Questions about Porsche TT's on the AutoTrain to Florida..
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Wayne, NJ
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Originally posted by Ray M
Ken,
My buddies and I took the Auto Train to Florida last summer with my Turbo and a friend's M3. Basically this was my situation....I didn't want to put the miles on it driving back and forth, and didn't want to deal with a carrier for such a short trip (two weeks).
Keeping in mind my Turbo is virtually stock, I had no problems whatsoever. My friend's M3, which has coil overs and 19" I Forged wheels, unfortunately didn't do so well.
What we didn't understand until we got to the terminal was that the cars are secured to train via rails on the floor (note these rails are only on one side). The rails are similar to the tracks in a car wash which you must line up with. As my friend's tires did not have a rim protector, the rim is exposed and utmost care must be taken. Unfortunately when we arrived in Florida and the cars were unloaded, both rims on the side his car was secured were hacked up big time. Additionally, the car had 'jumped' up on the rail during the trip down landed on the side skirt, messing that up to. The trip back wasn't much better....we told them to make sure they loaded the car in the same direction so the same wheels would be in the track. They did not and the other two were messed up. You must sign a waiver if your car is lowered or has custom wheels. Luckily Amtrak didn't make him sign the 'lowered' waiver, so they covered the side skirt. The wheels he had to eat though.....he was pissed!
In the end, I would do it again with my Turbo if it was in stock form. Is it a good idea for the modded cars of the Six Pack, unfortunately it is probably not....
Best and let me know if you have any other questions about it...
Ray
Ken,
My buddies and I took the Auto Train to Florida last summer with my Turbo and a friend's M3. Basically this was my situation....I didn't want to put the miles on it driving back and forth, and didn't want to deal with a carrier for such a short trip (two weeks).
Keeping in mind my Turbo is virtually stock, I had no problems whatsoever. My friend's M3, which has coil overs and 19" I Forged wheels, unfortunately didn't do so well.
What we didn't understand until we got to the terminal was that the cars are secured to train via rails on the floor (note these rails are only on one side). The rails are similar to the tracks in a car wash which you must line up with. As my friend's tires did not have a rim protector, the rim is exposed and utmost care must be taken. Unfortunately when we arrived in Florida and the cars were unloaded, both rims on the side his car was secured were hacked up big time. Additionally, the car had 'jumped' up on the rail during the trip down landed on the side skirt, messing that up to. The trip back wasn't much better....we told them to make sure they loaded the car in the same direction so the same wheels would be in the track. They did not and the other two were messed up. You must sign a waiver if your car is lowered or has custom wheels. Luckily Amtrak didn't make him sign the 'lowered' waiver, so they covered the side skirt. The wheels he had to eat though.....he was pissed!
In the end, I would do it again with my Turbo if it was in stock form. Is it a good idea for the modded cars of the Six Pack, unfortunately it is probably not....
Best and let me know if you have any other questions about it...
Ray
I know if it's up to me my car will have no damage
I would have to inflict some serious bodily injury if my car was damaged due to someone else's imcompetance!
If I did not have a trailer I would rather drive the whole way rather then risk it on a train
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From: Orange Park, FL
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First of all, when is this "Grand Opening?" Second, just drive down and on the way, stop by Jacksonville for dinner! Depending on when this is, maybe some more of us would join in the drive. 
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Wayne, NJ
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Originally posted by greyghost
First of all, when is this "Grand Opening?" Second, just drive down and on the way, stop by Jacksonville for dinner! Depending on when this is, maybe some more of us would join in the drive.
First of all, when is this "Grand Opening?" Second, just drive down and on the way, stop by Jacksonville for dinner! Depending on when this is, maybe some more of us would join in the drive.
Late April, early May
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 942
From: Melbourne, Fl
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I can drive from Lorton Va to Sanford Fl in less than 12 hrs.
I took the auto train years back in the Vette. It never drove the same, there was front end suspension damage. I dont know what happened but I sold it a year later because of a disease it picked up on that rt to Fl.
On top of it. You have to get to Lorton a few hrs early for loading and then in Sanford getting your car can take hours. The cars come off randomly and you could be the last one. There were 2 men taking hundreds of cars off the train and I waited over 3 hours to get my car.
I didnt sleep a wink on that train and was pissed I had to wait 3 hrs to get my car.
It was a horrible experience and even if they paid me to take it I never would,, esp in a Porsche. My Vette was assaulted in that train car somehow.
Cabman
I took the auto train years back in the Vette. It never drove the same, there was front end suspension damage. I dont know what happened but I sold it a year later because of a disease it picked up on that rt to Fl.
On top of it. You have to get to Lorton a few hrs early for loading and then in Sanford getting your car can take hours. The cars come off randomly and you could be the last one. There were 2 men taking hundreds of cars off the train and I waited over 3 hours to get my car.
I didnt sleep a wink on that train and was pissed I had to wait 3 hrs to get my car.
It was a horrible experience and even if they paid me to take it I never would,, esp in a Porsche. My Vette was assaulted in that train car somehow.
Cabman
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