I am sure some of you have had this debate with yourself so I am curious where you landed on it. I want to temporarily relocate my F-Type to Florida and I am struggling with whether to drive it the 1,100 miles (2,200 RT) or ship it at a cost of $1,500 ($3,000 RT). I drive straight through so no hotels or anything from a cost standpoint, but I am a little ridiculous about keeping the low milage on the car so that's making this a hard decision. Anyone rationalized this out for themselves in similar circumstances?

 

If you drive it to florida, are you flying back? What's the total cost of all that in comparison? I guess then consider what's your own time worth to you?

 

The question to ask is "do you want to drive an F-Type?" No brainer for me - they're made to be driven, not carried.

 

How many miles do you currently have on the car? An additional 2200 miles is minor on a 2015 vehicle if you are concerned about taking a hit on resale value someday. Great weather, no snow or ice I'd say drive it and have fun. And if you are willing to spend $3000 on round trip shipping you can surely afford an evening at a Motel 6 somewhere in South Carolina to break up your drive. Drove my F-Type from Mobile, AL to Maine (1600 mi) in January and had no issues because I paid attention to the weather patterns and had a blast. Even lived the dream at a LaQuinta in Roanoke, VA at the halfway point! The hours of daylight were also more limited when I made my trip compared to yours if you are adverse to nighttime driving. In addition, there have been some reported minor damage issues with sub contracted shipping companies on this and other sites so be aware of who is actually transporting you car if you decide to ship it.

 

If you're worried about mileage as a function of resale value, I think you bought the wrong car 🤣

Drive it, you'll have a blast. I drove mine home to California from Missouri, and would do it again

 

DRIVE IT!

Highway mileage will not diminish reliability. You will develop a deep bond with your F.

Better than buying a car that "Was only driven on Weekends" (at the racetrack)!

(Reminds me of a friend who bought a 'Vette...and most of the saved destinations in the Sat/Nav were racetracks...) LOL at him.

 

agreed, drive it. i bought mine in seattle and drove it home to LA. it was great. besides, auto transport is hit and miss at best. lots of horror stories out there. i did my research before deciding on the road trip.

 

Only 17K miles and I have no plans to sell the car. Yes, I can afford a hotel stay, but usually drive straight through. Good to hear you had a good trip to Maine. The car has been flawless so I have no concerns on that front. I think your advice is sound and it always helps to hear it from another source.

 

I think that's good advice hearing from you and the others. I think the group has brought me around.

 

Thanks for all the sensible advice. I think it makes sense to drive. I'll be with the car for several months and then drive it back north at some point. On the note of driving - I tested some protective wrap for the front end that I thought I might toss on for the 17 hour trip down I-95. I know there's Trakkape and other options, but this is the wrap that new cars are delivered with and it's significantly cheaper. I think it was $60 for 26" x 600' roll. Either way, I tested it on a 2 hour expressway trip and it was perfect. It's 3mil, but double on most of the leading edge (6mil) and it came off in under 30 seconds. It has a light adhesive made for car finishes. I plan to use it on the trip south. Yes, it looks ridiculous, but when I got there I took it off and no bugs, no chips - looked like I had just washed it. I also put a strip across the center price of the grill and it didn't move nor flap. I know - a little obsessed.

 

There's nothing obsessive about it. Yes, it looks weird but you have a long road trip. It's your car, your money and the front end of the car is prone to abuse (sand pitting, pebbles, chips etc..). And to your point, that how cars are transported which is what you're doing. If it were me I'd wrap the whole bumper cover too. Maybe you did but the pic doesn't show it.

 

LOL, next time you'll apply it with less wrinkles.

 

Drive the bloody thing . What it was made for

 

You clearly have never applied this material. That's about as good as it gets, but good luck to you when you try.

 

Yep. The stuff is a little tough to deal with and doesn't do great with curves and corners, but I may try more edges for the trip and if it doesn't stay just take it off when I stop for fuel. This was really just a proof of concept run.

 

I typically drive straight through too, but more and more, I’m getting off the freeway and taking secondary roads for part of the trip. That’s where the car is brilliant, IMO - find some scenic bypasses, etc. Make the trip a bit longer, but more enjoyable.

 

I used to do repeated runs from my house in NC to work in Florida, and to the parents house in Louisiana in my 996 Porsche (12h one way). I never got out feeling like I didn't go 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. Last spring I bought my first F-type in FL and took it home to the house in NC and arrived feeling comfortable and not fatigued at all. These cars are truly comfortable grand tourers, and can gobble highway miles up in comfort. My vote is for DRIVE!

 

Just to add that 1.100 miles on one go in one person is maybe too much for some independend of the car type. I am not saying it cannot be done, I am just saying be sure that you did this before so you won't find yourself sleeping in the desert

 

LOL, not much desert between Pennsylvania and Florida, but I get what you mean. Personally, I enjoy driving and not one to be concerned with miles I put on my cars. Though I do understand that viewpoint. Last road trip we took was Savannah, GA to LA, California and back. Now that there had some desert involved.

 

Anyone who hasn't driven cross country at least in one direction is missing out on more than they can imagine. I've driven it both ways with many side trips mixed in and it remains one of the more enlightening and enjoyable experiences of my life. What a magnificent country we live in!