Transporting a Car from Adelaide to Melbourne - Leaving It at The Depot Early?

LDsil on 01/12/2018 - 16:02

Hi all, I am from Melbourne, but currently living in Adelaide, and am travelling back home for the holidays. I would normally drive my car back, however it has been having some minor automotive issues which I don't feel comfortable driving the car the ~800km or so with. I've tried to book for transport from Adelaide to Melbourne, but the earliest possible date will be next Thursday 06/12, when I was planning to leave on the Tuesday 04/12.
Has anyone had experience with prixcar? I was thinking I may be able to leave the car at the depot for a couple of days before - drop it off on Tuesday and then catch my flight. But they are closed for the weekend, so I can't get a confirmation from them. The reason this is time sensitive is that my girlfriend is also coming with me, and has a flight back to Adelaide on Friday 07/12, which means that there wouldn't be much point in leaving on Thursday.
I also think that if I needed to wait until Thursday, I would rather just get the repair done (dependent on a part being shipped from interstate, which would take 2-3 days), and then drive it back myself.
If anyone could offer any guidance, that would be great as I've never actually had a car transported interstate before.

Thanks!

Automotive

Comments

  • altomic on 01/12/2018 - 17:03

    How long are you you in neon? How much is it costing you to transport your car?

    • Dsil on 01/12/2018 - 17:10

      Just over a month - $249 from Adelaide depot to Melbourne depot

  • p1 ama on 01/12/2018 - 17:26
    +4

    I would normally drive my car back, however it has been having some minor automotive issues which I don't feel comfortable driving the car the ~800km or so with.

    I'll be unhelpful so please forgive me, but what you're doing makes no economical sense. You're basically spending $250 to transport your car from Adelaide to Melbourne and also paying for flights both ways. Obviously I don't know how much you paid for the flights, but let's take a low average of $150 ea - so you're already $550 (for you + GF) out of pocket.

    That's on top of all the inconvenience of you having to drop your car off and organise transport back and you to organise transport to the airport and from Adelaide airport to wherever you're staying. All that adds up to around, say, $100 of your time, effort and direct costs. So you're $650 out of pocket all up.

    You still have a broken car. You might as well spend the $650 to fix up your car properly and then drive it down. $150 in fuel to drive down and back, you're paying $500 to delay fixing an issue you have to fix later anyway.

    • Dsil on 01/12/2018 - 17:47

      Appreciate the reply - I'd only need to pay $250 for the freight, plus one-way flight to Melbourne. I usually just use tigerair so ~$70. GF already has her flight back paid for.
      In reality, it would be $140 (Flights to Melbourne for GF and I), airport transport isn't an issue as we have family who can pick us up / drop us off on both ends.
      Looking at $390, instead of $150 in fuel. I would get the repair done in Melbourne (we have a family friend mechanic who does repairs at cost), and then drive back to Adelaide from Melbourne.
      The other issue as mentioned, is that the repair can be done on Thursday at the earliest as it requires a part to be shipped from interstate - which would mean that there would essentially be no purpose in GF coming and she would forfeit her flight which has been paid for.

      • p1 ama on 01/12/2018 - 18:55

        To be honest, if it's a relatively new and reliable car and the issues are minor as you say, then what I would do is just drive the car down to Adelaide and have it fixed down there. Is something likely to go wrong in between? Probably not.

        Anyway, I realise it's all probably too late for you already with everything already booked in, I think you've already gotten the best prices for everything considering it cost me almost as much to get my car towed around 50 km.

        • Dsil on 01/12/2018 - 18:58

          Sadly it is neither of those things, French and from 2001 haha. Thanks for the help!

  • holdenmg on 01/12/2018 - 18:19

    How much are they charging you to store the Car at the depot for a couple of days?

    • Dsil on 01/12/2018 - 18:58

      They aren't open, so I'm unable to confirm if I will even be able to store it at the depot for a couple of days.
      Was hoping someone on here would be able to confirm for me that storing your car at the depot is something which can be done.

  • elgrande on 01/12/2018 - 19:00

    Fix the car.

    What happens if you go to all the trouble and it breaks down once your there?

    Also.. dont you want to be enjoying yourself when there and not worrying about it breaking down?

  • coin saver on 01/12/2018 - 20:18

    Imoova has cars available at the moment for $5 a day Adelaide to Melbourne(3 days) hire one of these and fly back. https://www.imoova.com/imoova/relocations

  • Commander Shepard on 01/12/2018 - 22:02

    CEVA was pretty good when I shipped a car from Perth to Adelaide. Great rates too.

    It could be best to get your repairs done. And get the parts required for your car sent on overnight shipping.
    If you need the repairs done regardless, fix it. It will be a lot less stressful then dealing with a car transport company.

  • HighAndDry on 03/12/2018 - 10:37
    +1

    I'm so confused. You want to transport your car from Adelaide to Melbourne, get it fixed, only to drive it back to Adelaide basically a few days later?

    Why not just leave it in Adelaide and deal with getting it fixed when you get back from Melbourne? Is there a reason you need your car in Melbourne?

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