Time for a GRM relay?

My wife's uncle passed away some months ago. I was offered the opportunity to buy his full size Chevy pickup; a 1990, 350 automatic with 69,000 miles on it.

The truck is in Ellijay, Ga. I thought about flying down and driving the truck back but researched a car carrier before commiting. I sent quote requests to two different companies and received no less than 20 replies. I've since learned that they all use the same distribution board. I got prices from $400 to $2200, $2200 is gets picked up right now and will be there in a few days. For less money it will take longer until the carrier gets a group together, figures out a circuit of pickups and deliveries, you get it eventually.....

I went with a company that shall remain nameless, they could do it for $600. I'm in no hurry (didn't tell them that) because I have a truck, a 914, two DDs and two motorcycles. Anyway, when they didn't pick it up in 1 to 10 days like they said, I called. That's when they explained the money vs quickness of pickup thing. Now if I wanted to pony up a few more bucks....

It's been two months!

Ellijay is 1000 miles from here. Assuming 15 mpg, that means 60 gallons of gas at $4 per = ~$270. Add the cost of a plane ticket or rental car and it can still be done for $600 I think.

If I go to another shipper I go to the bottom of the list and start over.

If I hop a plane (unfortunately I don't currently have business with Ft. Benning or Campbell) it's still four days or so time invested plus the cash.

Another concern: Chuck wasn't real active, his other truck is a 2001 Tacoma 4 door with 20,000 miles; so I don't know if I should trust this truck driving 1000 miles after sitting so long.

What would you do?

What would the Flying Spaghetti Monster do?

Thanx, Dan

I don't know. But I flew from Ohio to Florida to pick up a car and drove it 1200 miles back in one weekend. Why is it going to take you 4 days? Have you already paid this shipping company? Can you get a full refund?

Chev smallblock. Car is in GA- we have several members down that direction that could check it over for you. I'd be more concerned about dry rot in the rubber bits than anything, but it really wouldn't have been sitting that long. I'd bribe someone close (not me, i'm actually further from it than you are) to look at it, and make sure it's roadworthy, and hop the next flea-jet you can down there to scoop it up.

For some reason I thought GRM Relay was having members along the route drive the car as far as they were able/willing and then passing the keys to another GRM'er ala relay race. And throwing parts that needed to be delivered along the route in the back in the process.

I have done the fly in drive out thing with the last three cars I have gotten. fairly painless.

DuctTape&Bondo wrote: For some reason I thought GRM Relay was having members along the route drive the car as far as they were able/willing and then passing the keys to another GRM'er ala relay race. And throwing parts that needed to be delivered along the route in the back in the process.

Which would be a hysterical undertaking. I'm just too far west to be any help, however.

Ellijay is about a half hour or so from me. Gimme some gas money, ill drive it up!

DuctTape&Bondo wrote: For some reason I thought GRM Relay was having members along the route drive the car as far as they were able/willing and then passing the keys to another GRM'er ala relay race. And throwing parts that needed to be delivered along the route in the back in the process.

Yep, that's a relay.

I'm looking at flights now. 4 days because I was anticipating break downs etc., straight though it's 16 hours but overnight hoteling while some wrench swaps the transmission or somethig bad.

I've fetched cars 12 hours out, hook up, 12 hours back in a snowstorm near the Great Lakes. This one should be painless.

No money exchanged with the carrier.

Dan

Is the Tacoma mentioned as a red herring?

Unless there's some reason to doubt the truck can drive, it should be able to do the drive home just fine.

Is it worth all this though? You say you were offered the truck to buy. When you factor the cost of getting it home, is it still really worth what you're paying for it? A 1990 Chevy with a 350 and an automatic just isn't that special a truck.

You could also tow it home by going down there with something and a dolly or trailer.

Maybe you should look at it this way: You have a tow vehicle waiting for you in the Awesome Used Car Capital of Craigs List. I'd say fly in, pick up the pickup, find $500 tow dolly, and $400 Unicorn-of-a-car and make the 1000 mile trip back home worth while!

Also: WWFSMD is short for 'What Would the Flying Spaghetti Monster Do?' Someone will soon be making the bracelets (not me, but someone).

It's a nice truck that works nicely with the fact my Ranger has 170,000 on it and I have the money. Factoring in the transport costs, yeah, it's still a decent deal. Not a great, fantastic, OMG a free truck deal, but a rust free anything here is a Unicorn.