RE: Shipping your car to America | Thread of the Week
Thursday 22nd August 2019
Shipping your car to America | Thread of the Week
Fancy the idea of taking your pride and joy on a US road trip? One PHer tells us how...
"I like America and I like my 993." A solid list of preferences though not one that necessarily goes together when you live in London. But, Aircooled_Bug, clearly a determined sort of chap, wasn't to be dissuaded from a dream US road trip by the small matter of the Atlantic Ocean. The solution, seemingly straightforward, is to have your car shipped to a convenient port - then shipped back again when you're done. Simples.
Except, of course, it isn't. Not by a long shot. Do you want to put your car in a container or use a roll on roll off ship as manufacturers do? Have you considered marine insurance? Have you factored in the late arrival of said ship? Have filled out your Vehicle Import Authorisation form? Have got EPA approval? Have you sorted US car insurance - a potential rabbit warren of issues on its own?
No, you haven't done any of these things. But armed with nothing more than the patience and foresight of a Royal Logistic Corps officer - not to mention a fair bit of budget - our hero signed his name in all the right places and successfully met his beloved Porsche in Tennessee for the road trip of a lifetime. And even got it back again. The resulting thread is obviously must-see for the pictures alone, but so too is Aircooled_Bug's own comprehensive blog on the subject, where he lays out everything you'll need to follow in his footsteps.
Just don't start reading if you've got anything else to do this afternoon.
Discussion
NJ72 said:
Not detracting from a great pair of reads, but when a user posts links to YouTube videos or similar in a thread they get blocked, so why are you promoting this person's blog?
Is it perhaps a chance to review the antiquated 'no external links please' rule?
Could it be because YouTube blogs are revenue generating? No idea, just a thought.Is it perhaps a chance to review the antiquated 'no external links please' rule?
The blog does not make money, it has no advertising on it. Countless hours have gone into creating the site and content and it's now a decent knowledge base now for anyone else who might consider doing the same thing.
Aircooled_Bug said:
Could it be because YouTube blogs are revenue generating? No idea, just a thought.
The blog does not make money, it has no advertising on it. Countless hours have gone into creating the site and content and it's now a decent knowledge base now for anyone else who might consider doing the same thing.
Potentially, but I know of people who've linked to things without ad revenue and they've been blocked.The blog does not make money, it has no advertising on it. Countless hours have gone into creating the site and content and it's now a decent knowledge base now for anyone else who might consider doing the same thing.
I'm not trying to be a hater, your trip looks PHENOMENAL and the info in your blog is really useful for anyone who might be considering doing it themselves, it's just the inconsistency from PH-towers that made me post
Fishy Dave said:
What a superb read and adventure, thanks for highlighting this PH. Having enjoyed a roadtrip in the states when buying my car it's made me think about taking it back for a holiday....
I echo the sentiments above - thanks PH HQ and also in general to all the PHers out there sharing their builds/stories.Well... Just you lot wait. Some of us on the west side of the Atlantic may decide to ship our motors over to Blighty. Take in a PH Sunday Service. Maybe the North Coast 500. Pay respects at Ace Cafe, FoS, Santa Pod, and similar.
We'll bring the pushrods and the chilled bottles of iced tea (honestly, you'll love 'em!)
We'll bring the pushrods and the chilled bottles of iced tea (honestly, you'll love 'em!)
unsprung said:
Well... Just you lot wait. Some of us on the west side of the Atlantic may decide to ship our motors over to Blighty. Take in a PH Sunday Service. Maybe the North Coast 500. Pay respects at Ace Cafe, FoS, Santa Pod, and similar.
We'll bring the pushrods and the chilled bottles of iced tea (honestly, you'll love 'em!)
That sounds a great idea. We'll bring the pushrods and the chilled bottles of iced tea (honestly, you'll love 'em!)
unsprung said:
Well... Just you lot wait. Some of us on the west side of the Atlantic may decide to ship our motors over to Blighty. Take in a PH Sunday Service. Maybe the North Coast 500. Pay respects at Ace Cafe, FoS, Santa Pod, and similar.
We'll bring the pushrods and the chilled bottles of iced tea (honestly, you'll love 'em!)
Bring me as much Brisk as you can fit in the car and I'll buy the fish and chips!We'll bring the pushrods and the chilled bottles of iced tea (honestly, you'll love 'em!)
GTiWILL said:
That sounds a great idea.
K50 DEL said:
Bring me as much Brisk as you can fit in the car and I'll buy the fish and chips!
. Your post piqued my curiosity, so I had a google round. Apparently, Amazon and a couple of UK-based US food specialty shops have it. Dunno about the price. But if I bring the car, I'll bring the Brisk.
Just for fun, here's somebody's list (don't know how they conceived it) of ready-to-drink (RTD) brands of iced tea, here.
Did this in 2005 in a Caterham 7 and crossed America with some like minded friends and owners. It was genuinely a lot of fun, but it did have its moments, like leaving one hotel on gulf of Mexico in the morning, that by the evening was six feet underwater thanks to a hurricane, to being threatened by down and outs from a nearby hostel in the mid west, who said our cars would be trashed if we didn't give them money, to an incident in the tunnel coming off the Golden gate bridge in San Francisco when a US driver was trying to get alongside to have a look at the car, slammed on his brakes, when it backfired, and threw out a bit of flame,, because he thought we were shooting at him One thing is you will remember the trip, a long, long time after you have forgotten what it cost!
One thing is you will remember the trip, a long, long time after you have forgotten what it cost!Pan Pan Pan said:
to being threatened by down and outs from a nearby hostel in the mid west, who said our cars would be trashed if we didn't give them money,
Reminded me of a motel night in Canton, Ohio when I cycled across the USA. Got a cheap $40 a night motel at dusk where it seemed most of the other residents were long term. After locking my bike in the room I was "befriended" by one of the residents when I went out to find some beers. Bought a six pack, gave him one, then retired to my room to watch crap TV and drink the other 5. Heard loud knocking two doors down at 11pm and when I looked out it was the police looking for one of the residents for some crime nearby that evening. A very rare event though as I mostly went via small towns which had a very hometown America 50s feel. Especially Kansas. Free camping in town parks and free swims for cross country cyclists in the out door pools. irc said:
Pan Pan Pan said:
to being threatened by down and outs from a nearby hostel in the mid west, who said our cars would be trashed if we didn't give them money,
Reminded me of a motel night in Canton, Ohio when I cycled across the USA. Got a cheap $40 a night motel at dusk where it seemed most of the other residents were long term unemployed. After locking my bike in the room I was "befriended" by one of the residents when I went out to find some beers. Bought a six pack, gave him one, then retired to my room to watch crap TV and drink the other 5. Heard loud knocking two doors down at 11pm and when I looked out it was the police looking for one of the residents for some crime nearby that evening. A very rare event though as I mostly went via small towns which had a very hometown America 50s feel. Especially Kansas. Free camping in town parks and free swims for cross country cyclists in the out door pools. 
Canton - Typical midwest large town. Big long main street with no pavements and nobody walking or cycling.
Edited by irc on Saturday 24th August 13:12
I’ve a bit of an update on this. After returning from the road trip this thread/PH news article was about, I started considering a permanent move to the US, becoming more serious about it last spring, and buying a house there at the end of last year, with the idea of moving there late 2021.
The journey there has been a rollercoaster full of challenges, the biggest being our little dog, Alfred, who got sick around Christmas time. His only hope specialist treatment in the US at the University of Minnesota. Pandemic restrictions on travel and a limited time to act as his prognosis only two months provided a puzzle far greater than planning a road trip with a British registered car. Everywhere we turned there were obstacles; mostly international border controls and the inability to fly a dog in the cabin on a commercial flight.
Eventually we made it, armed with a permit from the US CDC, we flew private to New York and then drove 20 hours in a Jeep Gladiator through bad weather.
Some might say it was a bit of an extreme for a pet, but I’m sure those of you with dogs will understand how they find a way into the centre of a family and right into your heart.
His surgery, deemed too risky and pointless by the specialists who helped us in London (and they were/are correct on this), was a success. A team of very talented surgeons and doctors removed a huge tumour from Alfred’s brain. The next day he was running around on the grass chasing a stick. We were incredibly fortunate to find these people and their study for brain cancer, led by Professor Liz Pluhar. The trial, funded by the American National Cancer Institute, uses dogs with aggressive gliomas and has delivered positive results. In fact, earlier this year they started human clinical trials. In short in involves surgically removing the tumour, creating a personalised vaccine from it, and then delivering this vaccine which targets the remaining tumour.
Alfred’s future is uncertain. Gliomas are highly aggressive and tend to return quickly after surgery, although Dr Pluhar’s study is extending the life, and quality of life of her patients. Today he’s doing well, living his best life, a few months post-op. And he has gotten to see his garden my wife and I had at the top of our home buying list. He even came with to pick out the new car (Alfred loves a 911).
This was the problem. A very serious one
Alfred comes everywhere with me. Here seen waiting while I fix one of the cars
Before we knew anything was wrong, February 2020
This was the only way to get to the US with a dog in February
He suffered a seizure shortly after this was taken.
Bad weather, but the right vehicle
Over 20 hours of driving from JFK to Minnesota
Not sure about snow in Minneapolis
Two people I am incredibly grateful to
24 hours after brain surgery
A huge scar
Shaking on the deal with the seller. Or haggling?
Hoping to ride shotgun
At home in his garden
The journey there has been a rollercoaster full of challenges, the biggest being our little dog, Alfred, who got sick around Christmas time. His only hope specialist treatment in the US at the University of Minnesota. Pandemic restrictions on travel and a limited time to act as his prognosis only two months provided a puzzle far greater than planning a road trip with a British registered car. Everywhere we turned there were obstacles; mostly international border controls and the inability to fly a dog in the cabin on a commercial flight.
Eventually we made it, armed with a permit from the US CDC, we flew private to New York and then drove 20 hours in a Jeep Gladiator through bad weather.
Some might say it was a bit of an extreme for a pet, but I’m sure those of you with dogs will understand how they find a way into the centre of a family and right into your heart.
His surgery, deemed too risky and pointless by the specialists who helped us in London (and they were/are correct on this), was a success. A team of very talented surgeons and doctors removed a huge tumour from Alfred’s brain. The next day he was running around on the grass chasing a stick. We were incredibly fortunate to find these people and their study for brain cancer, led by Professor Liz Pluhar. The trial, funded by the American National Cancer Institute, uses dogs with aggressive gliomas and has delivered positive results. In fact, earlier this year they started human clinical trials. In short in involves surgically removing the tumour, creating a personalised vaccine from it, and then delivering this vaccine which targets the remaining tumour.
Alfred’s future is uncertain. Gliomas are highly aggressive and tend to return quickly after surgery, although Dr Pluhar’s study is extending the life, and quality of life of her patients. Today he’s doing well, living his best life, a few months post-op. And he has gotten to see his garden my wife and I had at the top of our home buying list. He even came with to pick out the new car (Alfred loves a 911).
This was the problem. A very serious one
Alfred comes everywhere with me. Here seen waiting while I fix one of the cars
Before we knew anything was wrong, February 2020
This was the only way to get to the US with a dog in February
He suffered a seizure shortly after this was taken.
Bad weather, but the right vehicle
Over 20 hours of driving from JFK to Minnesota
Not sure about snow in Minneapolis
Two people I am incredibly grateful to
24 hours after brain surgery
A huge scar
Shaking on the deal with the seller. Or haggling?
Hoping to ride shotgun
At home in his garden
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