I need to have a 190D shipped from RI to MO. Does anyone here have a recommendation for a good shipper? Any practical experience with this?

SteveM

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'93 190E/D 2.5 Turbodiesel 5-speed (daily driver)
'87 190D 2.5 Turbo rustbucket - parts car
'84 Dodge Rampage diesel - Land Speed Record Holder
'13 Ram 2500 Diesel
'05 Toyota 4Runner

I had a very bad experience with a shipper that I will not go into now...I noticed in Hemmings Motor News that Fedex is now shipping cars..They seem like a good bet..

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83 300CDTurbo 307,000
2005 Honda Element 266,000
56 Nash Ambassador Country Club Special 34,000(under restoration presently)

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/car-audio-multimedia/125099-123-install-extreme-dynamat.html

SteveM,

This may not help much. I recently bought an ‘82 240D in Raleigh, NC that I wanted to ship to Nashville, TN. About 550 miles total. Contacted the usual suspects, like DAS auto shippers. They wanted about $700.00 dollars give or take. More than half of what I paid for the car! They have lots of options (terminal to terminal, but how do you get it to and from the terminal?, uninsured, uncovered, earliest available, etc.) that may add to or save on the price. My view was that at least some of the companies are just brokers. You accept the quote and they start shopping for who will haul at that price. I think that is why some of them are vague on the shipping dates. Finally you get mad, they raise the price bid to haul, and somebody ships the car, after a while or longer.

I also spoke to some used car dealers and auto auctions here and in NC to see if they could give me a lead on whom they work with shipping cars. I got a few names and numbers but almost nobody would call me back, or if they did they would say no and give me another name and phone number, etc. I did speak to some nice people along the way, but no results.

I got lucky twice in this instance. 1. Company business took me close to Raleigh so I went to pick up the car. 2. I drove the distance home with no incident, although crossing the “hump” of the Appalachia’s between Asheville and Knoxville had me staring at the oil pressure and temp gauges .

DAS seemed to be the best on the phone, but the $ was too much for me. Hope it all works out. Maybe the company is paying for the move in your case?

Clay

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2002 E320 Sedan 93K Designo Mocha Black Metallic!
1995 E320 Wagon 205K Black Wagon
1982 240D 183K SloPoke

I believe each of these cars are the final production year for that model.

In this case, I'm not moving, and I can't drive the car home in the condition it's in (bad transmission, only works in reverse). It's a car that I am buying. I am not prepared to fly from StLouis to RI, and then drive this car in reverse all the way back. My neck would get too stiff.

The timing isn't critical, and I know how most trucking lines operate (obnoxios brokers, missed deadlines, don't return calls, etc.) I am still holding out hope that someone will recommend a good low priced shipper that I can work with.

I can certainly pick the car up at a depot on my end if that helps to save some $$$.

Thanks for the input.

Steve.

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'93 190E/D 2.5 Turbodiesel 5-speed (daily driver)
'87 190D 2.5 Turbo rustbucket - parts car
'84 Dodge Rampage diesel - Land Speed Record Holder
'13 Ram 2500 Diesel
'05 Toyota 4Runner

The fact that it only goes in reverse is going to certainly complicate matters in trying to get a "low cost" shipper.

You think they don't want to talk to you now?

Just wait until you drop, "oh and by the way, did I mention that it won't move in forward".

Heres an idea: Rent or borrow a car dolly and come get the car. I figure your Ram 2500 shouldn't have any trouble pulling it. Have the seller pull the driveshaft. Festus, MO to RI should be about 18hours which can be done in one shot if you are up to it. Get a room, crash for a while, go get car and pull her home. Figure @10mpg average for 2400miles round trip is about $500.00 in gas. $100 for motel and food. $600 and the car is yours on your time. Yeah, I'm nuts. I do crazy roadtrips like this for fun. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

Try a search,,,, there was a lot of discussion about this subject on the site recently, and there were quite a few good referrals.

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95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

My son used these folks to ship three cars from Baltimore to Seattle and was very pleased. Mom and pop operation.

DeMoss Trucking
660-845-2276
16297 W.200 St
Martinsville, MO 64467

Len

Try looking for 'drive-a-way' companies. My wife and I used this system to get from New York to Texas to Colorado and finally to Calif. in 1974 when we were on our way around the world. It only cost us gas.

These companies are sort of like car rental agencies but let you drive the car for free. They give you the address and off you go. I am sure that in the intervening 30 years that things may have changed. I haven't done a web search and it is possible that this type of thing doesn't even exist anymore.

Hey Kip, do you think that these drive away companies can get someone to drive the car from Rhode Island to Missouri in reverse ?

Hi Steve.

Try these guys.

http://www.horselesscarriage.com/default.htm

They where the only ones to respond to me when
I was looking for one.
AND they will give you an online Quote.
Although they aren't the cheapest.

Louis.

Check for good deals on tickets. It might be worth flying out, renting a U-haul truck and trailer and hauling it back.

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85 300CD
83 300TD
78 240D (daughter)

I have considered that route as well, and definitely haven't ruled it out yet. I'm still holding out hope for that "miracle deal" - like somebody who just happens to be driving from RI to MO in a 1 ton truck with a car trailer, and needs somehting to haul. That would be a once in a lifetime deal. LOL.

The car is pretty close to a once in a lifetime deal - a 1987 190DT with bad trans. I have the 5-speed waiting in my garage to create the car of my dreams, a 190 2.5 Turbo with 5-speed.

SteveM.

__________________
'93 190E/D 2.5 Turbodiesel 5-speed (daily driver)
'87 190D 2.5 Turbo rustbucket - parts car
'84 Dodge Rampage diesel - Land Speed Record Holder
'13 Ram 2500 Diesel
'05 Toyota 4Runner

If you were interested I could offer that you stay at my house. I have a whole upstairs we don't use. Gotta check it out with the wife but shouldn't be an issue. Saves you the motel if you drive. RT

__________________
When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

Hi there -

A few helpful web sites for you:

http://autoshipping.com

If you submit your information, you'll get a HOST of quotes, emails and phone calls as I did. Very helpful people.

http://autoshippingreviews.com

Check this site out to check user comments on an auto shipper.

I myself have been negotiating the shipping of a car and have been working with Courtney at Auto and Truck Shippers. Their web site is http://www.autoandtruckshippers.com Seems very professional, and they are fully insured with a $0 deductible. I got two quotes - both were $549 from NJ and Atlanta, GA to N. Illinois.

Hope this helps!

Take care,
Michael.

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+AMDG+
2005 W203
Running as fast as I can to stay behind!!