Anyone ever shipped one?

niferbee · 02-28-2004, 08:43 PM

I've heard of people going and traveling several hours to get a Prius sooner, but I have not heard of anyone who shipped theirs.

I haven't been waiting that long, but am just looking at my options down the road (in case the wait gets too long for me) and since there's a limit to how far my husband and I will drive...

I was curious if anyone has bought a Prius and had it shipped to them?

I'm just a little cautious of making a $20K+ purchase over the phone and not seeing the merchandise until I've already signed for it (not that I don't want this car!!)

Jen

Steve Goldenberg · 02-28-2004, 10:27 PM

I live in CO and found my Prius in Houston. After hearing several horror stories about Auto transport brokers, I decided to fly down and drive it back. (1,250 miles). I would ship it but only if the dealer uses a shipper he knows and reccommends.

niferbee · 02-28-2004, 10:30 PM

Out of curiousity - what kind of horror stories?

I am a little leary of shipping it. I'd rather drive it home

Steve Goldenberg · 02-28-2004, 11:24 PM

1. They quote you $500, you pay, when the car is 100 miles away they call insisting on another $500.
2. You pay,two months later, no car.

niferbee · 02-29-2004, 12:20 PM

Thanks Steve - my biggest fear was scenario #2 (you pay, two months later, no car). I'd hate to buy a $20K+ car and not get it at all.

I didn't even think about scenario #1.

JB · 02-29-2004, 01:42 PM

Steve,

I am in Houston and found my car in California. So I'm about to fly out to CA and drive 1300 miles back to Houston. Do you have any advice for driving the Prius such a long distance in such a short time period. I.E. how did you break it in? Did you get an oil change during the trip?

Thanks

Wolfman · 02-29-2004, 04:44 PM

If you are going to have your car shipped, make sure you are using a reputable car transport service. Mabro is one such company. Fleet Car is another. They are larger auto transporters, and do haul privately owned vehicles (POVs). If you are getting what sounds like lowball prices, then you are likely getting scammed. Rates back when I drove was a buck a mile. Know your distance to have an idea of what you should be paying.

I don't know if they are still around or not, but I wouldn't haul a Yugo with Guylee Auto Transport. I used to work for them. Their equipment had no business being on the US highway system.

Steve Goldenberg · 02-29-2004, 07:02 PM

My Prius had 600+ miles on it when I picked it up so I wasn't worried about breaking it in. We just drove at 75-80 when we could and at 60-65 when we couldn't. I wasn't worried about a defect because it was the dealer demo for a few months and my newphew picked it up a few days before I arrived and used it around Houston.
We had no problems until we reached Denver in a huge blizzard so I bought Bizzack snow tires in Denver instead of Aspen. We did have power problems going over the passes which I discussed in another topic of this group as recently as today.
It's a real nice car to drive especially if you have cruise and a CD player.
Some owners have complained about the gas guage accuracy. You might want to carry a 2 gallon gas can with you or just fill up at 3/10 to be safe.

danmiller3 · 03-16-2004, 04:33 PM

I'm planning to have mine shipped from Laramie, WY to San Francisco. Estimates have run from $500 - $1,000. Hard to tell who is reputable and who isn't. I mainly got the estimates as a sanity check and will ultimately let the dealer decide who to ship with, hoping they have a reputable carrier they know. I figure the risks are low. If something bad happens the car is insured by the carrier and my own insurance. Of course, I would be very sad, but I'm torn about whether driving 1200 miles right out of the gate, non-stop, is a smart thing to do.

Thoughts?

miniracer · 03-16-2004, 04:59 PM

I've driven that run before and it is pretty desolate for most of the way (I-80) and it is nowhere you'd want the car to crap out. If it was me I'd have it shipped and avoid the stress.

My 2 cents.

02-29-2004, 04:44 PM	#7
Wolfman Moderator (on leave) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Paradise, TX Posts: 1,205 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	If you are going to have your car shipped, make sure you are using a reputable car transport service. Mabro is one such company. Fleet Car is another. They are larger auto transporters, and do haul privately owned vehicles (POVs). If you are getting what sounds like lowball prices, then you are likely getting scammed. Rates back when I drove was a buck a mile. Know your distance to have an idea of what you should be paying. I don't know if they are still around or not, but I wouldn't haul a Yugo with Guylee Auto Transport. I used to work for them. Their equipment had no business being on the US highway system. __________________ 1981 Mercedes 300D 1982 Thomas Transitliner 2003 Toyota Prius (gone, but will not be forgotten, thanx Toyota for bringing us the future) 1998 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid FWD 1981 John Deere Liquifire (winter toy) 1983 Yamaha Virago 920 2004 Honda GL1800 Goldwing (delivered 7.6.04 with .4 miles on it)

02-29-2004, 07:02 PM	#8
Steve Goldenberg Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Aspen, CO Posts: 126 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	My Prius had 600+ miles on it when I picked it up so I wasn't worried about breaking it in. We just drove at 75-80 when we could and at 60-65 when we couldn't. I wasn't worried about a defect because it was the dealer demo for a few months and my newphew picked it up a few days before I arrived and used it around Houston. We had no problems until we reached Denver in a huge blizzard so I bought Bizzack snow tires in Denver instead of Aspen. We did have power problems going over the passes which I discussed in another topic of this group as recently as today. It's a real nice car to drive especially if you have cruise and a CD player. Some owners have complained about the gas guage accuracy. You might want to carry a 2 gallon gas can with you or just fill up at 3/10 to be safe. __________________ White 2004 Prius #9 (BC), EV kit, mud flaps, window visors, 1 1/4" hitch, leather steering wheel, Mitsubishi rear wiper arm w/20" blade. White 2007 Highlander Hybrid.

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02-28-2004, 08:43 PM	#1
niferbee Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 33 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Anyone ever shipped one? I've heard of people going and traveling several hours to get a Prius sooner, but I have not heard of anyone who shipped theirs. I haven't been waiting that long, but am just looking at my options down the road (in case the wait gets too long for me) and since there's a limit to how far my husband and I will drive... I was curious if anyone has bought a Prius and had it shipped to them? I'm just a little cautious of making a $20K+ purchase over the phone and not seeing the merchandise until I've already signed for it (not that I don't want this car!!) Jen

02-28-2004, 10:27 PM	#2
Steve Goldenberg Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Aspen, CO Posts: 126 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I live in CO and found my Prius in Houston. After hearing several horror stories about Auto transport brokers, I decided to fly down and drive it back. (1,250 miles). I would ship it but only if the dealer uses a shipper he knows and reccommends.

02-28-2004, 10:30 PM	#3
niferbee Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 33 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Out of curiousity - what kind of horror stories? I am a little leary of shipping it. I'd rather drive it home

02-28-2004, 11:24 PM	#4
Steve Goldenberg Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Aspen, CO Posts: 126 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	1. They quote you $500, you pay, when the car is 100 miles away they call insisting on another $500. 2. You pay,two months later, no car.

02-29-2004, 12:20 PM	#5
niferbee Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 33 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Thanks Steve - my biggest fear was scenario #2 (you pay, two months later, no car). I'd hate to buy a $20K+ car and not get it at all. I didn't even think about scenario #1.

02-29-2004, 01:42 PM	#6
JB Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 18 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Steve, I am in Houston and found my car in California. So I'm about to fly out to CA and drive 1300 miles back to Houston. Do you have any advice for driving the Prius such a long distance in such a short time period. I.E. how did you break it in? Did you get an oil change during the trip? Thanks

03-16-2004, 04:33 PM	#9
danmiller3 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Larkspur, CA Posts: 36 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I'm planning to have mine shipped from Laramie, WY to San Francisco. Estimates have run from $500 - $1,000. Hard to tell who is reputable and who isn't. I mainly got the estimates as a sanity check and will ultimately let the dealer decide who to ship with, hoping they have a reputable carrier they know. I figure the risks are low. If something bad happens the car is insured by the carrier and my own insurance. Of course, I would be very sad, but I'm torn about whether driving 1200 miles right out of the gate, non-stop, is a smart thing to do. Thoughts?

03-16-2004, 04:59 PM	#10
miniracer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 103 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I've driven that run before and it is pretty desolate for most of the way (I-80) and it is nowhere you'd want the car to crap out. If it was me I'd have it shipped and avoid the stress. My 2 cents.