...I have a 94 FD with a 107 000 original miles...LOL...And I drive it up and down the Cali coast just for fun...you are worried of putting 1700 miles on your car...? You will do more damage to your car by towing it...than you would by driving it.

Just think about your rear brake rotors NOT getting their lubrication for 1600 miles? (if you are not using a full dolly)

I suggest you get a full dolly.

but do whatever you think is best...And congrats on the new FD

 

Turn the wheels to point straight ahead and then lock the steering wheel. The wheels will remain locked in position.

Personally, I also vote for a covered transport.
I used Intercity to transport my car from NJ to LA and it cost me $1750. My guess is that it would be about 1/3 of that to transport from Wyoming to CA. Give them a call and get a price. They are a first class outfit.

 

I suggest having it shipped, it cost my dad about $1,000 to have a car shippped from washington to SoCal, so it would be a bit more but probably not that much to have your FD sent. Here is a question, what engine does your van have in it? Perhaps the sohc 4.0L V6 found in the explorer? If so, I think your van will be allright for towing the weight. We've towed a few cars and trailers with a 1999 explorer that had this engine, and even in the mountains (5,000ft+) it was a good tow vehicle. Not the same platform as the van (I'm pretty sure) but maybe this will help. Good luck, and congrats on the car, it sounds way clean. Josh

 

I believe that Max may be right, if you tow it with the rear wheels on the ground the odometer might record the mileage. I know that can happen with mechanical odometers. Maybe with electrical odometers it is different, or maybe if you disconnect the battery the electrical odometer won't function.

In any case I don't understand why you just don't drive the vehicle. I realize that one of the reasons you purchased this car is because of its low mileage. But is this going to be a driver for you or a 1000 mile a year fair weather only car?

BTW, a Windstar is not a very capable tow vehicle especially when it comes to braking.

 

740 or so from Philadelphia to Houston for me 2 memorial days ago.

 

Ok, I just towed my fd from SC to Virginia and while the conditions were about the crappiest you could imagine, it was still a learning experience. First of all, Uhaul probably will not let you put a rwd car on a half dolly if the driveshaft is still connected. So if you are going to do that, then you have to know how to disconnect it when you get down there. Also, they said towing it with the front tires on the road is illegal in some states so towing it backwards probably isnt the way to go either. I would say pay the extra ten bucks or so it is to get the full trailer because it is A LOT easier and you will not have to worry about the car. If you will be taking it across the rockies with a windstar, you probably will have some bit of trouble. We were using my friend's V8 Dakota to pull it and even it seemed to have some trouble getting it around when the wind was pushing real hard. It was also in the middle of a friggin rainstorm though. Also, the full dollies have their own brakes to it will not be as damaging on the towing vehicle too. I would suggest renting one of their vans with a full dolly, or just having it shipped. Shipping it would be easiest because they will do all the work and they pay if something gets scratched or anything along the way (which you dont get if you drive it) and it should be less than a thousand bucks to ship it across country. I know your feeling about the mileage, but that isnt a whole lot and it would be one helluva fun drive. It will give you a chance to get used to people staring at your car and breaking their necks to get a longer glance.

 

Good luck towing that car over the continental divide with a minivan. A Windstar will barely pull itself over the mountains.

 

I would drive it. Cross country driving across the USA in a pristine FD with your woman by your side... Stopping in little towns for lunch and what not and watching the locals gawk and wonder what your new pride and joy is. Sounds like fun

 

I suggest that you rent a vehicle capable of towing the car on a full trailer. Towing on a dolly is a bad idea.

 

1600 miles is a lot of "unnecessary" miles, but when you look at the fact that the Windstar's towing capacity is iffy at best coupled with usign a half dolly I think you are risking a lot more by not driving the FD.

What if the thing falls off the dolly because the wheels aren't dead straight? What if the Windstar can't make it up the mountains? You are gonna have one hell of a mess on your hands.

I'm looking at a car in Georgia (i'm in California) and having it trucked via DAS is $799 fully insured.

Sonny

 

Drive it... I drove from Dallas Texas to So Cal and it was 1300 miles not one single problem occured. When your driving on the highway you have a constant air flow going. The drive isn't going to hurt the car its going to put more strain on you -=) trust me I was so uncomfortable when driving felt like my butt and legs were about to fall off. But the car ran nicely.

 

Unnecessary miles the unnecessary thing will be the tickets you'll get !!!

Seriously unless you're a collector that's going to keep the car bone stock in a plastic bubble, untill 2050 when it's a classic, then enjoy it, and the best way to do so is to stay off the interstate and see this beutifull country...
Besides 2K miles flies by in a car, in my case in less than 4 months.... and I don't have a long commute 4mi. 1 way.. it's the weekend trips to wherever... that put the miles one... but those are what I bought it for To have fun....

 

This is just my .02. i would say drive it. I drove my 93 touring across crountry from Ft Lewis Wa threw Wy and took I-80 all the way to ny. and i had a bad silonoid so my secondary wouldnt even come on. But that was an existing problem. I had no problems driveing like 3100 miles. and it was one of the most memorable drives i have been on and ill never forget it. I didnt want to do it because of that problem. But i had too. It was a blast. I would say rent a car and drive it up to get your Rx-7 and drive the 7 back. .02

Best of luck with your new rx7 and i hope you enjoy the drive either way you decide to go.

-Alien

 

Well, he could take it off the dolly and drive it up the hills and then load it back up when he gets to the top... Seriously though, I think I'd drive it too, should be fun and quite a bit cheaper! If you absolutely will not drive it you should probably have it shipped or at least rent a full trailer.

 

i had mine shipped from SC with DAS. mine was a little cheaper though. (SC to IA)

like everyone else, i disagree with the half-dolly. look into a shipping company, find a local company that would rent you a full trailer, or just fly out here and drive it home.


you could always have one of us iowa boys drive it out there for you

 

Well, my other post seems to have disappeared. But I'd say drive it to your home also. This post sums it up very well.

 

Yeah man, I am in Dubuque, 3 hours from where your car is. I will go pick it up and drive it to ya for a fee Of course a one way airline ticket for me to get back home would probably cost as much as a good shipping company would charge you.