| Author | Message | ||
| Norman (Storminnormin)
Junior Member Username: Storminnormin Post Number: 167 Registered: 7-2002 |
A few years ago in Los Angeles, I saw a convoy of 3 flat bed trucks heading north on the 405 near LAX, each carrying a new 456. | ||
| Bart Duesler (The_bart)
Junior Member Username: The_bart Post Number: 184 Registered: 1-2003 |
This was a very good question. I loved the answers. Learning is always good. | ||
| Jonas Petersen (Karsten335)
Member Username: Karsten335 Post Number: 492 Registered: 11-2002 |
I have seen 2 open Ferrari transporters in Italy and many Porsche haulers in Germany. So it's not impossible. | ||
| ryan (Ferrari_kid)
New member Username: Ferrari_kid Post Number: 2 Registered: 7-2003 |
I've seen the Ferrari of Washington closed transporter around. But that was probably hauling the 360GT for the team. But once when stopping by the dealership I did see them unloading a couple of 360s out of an enclosed trailer. There was a Porsche owner, I guess, that had opted to use a flatbed truck to haul his 911 Cabriolet to the dealership. While they unloaded it and was backing it down the truck he had his exhaust tips scrapping the ground. It wasn't a pretty site. | ||
| Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Member Username: Tvrfreak Post Number: 414 Registered: 3-2003 |
Speaking of enclosed trailers...they aren't always the best either!  | ||
| Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Member Username: Tvrfreak Post Number: 413 Registered: 3-2003 |
A reader wrote in to Car magazine once, claiming he'd spotted an open transporter in Switzerland with the following cars on it: 2 F50s (one black, one red) 1 F40 1 288 GTO There were other exotics and high end cars also, but I remember these. I think it must have been a private collector moving a few of his cars. Astounding that he would agree to an open transporter, though. | ||
| PeterS (Peters)
Intermediate Member Username: Peters Post Number: 1059 Registered: 1-2003 |
Oh Ya...I can just see 12 Enzo's on an open trailer driving through downtown LA! | ||
| M.J. Callie (Dream_cars)
New member Username: Dream_cars Post Number: 42 Registered: 5-2003 |
As with any car it is a matter of opinion. I find the Boxster very comfy (5'11"). and consider it a great car and every inch is as much a Porsche as my fathers Gruppe B Porsche and his friends DP Porsche. I have had people come up to me and ask why Im driving a rebodied VW. These people dont know the first thing about sports cars. Dont take the "cool" coment personal just 1/2 the people I run into that will just plain put down a car and call it name is doing it only to look cool and above anyone who owns one. | ||
| Andrew-Phillip Goalen (Andrewg)
Junior Member Username: Andrewg Post Number: 135 Registered: 9-2002 |
MJCAllie , Have had a boxster(97), wasn�t impressed couldn�t get comfortable and the car felt too anaemic, the boxsterS is supposed to be better but still not as involving as a used 964 or 993 for the same money, as for me being cool never not my thing! | ||
| V.Z. (Ama328)
Junior Member Username: Ama328 Post Number: 177 Registered: 11-2002 |
yeah, i can testify to the closed container method, as several yrs ago i was in I-40 out in either AZ or NM and actually passed a closed container truck/trailer hauling Fcars, presumably to CA...not much to see, just a truck/trailer. | ||
| Vince (Manatee)
Junior Member Username: Manatee Post Number: 244 Registered: 6-2002 |
In Atlanta, Ferraris arrive by Horseless Carriage. What is a really neat experience is to watch An Aston Martin arrive at the dealership. Astons show up at the dealer still inside their shipping container. Meaning they are loaded into the container in England secured with tie downs and wooden braces nailed into the container. The container finds it's way to a cargo ship and then eventually unloaded onto a trailer truck which delivers the container to the dealer. It's up to the dealer to figure out the best way to get the car out of the container. Remember, the edge of the container is still several feet above the roadway. Because Aston Martin of Atlanta does not have a proper loading dock, they back a flatbed 'rollback' car hauler up to the edge of the container, the car is moved from the container to the rollback, and then the rollback tilts the bed down to the ground where the Aston is rolled off the wrecker bed. Very interesting to watch. | ||
| Ronny Jones (Ronny)
New member Username: Ronny Post Number: 9 Registered: 6-2003 |
On the second point about Porsches, I think the fact that the new 911 is moving away from the current Boxster looks speaks volumes. I think that Porsche wants to cover as much market as possible, and hopefully introduce a younger, possibly even female, buyer to the marque. That said, the Boxster S is a cracking car for the money. Ron | ||
| Ronny Jones (Ronny)
New member Username: Ronny Post Number: 8 Registered: 6-2003 |
On a trip from school in I think 1986 to Austria, we saw an open Transpoter carrying 7 Testarossas - certainly the highlight of the trip ! i guess Transporters have come on in the last 17 years. Sad to say, this is the only event I rememberfrom the whole time away. Ron | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 650 Registered: 11-2002 |
Yep Wayne, you would be right here:
I guess that it does not help that the only ones I have seen driving around Sydney are being driven by posers ... but Sydney does suffer a lot from that ... There are still alot of hard nose Porsche enthusiasts that think anything other than a 911 is not a real Porsche ... I guess I just don't like the Boxter, but being a Porsche I assume it does everything they claim as brilliantly put together, etc. Pete ps: I to have never seen a Ferrari being delivered, but sure hope it is not in containers and unloaded on the wharf. Those customs guys and girls in Australia have a ball driving all sorts of cars ... they love it. I had a chat with a few of them recently and they gave their personal opinion on which of the cars they have driven were the fastest ...  , brand new straight out of the container, with cold motors | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Moderator Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 2103 Registered: 8-2002 |
"When a manufacturer suddenly makes a cheaper car..." Nothing sudden about it: 912, 914, 924, 944, 968, Boxster. I've driven the Boxster (have you?) as well as the 924, 944 and 944 Turbo. The Boxster holds its own with this crowd: Road & Track 1987 944 Turbo (U.S. spec): 0-60 in 6.6 seconds 1/4 mile in 15.1 seconds at 95.5 mph Top speed of 149 mph Car and Driver 2000 Boxster: 0-60 in 6.2 seconds 1/4 mile in 14.9 seconds at 96 mph Top speed of 152 mph Road & Track 2000 Boxster S: 0-60 in 5.6 seconds 1/4 mile in 14.0 seconds at 100.5 mph Top speed: 161 mph Oh yeah, they're not exactly cheap either. You might think that the base MSRPs of $42,600 for the Base model and $51,600 for the S are quite a bit less than the $68,600 base price of a Carrera, but most Boxsters in dealer inventory have $7K to $10K+ in accessories. Not a lot of "hair dressers" and "wannabes" here in the States buying $50K-$60K cars. I can only guess that those who consider the Boxster to be something other than a "real" Porsche, probably don't own Porsches themselves and don't understand what the marque is all about. (Whoa! Have we gone completely OT on this one or what?) | ||
| Robert McNair (Rrm)
Member Username: Rrm Post Number: 505 Registered: 5-2002 |
Honda delivers S2000's in closed transport also. | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 646 Registered: 11-2002 |
When a manufacturer suddenly makes a cheaper car, they open themselves up to this sort of abuse. The Boxter IS seen (unfairly probably) as the hairdresses car in Australia, because all the Porsche wannabe owners finally have been able to buy one ... and they look soooo cute. Even my sister-inlaw who hates cars, thinks they are cute. This is enough to confirm that they DO attract a different type of buyer/owner/person than a traditional Porsche. This is just the same stuff that the 246, 308, etc. went through when Ferrari started the Dino line. Eventually the Boxter model will mature as a real Porsche, just like the 924 became the 944, etc. I have read really good road tests on them ... but most seem to indicate that they need more power. Maybe this is because the chassis is so good? This is all just my opinion, but surely every owner or prospective owner of a Boxter is aware of how everybody else looks at them ... and yes some of this is jealousy and tall poppy syndrome, but they still have this reputation. Pete | ||
| rich (Dino2400)
Member Username: Dino2400 Post Number: 321 Registered: 10-2001 |
What? You mean they don't just transport them in the open and then repaint the Ferraris once they arrive at the dealerships like they do in Japan? Ha! I'm still wanting to hear the rest of that story (from a previous thread). I don't doubt it at all but if someone (Tako?) is reading who knows more, please post more about that. | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Moderator Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 2101 Registered: 8-2002 |
Okay, then, let me narrow it down. I used to work for a BMW/Porsche/VW/Audi dealer here in southern California and, here in So Cal at least, Bimmers and P-cars are delivered by covered transport. VWs are not. Don't remember about the Audis. Don't know about Canada. Don't know about the rest of the world. When we would buy pre-owned Bimmers and P-cars at auction, they would be shipped to the dealer by whatever method the dealer arranged, which was by open transport in our case. It's also possible the cars you are seeing on open transporters up there in Canada are used as well. Were they covered in white plastic? That said, I realize that I've now taken this thread way off topic. I think Jeff's original question was already answered before I even became involved. | ||
| BJ (Bjkim)
Junior Member Username: Bjkim Post Number: 120 Registered: 10-2002 |
I have seen Porsches and BMWs on an open transporter in their dealership. In the BMW dealership (Maranello BMW), the driver was loading M3s and some other 3 series. And also in the Porsche dealership (Phaff Porsche), they were loading 996 C4S, Boxsters, and Carreras. I don't think BMW, and Porsche uses closed transporter to deliver their cars in Ontario, Canada. | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Senior Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 5110 Registered: 8-2002 |
The generosity and selflessness of an associate of ours afforded me the opportunity to drive a Boxster - what fun...! i was elated as it was a combination score for me...! 1. i'd never driven a Porsche of any kind before. 2. i'd never driven a convertible before. 3. It was another sports car i'd be able to test drive. The acceleration and steering on the car blew me away; there's so much negativity attached to the Boxster that i already had predetermined what some of the experience would be like... Much to my surprise and happiness, it was completely different, making it that much more intense... The Cayenne looked great in pictures but then i felt let down when i saw it in person; still it's an SUV that most sports cars can't keep up with, so it DEServes credit, no matter what... Porsche has always been and seems like it will continue to be one of the most underrated marques in the history of the automotive industry... Fine by me, though, 'cause i know the real deal.  | ||
| M.J. Callie (Dream_cars)
New member Username: Dream_cars Post Number: 41 Registered: 5-2003 |
Im sorry but anyone who doesnt count boxsters as real porsches doesnt know much about sports cars. IMHO has deeper issues and is taking it out on and wanting to sound cool by downing the boxster. with all due respect | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Intermediate Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 2010 Registered: 6-2001 |
I'm sure that Horseless Carriage carries the cars. They are delivered to Ferrari North America in New Jersey, then they travel by truck to the various dealers. Putting cars this expensive on an open truck wouldn't be real smart: damage one of them, get it stolen, etc. and all the savings are gone, plus you have a very angry want-to-be owner. Art | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Moderator Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 2100 Registered: 8-2002 |
Hi Andrew, sorry, I was only referring to Porsche Cars North America. | ||
| Andrew-Phillip Goalen (Andrewg)
Junior Member Username: Andrewg Post Number: 122 Registered: 9-2002 |
Wayne I saw an open transporter with boxsters and cayene's in liverpool a few weeks ago, but then again as there not real porsche's they probabley don't count, our local Ferrari dealer uses a covered trailer as does (I think) Jeff at Maranello's (ferrari UK) | ||
| James Dunne (Audiguy)
Junior Member Username: Audiguy Post Number: 100 Registered: 6-2003 |
Horseless Carriage is contracted to bring all the new Ferraris and Maseratis to the dealers. FoDallas uses their transport to take the GT and Challenge cars to their events and in between to transport cars between Houston and Dallas. | ||
| Jim Schad (Jim_schad)
Intermediate Member Username: Jim_schad Post Number: 1502 Registered: 7-2002 |
FoDallas has a big, very nice, red enclosed semi trailer that brings theirs in. Saw it in the daytime too! | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Moderator Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 2093 Registered: 8-2002 |
If you think about it, you've never seen new Porsches or BMWs on an open transporter either. These cars are all shipped in closed transporters. | ||
| David Stoeppelwerth (Racerdj)
Member Username: Racerdj Post Number: 314 Registered: 1-2003 |
I've heard that Horseless Carriage (enclosed) delivers the cars on or near the East Coast. | ||
| Jeffrey Wolfe (86mondial32)
Member Username: 86mondial32 Post Number: 337 Registered: 5-2003 |
I was in traffic today and saw the usual car hauler loaded with new Fords. Thinking about it I have never seen any New Ferrari's being delivered. HOW does the dealer get shipments? Are they brought in closed trucks in the dead of night..lol. I know it's a dumb question.... |