Drive Boxster back from Ohio?
 

Live in Austin, TX and just bought a Boxster in Ohio (Cleveland area). Am debating pros/cons of shipping vs driving. Research I've done on shipping is that it's not cheap ~$1200 and can take awhile as well as being very hit or miss (based on reviews).

Other option of course is to fly and drive it back. Not being familiar with Ohio weather at all, is it reasonable to expect I could easily drive a Boxster back to Texas this time of year - would be traveling almost exclusively interstate (I-71 and I-40 primarily).

Thoughts?

What tires are on the car, and how much tread is on them?
What are the weather and road conditions between where the car is and where you live?

As long as the tires are new all season tires, or even winter tires, and there isn't a storm in the works for the days you are going to be driving, there's no reason why you can't drive the car home.

Even if you have to buy brand new winter or a/s tires before you start the trip, it should cost you $1200 to drive it home.

BC.

tire situation
 

I just bought new tires for that same trip. I am leaving on the 5th for S. Cal, and I was afraid of the summer tires. I had real good tread on 16" Michelins, but I read too many posts about how the summer compounds can not handle the cold temperatures. Guys spinning out, others wrecking. I didn't want to take the chance. I bought Conti DWS Extremes, I like them. I will keep them as the Winter tires and buy new 18" rims and tires for the summer. Good luck. Bill

Unless there is a massive snowstorm , which is always a possibility you should be OK. The highways are usually pretty clear. I would chance it myself but just remember that you might have to pull over for a day if a bad storm hits. You never can tell with midwest weather.

What year do you get? Private party or dealer?

DRIVE IT HOME!!! I bought my boxster from Tuscan, AZ and drove it to central Illinois. Absolutely wonderful drive. You want to fall in love with your boxster, drive it home!

Drive it. It'll be a fun trip, and you'll get to know your new car.

I say drive it too. You'll be fine.

Put proper tires on it and drive it, I drive mine all year round.

Show Some Buckeye Support
 

You can always get a good forecast from intellicast.com or the National Weather service. It's gonna be cold this week all across Ohio, but the roads stay clear. All weather tires are a waste of money.
I live in the Dayton area if you need a hand while passing through.
How about you other guys in Ohio? Come on, let's show this guy some support as he crosses the Buckeye State.

Thanks for the response. Looking at the forecast, appears there may be some snow late in the week, but weekend looks clear for getting out of Ohio (especially sunday).

All the snow is melting in Cleveland. We have 45 F and 1" of rain falling.
So I would recommend driving, but have a good wet traction tire.
71 in Cleveland is a good road. Columbus can be a pain in any weather. And once your at Cinci, you should be clear of any snow.

I would recommend AAA for the drive.

Good Luck

This would be a much more enjoyable trip if it was June not January. If you do decide to drive it, do not chance any bad weather you run into. Boxsters lose it very quickly and without warning if they don't have winter snow tires on them. Don't know that I'd go to the expense of buying snow tires since you'll probably never need them again once you get it to Austin. If you've got the ability to take a few extra days if the weather is bad along the way, then drive it. Otherwise, shipping it would be safer.

Good luck. You'll enjoy your Box.

One more thing: Be prepared to wash the salt off once you get out of the Buckeye. ODOT loves salt. We mine it out from under Lake Erie... bet you didn't know that. :)

Drive her home. I purchased my vehicle out of New York, New York and I reside in Nashville, Tennessee. It was a great way for myself to be acquainted with my newly purchased vehicle. I came from a 1999 2.5L to a 2003 3.2L S and I had more than enough time to familiarize myself and you too should do yourself that favor. Either way, keep us all posted and congratulations on your new acquisiton. Enjoy her in the best of health. Best.

If you've had experience with rear wheel drive it's a bit safer.
Honestly I wouldn't risk it myself because the trip would cost at least 500 or 600 dollars anyway (for the flight + gas + hotel overnight stay? + a day driving), and there is a risk (slight or not) that you will lose it in the snowy weather with a car you've never driven before.

I've had to ship one car or another at least 3 times, even though sometimes they are a day or two late usually its good service and of course, safer.

Of course, if you want a bit more excitement in your life, driving the car home will be a great way to start your ownership!

View it as an adventure, drive it. Be prepared for a potential unexpected overnight due to weather, years back I hit an ice storm just south of Cleveland doing exactly what you're thinking about, pulled off, got a hotel room and the next morning the roads were fine. Once you are 6 hours or so south of Cleveland the weather / driving should be fine. No better way to get to know your car.

When I bought my Box years back, I purchased it from a dealer in the Dallas area and drove it home to northern Illinois; about 1100 miles...in February...on summer tires, without issue. Heavy rain in Texas, but other than that, no issues.

I t was really a lot of fun and far less $ than the enclosed trailer quotes I was getting.

drive it, then let us know how it went.

i'm looking at getting a TT and looking specifically for sellers across the country... :D

I say ship it.

I shipped mine from Austin texas to georgia for 500$. You could not fly up there and and drive it down for cheaper.

PM for the info if you want it.

Drive it. Check the weather before you leave. If it looks like snow (I'm assuming you have little experience driving in snow), postpone the pickup a day or two. Even a day after a snow, the highways should be clear. Be very careful on side roads that haven't been cleared.

Remember that summer tires are very ineffective in cold weather. So even if there isn't snow on the ground, the tires will be slick; moreso if the roads are wet. Take it easy and drive it. It should be fun.

Definitely wash it thoroughly (top and bottom) to get the salt off. If there is moisture on the roads in OH, you will have salt on your car.

Drive it!!!!
I made the trip from Brenham to Cincinnati and back several times. Cleveland would be a long one straight thru, even when I was young and stupid!
This time of year I would do two days and the extra miles to get south as soon as you can. I-71 to Cincinnati, I-75 to Chattanooga, I-59 to I-12 (Slidell, LA) and then I-10 to Houston, US290 to Austin. Say Hi to my old friend Brenham on your way through! Stop and get some fresh Bluebell, if you want. :dance:

I would ship it. There's unexpected snow on the streets in Lexington, KY this morning (which you might drive right through on your way back). It happens all the time in this part of the country and north of here in the winter. We had a forecasted "light dusting" a few years ago a 15 inches of snow later they closed the interstates. Very unpredictable weather.

If it were summer I would do the drive, right now I would ship it.

Nomad, hope you didn't venture up to Ohio and are attempting to bring you Box home this w/e. That was 1 bad a$$ storm rollin thru your prime drive area. Should have some fun stories if you did go. Keep us informed, we're pullin for ya.

He may have some pics for us, similar to yours on the right, but without the "hidden" driveway!
Let's hope not and we're all pullin for him.

One more vote for drive it. I bought my 2007 in Atlanta in February of 2009 and drove it back to Chicago. There was a nasty ice storm in southern Illinois earlier that week, but the Interstate was clean and dry a day later.

Drive it. I live in Toronto and flew to Ottawa to buy my Boxster. The 5 hour drive home was great and something I will never forget.

I elected to ship it. Should be being picked up sometime next week and be here the week after. It's cold in Austin today, glad I'm not driving cross country.

Because of the time of year, I think that was a wise choice. I'm sure you can't wait for it to arrive. :dance:

Hopefully your shipping wasn't more than $500. That is what the quotes were to ship my Hummer from Dallas to Denver and I paid $400 to ship a Miata from Phoenix to Dallas

Enjoy the new car!

Considering the severity of the last several winters, I think it was a wise move to ship.
Can't wait to hear your stories about learning to love the car on those great Hill Country roads!!

BTW, have you heard Hill Country Girl by Kevin Welch?

Update - shipped car w/ Reliable Carriers and it arrived today.

First impressions

Shipping - Reliable did an amazing job. I placed order last Wed. and the car arrived today, driver (Robert) was extremely helpful and professional, couldn't have been happier with their service.

Boxster - This is my first Porsche - have only driven it about 10 miles so far due to family commitments this evening, but the car is an absolute blast. I'm coming from an RX-8 and the Boxster S has so much more power and a completely different steering feel as well as it sits so much lower to the ground. Still trying to get all the adjustments right to get 100% comfortable.

One question - was testing out the brakes and under heavy braking "check coolant" light came on then went away about 45 seconds later. I assume that's not normal?

Check Coolant
 

You're right, coming on during hard braking is not normal. With two years of ownership I have found the oil and coolant levels to be very, very finicky. A teaspoon too much of antifreeze will mean it's too high when up to operating temperature. A teaspoon too little and the warning light will come on when it's cool. The same with the oil level indicator. It's a matter of very, very small changes until you get it just right.
p.s. We have a foot of snow in this part of Ohio this morning. Wish I were back with the family in Austin.

Now for your 1st lesson in Porsche maintenance. Whenever a fluid is low, be sure to put the proper replacement in. Many of the fluids are high performance or synthetic and generally not your garden variety type. Always be sure to use the proper fluid. Putting in the wrong type can become a very expensive mistake.

Antifreeze is no exception. Porsche's require a phosphate-free antifreeze. Your garden variety brands contain phosphates and if you add it to a system that requires phosphate-free antifreeze you'll generate a nice gell in your system that will halt any flow. Many European cars, not just Porsches, require phosphate-free anitfreeze.

There are many phosphate-free brands available, including a very spendy Porsche brand. I use Haveline Extended Life (Dex-Cool) antifreeze, which is available at many parts stores.