Ok, I think I may be going too far this time. 

"CSX-55" (CSX-55) 08/31/2015 at 12:44 • Filed to: None

2

37

Literally.

I live in southern AZ...I’ve been talking to an individual in Detroit with a car I want. Everything checks out so far. I’m considering buying it.

And here’s the kicker. After much debate and consideration, the most cost effective way to get it home...

...is to drive it back.

I’m considering getting a one way ticket to Detroit, and checking a bag in with everything I’d need to survive a trip out of Detroi:

-Portable air compressor

-Basic hand tools

-Semi-automatic handgun (unless I have to drive through Highland Park, in which case, my suitcase isn’t big enough for a rocket launcher)

Oppo, on a scale of 1-10, 1 being a French city built underneath sea level and 10 being buying an Audi Allroad, how bad of an idea is this?

EDIT: As the comments pointed out, I neglected to specify the car in question...

HammerheadFistpunch > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 12:49

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This is a great idea, whats the car in question?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 12:49

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What kind of car? If it’s an Allroad, it’s even worse than “Buying an Allroad” bad.

Urambo Tauro > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 12:50

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Did I read that right? It’s usually the other way around; cars are bought from Arizona and brought to Michigan. Cars that have spent their whole life up north tend to look like this...

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 12:50

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Roughly a Pontiac Aztec. Interpret that as you will.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 12:50

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Have you tried uShip? I got my LeMons car from Alabama to Detroit for like $500

JD Bartlett > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 12:51

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“ -Semi-automatic handgun (unless I have to drive through Highland Park, in which case, my suitcase isn’t big enough for a rocket launcher)“

Michigander here, that sounds about right.

What kind of car/condition would you be getting? something easy to fix? Because thats one massive tow bill if something goes wrong.

CSX-55 > HammerheadFistpunch 08/31/2015 at 12:51

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I guess that’s kind of important information...and frankly, the only reason why I’m even considering it is because of how new the car is.

2013 Cadillac CTS-V

HammerheadFistpunch > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 12:52

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great idea, but you should reroute for more fun driving.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > HammerheadFistpunch 08/31/2015 at 12:53

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+1

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Urambo Tauro 08/31/2015 at 12:53

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Sweet Lancia, bruh.

CSX-55 > HammerheadFistpunch 08/31/2015 at 12:53

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Proposed alternate route for maximums grins?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 12:54

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My answer just dropped down several points. Now sitting nicely at 2.5

deekster_caddy > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 12:55

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Not a bad idea. Pretty much the only other DIY alternative is a car trailer and truck from Hertz/Uhaul etc. and that’s not cheap. I assume you’ve checked out the cost of having it trucked out? (not cheap either)

What kind of car? Are you worried about reliability on the drive? Has it been sitting for a long time? If its somewhat modern, it might be worth just winging it without bringing an arsenal of tools. Likely issues from sitting are belt failure or tire failure, either of which will require a tow on a modern car, and once you are at the parts store you can buy/rent/borrow the limited tools required to change the belt. If the transmission quits no hand tools are going to help you.

Vintage1982Benz > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 12:57

1

You will have nothing to worry about in that ride. If you have never been up in Colorado and Utah it is beautiful country and you can find some great drives before pointing back South and headed home.

HammerheadFistpunch > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 12:57

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I only really know this area of the route, but take I80 to here and follow the route for a much slower, MUCH more interesting drive.

CSX-55 > Urambo Tauro 08/31/2015 at 12:58

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Normally, this - I’ve never bought a car from anywhere east of the Mississippi before. But int his case, the car only has 6k miles on it and was supposedly never driven in the winter...I’d hope that it’s untainted by salt.

DrScientist > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 12:59

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for a 2 year old car? i think an AAA membership and a list of cadillac dealerships along the way would suffice.

its probably still under warranty, no?

CSX-55 > deekster_caddy 08/31/2015 at 13:01

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It’s a 2013 CTS-V...so about as modern as it gets. I’m just gunshy about going all that way for a vehicle...I’ve been burned on buying cars out of state before (a certain 2002 Mustang GT out of California still makes me cringe to this day). I know I likely shouldn’t worry about something that new, but going 2000 miles and half a country for a vehicle is much different than an 8 hour drive to Los Angeles.

CSX-55 > DrScientist 08/31/2015 at 13:02

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I didn’t even think about the warranty.

I’ve never had a vehicle with a warranty.

...

I’m not sure how to feel. The thought of a car breaking and someone else fixing it at no cost to me? Is this what new(ish) car ownership is like?

lone_liberal > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 13:04

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A two year old CTS-V? Not a bad idea at all. Now if you’re were buying a 50 year old 2CV it might be a different story. A hilarious story, but still different.

deekster_caddy > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 13:06

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I almost bought a car from Texas on ebay (I’m in Boston) but backed out after I hired an independent local mechanic to go over the car. Best $200 I ever spent. If you do this (I highly recommend it) tell him you will start by driving it 2,000 miles home, does it need anything before the trip...

That’s so new I would not be overly concerned about it. Call a local cadillac dealer and see if they would recommend somebody local (or do the inspection themselves). You might even chance upon the dealer that originally serviced the car!

CSX-55 > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua 08/31/2015 at 13:06

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Really? Hmm...I’ve only gotten a couple quotes, but they’ve all been in the $800-1200 range. Even considering 19 mpg and using 91 octane, I can’t see being at more than $450 in fuel tops. But a $500 to save the wear and tear of 2000 miles would be totally worth it. I’ll look into uShip, thanks!

DrScientist > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 13:06

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beats me... someone told me about something like that once.

i bought a v12, 23 year old jaguar off of ebay, based on a four sentence description and 5 fuzzy photos. flew to FL to pick it up. drove it back to NYC over 2 days.

i did have to pick up a 90 degree screw driver at an o’reilly’s, and borrowed an adjustable wrench from a friend in tennessee.

deekster_caddy > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 13:07

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Yup. How many miles are on it? The OE warranty is generally at least 3/36K, and yes that’s what new(ish) car ownership is like! But make sure the warranty is transferrable. Any GM dealer should be able to answer that question.

CSX-55 > deekster_caddy 08/31/2015 at 13:07

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That’s a great idea. I’d assume a Cadillac dealership could perform a PPI on one of their own cars - I’ve never had a PPI before, but for something like this, I feel like it’d be worth the $200 or whatever it is it costs.

deekster_caddy > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 13:09

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Yup, pretty much any mechanics shop is happy to take your money ;) Better if it’s a Caddy dealer in this case. The seller should be willing to allow it. Are you buying from a private party or dealership?

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 13:09

1

As someone who’s made a few Tucson to Detroit drives, I’ll chime in. Your route is the most direct one to take. Remember that I-44 is a toll road between OKC & Tulsa (if I remember right). Make sure you stop at Cadillac Ranch outside Amarillo if you stick to that route (if you’ve never been). You should drive by the St. Louis Arch as well, do that too.

Watch your speed into New Mexico, especially in the V.

It’s been a few years since I’ve made the trip, so I’m sure things have changed. There’s a couple nice rest stops on that route (one’s near the GIANT cross in Texas, Missouri has a couple as well).

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 13:10

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Should still be covered under the free roadside assistance part of the warrenty, no? The only thing you could possibly need is your credit card.

CSX-55 > deekster_caddy 08/31/2015 at 13:12

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Private party - I can’t see the seller not agreeing to a PPI if he had anything to hide on the car, but I’ll make sure he’s alright with it.

CSX-55 > deekster_caddy 08/31/2015 at 13:13

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6k miles - the lowest I’ve found so far in a 4 door/manual configuration. Just checked the Caddy website...both the bumper to bumper and powertrain warranties are transferable. Woot!

CSX-55 > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole 08/31/2015 at 13:16

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Awesome, thanks for the info! I may re-route to try and avoid the toll road because I’m a cheap bastard like that, but I’ve never seen the arch, and taking pictures of a Caddy at Cadillac Ranch seems like a no-brainer.

deekster_caddy > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 13:17

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The questionable part is whether he’d allow a total stranger to drive off with the car. I’m not sure how the dealer would handle something like that, you might want to call a service department and ask them how they would want to handle a PPI for you, if someone could do it off-site or they want the car in their own shop. If the seller has to bring it to them at least he knows it’s going to a caddy dealership. Also, point out that you are not looking for him having hidden things from you, just dotting i’s and crossing t’s and want to make sure you won’t have any problems driving it home.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 13:23

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It’s an interesting site. They kind of just give you a portal to get independent drivers to bid on your job. It also means you may have to wait to get a good price. I had to leave before the car got picked up, but I just gave him the garage code and he loaded it up by himself.

CSX-55 > Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed 08/31/2015 at 13:28

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Roadside assistance? Isn’t that when you have to call a couple buddies with tow straps when your car breaks?

All these terms getting thrown at me today. Warranty. Roadside assistance. It’s almost too much. I think I’ll go back outside and sit in my 1999 Tahoe to contemplate the meaning of life.

wiffleballtony > CSX-55 08/31/2015 at 15:15

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Seems fine. Bring spare mags.

T5Killer > HammerheadFistpunch 08/31/2015 at 19:22

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Even with him avoiding NM completely I would have to agree. Non of the fun roads in NM will be on his route since he hits Albuquerque and goes east which is a whole lot of Zzzzzzzzzzzzz. Now if he went in northern NM the mountains can be quite fun

pip bip - choose Corrour > CSX-55 09/01/2015 at 05:35

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on your scale of 1-10 , it’s 11