B-Line home

Hey all,

Just been reading through posts from the last couple weeks and it feels good to be back. I made it to L.A. in one piece but unfortunately I don't know if I can say so much for my Pcar.

I did the unthinkable and sent it by a open trailer transport. The cost of moving was so high for me, I just couldn't justify spending the money to enclosed. I gambled, and lost

So, my car was picked up on Fri the 15th, I was already in transit but my bro sent it off. Turns out on Saturday, the driver was loading the cars at Home Depot and it suddenly started to pour. The driver who has a "bad stomach problem" had to run home. So, when mr. poopie pants returned to Home Depot some two hours later, my 1997 C2S, my girlfriends 1996 Audi A4, 8 other cars, the rig and the trailer had all been towed away from Home Depot and impounded <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" /> <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />
The tow company tried to charge the shipping company 10K to release all the vehicles so the shipping company took them to court and got it all released for 3k. Tuesday, the cars hit the road from Wednesday the cars hit the road from Miami and I was expecting a weekend delivery. THe driver tells me he's stuck in Tampa for a day or two waiting on another pick up.. Sheesh!!
So the driver gets on the road and I call him two days ago. The brand new rig they have broke down in Houston and dropped a transmission. So, my two cars are still sitting in Houston Dallas while they try to fix the rig..

I have no idea when the cars are going to be delivered nor what condition they are in. I am imagining the worst case scenario where the tow company bent, broke, mangled, scratched something and I won't see it at delivery.
So, even though I said a couple weeks ago that I will TRY not to lose any sleep over it, I got a huge smack in the face..

I have a problem that I am hoping to get some advice on. I am looking for someone who is extremely mechanical in the L.A. area who might be able to make themselves available day or night, weekend or weekday to help me inspect the cars when they arrive. I thought about having them delivered to a shop but that won't work. If the shop is closed I have to sign for the cars. Once I sign the transporter has no acountability.
I'm not worried about what's visible, scratches, dings, etc. I'm more worried about CV joints, control arms, etc... Things that I don't know what I'm looking at.

Anyone have any suggestions..
Thanks
Seth

dcpmark

That sucks, Seth!

If you are looking for the most knowledgeable board member in LA, Viken is your man. Obviously I don't know if he is available to help you, but it never hurts to ask.

If you are looking for a shop to help you, Tony Callas at Callas Rennsport in Torrance is the guy for you, IMHO. They are open Saturdays, and Tony is the kind of guy who MIGHT help you "day or night."

I wish your welcome to LA could have been better......

Rohan Nath

Seth sorry to hear about your troubles - it sounds like a nightmare.

Given the grief the moving company has given you to date (3+ day delay plus anxiety), I would call them now (before the cars arrive) and insist that they arrange delivery during working hours at a shop of your choice in the LA area. I suspect (hope) that if you call in advance they will have fewer excuses not to comply with your request. Assuming it is a national company with a reputation to protect you may have some success.

Even if you could like up someone knowledgable in the LA area I'd be concerned about trying to do a rigerous inspection at whatever time the truck arrives with whatever infrastructure/tools you might have available at home.

Good luck. Keep us posted and hope that it works out for the best.

Temple

Speaking from experience (even though I used a reputable enclosed trailer company), check your a-arms to make sure they didn't winch your car in place by looping the ropes around them. One of mine was bent in transit.

Tony Callas spotted this during my 30K service, and I couldn't really see the difference until I held it up to a new a-arm.

Working backwards, I realized the only way that damage could have occurred was from my cross-country trip. Rob King up at S-Car-Go told me they see that type of damage all the time from improper tie-downs.

Other than that possibility, and a lot of dirt and road grime, I don't think your 993 will have suffered.

DJF1

Seth , My goodness...

I'm flying home on Monday. If your car is still in Houston let me know I will stop by and check it out for you!!!

Oh my Seth...You dont have much luck do you? First your X5 now this!!!

Berkley

Rotten luck...but as a last resort your auto insurance likely covers the shipping....I shipped my '01 Boxster S to the new owner in Scottsdale....it went by open carrier(DAS) and it arrived a week late but no damage..

I am sure it will be fine...don't waste the energy on "worry".... and if not it can be fixed

993Widebody

Seth,

Sorry to hear of your misfortune, hopefully things will work out better than you expect. <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

In any case, if I was thinking about saving money during my move from NJ to Atlanta next year, your experience just put an end to that possibility. Intercity it is.

Hope things work out with minimal pain and expense. Man these C2S' are too nice to trailer cross-country in a multi-car open trailer.

Phil

Welcome to CA Seth, Me thinks that transportation company...is NOT in for a good time!....At least you and YOur Girlfriend made it ok!.....

B-Line home

Thanks for the wishes and advice all...

DJ, your right, my luck hasn't been too good lately but considering the scale of the move I just did I guess it could have been a lot worse.

As much as I love my vehicles I always try to keep things in perspective. There just cars that can be fixed or replaced if need be.. We made it out here safe and I'm thankful for that.

Temple, I'm not much of a wrench turner and am embarassed to say, I don't know what an A-Arm is.
That's why I'm hoping to find someone who can inspect the vehicles.

Also, I didn't meet the driver but I'm told by my bro he's a couple sandwiches short of a full picnic if you know what I mean..

Kim, CA is great.. We really love it.. Hope to see you at the track soon!

993 Widebody.. I agree with your thoughts completely about shipping open.. My moving expenses were astronomical though and I needed to cut some corners. Unfortunately, the Pcar is obviously taking the reprecussions. The price difference in closed and open was $800 vs. $2000.
Since I was going to tow the car originally behind the X5 It was going to go open anyway. I calculated the gas, wear and tear, etc. and couldn't justify the financial decision to go closed. Even the factory ships the cars open I believe.

DCPMark, I'll give them a ring, thanks for the referral. I've called Redline and German Tech. They both sounded willing to assist if it were doing working hours and they could do it. But since no one has commited I'm seeking multiple possibilities.

Phil, HEY PHIL!!!! Right time zone?? I still haven't reset my clocks

any and all other recommendations are greatly encouraged..

thanks again.
seth

Pete Lech

Take heart, most of these problems have been of a delay nature, it's not like the car fell off the truck, etc.

I second the recommendation of Tony Callas in Torrance. As I recall, you live over that way. I've known Tony for a good 8 or 9 years.
Tony is a great guy, and was a factory certified GT-1 mechanic at Le Mans, if that tells you anything about his abilities. He did the preinspection on my 2nd 911 6 years ago, and was very thorough. I watched the whole thing and even went along on his test ride.

Good luck.

Edward

Seth,

Sorry for all your grief. I'm late to this party, but where in LA are you (or where your cars will be). E-mail me if you like. Perhaps I can help.

Edward

Jeff 993TT

[quote]Originally posted by Silver Bullet:
<strong>Seth - I'll be up at Thunderhill next weekend with fellow Rennlisters.</strong><hr></blockquote>

That would include me... I'd be great to meet you at this event, if things are too busy with the move and all. But I think that you need a break anyways..

Jeff

David '96 993

What an aweful story. Sounds like "Mr. Poopie Pants" is not the only one that is having a sh**ty experience.

I can 3rd or 4th the opinion about Tony. I have been going to him for 8 or 9 years now and have nothing but great things to say. He is very picky and I have more faith in him than most of my doctors. Not only is he factory GT-1 certified (he let me sit in one once...oh, boy was that fun...unfortunately it was parked), but he got mechanic of the year at LeMans last year.
He also works some long hours, so you might be able to arraign something.

If you are in his area (Torrance), you should look up some of us Rennlisters up. Many of us live close by. Also, I will be at Laguna Seca with TracQuest in November. Welcome to LA. <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />

dcpmark

[quote]Originally posted by David '96 993:
<strong>If you are in his area (Torrance), you should look up some of us Rennlisters up. Many of us live close by. </strong><hr></blockquote>

Speaking of which, David, when are we all going to have a South Bay meet up? I keep noticing how many of us there are...... <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />