Road Trip or Transport?

[RllyDrvrIX]

Buffalo, NY to Portland, OR?

I can drive my 2011 X5 35i or have it shipped.

What would "you" do and why?

[PAX5]

Originally Posted by RllyDrvrIX

Buffalo, NY to Portland, OR?

I can drive my 2011 X5 35i or have it shipped.

What would "you" do and why?

1. When? (weather)
2. Why? (personal use: will save cost, selling: will add miles and possibly damage)

[mitch808]

Probably not the best time of year to drive, e.g. uncertain weather.

On the flipside, gas prices are at an all time low...

Do what you want to spend in time and money. A car transport will be more than $1k. You'll probably spend $500 in fuel, and then a few hotel nights and food. But have a story to tell to friends and family...

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by RllyDrvrIX

Buffalo, NY to Portland, OR?

I can drive my 2011 X5 35i or have it shipped.

What would "you" do and why?

But we're not "you" so who cares what we think

Do you like cross-country road trips, with the chance to visit some amazing destinations? While at the same time driving day after day after day to get to your destination?

I live in Seattle & recently bought an X5 in Sacramento CA. At first I figured to drive it up, but the cost was so cheap I just shipped it. I think it depends on your situation, and you're interest in driving. If it were summer I think Buffalo to Portland would be a blast…there is so much to see along the way. This time of year sounds like a PITA.

[Flying Ace]

Drive it.
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=894582

[blue dragon]

I saw drive it, road trips are awesome.

[RllyDrvrIX]

Why? Relocating for work

When? Late Feb/early March

Love road trips, driving and the peaceful solitude of the cabin over trips.

The weather is a wild-card but my travels dates are relatively flexible.

I have 3 vehicles to ship, work pays for 2. $1,250 quote, gas/expenses to drive under $1K.

Thanks for the feedback so far!

[Poppyboy]

Keep in mind, there's a safety component (no $ value), additional miles/wear on the car, and after gas, hotel and food, not much of a savings vs. shipping. Couple that with the stress of moving and the weather, and it may not be the best time. If that stuff doesn't outweigh the peace and adventure of a road trip, then go for it.

[witz323]

Road trip all the way. Pick some cool points of interest and some restaurants. You can't go wrong. Last summer I bought my X5 in Georgia and drove it all the way back to Wisconsin by myself. It was a blast. This website helped me find some fantastic food stops I would have never found by myself. Check it out: http://www.tvfoodmaps.com/

[serge1]

Originally Posted by jiggz

I live in Seattle & recently bought an X5 in Sacramento CA. At first I figured to drive it up, but the cost was so cheap I just shipped it. I think it depends on your situation, and you're interest in driving.

Sacto-Sea drive could get boring quick, especially through Oregon, so can't blame you for shipping the vehicle.

Shasta area could be fun on a 50i though.

Was the cost to ship that cheap?
Even a not so economical 50i can make the trip on $130 last summer.

[smass]

I have done both. FL to CA. 3 drives and 1 ship. Shipping is a pain because you are not really sure when they are going to pick up or deliver. You will get a 5-15 day window on pickup. Get some quotes now if you are curious.

We paid $1400 to ship vs. $1000 to drive for gas, hotel food. The high speed, 80 mph speed limits, will kill your MPGs.

Doubt you would go this way bit I-40 was my favorite trip. It follows Rt 66 route and you can see lots of good stuff in AZ and NM. I-10 is boring. I-80 is not much better.

[retusn]

I shipped a Corvette from VA Beach to Indiana. I don't want to do that again. My car sat in a warehouse in Detroit for 5 days until they transferred it and sent it to Indiana. It would have taken me 12 hours to drive it out here and a plane ticket. I won't ship a car again. Too many unknowns.
Oh the car was pristine when it left our house in VA Beach, it arrived and looked like a flock of sea gulls sat and crapped on the car for the entire trip.

[neliconcept]

I'd set yourself up a route that would take you through colorado or go through Montana. Do some high altitude roads if they aren't fully closed (most likely will be but depends on the winters out there right now)

I've driven I20, I40, I70, I80 and I90 across.

[jacobpdx]

Originally Posted by jiggz

I live in Seattle & recently bought an X5 in Sacramento CA. At first I figured to drive it up, but the cost was so cheap I just shipped it.

Which broker/carrier did you use, and how was your experience? I also just bought an X5M, and need to ship it from Santa Clara to Portland, OR. I'm going to ship it enclosed.

In my opinion it is fing ridiculous that I have to ship the car at all, and potentially wait up to 15 days, just to avoid paying sales tax as an Oregon resident, when the drive could be easily done within one day after a quick flight down to SFO.

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by jacobpdx

Which broker/carrier did you use, and how was your experience? I also just bought an X5M, and need to ship it from Santa Clara to Portland, OR. I'm going to ship it enclosed.

In my opinion it is fing ridiculous that I have to ship the car at all, and potentially wait up to 15 days, just to avoid paying sales tax as an Oregon resident, when the drive could be easily done within one day after a quick flight down to SFO.

Well, I didn't pick the company. The BMW dealer where I bought the vehicle from offered to pay 1/2 the shipping cost and they shipped my X5 via Savun Logistics (http://www.uship.com/profile/savun85/). I have no idea how they picked that company, but it arrived in 3 days or so and other than being coated in bugs (as expected during the summertime) it was delivered as expected.

[lanbrown]

Originally Posted by jiggz

I have no idea how they picked that company

Cheapest price most likely. That is the point of uship; to see how cheap you can get it shipped.

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by lanbrown

Cheapest price most likely. That is the point of uship; to see how cheap you can get it shipped.

Of course. But really most of these outfits are all the same.

I nearly had an X5 shipped from NY to WA state where I live and got bombarded with emails from various shipping companies. All the prices were nearly the same…

[jacobpdx]

Originally Posted by jiggz

Of course. But really most of these outfits are all the same.

I nearly had an X5 shipped from NY to WA state where I live and got bombarded with emails from various shipping companies. All the prices were nearly the same…

This is what I'm dealing with now, which makes it nearly impossible to make an informed choice. I wish I could just drive the damn thing home. The only places I've found that seem to be legit/reputable(planning to ship it enclosed given the shorter distance and don't mind the cost), like intercity lines don't go to Oregon.

[WallyM5]

Drive it.

[jacobpdx]

Originally Posted by WallyM5

Drive it.

If you were referreing to me I would except it will cost about $5K in CA taxes I otherwise don't have to pay as an OR resident

For the OP I would probably agree too though, could be an epic adventure.

[lanbrown]

Originally Posted by jacobpdx

If you were referreing to me I would except it will cost about $5K in CA taxes I otherwise don't have to pay as an OR resident

For the OP I would probably agree too though, could be an epic adventure.

Is this at a dealer? If so, ask them to register it in OR for you. The dealer should be more than happy to take care of that for you.

[jacobpdx]

Originally Posted by lanbrown

Is this at a dealer? If so, ask them to register it in OR for you. The dealer should be more than happy to take care of that for you.

Yeah unfortunately California tax code is ridiculous in this regard. I've read it myself, and there's no way around paying sales tax if the vehicle is driven in the state by the purchaser or an agent of the purchaser after the sale.

Must be shipped which sucks. I'll get my X5M up here someday haha.