Greetings gang,

So an interesting dilemma. I take delivery of my car Aug 12. The car is in Portland Oregan and I live in Los Angeles.

- The drive (going the fastest route) is about 960 miles.
If I take delivery of the car in person and drive the car back to LA, it will probably cost in the neighborhood of $1000. Plane ticket x2, fuel, food, lodging.
PROS - I get to drive and break in the car. I get to take delivery of the car and do a sight inspection. I get the car faster.
CONS - I put 1000 miles on the car. It costs the same as shipping. It's a boring highway drive.

- If I ship the car, it will also cost around $1000.
Pros - I don't put on 1000 extra miles, I need not be bothered with the 1000 mile drive.
Cons - I buy the car sight unseen. It takes longer to get the vehicle.

Option 3 - Pacific Coast Highway.
Pros - A long beautiful drive.
Cons - The longest, slowest option of the bunch. I will put on even more mileage, it will take 3 days and probably cost more than the other two options.
Having said that, we can stop in wine country. Drive the coast. etc.

My brother and I would be the ones doing the drive. As we just did a long drive this year, Miami to LA, I don't know how much I am looking forward to doing another one. Yes, it was fun once we got out west but highway miles can be soooo boring..

So what are your thoughts. Have you driven the coast from Portland to LA?
What should I do here?

B

 

If you have the time and the money I would go with option 3 and drive down PCH. One of the most beautiful drives. I think it is important to take delivery yourself. I would be a little weary of having it shipped. Also you will get to the 2000 mile mark much quicker!!

That being said I am on my way to pick up my 997s which arrived yesterday!!! Wow am I excited

 

Drive. Drive. Drive the PCH.

I only wish I'd been going from PDX to LA, instead of Topeka, KS to Chicago... regardless, it was a great opportunity to get acquainted with the car. I know that it's not your first Porsche, B - but I'd say DO IT.

Just MHO,

-don

 

This is an easy one. Take the scenic drive. Not only will you get most of your "break in" out of the way, you and your brother will have memories that will last longer then the ownership of the car. Live life whenever possible, don't take short cuts.

 

For more views see:

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-forum/268925-ship-or-drive-it-across-country-2-100-miles.html

 

Absolutely drive. I drove back from Jackson, MS to Phoenix, and the I 20/ I 10 is an extremely boring drive (especially Dallas to El Paso), yet the experience was great. My brother and I drove back, put 1100 miles the 1st day. The car is great, and with regards to the break-in, I am sure it is better to be driving 300-400 miles in a row rather than 10-15 mile drives. The only regret that I had was I wish I had made a vacation out of it and taken more time driving back (not an option with 3 small kids at home).

 

It's really a matter of whether you can afford the time. Driving it is cheaper if you want it to be. Do it yourself in two days. One way ticket plus an overnight stay, food and gas. Maybe a few hundred. The big thing is you'll get the car much sooner. I'd be surprised if you can get the car delivered in less than 10 days once it arrives.

 

My Vote = Option 3

The long haul trip will be the best break-in you can do for the car vs short haul urban stop and start.

From your post you seem to be concerned about mileage, I ask what's the big deal??

Have you ever driven 101 ? and 1?? Highly beautiful!

I'm biased and think road trips are GREAT, and have traversed the country quite a few times.

Do the Road Trip...enjoy the ride

 

Option 3, I think the cons are actually pros!!

 

What he said; plus, RTFM says best way to break in the engine is on long drives at constant speed.

 

I took delivery of the 997 in LA, but took delivery of two other new cars in the last year...one from the east coast, sight unseen, and shipped via Intercity. The other I picked up at a dealer in Salt Lake City and drove home. No regrets either way; the east coast car arrived at my office as if it was just off the showroom floor, and the drive from SLC to LA via Las Vegas was quick, easy, painless, cheap (well, Vegas wasn't cheap...but it was fun) and uneventful.

One 'con' not mentioned when taking an immediate road trip is that you have to be prepared for some inevitable rock chips/windshield nicks on your new car right away. But If you wait a few days, you can stop in Monterey for the historics/concours weekend...which may make it worthwhile...

Edit: Due to the Monterey Historics/Pebble Beach Concours, you may not have a choice but to drive if you want to get the car soon...I was just remembering that when my S4 was ready for delivery last August, I had to wait 3-4 weeks for a space on a truck to become available...

 

I say get the car delivered. You will feel so cool when they pull up with your car on a truck. I have always wanted that. Of course the day I do it I would be the only one to see the delivery.

 

Rome said it all! Fly up there, drive it back and get that break in started. And stop for a nice bottle of wine in Sonoma

 

When I look into my crystal ball, I see that your business needs your focus right now, so you really can't afford being away from it.

You will have plenty of time ahead of you to enjoy the car. Hire a trucking service and have that sucker dropped at your door. You got better things to do at the moment than running up and down the coast...

Swami has spoken...

 

Definitely #3! I lead a high-stress work life and not easy to think taking a weekday off. Last summer I spent a morning up north (San Jose) with all the hassles of flying these days, then had to go back for 3-4 days the following week. I drove up, had my car with me. On the return, I forced myself to relax, took the scenic way, and had a long, fun, relaxing day driving home.