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Hello All,
Recently I posted a query asking for advice in driving cross country from Fairfield, CT to Wenatchee, WA (2,800 plus miles) to deliver a 1996 850 GLT wagon to my daughter to use. Members of this Volvo community were very generous with their advice and recommendation.
Yesterday a good friend (and fellow “Volvo Head”) recommended that I check out what it would cost to have an open car carrier pick-up my Volvo in Fairfield, CT and deliver it to Wenatchee, WA. My wife last night posted a request for a price quote on a car carrier service and this morning I have been receiving a deluge of high pressured calls from car shipping companies all saying basically: “Everybody in this industry is a thief, except us! Book now!”
I will carefully examine and compare the competing offers to determine if this makes economic sense to ship the car by car carrier versus driving it out myself and flying back. One suggestion my friend made was only request an open car carrier vs. a closed one which is significantly more expense. With a 21 year old Volvo, I am not too concerned if it gets dirty being shipped cross country.
I would welcome any advice concerning retaining a open car carrier and would in particular appreciate any recommendations of companies to use. Thank you in advance to all who respond.
Hugh
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One big caveat - Is there someone near her that can take care of the car?
My daughter could find no one to repair her '96 855 and had to junk it several years ago when it would not start. The nearest Volvo shop she could find was 4 hours away. She lives in Bemidji, a pretty good-sized city, but she never saw any Volvos there.
Realistically - what is the car worth?
When I had my dealer go through our '96 855R, they showed me brake lines that were cracked and needed attention, rear brake calipers that were lumps of rust, a rear suspension that was tearing up right rear tires that needed new parts, and several other items.
I needed repairs that equaled the book value of the car.
We drove that car for 11 years, and I smiled every time I was behind the wheel.
When I traded it, the used car manager told me that it would go to the auction - I told him to drive it - they advertised it for two months and sold it! He later told me that it was a pretty fast car!
Send her the proceeds from the car and the cost of shipping and have her put it towards another Volvo. That is actually what you would be doing!
To people in the business, our cars are just hunks of meat anyway.
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Jim,
That is a “big caveat”. Where does she get the car serviced? If you don’t have any knowledge of these cars, you can really get hurt. It seems, that my daughter may not need a car delivered to her out in Wenatchee after all. That may be a blessing in disguise.
Hugh
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Bemidji is a few hours from here, but I don't remember her problem.
The 850 will be 90 minutes from a dealer, and there are a few Volvos in the area. The market for a Volvo is quite strong in WA, and a couple of grand will not buy one that starts and runs daily.
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Keeping it running is better than buying new
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Klaus - my daughter got rid of her 855 before she talked to me - she did this about the time you got your 850.
Had I known that you needed a car, I would have had her give it to you. The gave the car to a friend of a co-worker who was to junk out - I think that the guy is still driving it!
An anecdote -
My daughter asked me how to pick between a Toyota or Honda dealer in Bemidji - I told her to ask each sales manager why she should buy their brand - the Toyota guy told her that he would give her a great deal, the Honda guy told her that they would take good care of her car.
She bought a Honda.
Her husband bought a Toyota truck - he hates the service department so much that he drives two hours to get warranty work in Fargo and has Honda do his routine stuff. When they are done doing his work, they park his truck in the front row so that the Toyota guys can see it!
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Jim,
The exchange between you and Klaus is what I enjoy reading this column. Your daughter did pick the right dealership by the replay of the Honda representative.
Hugh
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I don't know what your driving stamina is. Southwest Airlines can fly you from Seattle to Hartford for $210. If it is just you in the car, stay at a Motel6 for less than $80/night = $240-$320 + food + beer.
I usually cover 12 hours/day solo, but Chicago at the end of a long day gets crazy. Lots of motels around Janesville, WS, just across the IL border, at about the 14hr mark. If that is day 1, then day 2 ends close to the middle of SD. Day 3 in the western part of Montana, with a short 8hr ride to WA? It is weather dependent, of course. Keep a spare pair of warm boots in the passenger footwell!
Because you are not shipping to a large vacation city, I figure the cost for shipping will be $800-1200. A small truck to take the car to NYC, where it gets loaded on to a large carrier and sent to either LA or SF. Then sent to Seattle, put on a small hauler to Wenatchee.
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Keeping it running is better than buying new
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"...My wife last night posted a request for a price quote on a car carrier service..."
I made that mistake once. Don't worry, the phone calls and emails will stop in about two years.
Sorry I cant recommend a good company, however given the prices I got and the distance you have to send it I'd say get ready to spend around $1200 to 1500.
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Current rides: 2005 Volvo S80 2.5T, 2003 Volvo V70 2.4NA, 1973 Volvo 1800ES (getting ever closer to road worthiness)
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Maybe even more. Costs about $1000-1200 to ship a car to Florida from Mass.
I know a woman who was considering shipping a car from Mass. to Tucson, AZ. If I remember correctly, her quote was close to $1800.
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JWalker,
I have been flooded with price quotes and calls and $1,200 to $1,500 seems to be the price range.
Hugh
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JWalker,
I have been flooded with price quotes and calls and $1,200 to $1,500 seems to be the price range.
Hugh
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JWalker,
I have been flooded with price quotes and calls and $1,200 to $1,500 seems to be the price range.
Hugh
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Chris,
Thank you for your response. This has been a sobering experience so far. Maybe that’s why people just “bit the bullet” and drive their cars cross country. It seems to be a very unregulated industry, with low return customer rates.
Hugh
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