Transportation options for picking up a car I bought 375 miles away?

[Nick1994]

#4 for sure

 

[y_p_w]

I'm thinking that a rental car down and then the purchased car back is going to be a lot of driving. I wouldn't do anything like that without breaking it up with an overnight stay.

Personally the overnight bus ride doesn't sound too bad as long as there aren't any transfers that might happen while sleeping. Driving a one way rental probably means a back to back drive of 6 hours each way. I'd rather sleep overnight on a bus than try to do a round trip in one day.

 

[RoadDukie]

Find a friend who likes guns.

The USS North Carolina is in Wilmington, and has nine of the 16”/45 caliber variety, and 20 of the 5”/38s. That’s a lot of fun all in one place. Promise to let them visit the ship and buy their admission ticket; they’ll jump on the deal if they have 1/2 a brain. If they happen to like cool ships, they’ll have even more fun.

Sorry for the hijack.

BB-55 : The "Showboat " ...an impressive record indeed.

 

[skyactiv]

Find a friend who likes guns.

The USS North Carolina is in Wilmington, and has nine of the 16”/45 caliber variety, and 20 of the 5”/38s. That’s a lot of fun all in one place. Promise to let them visit the ship and buy their admission ticket; they’ll jump on the deal if they have 1/2 a brain. If they happen to like cool ships, they’ll have even more fun.

I was on that Battleship as a young kid on a family vacation in the 1980's. I was too young to remember much about it and want to revisit it someday.

 

[bunnspecial]

I have family in Wilmington. I've never flown there-the airport is small and not terribly busy, and I'm not sure if anyone flies direct. We will probably be doing it the next time we go to visit, though, since my wife does not handle driving through the mountains well(such a shame, as it's a beautiful drive...)

There's an intermediate less expensive option of flying into a bigger city nearby and then renting to get the rest of the way there( then of course driving the car back). Charlotte is a big hub but is a little further away. Raleigh/Durham is a decent sized airport with much less expensive flights than directly into Wilmington and I think is an hour or so away.

 

[thastinger]

You can rent U-Haul trailers local provided you have something to haul the trailer with. I've done that several times, U-Haul has 2 different types of car haulers but you just pay the daily rate and drop them back off where you picked them up.

 

[eljefino]

If you do that JHZR2, I will venmo you for a dinner tab for the both of you- but has to be a nice meal.......

If you do this, GON, I will mail you the entire contents of my car ashtray.

OP, I vote for #2, take the bus. Don't think of it as wasted time, you can play on your phone or sleep.

OP has access to a tow dolly and dealer license plate.

 

[gfh77665]

I know this is an "off the wall" idea, but would a car fit in a POD?

 

[atikovi]

OP, I vote for #2, take the bus. Don't think of it as wasted time, you can play on your phone or sleep.

To take the 3:40 am bus I'd have to get to the bus station downtown when the subway and local buses don't run, so that's out. To take the 9:20 pm bus means a 10 hour ride overnight, and I can't sleep much sitting up and would be wiped all next day. That's a no also.

 

[AZjeff]

Hitchhike there, drive back. Sleep for a couple of hours in the back seat and save motel 6 cost. Take food in a backpack to save tip costs.

 

[hrv]

I'm in the DC area and bought a car in Wilmington NC. Seeing if there are any other options for bringing it back then these. Cost is the #1 factor but convenience does have some weight.

1) Flying. That's a no starter with the cheapest fares around $250 plus getting to and from the airport.
2) Greyhound. About $55 but the schedule is no good. Leaving at 3:40 am or at 9:20 pm and getting in the next morning. No thanks.
3) Tow it back. About $210 in gas.
4) Drive a rental down and drive the car back. About $140 for the rental and gas.

Leaning toward #4 but checking if anybody has any other ideas. Wilmington is pretty far out of the way so having it shipped would be way more than any of these options.

Seems like you would have already figured this out before you made the purchase...IMO

 

[atikovi]

Seems like you would have already figured this out before you made the purchase...IMO

That's no fun. And what if I spent a lot of time "figuring it out" and I didn't end up buying it?

 

[mattwithcats]

The Saturn is having a few problems, but it runs.
Radio and Air Conditioning are currently not working, and she needs an oil change…

What is your time frame?

I could meet you at Petersburg Amtrak, then I-95 down to Wilmington.

Return same route, I would follow you until Petersburg…

I would love to see the Battleship NC…

Send me a PM…

 

[atikovi]

I'm waiting for the title. Could be a few days or a few weeks.

 

[y_p_w]

To take the 3:40 am bus I'd have to get to the bus station downtown when the subway and local buses don't run, so that's out. To take the 9:20 pm bus means a 10 hour ride overnight, and I can't sleep much sitting up and would be wiped all next day. That's a no also.

I’ve slept overnight on a bus, but often my ability to comfortably do so had a lot to do with legroom. Some buses are set up with almost no legroom unless it’s an emergency exit row. It’s a lot like sleeping on an overseas flight.

I was surprised at how much Amtrak costs. Around here I can go to LA (about your distance) for maybe $60, but the service is state subsidized.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I flew from NY to NC to get a car (new). The round trip flight was less than 1/2 the price of the one way back then. I just flew down and didn't make the return flight. Things happen.

 

[zzyzzx]

You didn't say what you are buying, but I'm assuming you think it'll make the 375 miles back without problems...

That's why he should tow it back.

 

[MSCH]

my brother bought a Texas truck on Ebay, sight unseen and had it trucked to Michigan for 500 bucks.
those auto haulers might have 6 or 7 cars on the truck. so its one more for them.
I think the beauty of the get it trucked method is you dont spend any of your own time
and it is probably cheaper....

 

[y_p_w]

my brother bought a Texas truck on Ebay, sight unseen and had it trucked to Michigan for 500 bucks.
those auto haulers might have 6 or 7 cars on the truck. so its one more for them.
I think the beauty of the get it trucked method is you dont spend any of your own time
and it is probably cheaper....

Yeah - but there's something to be said for having an excuse to go on a road trip.

 

[Gebo]

Do you have anybody that would ride with you from DC down? Anybody owe you, LOL?

I've always coerced a family member to ride with me to FL and TN. I did fly one time on Allegheny from
ROA to some airport in FL for $112. Dealership picked me up at the airport with some wine when I bought
my GX470.

Wouldn't you spend the night if driving? More meal expense.

Otherwise, I think it would be cool to do the amtrak deal. Sorta adventuresome.