We tracked our cars through the manufacturing process and then on the 'Ship Carriers' from Japan. Now my car is on it's final journey home, on a truck from California to Minnesota: I just found out that the truck carrying my PiP is parked for night in the vicinity of the Texas / Oklahoma border. Cool!!! Is any one else having their car shipped via truck or train? (I assume that john1701a's new PiP is also onboard the same truck as mine)
My PIP is being trucked from Newark, NJ to Rochester, NY. Unloaded off ship Tuesday, 2/6/12. How did you find the Truck with your PIP?
I emailed my shipping company's representative who talked with (or texted) the driver about his current location. I expect further updates. (And Dianne can be happy that she will probably not be bothered by me any more ) Too bad, there isn't a web-site where I could go to to get his current GPS coordinates (but then, how much of my time, would I waste getting periodic updates???)
And how did you get the Trucking Company's name? Aren't they dispatched by Toyata at the Shipping Port, and not by the local dealer?
My car was purchased in California. They are not sold in Minnesota. How I get my car is completely up to me (I could have driven it to Minnesota myself). I chose to have it sent to me on a truck. Though, some companies offered a slightly cheaper price, I decided to go with the company my dealer (Dianne at Carson Toyota) recommended. I am pleased to have gotten an update. They certainly wouldn't need to offer that to get my business but it is nice.
I am paying $825 to have my car shipped from Carson, CA to Minneapolis, MN. I had to pay a $200 deposit and I will pay the balance when they deliver the car. I filled out an online form to get quotes and received close to 15 offers within hours. The best price was about $700 but I decided to just go with the company Dianne regularly uses. The cheaper offers seemed almost 'gimmicky' and that made me nervous. Why gamble with my $32K car just to save a few hundred bucks? Hopefully my car will be here by mid-week!
Thanks for the info. I am curious - I presume you pay MN tax and not CA tax? For years I have been on Priuschat just for repair/techincal questions, and was unaware of the community that is here. So, I made up my own plan, probably not the best one! I am flying to Buffalo NY (ticket $163), the dealer will pick me up, and I will spend the next 15 hours driving back to WI. My car is on the truck right now on its way to Buffalo, but I had to buy my ticket a month ago, so wont get to see it until 4/6. Next time I do my research here, first, and truck from the west coast! I wonder how many curious onlookers gawk at the vehicle while it waits 3 1/2 weeks for me to come and get it?
Last fall I considered buying a car from Dianne and shipping it to my daughter in Ohio. The savings over buying in Ohio would have mostly gone to pay the shipping. Dianne told me that the brokers who come in with the low prices wind up paying the truckers less. This in turn leaves the car sitting until a trucker has space available, rather than being the prime reason for the trip. Better to go with her recommended trucker, somebody she has dealt with previously. By going online one time and entering the basics, I wound up with five or six brokers emailing and calling me constantly over the next couple of days. The guys are like sharks smelling blood in the water!
I'm doing that too... Buying in Buffalo and driving to Chicago. Toyota gave me a built date of 2/29 but the dealer isn't expecting delivery until 4/20 or so. Does that sound right? I haven't bought air yet. Chris
Mine was built on 1/31, arrived at port on 2/6 and got to Newark on 3/6. My e-mail from Toyota said it was "on its way" on 3/9. West Herr is reporting arrival between 3/14 and 3/20. I needed to give notice for a Friday off of work, so played it safe and bought 6 weeks out as soon as I knew the car was on the boat. Watch for me driving through Chicago on 4/7 at 4PM! Mark
Actually, I do not have to pay CA sales tax. If I drove it off of the lot in California (in bringing it home to MN) I would have had to pay CA sales tax. I'm not sure if I'd still have to pay MN sales tax too but CA sales tax is high (8.5%?!) and I didn't want to have to go through the hassle of getting credit for MN sales tax, even if that was possible. I also didn't want to drive a new car such a long distance without a break. I didn't want to be away from my family for a couple of day's either (and who's to say that I wouldn't get caught in a massive snow storm on my way home anyway). Work is also very busy for me right now too. Shipping from CA seemed like the best option.
An update... I will get my car early tomorrow morning! I could have received it tonight but the trucker wouldn't have been able to get it here until 10:30PM. I am tired now (it was a great day for an 8-mile run today in MN) and I want to inspect the car in the daylight tomorrow. It will be fun day tomorrow!
I saw your PHV... waiting on the carrier for you. Too bad it was getting dark by the second and it was spinkling rain; otherwise, I would have been able to take a photo. My delivery inspection was with a flashlight. Oh well, at least you know your car is fine. 24 hours from now, you'll be sharing drive stories with us. Good luck trying to sleep tonight! I know I won't be able to. :rockon: .
Those of you who had their cars delivered to your homes by truck, did you tip the driver upon taking delivery of the car?
