? New Eskie, have it shipped or fly and drive ?

[FatDog]

Gentlemen,

I'm looking for some of your guy's thoughts..........

I recently purchased an Eskie in Texas and I live in ND. I have purchased several other vehicles out of state over the years and all have been shipped up to me without issue. Reason for purchasing out of state, I cannot get pay these inflated prices we have up here!!!! I have saved any where from 3500.00 to most recently 7000.00 on vehicles buying away from ND!!!

So after closing the deal on this last purchase I began my search for another shipper but for what ever reason prices have gone up and it seems to becoming more of a hassle???

The last vehicle I had shipped up from Texas was a Denali, which was about three years and it cost me about 700 if I remember right. Now I'm getting prices anywhere from 1000 to 1600!!!! Which I cannot figure out, I realize things can go up but when simply comparing the price of fuel from three years ago to now.....it's cheaper now. Another reason these shipping brokers claim it's higher is because of the location, the Eskie is in San Angelo TX, which they claim is out of the way.

Anyways, this brings me to my dilemma......suck it up and pay the shipping or.......grab a flight and drive it home???

Right now I can fly down one way for 300.00, jump in her and head for home which is 1200 miles straight north! The other thing is that I could actually use some of my airline miles and get the ticket for free and my only cost would be my time and gas.

So any thoughts or information on other shippers????

Thanks!

 

[Yukon John]

I think you answered your own question. If you can take the time...fly down and drive back. It's a WIN...WIN !! LOL

 

[FatDog]

Yeah, I hear ya and I am leaning towards the fly and drive but want to make sure my bases are covered.

 

[Fir_Na_Tine]

Fuel prices are on the rise somewhat at least here in Jersey so that could account for the cost increase. Also the location does seem a bit out of the way and not in major trucking lanes. The interstate highways aren't too close by. I use to do OTR trucking and always remember Texas sucked for getting a load out.

I'd do the road trip.

 

[Tiki]

My Dad just drove down from SD to TX to pickup his new Silverado.luckily I was buying his Sierra for him so the round trip worked for both of us Texas dealers are more better.



The only thing to consider is if you want to follow the engine break in period (500 miles below 65 mph). I drove my dads for the first two weeks because you know I'm a nice guy.

 

[Wake]

I've never been brave enough to buy a vehicle sight unseen. Too many horror stories I've read of different pictures used to represent vehicle, condition not up to description, mechanical problems, etc.

There was also the drive it home factor that worried me. If the transmission, diff, engine goes out 1000 miles from home then you're at the mercy of wherever you take it to be fixed in a strange town.

That being said, the closest i came to buying a vehicle long distance was an 09 Escalade from a Cadillac dealership in TX. TX seems to have the cheapest used SUVs in the country plus if it's spent it's life there then there's no rust to contend with. Every time I work on one of my east coast older, used vehicles I wish I had ventured out west/south to buy one.

 

[FatDog]

No I hear ya but this will be the fifth one I've bought out of state and all have been good, especially when I went to resell!

I just sold our Denali that I bought three years ago, for 500.00 more then I paid for it.

I think it really comes down to doing your homework and feeling comfortable with the dealer. This one was purchased from a large GMC dealer and they offered a 60 day warranty.

7 grand cheaper then here with a short term warranty, is hard to pass up!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Erik G]

Yes - San Angelo is in the middle of no where. Even if you do get someone, it will sit a long time before they actually will pick it up. It's not on any major freeway

 

[CrashTestDummy]

Wow, $1000-$1600?!? We had two vehicles shipped from Florida to Texas, two years apart, and both were about $700 each. The wait was long on one, but very short on the other. The last car shipped was early last year. I can't believe the pricing has jumped that much.

I had ours shipped primarily because of time, which is precious to me. Additionally, at ~$700, I'd probably burn that much up in fuel getting the vehicle home. If your time is not an issue, you probably won't find cheaper gas in the country than now, so go for it.

 

[Erik G]

Florida to Houston is different - tons and tons of cars go back and forth between here and Florida. I can get a Yukon to Tampa for $600. It's all I10 and it will go with 7 to 9 other cars

San Angelo to ND? All 2 lane highway for 1200 miles. And truthfully, it would probably get a local tow to a yard and sit. Then from that yard it will go to a yard in Dallas and sit for a full load to Fargo or Bismark