Ongoing General Automotive Thread 2.0

[Table 5]

Does anyone have any shipper recommendations for transporting a car from the US?

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Does anyone have any shipper recommendations for transporting a car from the US?

Where from? You are likely better off to fly there and drive it back. That being said there are still a hundred carriers a week coming back empty from Spokane, Billings, Salt Lake and Vegas. Would be worth contacting Evans Trucking out of Coaldale as they have taken over (from Western Tradewinds) the truck shipping out of Southern Alberta. Theres others but these are the ones I know of best.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

Where from? You are likely better off to fly there and drive it back. That being said there are still a hundred carriers a week coming back empty from Spokane, Billings, Salt Lake and Vegas. Would be worth contacting Evans Trucking out of Coaldale as they have taken over (from Western Tradewinds) the truck shipping out of Southern Alberta. Theres others but these are the ones I know of best.

Thanks, will take a look.

If it was closer, I'd definitely fly and drive... but it's in Connecticut (so about 4000kms) so I'm a little hesitant about the time investment and putting needless miles on the car. Although the one quote I've gotten so far was $4K (although in an enclosed trailer)... so I may end up needing to do so anyway.

[TimSJ]

one thing you might consider would be to just get it shipped from CT to a close border point to you then bring it across.

Likely cheaper options keeping the shipping within the US than having them bring across the border.

I did a MB CLK CAbriolet from Chicago to Bangor Maine last year for about $1200 US (open Carrier), a Range Rover from Miami to Bangor (open Carrier) $1500 also did a Boxster from California to Bangor but I can remember what that one cost. If i had shipped them all the way to me here in NB would have likely been double the cost

[Table 5]

Yeah, that's definitely an option as well. And a fall drive up from Montana is much more enticing than a drive mostly across the prairies. I've done NY to Calgary before, and things get pretty boring after the first day.

[Sylvanfan]

Even from a logistics perspective isn't the best landroute from out East to go thru the U.S until you get into North Dakota? Essentially you'd get from I84 to where it joins I90. Than you have options to either go to North Portal in Saskatchewan, or get it sent to somewhere in Montana.

If only the Hound was around to get you to Estevan....

[Table 5]

Yes, when I did the drive myself, North Portal is exactly where I crossed the border. I guess there's the potential to fly into Bismark or Minot instead of the Montana towns, and pickup from there. I'd either just have them come all the way to Calgary or somewhere closer to the AB border and then I can just handle customs etc myself.

[Bill Bumface]

Table 5, what'd you get!? What'd you get!?

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

Table 5, what'd you get!? What'd you get!?

Well I probably shouldn't jinx it since it's still pending a PPI, but looking to get a 993.

[photon]

Is it worth bringing cars up from the US just for generic fare? Or is it only good if looking for something specific or rare?

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by photon

Is it worth bringing cars up from the US just for generic fare? Or is it only good if looking for something specific or rare?

It depends on the car, but I think typically it's not worth it unless it's relatively rare or there's a huge gap in purchasing price. It all depends on where it's made and the age, but the duties and taxes and inspections definitely add up. In my case Ive been looking for something pretty specific, and the market in the US is just so much bigger.

It was a lot more worth it when the CAD was at par with USD.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Table 5

It was a lot more worth it when the CAD was at par with USD.

Boy do I ever miss those days.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Well I probably shouldn't jinx it since it's still pending a PPI, but looking to get a 993.

Sweet! Congrats! Variant/colour?

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

Sweet! Congrats! Variant/colour?

Nothing too crazy, just a base manual C2 manual coupe. Anything beyond that (S's, Turbos) is way beyond my budget. Still pretty pumped though to get back into the air-cooled (assuming it passes PPI).

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

The C2 is probably a better buy for what is at this point a classic collector vehicle, IMO.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

The C2 is probably a better buy for what is at this point a classic collector vehicle, IMO.

Agreed, the base 993s are a pretty solid ROI. The only real difference between them and the S cars is aesthetic (a wider ass being the biggest difference) and rarity. Performance is actually slightly worse in the S due to aero/weight. They are awesome for sure, but worth the 50-75% premium? Maybe for a collector, but not for someone like me.

I think in the big Porsche-world picture, the 993 gen itself is actually a relatively good buy right now...what with all the 964 hype the last few years taking away the spotlight. It's basically gotten to the point that an equivalent 964 is now often equal or more than a 993. Justified? I'm not so sure...especially when you consider that many 964s were bagged hard due to their red-header stepchild status for so long. 993's never really got cheap, so they were typically in hands of people who took care of them. Which gen is "better" is of course subjective, but it's much easier to buy a good example of a 993, and you're getting a generation that has a lot of the 964's issues worked out.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Depends on the model. My dream 911 would be a 964 Targa (well really a 930 snub but that's now a very unrealistic dream). But that's just because the subsequent Targas up until the 991 were pointless; basically just a coupe with a giant sunroof.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Depends on the model. My dream 911 would be a 964 Targa (well really a 930 snub but that's now a very unrealistic dream). But that's just because the subsequent Targas up until the 991 were pointless; basically just a coupe with a giant sunroof.

This was my dad's when I was about 20:

Spoiler!

I think it was an '84, which is maybe a 964? I don't know Porsche designations at all.

Anyway, two things:
1. It was the most fun car I've ever played with. He'd let me borrow it a couple days at a time and it was so amazing.
2. His joke was it cost him $1000 every time somebody took it out.

One time my brother borrowed it from my dad. Brother fell asleep, so I grabbed the keys and went ripping around. Then smoke started coming into the interior from somewhere. I got it home, put the keys back where I found them, and brother got blamed for driving too hard. Big win on that one (for me; $1000 for my dad).

Another time my cousin took it out and had the Targa top off. He was trying to "set a land speed record" and the headliner peeled off. Another $1000.

It went on and on like that with that car.

Maximum fun; expensive bill. Rinse and repeat.

My dream is to own a Targa again one day. I don't know Porsches like you guys, but I know that's what I want. I have one trick up my sleeve that may get me there...hopefully I'm not too old by the time I could be able to afford it.

edit to add: Yes, the car was brown. That ugly colour contributed to it being a good deal at the time hah.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

1984 would be a 911SC or a 911 3.2, not a 964, but that's a beautiful car for sure, despite the colour.

EDIT: That one appears to be a 911SC based on the fog lights so it might be 1983 rather than 1984.

[Table 5]

964 Targas are cool. It would be the one I would go for if I ever got another one.

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

But that's just because the subsequent Targas up until the 991 were pointless; basically just a coupe with a giant sunroof.

Have you had chance to drive one IRL? I own 996 Targa and it's my favourite aspect of the car. I have it down 80% of the time, and when I don't the glass roof gives an awesome airy feeling. It's much quicker to operate, and you don't need to fold or store the top itself, so I find it's more practical than the older basket handle targas.

The downside is that all that glass is not great for audio quality when the top is up (plus makes any rattles more audible too), and it's harder to see out back when the top is down.

Spoiler!