928autobahndreamer

I will be heading down to Dallas in a few weeks to start a new job and my wife and family will be joining me a few weeks later when we move into our new house.

I had debated driving the 928 down, but for several reasons I am looking to ship. (AC not working, will be in an extended stay hotel for 2 weeks etc....). I have requested a bid on transport and have had about 10 companies call and email trying to get my buisiness. It is more than a little confusing trying to compare as ratings are all over the place. It seems most of these companies just broker out to independent drivers and the experience largely depends on who picks up the vehicle.

I am looking at an open transport and trying to keep the cost down to less than $500 if possible. This will be from Columbia to Plano (about 580 miles).

Any experience with companies good or bad you can share would be appreciated.

77tony

Contact: Jim Goedze at Mercury Auto Transport jim@mercuryautotransport.com C: 786-361-2360 B: Have used them 2x now in the last year and Jim did a great job of following up. Mercury also quoted me the best price. Had a roller 79 shipped from Mass to TX and that was $ 1000. Had a running 86.5 shipped from Virginia Beach to TX and that was $ 800. Both recieved on open carriers with no problems. Prices will usually fluctuate with fuel prices. You are correct in assuming that they are brokers and will try and find you the next truck coming though your area. T

Texbuckeye

Beware an open trailer, they can ruin your car.

mickster

Call Eclipse and ask for Joanie: 800-496-0881.

Quick and enclosed. They messed up my quote (quoted me for open instead of enclosed--the only way to ship) but honored it and made for a fast, good delivery.

Tom in Austin

Agree, enclosed is the way to go. Make sure they cover your car if it's on the bottom/under another car, so that any fluid leaks don't damage your paint.

To my knowledge, no open carrier covers the cars on the bottom (unless it's new with a factory-applied covering). Also, be aware when you go the open carrier/brokered route that your car is jockeyed on and off of several trailers along the way. I would take a close look at the front spoiler and the wheels & tires since these can easily get damaged in the on and offs.

Oh, and btw, welcome to Texas! You are heading into "928 heaven" with Rog and the boys, you're gonna love it!

david_alford

I had a good experience with EVT Enclosed Vehicle Transport, from NYC to Raleigh, NC. Cost was ~$900 and the driver was courteous, thorough, professional.

EDIT: I should clarify that the cost of enclosed transport to/from NYC (Manhattan) is higher than most other places because of all the tolls ($80 for a tractor trailer to pass thru Holland tunnel alone!) not to mention extended traffic delays. Plus, I had to consider the fact that a low bid transport company could take 2-3 weeks or more to schedule pickup while I am stuck paying $280/week for a secure parking garage.

NoVector

Man, for less than 600 miles... You could drive it down, ditch it at Sean's house with a laundry list of things to do, fly back, and then drive another vehicle down. You'd be money ahead and knock it out in a weekend.

RKD in OKC

Yep, they are ALL brokers. You are not going to find and enclosed transport for under $500.

When I shipped the Range Rover I bought I compared the cost of flying into NC and driving the car back to OKC with a free overnight stay with relatives on the way back. It was $600. Told the Brokers I would only ship if it were under that $600 cost. Most just said they couldn't help it was too cheap. One said he would post it, but I might have to wait to get a truck. Within 2 weeks a guy took the cheap job to fill his car carrier.

There are web sites that let you list your tansit and be your own broker, but having a good broker gives you some experienced recourse with the independent drivers if something goes wrong.

dr bob

Amen to this option. If nothing else, have him redo the AC so the car is actually usable while it's there. For what amounts to a less than a long-day drive, it would be better to dodge all the potential damage with the lowest-bid commercial hauler.

Of course you could just have the car shipped to him too, eliminating (or shifting to Sean) your receiving logistics in Texas.

Jim M.

I don't have any recomendations but just want to welcome you to the best 928 group in the country. Once you get setteled you need to join us for our breakfast on the 1st Saturday of every month.

Mrmerlin

drive it ,
dont waste your cash on cheap transport
Sean can get you going perfectly

928autobahndreamer

I wasn't sure if it was worth it to go enclosed. I thought about wrapping the car to help protect it while keeping the doors clear so they can get in and out. The car does not have show quality paint. It is a nice car, but has it's warts.

Given everything that can happen while driving I didn't figure that being in an open transport would be any worse.

928autobahndreamer

I liked the option of dropping the car off at Seans and getting the AC worked on, but I still don't think that will save me money in the long run. It will cost about $150 in gas to get there not to mention cooking on the way down.

The one way flight back will cost me about $200. Plus add in a hotel for a night and it starts getting pretty close to the cost of someone just hauling it down. Either way I think I will be seeing Sean about having the AC checked out. I have planned to try to do it myself, but I would have to learn a lot about AC in a short period. (Although it saddens me to have anyone else work on the car, as to this point I have done absolutely everything on the car myself.)

I have debated shipping my daily beater just in case the car is likely to get trashed. However, reading reviews of experiences with some carriers, most of the time even if there are problems, things seem to be covered by insurance if there is damage. You just have to jump through their hoops and make sure it is well documented.

So, long and short of it, I think I will just have it shipped with the place with the most consistently positive reviews.

76FJ55

looks like a new of us are headed down to the Dallas area. I start a new position in the Dallas area the Monday (6/18). I'm also originally from MO, but have been in Tulsa the last 7 years. What area will you be in when you get to TX? My wife and I still have decide on a permanent location, so I don't know where we'll end up but I'll be working at AFW airport. When do you want the 928 down in TX. I lived in Columbia, MO for a while in the early 90's and I've got some good friends that still do.

I'll shoot you a PM with my contact info. Depending on when/if you decide to drive it down, I may be in Tulsa (most likely on the weekends) trying to get things squared away on this end for my TX transition, so you could have a mid point to stop for a brake or crash for the night. I've also played with A/C on mine so may be able to help there also.

ericono

Here's what I have done, and been happy so far, 4 cars shipped. Check out this site, www.transportreviews.com Find the top 10 rated section and blanket email the top 10 with your information. I've used 1 place twice, Angles Moving Autos and was happy both times. Used 2 different other carriers and they were both ok too.

Having said that, I might drive it the distance you are looking at.

Good luck either way.

Eric