Ship or Drive?
#1
Ship or Drive?
I am sure some of you have had this debate with yourself so I am curious where you landed on it. I want to temporarily relocate my F-Type to Florida and I am struggling with whether to drive it the 1,100 miles (2,200 RT) or ship it at a cost of $1,500 ($3,000 RT). I drive straight through so no hotels or anything from a cost standpoint, but I am a little ridiculous about keeping the low milage on the car so that's making this a hard decision. Anyone rationalized this out for themselves in similar circumstances?
#2
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David Meier (08-28-2020)
#3
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#4
How many miles do you currently have on the car? An additional 2200 miles is minor on a 2015 vehicle if you are concerned about taking a hit on resale value someday. Great weather, no snow or ice I'd say drive it and have fun. And if you are willing to spend $3000 on round trip shipping you can surely afford an evening at a Motel 6 somewhere in South Carolina to break up your drive. Drove my F-Type from Mobile, AL to Maine (1600 mi) in January and had no issues because I paid attention to the weather patterns and had a blast. Even lived the dream at a LaQuinta in Roanoke, VA at the halfway point! The hours of daylight were also more limited when I made my trip compared to yours if you are adverse to nighttime driving. In addition, there have been some reported minor damage issues with sub contracted shipping companies on this and other sites so be aware of who is actually transporting you car if you decide to ship it.
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David Meier (08-28-2020)
#5
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#6
DRIVE IT!
Highway mileage will not diminish reliability. You will develop a deep bond with your F.
Better than buying a car that "Was only driven on Weekends" (at the racetrack)!
(Reminds me of a friend who bought a 'Vette...and most of the saved destinations in the Sat/Nav were racetracks...) LOL at him.
Highway mileage will not diminish reliability. You will develop a deep bond with your F.
Better than buying a car that "Was only driven on Weekends" (at the racetrack)!
(Reminds me of a friend who bought a 'Vette...and most of the saved destinations in the Sat/Nav were racetracks...) LOL at him.
The following users liked this post:
David Meier (08-28-2020)
#8
How many miles do you currently have on the car? An additional 2200 miles is minor on a 2015 vehicle if you are concerned about taking a hit on resale value someday. Great weather, no snow or ice I'd say drive it and have fun. And if you are willing to spend $3000 on round trip shipping you can surely afford an evening at a Motel 6 somewhere in South Carolina to break up your drive. Drove my F-Type from Mobile, AL to Maine (1600 mi) in January and had no issues because I paid attention to the weather patterns and had a blast. Even lived the dream at a LaQuinta in Roanoke, VA at the halfway point! The hours of daylight were also more limited when I made my trip compared to yours if you are adverse to nighttime driving. In addition, there have been some reported minor damage issues with sub contracted shipping companies on this and other sites so be aware of who is actually transporting you car if you decide to ship it.
#9
I think that's good advice hearing from you and the others. I think the group has brought me around.
#10
Thanks for all the sensible advice. I think it makes sense to drive. I'll be with the car for several months and then drive it back north at some point. On the note of driving - I tested some protective wrap for the front end that I thought I might toss on for the 17 hour trip down I-95. I know there's Trakkape and other options, but this is the wrap that new cars are delivered with and it's significantly cheaper. I think it was $60 for 26" x 600' roll. Either way, I tested it on a 2 hour expressway trip and it was perfect. It's 3mil, but double on most of the leading edge (6mil) and it came off in under 30 seconds. It has a light adhesive made for car finishes. I plan to use it on the trip south. Yes, it looks ridiculous, but when I got there I took it off and no bugs, no chips - looked like I had just washed it. I also put a strip across the center price of the grill and it didn't move nor flap. I know - a little obsessed.
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#11
There's nothing obsessive about it. Yes, it looks weird but you have a long road trip. It's your car, your money and the front end of the car is prone to abuse (sand pitting, pebbles, chips etc..). And to your point, that how cars are transported which is what you're doing. If it were me I'd wrap the whole bumper cover too. Maybe you did but the pic doesn't show it.
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David Meier (08-28-2020)
#12
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#13
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David Meier (08-28-2020)
#15
There's nothing obsessive about it. Yes, it looks weird but you have a long road trip. It's your car, your money and the front end of the car is prone to abuse (sand pitting, pebbles, chips etc..). And to your point, that how cars are transported which is what you're doing. If it were me I'd wrap the whole bumper cover too. Maybe you did but the pic doesn't show it.
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Sean W (09-01-2020)
#16
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#17
I used to do repeated runs from my house in NC to work in Florida, and to the parents house in Louisiana in my 996 Porsche (12h one way). I never got out feeling like I didn't go 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. Last spring I bought my first F-type in FL and took it home to the house in NC and arrived feeling comfortable and not fatigued at all. These cars are truly comfortable grand tourers, and can gobble highway miles up in comfort. My vote is for DRIVE!
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#18
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David Meier (09-02-2020)
#19
LOL, not much desert between Pennsylvania and Florida, but I get what you mean. Personally, I enjoy driving and not one to be concerned with miles I put on my cars. Though I do understand that viewpoint. Last road trip we took was Savannah, GA to LA, California and back. Now that there had some desert involved.
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David Meier (09-02-2020)
#20
LOL, not much desert between Pennsylvania and Florida, but I get what you mean. Personally, I enjoy driving and not one to be concerned with miles I put on my cars. Though I do understand that viewpoint. Last road trip we took was Savannah, GA to LA, California and back. Now that there had some desert involved.
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