SHuggsUNC

iTrader: (1)

Hey guys,

I'm sure you guys don't know me, but I'm an active reader of the .org. I have a question concerning a big trip for me in coming up in May that I'm already having to make plans for. I live in Western NC and I'll moving to Bandon, OR for six months to do a golf internship (I'm a college student) and I'm trying to figure out the best options about taking my car, leave it at home, shipping it..etc. It's going to be right at about 3,000 miles to get there so I've just been thinking about the cost of driving, all the extra mileage on my car etc.

I've been told it's not a total necessity to have it, but I would like to have it if I wanted to explore a bit of the west coast while I had the chance. I was wondering if any of you guys had any experience with cross country moves for a short period of time and if so, what advice you could offer that could help me figure the best way to go about it. Thanks.

phatboislim

iTrader: (27)

get an overall checkup of your car..leaks, belt, oil change, plugs, filters...the usual and i would take it on the road

loeborg

As phat said, get the car checked out and go. One additional thing I would do is plan my route out and write down the number of several dealers along the route just in case something does go wrong, you won't be scrambling to get a Nissan number in god knows where.People tend to make hasty decisions under pressure.

KRRZ350

iTrader: (29)

Check the oil often during the trip, for some reason every time I've hit 800-1000 miles continuious no matter what kind of car it is it will be down like 3-4 qt's of oil!!!

Lontar1

iTrader: (5)

Tom Tom and enjoy your trip...........

Armon

iTrader: (4)

Can you go without a car while you are there? If so, consider flying and just renting a car for a trip or two along the coast.

I forget the exact number, but I believe the official "cost" of driving, taking gas, insurance, wear and tear, lower resale value due to miles, etc. into account, has been calculated by the "experts" at around 35 cents per mile. 3,000 miles there, another 3,000 back adds up to at least 2 grand. That's not even counting any driving you do while you're there.

SHuggsUNC

iTrader: (1)

Armon I essentially got the same total counting hotels, food, gas, and oil changes there and back. I've looked at shipping a little bit and it looks like I could ship it for a little over 1 grand and save the mileage on the car and also potential problems along the way if something were to happen. Does anyone have any experience with shipping? Naturally it's not something that I really know that much about but seems like somewhat of a good option..

Maxgig

iTrader: (5)

"Jane, you ignorant sl_ _".

Man its only a freakin car, screw all the incidentals, if you want your car with you then drive the damn thing to the golf internship. I think some of the guys on this site over analyze our car ownership and go waaay over board. Take the one guys advice and map out your route, pack a few meals if you can't/don't want to spend money on food. But don't even think about spending $1000 dollars to ship your car, IMO thats absurd.

I once drove my 97 SE from NC to FL to TX and back to NC in a little over 12 days for a total of about 8k miles. I was going to change my oil when I returned but did it at my normal interval only because my brother had a garage to do it in. If you've kept up with the maintenance on your car it should make it there and back no problem, just "Add Gas And Drive".

nlmaxima

iTrader: (10)

I would drive. I have a return trip planned for July 4th till Aug. 3rd for over 20,000 kms or around 12,000 miles. I am leaving St.John's, Newfoundland, Canada and driving to Oregon, I will travel through 24 states and 6 provinces. I can't wait to do the trip the only thing is I will be staying in hotels for 30 nights. I would never pay for someone to move my car, I have a car to drive.

Armon

iTrader: (4)

the 2 grand I quoted was the calculated cost to the car alone (after gas/depreciation/wear and tear/etc) but then you have to add in personal costs too, such as food, drinks, and hotels if you want to be able to sleep for more than 1-2 hours at a time.

can you tell I don't like road trips? SC to MA and back... never again!!

oh and don't forget to add the cost of any tickets, as I was reminded of in my last 6+ hour drive.

SHuggsUNC

iTrader: (1)

Haha..I kind of caught on to that. I definitely thought about tickets..seems like on a 40 hour trip I'd almost be bound to get one. Well I'd really like to make a cool trip out of it, but I'll be pressed for time to get out there. Maybe on the way back I could work in a little sight-seeing or something..

Teufelhunden

iTrader: (8)

WTF? 2k? im sorry but your calculations are WAY off.

first of all, is your car paid off? if it is, you should do it. its not going to cost you more than 500 dollars for the whole trip to CA, if you know how to spend your money. all you need is an oil change when you get there, but your car is not going to break down that easily. but make sure your car is good to go, fluids, tires. have extra oil. and have fun.

wyche89

change your oil before you go, and when you get there, you'll be good to go.. i'd want to have a car if i were you.. you have no idea what the environment is like there, and it's better to have your car and not need it, then need (or want) it and not have it

Armon

iTrader: (4)

Your reading comprehension is the only thing that's way off.

Now for a little 6th grade math:

(6000 miles) x ($0.35) = $2,100

nlmaxima

iTrader: (10)

A 2007 Maxima with 100,000 miles would be worth? (100,000 miles x $.35 = $35,000) + as soon as you drive it off the lot it goes down by at least $2000 with almost no miles. What would a 2002 maxima be worth with 120,000 miles? If you average gas at $3.20 per gallon and say you get 25 miles per gallon(all highway driving) it would =$0.128 per mile for gas.

Armon

iTrader: (4)

The 35 cents per mile has nothing to do with what a car is worth. Nor is it a measure of what gas alone would cost. How much would you have spent on that 2007 Maxima with 100,000 miles on tires, oil, transmission fluid, plugs, insurance, 30k maintenance, 60k maintenance, etc?

It's an industry standard for what a company will reimburse you for driving. I'm sure you could find some situation where it won't come out exactly to 35 cents, especially because every car gets different gas mileage. Or maybe you're a mechanic and do everything yourself. It's simply a calculated average, based on the average person and the average car. Whether you think it's "right" or not is irrelevant - it's up to Shruggs to decide what he wants to do.

I don't think it will matter much in the end, either way.

Tippy Toes

iTrader: (6)

Try amtrak first, im not sure if they run west to east but I know they go north and south. You could save miles on the car and maybe money as well. If not like everyone else says get an oil change and get a camcorder and enjoy your long trip.

SHuggsUNC

iTrader: (1)

The car is paid off, but my reference was for 2k for the WHOLE trip there and back. I hadn't used the calculation Armon used though. I had simply added up the cost of most likely 3 hotels (x2), food, 6,000 miles worth of gas, and most likely 2 oil changes. So my way of calculation came out essentially like Armon's

MerlotMax

Good god, it that what you "learn" in college. How to let other peaple do you research and make up your mind for you. Seem to me it comes down to 2 questions;

1) Q. Do I want my car there? A. Yes, Do your maintenance and drive the f*#E$%#$ thing.

2) Q. Can I do with out my car?. A. Yes, fly or take the train.

Tough choice ain't it. Let your ***** drop and make up your own mind. You have a chance of a life time. Your young, single, cross counrty road trip, like the old tag line-Enjoy the Ride!

SHuggsUNC

iTrader: (1)

This was the question I had asked. I didn't ask if I should take it or not, I asked if anyone had any experience with moves for a short period of time and how they went about it. So next time you could read the whole thread..

Prophecy99

iTrader: (1)

Whateverway you go about doing it. Good luck and enjoy it. It should be a great time.

sparks03max

iTrader: (7)

considering how cheap it is to rent a car, I'd just rent for your trips down the coast and save some money and mileage

SickSE

Let me get this straight... Western NC to Boston MA is 3,000 miles?


Thats about 900 tops.

SHuggsUNC

iTrader: (1)

Boston,MA?? Not real sure where you got that..

95 Maxnout

iTrader: (15)

Drive that bad boy....ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!

merlin2375

iTrader: (3)

If you have some time to stop and see a few places either on the way there or on the way back, road trip it. It's a great experience to drive through and see the sights, and stop off in a few places. After college, your opportunities to do something like this may be few and far between

SHuggsUNC

iTrader: (1)

Well thanks for all the advice - this will be one more thing to show the 'rents to convince them. I would definitely like to travel the country..it would definitely be a blast. Thanks again.

/thread