transport diary of an Cadillac Allante - Florida to Texas to California

 
I am coming up on the need to transport a running Caddy from Dallas to Los Angeles.

Any advice on trucking services and keeping cost down is appreciated.

hey stealth, wrong part of country for me......if you or anyone ever need east coast transport, give me a haller
rick

OK .. after a week of evaluations, this is how I see it.

Comments?

=========================================

How to move a car from Texas to California, cheapo way.

Buy a one way ticket to fly into Dallas, $180
Take shuttle to LAX, $49
Eat lunch at LAX, $19
Fly
Car owner picks you up at airport, then both drive to pick up new car.
Fill gas tank, $65
Start driving the 1,500 miles, drive 4 hrs stop for lunch, $12
Luch was a bit too long, jump in car and take off, get speeding ticket, $245
You are depressed about the ticket, stop to get drink, $8
Get another drink, $8
Another, $8
Time to go, you are cruising with cruise control, RED Lights behind .. Stop car,
Cop accuses you of weaving .. arrested for DUI, car tow and storage, $275
Lawyer, $1,235
Fine, $765
Hotel and food for a week waiting to get car back, $650
Gas time, another $60
On the road again ...
Only 1,200 miles to go.
Crrusing down the Hwy, enjoying the view, priceless.
Car throws the serpentine belt, driving halted.
Tow $125,
Belt $35,
On the road again  ...
Only 800 miles to go, gas time again, $60
Enjoying the drive of the beautifull sights of Arizona, BANG !!! road kill, coyote.
Damage, Grill $300, hood dent $500, smell of burnt meat priceless - INS pays this damage.
Take pictures, scrape off coyote meat off the car ..
On the road again ...
Hungry, food $15
Only 400 miles to go, gas time again, $60
On the road again  ...
Hungry, food $15
Only 100 miles to go, gas time again, $60
On the road again  ...
Pull into driveway

cost: $3,790, not including the road kill.







How to move a car from Texas to California, expensive way.

Call transport company, have the car picked up at sellers home, $600
Wait 10 days, car arrives at your home tip the driver $10.

Cost: $610

I just got the call .. car is in town .. left on the weekend and arrived yesterday.
will see if any surprises come up tomorrow on pick up.

transport quotes went from $418 to $1,250, and a bunch in between.

    What is the new toy Stealth?

quote:

ORIGINAL: wcoates

    What is the new toy Stealth?

Bill,

after 3 years of searching, the "right" '92 has been found ..
a triple black '92 is about to join the fleet.

remember - photos...
congrats on your new toy...

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stealth

quote:

ORIGINAL: wcoates

  What is the new toy Stealth?

Bill,
after 3 years of searching, the "right" '92 has been found ..
a triple black '92 is about to join the fleet.

And the '88?  Is there a hardtop conversion in the near future?

 
Fox,

she is a lady and as one would expect, she has to prepare for a photo session.



Bill,

AS to HARD TOPS, all my A cars are  of the "10 " series  .. no " 12's "
i hope that answers that ...

All right Stealthman Allright.  damn, I shoulda known better !

Can hardly wait to see pics and hear if it lived up your initial  expectations! Or did you make the trip to view before purchase. (Fox can hardly wait for further pics of hotrod project one)

Well, Stealth, if she is really a lady (I have found that most Allante ladies have a little bit of tart in them) then let her get dolled up before that photo shoot.

Bill - my Hot Rod (Amante) hasn't sent any spa vacation pictures lately - although I think the new wheels have arrived - Vogue Sage IIs

He can stay at the spa as long as he needs - but I need him in May - road trip to Santa Fe, he was invited to a car show.

 
Bill,

Got it on a handshake.  It was 1st owned by the wife of a USAF Col in Jacksonville Fl,
then transfered to another gentleman in Texas.  In some ways, she better than expected,
in others, not as good.

Damn parking lots do make a lasting marks on some cars.
Engine, trani, interior, exceeded my expectations.
Soft Top,  NEW !   Tires .. almost new, probably 95%.

Here is the FINAL SCOOP ..

Dallas to Los Angeles, terminal to terminal, $418 ALL COSTS INCLUDED (no wash, no wax, no detailing .. )

Then .. I had AAA flatbed the car 30 miles to the home cave .. cost of that ?  $0.00 .. well .. I did tip the
friendly driver $10, he did deserve it .. everything I requested he answered .. "yes, sure, no problem".

Travel time: delivered in Dallas on Friday afternoon, arrived here yesterday Tuesday morning.

Somewhere along the way,  the ashtray took a walk ...




Fox,

she IS a lady .. was very embarrassed to travel on public showing the dirt of the 1,400 mile journey ..
upon unloading off the flatbed, she quickly took a fast shower to feel better, took a spin around her
new neighborhood and then she quickly retreated into the cave for a nap. 

she is not moody .. so far .. maybe too tired from travels to be moody?















...

Update ..

freak rain storm wakes me up at 4am .. ohh no !!!!
the cars were left out .. open ...
Its fun running down wet stairs at 4am in a downpour.

'92 got baptised .. big time .. In and out !

i hope that digital dash takes water ok.

I know the analog in the '88 does just fine .. its been soaked before.

Stealth,

You left the lady out in the rain...

If she now gets moody you have only yourself to blame.

Fox,

There was no rain forecasted ...
somehow, I dont think she is going to care about that.

now she's a bit unkept and soaked ...

I think I'm gonna be made to pay ....

You can buy my 93 if you want.  It has a pretty fresh motor, and I've never left the top down in the rain, so it's not a FLOOD car.
 
Good luck dude.

"  You post this on Allante net and you're sure to get the "dumbass" trophy for February.."My oh my"
(By the way, seems like they got one of thse "illegal immigrants editing there.)

Knowing Zal, I don't think he would appreciate such a low life award.  It might cause actions of great sabotage or ?
 
 

No offense to ANYONE involved in that award at AN .. but ..
For the month of Feb 2008, AllanteNet crashing has got to be the biggest ooppsss I can possibly imagen.

THAT being said, and with all the humor intended on the subject award, I personally find it distasteful,
somewhat offensive, unfriendly, and as a MODERAOR, I would certainly NOT allow it.  But that is me.

So, no .. I am not recommending that it be given to anyone responsible for crashing the site.


=================

As for MY '92 .. she is in the sun, sunbathing and drying out, battery disconnected to avoid any shorts on
the digital dash, maybe Dick can chine in and talk about that possibility?

Dick .. you out there?

Anyone else that knows what to do after a digital dash gets wet ?

slowroll ?
Katz ?
Fox ?
brougham ?
zinzin ?

I would almost be very surprised if any water damage could occur to any electric instruments in any convertible made, because of rain with the top down.
I do believe that would be a design stipulation! (At the very least, "common sense" would dictate this.)
(AAHH, but then, I am forgetting about the "top" design. Hopefully, not the same guys that did the dash.)

    Zin you spent many years with airplanes and I spent many years with GM engineers!  You're in trouble Zal!  keep us updated!

Did it dry out Zal?

Did you get the pimple off the grille yet?

Visited my beast in the cave yesterday for the first time in over two months, Damn that is a PIA beautiful car that I love to hate!

Awaiting photo(You also Foxpaws!)

She only got about 10 minutes of rain and did not soak the carpets -  besides there were mats that took all the water.  So the interior is fine, just fine. 

The pimple is now OFF the grill .. it was a gold pimple at that.  Looks nice, but it is just not my style.   IF anyone needs a grill gold emblem set, almost mint, I will trade for a '87 / '88 map light assy that my kid broke yesterday on the '88.  "sorry daddy "  ... aggg  kids .. patience .. patience ...

The ashtray walked away in transport .. but already an Allante Community member here has acquired a replacement and its coming my way .. what a network we got.

The ABS Cylinder was replaced and it is tagged  " REM for GM " .. I think '03 was the date .. i forget .. .
So she has suffered and already paid for the GM's stubbornness of not requiring ABS maintenance ..  WE Allante guys, know better .. she will of course get the annual brake fluid 100% FLUSH, master Cyl, pump and all brake lines .. and most likely a repeat in June or so .. if the fluid is dirty then she will again get another one in Dec or so.  Every 6 months until the fluid comes out clean .. No IFs, No BUTs.

Today the engine got cleaned of heavy accumulation of grime, the season's dirt and leaves were cleaned off all channels, trunk, etc ..  Then this evening, I powered up all systems - all A.OK .. damn.. is that a gorgeuos digital cluster .. then took a short spin, tried to see if the traction control is working and it did .. lit up in the dash when I floored her .. then returned .. this time INDOORS to the cave.

I do have some serious exterior "BEAUTY" issues that the seller "FORGOT" to mention and the pictures didnt show .. I know he's been having some health issues, so I can understand, to a point .. hopefully he will come around as a man of honor and step up to the plate, honor his reputation, so we can take care of the "forgots".  If not, I'm sure you will hear about it.  I got time, I got patience, you got ears.

You wanna hear something odd?  She came with mini-covers ( often missing ), but NO jack .. go figure.

As far as I can tell, the drive train does what it is supposed to do, nicely.  Some oil drips .. at 95k miles, expected.

This is the seller's picture with a set of beautiful VOGUE GOLD rims that WILL come off - just not my STEALTHY style .. I got a mint set of 16" OEM Allante rims going on her.  Anyone wants the gold Vogue rims with some very nice Firestone 215 / 60 tires, maybe 80% thread ( I will verify) within the LA area (dont want to ship that), I'm listening .. if not, they will most likely go on the '88 until the thread is used up.

Again, this is the seller's picture and when I am done with her, she wont look the same .. yet, she will be the same, wearing different shoes, and a new coat of paint.

Our TX police contacts ran a profile on her .. seems she 1st lived in Florida, then moved to Texas and we know she was there in 1999, but returned to Florida sometime after .. to be again returned to Texas .. and now taking a nap in California.

And now, here she is  ...

Stealth - She is a pretty one - glad to hear the rain didn't do any permanent damage.

I can't wait to see it with all your changes - I know it takes time - but - you got a digital camera - keep us up to date.

Although you might not like them, the digital dashes are quite amazing to watch, and somewhat addictive - keep yours in a while before switching it out to the analogs, you might find you come to like the christmas tree effect - mine got me the chance to drive a Countach...

So, been practicing some tire squeals? I have the '93 code to turn off the traction control - I don't know if it is the same for the '92s...

And if you like the difference between your 170hp 4100 and your 200hp 4500 - think how much fun I have with well over 300hp in my 4.6 northstar!!!

Bill - the Hot Rod still sits in the mechanic's bay - actually I am not pushing - nice winter storage for him. Although I do miss the 'turn me on' factor - I might have to go and just sit in him for a while - obviously I haven't had a chance to stroke that gear shift knob lately...

Zal,
 
This is something you have been talking about for years. You did it, and did it your way,  no rush took your time. 
 
Please try to treat her a little better then leaving her out in the rain with no clothes on.
 
Good luck dude, I know you gotta be happy as hell right now.
 
G.A.R.Y.