Well, now that I know I will be grabbing a new IX come summer, I have to figure out how the hell I'm gonna get it all the way back to Toronto... I have a few options so please feel free to chime in and tell me if you think something might be more feasible, or if there is a better way to go about what I want to do.. etc...

anyway...

1. The most painful way would be to drive the damn thing from Cali.... alllll the way up to Toronto. I am told this is at least a 4 day trip, and can span as long as a week depending on a number of variables.... I would have someone with me the whole time, so we could switch off, but it really seems like for all the money, time, miles, etc. it would take, there is probably an easier method, right? I mean I would have to fill up with 94 everywhere I went, I doubt I would be getting the best milage in the world, and I would have to stay at a hotel at least 4 nights throughout the time. I'm guessing I'd be looking at upwards of a grand in the end.... this was my first choice until I really started to think about how painful the drive would be on both my body and my wallet.... not to mention the Evo doesn't have cruise control and is notorious for getting a bit uncomfortable on long trips!

2. I could buy the car in Cali... drive it for a few weeks (I will be there for around a month), then ship it off. There are a number of problems with this method, as I am not 100% sure I would have a house to send it to, but if I did it would probably be a family friend of ours in TN or MA. I would have to drive another 12 hours after that regardless. Before I start thinking about this, I was wondering if I could get an idea of what I would be paying to ship a car across the country, with a good company. I was also wondering if these types of companies have areas where they can have cars dropped off for customers. For example, it would be great to have my car dropped off in Buffalo so I could just grab it a drive a few hours home. How much would I be looking to spend on all this? Is it REALLY safe to have the car shipped? Do they often get rock chips, or scratches throughout the process? I am really worried about this, but in a way I feel that it might actually be safer than driving it thousands of miles on the highway, as you are bound you run into at least a few rock chips with such a long ride...

I also want to know how long it usually takes to have a car shipped from say Cali to NY

3. I don't know... does anyone have any ideas or suggestions. I am getting this thing back to Toronto, but I just want to know the most efficient way that's safe for my car. I'll be safe and say I want to stay within something like a 1500 dollar budget.

I'm excited but really frustrated at the same time. Help a brotha out with some advice guys

 

I faced this problem a couple of years ago when I brought my car in South Dekota. I was trying to get a shipping company to ship the car to NY. It was difficult because it was off the main route the truckers used. I doubt to will have a problem finding a company that will ship your car from Cali to NY. However Cali to Toronto may be a problem. I just decided to get on a plane and go pick my baby up. It took me about 24hrs and 2 speeding tickets to get the car back to NY. If you have a good buddy with you it will be fun, if you decide to drive alone it will be an Adventure. The benifits of driving the car cross country= she will get broken in no time. Take the time off and drive it. If memory serves me , I believe it will take about 5 bsiness days to get the car... I dont thimk the truckers are allowed to work on Sun (union laws).

 

Shipping it to Toronto would not be an option I don't think. It's not sold in Canada so I have a feeling it would cause some trouble. New York would be fine.

5 business days sounds like a pretty decent span... It would take almost that long for me to drive it myself. Any idea on cost? I just figure it would probably be cheaper to ship the damn thing than to actually drive that far. I will always have to fill 94 octane and I will have to stay over at a few hotels. I also have to worry about the car getting vandalized in random areas, etc. etc... shipping seems like a better way.

 

Are you going to keep the car registered in cali? You wont be able to register it in TO without paying sales tax, never mind the fact that you cant cause it isnt legal in Canada due to the impact tests. Are you going to register it in NY? You will need to have it state inspected every year in NY, so you could drive to buffalo, but you will need a NY address. If the OPP catch you without it inspected, you will be in the ****. Not to mention, what is the address you are going to use for insurance, cause you wont be able to insure it in Canada as well, AFAIK.

 

In regard to shipping costs, I had a quote to ship my car from LA to Kansas City in a covered transport and with $50k shipping insurance coverage I was quoted anywhere form $1400 to $1800. The shipping insurance was only about $50 extra, and I've heard it's just throwing money away if you already have the car insured, but I had it included in my quotes for curiosity's sake. Hope that helps.

 

You don't need 94 octane, kalifornia uses 91 octane and their cars seem to survive.

The only way to pull this off is to register the car to an address of a family friend somewhere in USA (preferably close to Canada), pay sales tax (6-8%) in that state, and then get is registered in that state and finally drive the car up to Canada. Good luck...

 

Please guys this is not an issue of where it will be registered! If you could please answer the questions I posted I would really appreciate it!

I am a Canadian/American citizen. I have residences in both the US and Canada and I would get the car registered, insured, etc. etc. in the states and then drive up to Toronto to go to school!

I am getting a lot of different prices for shipping. Some have told me 800, some have said 1400!

As for insurance, I am getting extra coverage while in Canada. I will be in school finishing off my last year of university there and then going to Cali for grad school

I have all the fine details worked out, I just gotta figure out the most efficient way to get my baby from Cali to Canada >.<

All help is appreciated!!!!

 

Have it trucked from Cali to Buffalo, NY. It should be about $1200.
The it's only an hour to TO.
Not sure about your experience but I drove from Mobile, Alabama to Toronto by myself. It took about 24 hours with a few breaks. LOVE IT!
And I drove by myself more than a few times already.
Good luck keeping your car safe because it will be like an exotic car up there.

 

you could fly it over.........i think its like 500-600 bucks to send the car by air from cali to MA. Not sure thats what my buddy told me. Good Luck. Oh and if you need some one to drive your 9 from MA to Tronto i have no problem doing that!!!!

 

Ev0: Do I need a location for them to drop it off in Buffalo? The best case scenario would be to have them take it to Buffalo for me but I don't know anyone who lives there, so would they let me pick it up from some kind of designated area or something???

Also, I realize this car is going to be really rare so I will be outfitting it with a very good alarm as soon as I get it in to Toronto. Probably going to be a lot of haters as well so let's hope I don't post to many threads about some ***** hating on my ride.

I want to consider driving it from Cali, but my Mom would have to drive half the time, and I honestly don't think she would be really happy driving the Evo for 12 hour stretches... nor would she really be used to a car like this. Plus there are things to worry about like rock chips, getting my oil changed, etc. etc. etc.

Autobon: I didn't even know you can fly cars to certain destinations but it sounds safer and cheaper than having it driven.... do you know how much it would be to New York?

Hell, I have a house on Martha's Vineyard so I've done the drive to MA dozens of times. I'd be completely fine with driving from there. Thanks for the offer to drive but I want to get behind the wheel of this thing at all costs!

 

ill find out for you......

 

just drive it!

I have gone from the sf bay area to san diego and back, the evo did just fine. It will be a lot cheaper than shipping, and the scenary is well worth the trip.

 

I am sure an you arrange to pick it up from the transport company.

 

Autobon: Thanks man much appreciated!

Chris: If I drive, I will be driving for 5 days straight and get home about 2 days before school starts. I don't really feel like rushing so much and screwing up my schedule. I have decided I'll save a road trip for a time when I have time to actually enjoy the trip!

Evo: I guess I'll have to look into pick up locations.

Anyone else who knows good shipping companies, or companies that fly cars please let me know!!

 

I would be willing to bet most transport companies have a lot to store your car until you can pick it up. If you are shipping the car by truck and you are flying you should beat the car there and not even have to store it. Just pick it up at the lot.