Road Trips and Transportation
03-27-2015, 01:38 AM
#1
Cruising
Thread Starter
Member Since: Oct 2011
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Going to FL: Using the auto train one way?
A road trip in my GS in June has become a ritual, but this year I want to go down to Doral instead of Kiawah or Pinehurst. Normally I wouldnt object to 12 hours at 80-100 (since I travel at night) but after some math, figuring conservatively too, I would not be able to stay under my limit of 6000 miles per season (April-Thanksgiving) if I were to drive down and back.
Then I started thinking about shipping the car one way and this is where I hit inner turmoil. Like most vette owners I'm super-temperamental about who gets behind the wheel of my car, especially after some of the nightmares I've had after letting someone have my keys (even for service). The easiest thing for me to do is buy tickets for me, my duchess, and the car on the Auto Train, but I've heard horror stories of both the ride and the condition the porters leave the car (greasy and smelly). Does anybody know if you can load the car yourself? As for shipping the car privately, thats out. It looks like it will run about $1000+ to get just the car there.
Any advice about the Auto Train experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and happy spring.
Then I started thinking about shipping the car one way and this is where I hit inner turmoil. Like most vette owners I'm super-temperamental about who gets behind the wheel of my car, especially after some of the nightmares I've had after letting someone have my keys (even for service). The easiest thing for me to do is buy tickets for me, my duchess, and the car on the Auto Train, but I've heard horror stories of both the ride and the condition the porters leave the car (greasy and smelly). Does anybody know if you can load the car yourself? As for shipping the car privately, thats out. It looks like it will run about $1000+ to get just the car there.
Any advice about the Auto Train experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and happy spring.
Last edited by MB95; 03-27-2015 at 02:07 AM. Reason: Answered part of my question.
Rent a car......
03-27-2015, 04:09 AM
#3
Racer
A road trip in my GS in June has become a ritual, but this year I want to go down to Doral instead of Kiawah or Pinehurst. Normally I wouldnt object to 12 hours at 80-100 (since I travel at night) but after some math, figuring conservatively too, I would not be able to stay under my limit of 6000 miles per season (April-Thanksgiving) if I were to drive down and back.
Then I started thinking about shipping the car one way and this is where I hit inner turmoil. Like most vette owners I'm super-temperamental about who gets behind the wheel of my car, especially after some of the nightmares I've had after letting someone have my keys (even for service). The easiest thing for me to do is buy tickets for me, my duchess, and the car on the Auto Train, but I've heard horror stories of both the ride and the condition the porters leave the car (greasy and smelly). Does anybody know if you can load the car yourself? As for shipping the car privately, thats out. It looks like it will run about $1000+ to get just the car there.
Any advice about the Auto Train experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and happy spring.
Then I started thinking about shipping the car one way and this is where I hit inner turmoil. Like most vette owners I'm super-temperamental about who gets behind the wheel of my car, especially after some of the nightmares I've had after letting someone have my keys (even for service). The easiest thing for me to do is buy tickets for me, my duchess, and the car on the Auto Train, but I've heard horror stories of both the ride and the condition the porters leave the car (greasy and smelly). Does anybody know if you can load the car yourself? As for shipping the car privately, thats out. It looks like it will run about $1000+ to get just the car there.
Any advice about the Auto Train experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and happy spring.
It's not really a big deal,I don't think the insurance ***** will knock on your door. Unless you have a lease of course.
03-27-2015, 10:05 AM
#6
Racer
Member Since: Sep 2009
Location: Eastern
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A road trip in my GS in June has become a ritual, but this year I want to go down to Doral instead of Kiawah or Pinehurst. Normally I wouldnt object to 12 hours at 80-100 (since I travel at night) but after some math, figuring conservatively too, I would not be able to stay under my limit of 6000 miles per season (April-Thanksgiving) if I were to drive down and back.
Then I started thinking about shipping the car one way and this is where I hit inner turmoil. Like most vette owners I'm super-temperamental about who gets behind the wheel of my car, especially after some of the nightmares I've had after letting someone have my keys (even for service). The easiest thing for me to do is buy tickets for me, my duchess, and the car on the Auto Train, but I've heard horror stories of both the ride and the condition the porters leave the car (greasy and smelly). Does anybody know if you can load the car yourself? As for shipping the car privately, thats out. It looks like it will run about $1000+ to get just the car there.
Any advice about the Auto Train experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and happy spring.
Then I started thinking about shipping the car one way and this is where I hit inner turmoil. Like most vette owners I'm super-temperamental about who gets behind the wheel of my car, especially after some of the nightmares I've had after letting someone have my keys (even for service). The easiest thing for me to do is buy tickets for me, my duchess, and the car on the Auto Train, but I've heard horror stories of both the ride and the condition the porters leave the car (greasy and smelly). Does anybody know if you can load the car yourself? As for shipping the car privately, thats out. It looks like it will run about $1000+ to get just the car there.
Any advice about the Auto Train experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and happy spring.
Is this post serious? If so, now I know why someone once said "A fool and their money soon part"Spend an extra $1000 to keep a few miles off the car.
03-27-2015, 10:19 AM
#7
Race Director
03-27-2015, 10:47 AM
#8
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2004
Location: Oklahoma City OK
Posts: 58,259
Received 1,675 Likes
on
1,298 Posts
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I'd just drive it and worry about the miles later. Sure wouldn't ship it.
03-27-2015, 01:07 PM
#9
Cruising
Thread Starter
Member Since: Oct 2011
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gee I didnt know we had a bunch of cynics on today. I prefaced this by saying I am super-temperamental. I limit the miles I drive because of how I like to drive my car. We all know tires are expensive and I dont buy cheap rubber. I know its not a Ferrari but I keep my machines pristine. I was just looking for anybody who recently used the auto train in the last year or two and wanted to share their experience since the other thread is a few years old. Thanks in advance.
03-27-2015, 01:24 PM
#10
Race Director
Gee I didnt know we had a bunch of cynics on today. I prefaced this by saying I am super-temperamental. I limit the miles I drive because of how I like to drive my car. We all know tires are expensive and I dont buy cheap rubber. I know its not a Ferrari but I keep my machines pristine. I was just looking for anybody who recently used the auto train in the last year or two and wanted to share their experience since the other thread is a few years old. Thanks in advance.
03-27-2015, 02:22 PM
#11
Team Owner
Member Since: Sep 2000
Location: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
Posts: 23,937
Received 2,051 Likes
on
1,362 Posts
St. Jude Donor '13
OP doesn't tell us where he lives, and I don't know where Doral, Kiawah, or Pinehurst are.
A geography lesson might help us to help him.
A geography lesson might help us to help him.
03-27-2015, 02:39 PM
#12
Race Car Tech
I've been to all, by driving my vette, and they are beautiful locales.
Doral-Miami
Pinehurst NC
Kiawah Island-SC
No comment on the transportation or rubber.
Last edited by 4SUMERZ; 03-27-2015 at 02:42 PM.
03-27-2015, 04:57 PM
#13
Race Director
Member Since: Sep 2007
Location: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
Posts: 16,555
Received 2,061 Likes
on
1,505 Posts
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Not that I get **** regarding the costs of transportation, but I have over the course of several 5K mile road trips, determined some fairly fixed costs and variable costs. It gives me a guide to know how much cash I want in my pocket and how much I expect to spend during the road trip.
Tire costs are fairly fixed. Simply divide the out-the-door price by the expected miles before the next replacement and you get the $/mile.
Fuel is a variable, but a halfway close guess can be had by using your estimated trip mileage, the national average gas price, and your average MPG.
If I were taking a trip today, I'd plug in $.17/mile. YMMV
If I didn't care about enjoying the journey and only had an interest in the destination, the cost of getting there, and the requirement to use my personal vehicle, I'd compare the total cost of driving vs the cost of shipping the car and myself.
When I was working, time was the priority, so I flew and rented. Now that I retired, I want to see everything on the ground at ground level and stop to enjoy it as desired.
Tire costs are fairly fixed. Simply divide the out-the-door price by the expected miles before the next replacement and you get the $/mile.
Fuel is a variable, but a halfway close guess can be had by using your estimated trip mileage, the national average gas price, and your average MPG.
If I were taking a trip today, I'd plug in $.17/mile. YMMV
If I didn't care about enjoying the journey and only had an interest in the destination, the cost of getting there, and the requirement to use my personal vehicle, I'd compare the total cost of driving vs the cost of shipping the car and myself.
When I was working, time was the priority, so I flew and rented. Now that I retired, I want to see everything on the ground at ground level and stop to enjoy it as desired.