Transporting four vehicles simultaneously is no easy feat. Imagine doing so with a 1992 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, 2006 Honda S2000, 2015 BMW M3, and a 1997 Acura NSX? Well, the transport needs to be done perfectly. Open carriers do great when it comes to transporting normal vehicles. However, these aren’t normal vehicles; these are four high-performance cars loaded on one enclosed carrier and traveling 1,178 miles from Bellevue, WA to Irvine, CA for $3,800.
The Route
WA-CA is known to be one of the busiest routes when it comes to transporting vehicles by road. The carriers travel along this route consistently because there is always high demand from both directions. This ensures higher availability of loads with shorter wait times compared to other routes.
In this particular case, starting in Bellevue, the route to Irvine goes southward along the I-5 freeway via Portland, Sacramento, Central Valley and then into Southern California. At a total distance of 1,178 miles, it can be classified as a long-haul transport. Long haul transport involves distances of up to 1,000 to 1,500 miles. For an enclosed multi-car carrier, the typical transit time would be around 4 to 7 days due to 11 hour driving limits per day.
The Vehicles: Why Each One Belongs on an Enclosed Trailer
There’s a reason why each vehicle in this shipment needs to be shipped in a covered trailer.
It’s not just due to any sort of luxury.
1992 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The Mercedes W124 generation E-Class is considered one of the most over-engineered cars ever produced. The build quality for this car was done at a standard that is very hard to find today. If the E-Class of 1992 still retains its quality, it will make for a collectible car, which means more value. Being exposed to road trash and sun will damage its paint and rubber parts that are getting pretty old.
2006 Honda S2000
The S2000 had a run of exactly ten years before being discontinued. Honda ceased production of the car back in 2009, which means any one of these cars that survived will become increasingly difficult to find. The AP2 version that came out between 2004 and 2009 is especially valuable due to changes in its suspension setup and VTEC system tuning. Clean S2000 models are valuable investments; shipping an S2000 open risks exposure to environmental wear and tear that lowers collectible value.
2015 BMW M3 (F80)
The F80 M3 is also the end of the line for the naturally-aspirated generation of M3s as a regular product. This model comes with a twin-turbo 3.0 liter inline six engine as the V8 engine was no longer in production. This, coupled with high-quality workmanship and the popularity of the car amongst enthusiasts, has ensured that the F80 remains valued among M3 buyers. Another issue to consider is that the lowered ground clearance of the M3 makes its entry onto normal loading ramps difficult.
1997 Acura NSX
Of the cars here, this is perhaps the one that by itself supports the enclosed choice. The NSX was built in small quantities during its manufacturing life from 1990 to 2005. The aluminum monocoque construction and mid-engine design combined with a hand built engine by Honda in their Tochigi plant made it unique in its class in the United States. Unrestored cars of this value fetch more than $100,000 on the market. To place a car of that much value onto an open trailer while enclosed transport is possible is foolish.
What Makes This a Well-Structured Multi-Car Enclosed Shipment
There are a number of factors that help make this shipment very efficient.
Firstly, the route is busy enough to have a reasonable expectation that an enclosed trailer going southward from the Pacific Northwest to Southern California could be found without undue delay. Four vehicles fit well into the capacity of a multi-car enclosed trailer which can typically hold up to 5-7 vehicles. Booking for 4 spaces on an existing partly booked truck is a common practice and a cheaper option.
All four vehicles operate normally and are standard sized; special loading facilities such as a rollback tilt bed and/or Go-Jak dollies will not be required. Even though the M3 and S2000 have relatively low clearances, none of these is low enough to get anywhere near the 3.5 inch threshold that would necessitate exotic loading procedures.
Soft tie down straps that loop through wheel wells are typical in enclosed trailers while other tie down systems use chains to connect to the vehicle frame and/or axle. For valuable vehicles like the NSX and M3, this is important.
Transport Summary
- Total distance from Bellevue, WA (98005) to Irvine, CA (92604): 1,178 miles
- Total cost: $3,800 for all four vehicles on one enclosed trailer
- Per-mile rate: approximately $3.23 for the full load
- Estimated transit time: 4 to 7 days
