I have just purchased a new MINI from International MINI but I cannot decide how to ship the car to me.

Currently I am undecided on whether 1) to use open carrier or enclosed carrier
and 2) to get top load option or not.

I know it is the safest to ship with enclosed carrier with top load option but this is also the most costly option.

Since I have never shipped cars before, I would really appreciate if anyone here can share your past shipping experience with me.

Thank for your advice :smile:

 

Always plan for a couple extra days for deliver beyond what they tell you. Just trust me on that one. Oh, and don't use A-1 Auto Shippers.

Open carrier is fine, although we are into the winter months, so depending on the route the truck will take that could be an issue. I had mine delivered open carrier from TN to OR without any chips or problems.

R

 

Davbret,

Did you get the top load option when you use the open carrier? I am asking this because I don't know if it make a big difference since the car is exposed to road debris anyway.

Thanks,

20g

 

Always enclosed. Doesn't matter top or bottom. Make sure
same driver picks up and delivers. No on and off loading on trip
is VERY important.

 

...and make sure you aren't dealing with a broker.
That is when the car can be moved from truck to truck in transit..

 

I think this is what you should do.

1. Buy a plane ticket to where your MINI is
2. Buy some treats, get in MINI and drive it home!!

 

>>I think this is what you should do.
>>
>>1. Buy a plane ticket to where your MINI is
>>2. Buy some treats, get in MINI and drive it home!!
And if you can do that you could always buy me a plane ticket....roadtrip!!

 

What are you thinking?? Fly, get on a train, or a bus, or maybe hitch-hike. Then you can drive back.....

Nik

 

2minis,

I have read on another post that you used Intercitylines and you did not have a problem with them. Did they use same driver picks up and delivers, and with no on and off loading on trip? Or is it something that I need to special request from them?

I have already received a quote from them but I do not know if it included these features.

Thanks for your advice.

20g

 

>>I think this is what you should do.
>>
>>1. Buy a plane ticket to where your MINI is
>>2. Buy some treats, get in MINI and drive it home!!

I really wish I can fly out there and drive it back. It would be a fun road trip in a new MINI. Unfortunately I just cannot afford the time it takes to do that. I can only afford a two day weekend road trip back but Milwaukee to LA is just too far to be done in two days.

As a result, shipping the car back is my only option.

Thanks for your opinion anyway.

 

>>2minis,
>>
>>I have read on another post that you used Intercitylines and you did not have a problem with them. Did they use same driver picks up and delivers, and with no on and off loading on trip? Or is it something that I need to special request from them?
>>
>>I have already received a quote from them but I do not know if it included these features.
>>
>>Thanks for your advice.
>>
>>20g
I used them years ago to ship an MGB from New Mexico to NY. At that time same driver picked up and delivered. Ask the question when you speak to them again. They have been around a long time and do alot of the big shows. They do a vehicle check at pickup and note any marks etc. You won't have any when leaves and none when it arrives.
2minis....

 

I used DAS to ship mine from CT to CA. They are expensive, but very fast, they were a pleasure to deal with. The bigest problems with the cheaper shippers is it takes forever, they can't give you any exact or even close dates for pickup. DAS grabbed my car with only a few days notice, shipped it enclosed, and they offer sattilite tracking. It was 7 days from the time I first called them to the time I had my car.

 

If you can spare the time, I would get a plane ticket and fly out and drive it back. A terriffic way to break in a new engine is to run it for an extended road trip (varying engine rpms and gearing of course).