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Car Carrier Ship Tracking

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by JamesBurke, May 21, 2009.

  1. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

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    Eminent Ace EMINENT ACE
    Destination: BENICIA Arrives
    ETA: 2009-09-11 01:00

    then to Long Beach? (MOL website not accurate all the time)

    I have post 1 added to my Favorites menu below Priuschat.
     
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  2. DarioBarrera

    DarioBarrera New Member

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    I can't wait! This means my prius will be here next week. What a relief I drive a Chrysler 300C right now and I am getting 17mpg.
     
  3. regentofthesun

    regentofthesun New Member

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    James - Thank you for the great information and links!

    I know I'll have the canal cam streaming now until I hear something about the car. Ugh.

    One question - I think the Gulf States region comes through the Port of Houston. I didn't see Houston as a destination. Anyone know if they are coming through a different port?

    Thank in advance!:rolleyes:
     
  4. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

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    The cam is cool but your GST Prius isn't going via Panama. Gulf states cars come from Long Beach and/or Benicia by rail. Cheaper than the fees at the canal. Port of Houston Rail Port. Export of US made vehicles might be from Houston. What Ship you looking for? Expect 2 or 3 weeks port to dealer time.
     
  5. regentofthesun

    regentofthesun New Member

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    I would not have thought that they would receive them in Long Beach and then rail them here. Thank you for enlightening me!

    I don't have any information as of yet, he just told me it's a special order, it was placed and it should be "soon." No VIN, ETA or ship at this time.

    Thanks again for the info!
    Tom
     
  6. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

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  7. Ninja7

    Ninja7 New Member

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    I ordered my III w/Navi here in Honolulu on 8/12. After paying my deposit all I received was a sales agreement that list it as a back order. I was told it would be here in November. I see in this thread a lot of people getting VIN #'s and other info about ships shipping dates etc. I have none of these. Should I be concerned? How long should I have to wait until my dealer is able to give me more specific info? Right now they can't even tell me if it will be the beginning or end of November.
     
  8. MichTri

    MichTri New Member

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    I too am a bit envious of all these folks with VIN #s to track. I do not even have a month estimated. My dealer said that, on my behalf, he put in a "preference" for a Prius V with the Advanced Technology package into the system a few months ago. He reports that he updated it a month ago, but he has no idea when one will be available in our region.

    Is there more he could be doing to get the vehicle on his lot? Is this particular Prius really that hard to get a hold of in Michigan or is he not trying very hard?
     
  9. DarioBarrera

    DarioBarrera New Member

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    If you placed your order a few months ago then there should be a bunch of Prius' arriving in the next week or so. Every dealer is different so his allocation might be low. If I were you I would look around and see if there is anyone getting any in this week. The next allocation after this run is in November. Another thing is that there are some dealers that don't do many orders so you might be able to go by and pick one up without having to order one. The issue with the locations that do place orders is that they get so backed up that it might be months before they get to everyone.

    As for the person from Hawaii. November sounds about right. Regarding the Vin#'s I think that you only get the VIN once the car has arrived at the docks. I placed an order and I was given a sheet with all the info on the car but the vin number area is blank. But the car just arrived at Long Beach so I should get this info any day now. Good luck with your car. I hope you get it sooner then November, but word at all the dealerships is that the next wave is in November.
     
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  10. Dondoh

    Dondoh Aleatory Specialist

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    I was just told our car is on ship #691.
    Anyone know which ship that is?
     
  11. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

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    I think they stop in Hawaii on the return trip to Japan from Long Beach. But not every ship. That way they can take US made vehicles back. Michigan would be Benicia/San Fran. CA or maybe Portland. Might take a month port to dealer depending on port installed options.

    VIR's (Vehicle Inquiry Report) is what the dealer should give you if they have an actual car with vin in the delivery pipeline from Japan. Each vehicle is its own "shipping container" listed by vin on waybills, bill of lading, customs filing etc. for the ship its on. That could be 6,000 line items, no wonder they want to e-file the paper work.

    Maybe look around at a larger number of dealers. Our small dealer had 2 for 2 weeks and 1 for 10 days on the lot. Just added a 4th. Sale guy said that he sold 31 Toyota's in August as part of CARS but I don't think any were Prius as they didn't have any on the lot at the time.
     
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  12. cpatch

    cpatch New Member

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    Someone told me today that it takes a gallon of gas for one of these ships to go 35 feet. I wonder how many gallons per Prius that is to get a car here to the U.S.
     
  13. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

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    Toyota’s Solar Car Carrier | Autopia | Wired.com
    Extract data from here
     
  14. cpatch

    cpatch New Member

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  15. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

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  16. nieveser

    nieveser Junior Member

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    Hello
    I am waiting for my prius 2010 V to arrive at MI. I only know the VIN number and I was told by the dealer that the car should be at the dealer on September 15 to the 20th Does anyone knows if it is possible to track my car, if I know the VIN Number?
    Thanks
     
  17. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

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    not by VIN but your dealer shoud be able to give you a "vehicle inquiry report". This will show import ship arrival date and other info. This is part of Toyota's dealer dalily report system. How the dealers know whats coming. If your dealer will not provide this VIR, their just jerking you around and you should go elsewhere.

    What model and options did you want? Where are you in MI? Maybe we can find you a dealer and car close by.
     
  18. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

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  19. kfalandays

    kfalandays New Member

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    :confused: Hi James thanks for this, but every place I go to look for Sunbelt Spirit has no sign of it. How are you finding all this good info and what am I doing wrong?
     
  20. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

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    I havn't seen it since Panama but what I have listed is the shipping lines schedule. Waiting for it to show up some where. Most likely NY. No AIS for Jacksonville and our friend who can see the port hasn't said anything. SET inventory seams to indicate cars were offloaded in the last couple of days. ????