take the southern route through texas to get there, its alot of fun.

ZeroBanger

the cheapest I could find was www.wheelsonwheels.net. I shipped my rx8 there for 815 and took less than a week. went from SF to Atlanta.

jimlab

That's for a ride on the back of a car hauler, though. Consider that your car will be exposed, potentially accessible to theives, and possibly sitting under other cars that leak and drip during the trip.

The buyer of my Supra had it shipped to Arizona by this method. While it was in the shippers fenced yard, even before it had been loaded onto the truck, someone broke out the driver's window and stole the stereo, boost gauge, and Tanabe exhaust that was in the hatch. The shipping company duct taped a piece of plastic over the missing window and shipped it as-is. When it arrived, it was covered in automatic transmission fluid from the cars above it. The buyer tried to get my insurance company to pay for the damage because he apparently hadn't gotten around to getting insurance himself and the shipper was claiming no liability. Needless to say, they told him to **** off.

Granted that this is a worst case scenario, but you get what you pay for. I believe the buyer paid $900, and the company was "Dependable Auto Shippers". Was it worth it? Would another $900 be worth having the car show up immaculate and in one piece? It depends on how much you value your car and what its value is. I'd recommend an enclosed hauler like those used by Intercity or Horseless Carriage, but it's up to you.

http://www.intercitylines.com/
http://www.horselesscarriage.com/

ZeroBanger

its on a car hauler, correct, but nobody is going to be able to steal it, its chained down and about 15 feet in the air on the top level. Which btw, is the same way your car gets delivered to the dealership.

they have insurance if anything happens.

you can pay 1800-2000 for a closed carrier if you want.

jimlab

IF it's on the top level, and that doesn't mean that it's safe from damage or theft.

Yeah, good luck with that.

ZeroBanger

let them steal it, they have $100,000 insurance per car. I can care less.

besides, its NEVER going to get stolen.

ZeroBanger

let them steal it, they have $100,000 insurance per car. I can care less.

besides, its NEVER going to get stolen.

ZeroBanger

let them steal it, they have $100,000 insurance per car. I can care less.

besides, its NEVER going to get stolen.

jimlab

Who said anything about the car getting stolen? And like I said... good luck collecting if something does happen to it.

su_maverick

I mean seriously, we bought the car for a reason, just drive the sucker out there. Have fun and enjoy the open road, so what if you are sore at the end of the day.

ZeroBanger

Its called a claim form and yes you can collect if the company is reputable.

PVerdieck

Exactly. Drive it. 2 long days or 3, through cheap gas territory, and plenty of wide open spaces where if you have good radar, you can move at a good clip (90-100).

jimlab

Naive and ignorant is a **** poor combination to be facing the rest of your life with. Good luck with that.

ZeroBanger

yes sir.

PalmTreeDoc

I used Dependable Auto Shippers when I bought my FD from Texas. It was about $800 and it arrived a day ahead of time. Too bad about your Supra. That's awful.

Jesuscookies

iTrader: (1)

I used intercitylines to move my car from Texas to So Cal. They were about $350 more than an open container, but you won't be worring about your car either

Also, they own all there vehicles, and containers, so Intercitylines actually carries the insurance. They do not sub out loads to independents. That is where the insurance issues usually occur.

I am currently in the process of moving my second 7 from Atlanta to LA. I will be going the open container route this time. However, after reading Jim's story, I may give intercity a call on Tuesday.

JayShadow

I'd love to do that, im just worried that something might happen, you know how the cooling systems are on these car, hot places like la, tx, nm,az might be too much for my poor car. not to mention the miles that i'll be putting on it.

spyfish007

I second this .... I got a pair of amps stolen with NO broken glass and still got nothing. Wasn't going to be worth a lawsuit over $600 worth of amps either ..... just a warning ... take EVERYTHING out of the car.

su_maverick

Well, look at it this way, you are going to be driving at speed and there are no traffic jams to slow you down so you are going to get a ton of fresh air into the engine bay. If you are really worried, sleep in and start later in the day when the heat starts to break. Its only going to be like 1900 or 2000 miles and it will be the most fun of those miles you will put on the car. I have done x-country twice now and with a sports car it can really be fun.

JayShadow

what preperations should i take, it i drive the car. new coolant, oil, tire pressure...

turbojeff

iTrader: (30)

It took 4 wks for my last project car to arrive from Baton Rouge shipped to Oregon.

The shipper left it in a lot for 3 wks in Houston while they waited for a truck to pick it up.

Luckily it was already needing a paint job so I have no idea if they scratched it up.

I agree, if you want a very nice car shipped then pay the $$. If your shipping something that isn't super nice then save the $$.

su_maverick

Yeah, take it to your local 7 doctor and have it road preped. Radiator flush, oil change, check tire pressure, breaks, and alignment. When I went out to cali I did all that. If you dont already have one, I would get a water temp guage. Of course, this is just my opinion.