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Moving...Drive it or Ship it?

Old 05-13-2013, 02:21 AM
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Nosferatu
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Default Moving...Drive it or Ship it?

As the title states...

Originally I was planning on shipping the car and booking a flght (going from MI --> FL). It's 1150 miles to drive. I am getting some shipping quotes and looking at airline flights and it's looking like paying for both is going to be putting me at $1500 (never mind shipping my belongings).

Considering that price I'm wondering if it's worth just driving all day (it would be about 16-17 hours and I'm a young guy so I could likely do it). It would be putting mileage on the car but figuring worst case say 23mpg X $4.00/gal = $200 of gas and I save over $1,000.

I was really looking to just ship it and not worry but now looking at the cost versus just driving it down it may be worth me making the long drive. Thoughts???
Old 05-13-2013, 02:32 AM
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yelmvette
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Originally Posted by Nosferatu
As the title states...

Originally I was planning on shipping the car and booking a flght (going from MI --> FL). It's 1150 miles to drive. I am getting some shipping quotes and looking at airline flights and it's looking like paying for both is going to be putting me at $1500 (never mind shipping my belongings).

Considering that price I'm wondering if it's worth just driving all day (it would be about 16-17 hours and I'm a young guy so I could likely do it). It would be putting mileage on the car but figuring worst case say 23mpg X $4.00/gal = $200 of gas and I save over $1,000.

I was really looking to just ship it and not worry but now looking at the cost versus just driving it down it may be worth me making the long drive. Thoughts???
I'd say drive it and enjoy the ride! I drove mine from Tacoma, WA to Augusta, GA when I changed duty stations and had an excellent time.
Old 05-13-2013, 02:35 AM
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CO Lightfoot
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Drive!
Old 05-13-2013, 02:36 AM
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hdff
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drive it! i'm 52 and i drove from indy to houston took about 17 driving hours. it was a long day but if was fun.. that car was made to drive!!

also on the road @ ~78 mph the dic showed 29 mpg
Old 05-13-2013, 02:38 AM
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TerryL
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It's doable in one day but for the price of one nights motel room you could make it in two days with ease. Have done both on my motorcycles.
Old 05-13-2013, 02:39 AM
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vik2606
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Drive it!!! Save that $1000 for sure plus who knows what could happen on the shippers truck. If he damages it, you will have deal with him having to pay for it (if he admits that he caused the damage).
Old 05-13-2013, 02:49 AM
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Stavesacre21
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I'm from Ohio and I previously bought a 2010 with 3600 miles on it from Virginia. I was in a similar situation. I opted to drive it home, although I'm not sure as tho I would do it again. Ended up being about a 550 mile drive that lasted almost 18 hours from waking up that morning to pulling it into my garage. A ridiculous amount of scrubbing and cleaning had to be done once I got home. Wasn't a big fan of that.

This topic is, of course, subject to extreme personal opinion. Everyone will have different thoughts. If I personally had the chance to do it again, I would have just paid the $700 to have it shipped. I probably didn't save a heck of a lot of money by going to get it...let alone the fact that I put on more miles than I probably will in the next in entire year.

Good luck with whatever you end up deciding.

Last edited by Stavesacre21; 05-13-2013 at 03:06 AM.
Old 05-13-2013, 02:53 AM
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Definitely drive it! I've driven mine to Iowa twice (from Texas). We love to drive these cars, so if you have the time just go for it! And you are saving money.

My trips were 12 hours each way. You could do 16-18 hours in one trip just be well rested before you start. Otherwise, just break it up and stay overnight somewhere.
Old 05-13-2013, 05:37 AM
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Another thing if using a moving company to move your houshold belongings, is have them include the car into the price. My brother did this twice, and they pick up the car at your house, take it to their local terminal, and load it on the trucks upper shelf. Turned out pretty good, except the front nose got scraped up once, which they paid for. No worse than doing it in the parking lot, so no big deal.
Old 05-13-2013, 05:57 AM
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Worried about a 1200 mile road trip? Lol that is nothing, drive the car and have fun!!
Old 05-13-2013, 06:51 AM
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We just made trip to Cedar Key Fl. Get south of Atlanta 1st day, stay out of rush hour. C6 is a great road car.
Old 05-13-2013, 07:28 AM
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hdff
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Originally Posted by Stavesacre21
I'm from Ohio and I previously bought a 2010 with 3600 miles on it from Virginia. I was in a similar situation. I opted to drive it home, although I'm not sure as tho I would do it again. Ended up being about a 550 mile drive that lasted almost 18 hours from waking up that morning to pulling it into my garage. A ridiculous amount of scrubbing and cleaning had to be done once I got home. Wasn't a big fan of that.

This topic is, of course, subject to extreme personal opinion. Everyone will have different thoughts. If I personally had the chance to do it again, I would have just paid the $700 to have it shipped. I probably didn't save a heck of a lot of money by going to get it...let alone the fact that I put on more miles than I probably will in the next in entire year.

Good luck with whatever you end up deciding.
why did it take you almost 18 hours to go 550 miles? that's 30.5 miles an hour. the OP is taking the car to florida so this wouldn't be a joy ride trip it's a get on the road and drive trip. it is a possible one day trip. 29 mpg on gas and he is a young guy so a couple of burgers and cokes and he is there. don't make it sound worse than it is. a little time, ~ 3 tanks of gas or so and a couple of burgers, plus the 1 way airfare which i don't know what that is. part of life and having one of these cars is adventure, and these cars are fun to adventure in. if his 1000 mile trip is more miles than you will put on in the entire next year then i see where you are coming from. you are not enjoying your car and have a garage queen.....i hads a '70 chevy truck shipped one time from maryland and i didn't like the experience.


as i said above drive it and enjoy it, you only live once!!!!!
Old 05-13-2013, 08:25 AM
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Originally Posted by cstrunk
...You could do 16-18 hours in one trip just be well rested before you start. Otherwise, just break it up and stay overnight somewhere.
Stop at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY.
Old 05-13-2013, 08:56 AM
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You bought the car to enjoy, right? I can't think of a better way to enjoy it than a road trip.

No way would I pay to ship it. Especially when the car can get near 30 mpg!
Old 05-13-2013, 09:02 AM
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Rich Mickol
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Drive it. See the USA in your Chevrolet.
Old 05-13-2013, 09:02 AM
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I would ship it, if it was a vacation drive and you were going to take your time and do some touring along the way that would different.
But just drivng to a destination and trying to make good time, not too thrilling, ship it.
Old 05-13-2013, 09:18 AM
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beaversstonehaven
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I would drive it just to avoid having to go through all of the airport hassle. Another benefit would be having your car when you arrive at your destination. For me driving would be WAY more fun! Add in saving money and its a no-brainer.

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Old 05-13-2013, 09:57 AM
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I drove mine when I moved (~15 hours), then flew back the following day to finish the move. I wouldn't let a mover do it unless I had no other choice. Do you really want to trust a mover with your Vette? I've had movers move my household stuff 4-5 times and there's always been something broken when in the process. I'd say movers are right there on a par with lawyers except that would be an insult to the lawyers. Yeah, I've had a few bad experiences with both.
Old 05-13-2013, 10:02 AM
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z51vett
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If it's not love bug season in Fla. drive it I drive to Hacketstown N.J. to see my daugthers family 845 miles 13 Hours done it by myself and with wife who whines and wants to stop at every other fruit stand.
z51vett
Old 05-13-2013, 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by z51vett
If it's not love bug season in Fla.
It is love bug season - was just down in south FL and the bugs were just starting. I would vote to drive too, but if the love bugs are out in force, be sure you have a good bra or other protection for the front end and mirrors.

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