djr86

Any thoughts, comments, suggestions for my upcoming week....

Having a 97 993 C2 w/ 45,000 miles inspected on Tues in Santa Monica CA. I live just north of Cincinnati Ohio. This will be my fourth P Car. The prior three were sold several years ago to get into flying. This is my first car in about 6 years. My prior three were purchased 5-10 hours from my home and I drove each of them home from purchase. It was always a great way to start the relationship with the car and added much to the story of finding and buying the car.

This purchase is much, much further from home than any of the prior 3. It would be 30-40 hours and about 2000 miles. I could have the car shipped in an enclosed trailer and relieve the worries of putting the miles on the car, breaking down on the drive home and chipping up the paint with so many highway miles. I'd lose out on part of the purchase experience and I'd have the car in someone else's hands for days. There's the chance of damage in route and I've read about fluids leaking from other cars in the trailer on lower cars.

The cost of shipping vs an airline ticket and fuel are about a push. I've got the time to make the trip.

What are the group's thoughts?

phoneyman

If you have the time and the means, I'm guessing most people will say to drive it back. Personally, I'd ask what you are getting the car for. If its going to stay in the garage as an "investment" then truck it. If its going to be a driver for many years, drive it. Youre going to have to respray the bumper covers at least once in its lifetime.

djr86

Definitely planning for it to be a driver. Front bumper has been sprayed once in the car's past and I'll likely do it again some day.

air993

I've never been able to do it with buying a new car, but have done with some of our work trucks. Those trips are always fun. I'd say if you have the time definitely do it if the weather allows.

Foxman

Road trip! I drove my first 993 from Wright Motorsport in OH back to Boston. What a memorable experience, and great opportunity to bond with the car.

Have the car fully servicesd, new belts, new tiress, brakes, the works, and have a fun and safe trip!

e9stibi

Another vote for road trip. I bought my C4S in Palo Alto and drove it back to Texas. What a great way to start the "relationship". It was at an ideal time of the year late July and I picked some scenic sections which made it even more a blast.

993c4_Toronto

Road trip. Bought my car in Philadelphia and drove it back to Toronto. Great way to get acquainted.

Cemoto

Do you have a person for the right seat? If not it will seem like a much longer drive.

I've done both.

Like Foxman says, have a reputable shop give her a good going over before your adventure.

.

Drisump

Wrong time of year for the best road trip but I drove my first 911 2000 miles to get her home.....great trip.

RonCT

I'd normally say "road trip", but if it's a mundane route (endless highway with lots of traffic / trucks) consider shipping it. You are obviously on the fence else you wouldn't have posted the question. I don't know the exact numbers, but there is a mileage-depreciation effect with our cars as evidenced by historic sales figures. Apples-to-apples a car that is $50k at 50,000 miles, might be $60k at 40,000 -- $1 / mile might be close to the real number. Then add in the value of your time to take a 30-40 hour road trip.

Again, I would feel differently if the route was something like the Pacific Coast Highway and hundreds of miles instead of thousands.

makemann

Definitely drive it back. Are you going to look back on how it was transported or how much of an adventure it was to drive a 993 cross country?

I bought my 500E from Santa Barbara and drove it home to Michigan with my older brother. Something we can both look back on as being a riot.

You won't regret it. Here's my story: http://www.500eboard.com/forums/show...ll=1#post93132

AOW162435

I drove my 993 home 11 years ago. 3,400 miles from Seattle to Baltimore - via Canada.

Five excellent days.




Andreas

centerpunch

Road trip!

I just bought the perfect 4-door (EDIT, I meant 4-seat!) complement to my C4- a low-mile E36 M3 convertible on BaT, and two weeks ago flew out with a buddy and spent 8 days and 3000 miles driving it from LA to Cincinnati

I'd never driven across the country, and at 61, decided it was time. We had a great trip.

Picked up the car in LA, drove a bit and spent the night in Needles. Day two drove through Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki national parks en route to the Grand Canyon. Spent the night at El Tovar hotel at the GC. Day three drove to Sedona, 5 mile hike, then dinner with old friend. Day four did cliche photo in Winslow Arizona, then Painted Desert and Petrified Forest national parks, then hotel in Santa Fe. Day five did Bandelier national park, drove to Durango. Day six drove up thru Rockies, through Colorado Springs, hotel in Kansas. Then two more days just driving to get home.

Great trip if you have a companion and an ipod with plenty to listen to.

mpruden

Makemann - that thread is epic!

OP - go for it. I think you're far enough south to take the risk this time of year.

bcameron59

Are the tires dedicated summers or "all seasons"?

My bias would totally be drive it home. I bought my C4 in San Antonio 11 years ago and drove about 3000 miles back to Calgary, Canada, with a stop in Norman OK to visit an old buddy. It was a great trip and I totally bonded with the car. However, that was on summer tires in June.

At this time of year I wouldn't chance driving home on dedicated summer tires, in case a cold front brought in snow enroute home - whereas on all seasons I would go for it.

If it has summers but much of the tread is gone, I'd arrange to replace them with ultra high performance all seasons before starting the trip home. All seasons will also give you a longer spring/fall driving season, if mornings are cool where you live.

Alternately, if it has summers that have a lot of tread, you could have them dismounted and shipped home for summer use, and get all seasons for the drive home. Or you could even replace with winter tires, if you plan to use as a year round daily driver.