CAMARO6 - Germany Bound 1LE...

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Paris: honestly, I hope I don't have to service this car ever again by GM folks, but history doesn't support that. Thanks.

Finally acquired a car and some miles on the autobahn...unfortunately, the vehicle of choice was a Fiat 500 rental.

Nonetheless, the famous unrestricted autobahn sign greeted us...as we passed 120....KPH (about 72 mph).

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7802/...67d6f9ff_c.jpg

Winter is an unpleasant time to move...don't recommend it.

My current transportation during winter months...

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7806/...cd1e6c05_c.jpg

2006 BMW 318i Touring with a mighty 127 HP (unsure with 160,000 miles!) and 6 speed. Bought for $4100. The seller admitted a routine 35 mpg...it is no power house!

BMW claims 129 mph...bit surprising at the low hp rating...will wait until the winter tires/wheels are replaced.

Hey Tim hopefully I will be in a similar situation to you soon as I'm waiting to see if I'm going to get a slot at Ramstein! If all goes well I may have to hit you up with some questions, but for now about your shipping cost on the car, it looks like under $2k as long as you don't run into anymore issues which is WAY less than I was expecting. I have a Colorado ZR2 (which I hear is a literal unicorn in Europe) as well as my 1LE and was assuming it wouldn't be worth it pay to ship that after having the AF ship my car but if it's only $2-3k I would probably be inclined to just take both.

Anyway hope everything goes well for you and if I end up over there too it will be good to potentially know another 1LE guy fairly close by haha

FNxR3DNECK: Wish you luck on the possibility. Ramstein has several benefits...Ring is quite a bit closer and better services (USAF!).

My auto has yet to arrive so can't say if my price is a good deal or not. May also look at containerized shipping. It is not much more, but takes a bit longer lead time to coordinate. You can easily call them for a quote - based on cube and weight from some standardized references.

Some have said tires sticking past the fenders is a big failure item. Unsure of the ZR2 situation. Even the Camaro I've got concern.

PM me if you want further specifics...happy to report my failures/lessons learned.

Good luck!

Received notification the car is on the boat (HOEGH TRIDENT).

Also received Onstar notification that the tire pressure is low...likely due to the temperature changes...(or the nails I picked up in the dirt lot of the port escort).

Also verified I can use a US size plate offset on the front of the car. I ordered a OEM front plate, but drills into the plastic bumper cover...rather not. ZL1 Addons mounts on the front tow hook mount - sturdy aluminum as well...should withstand the autobahn runs this car will experience.

Paid the shipping bill as well...$1623 (with credit card fee included). There may be additional fees upon arrival into Bremerhaven/German customs.

I'm really interested in seeing how this turns out. Thanks for posting! My wife and I are considering moving there after spending a month in Europe last year, but there is a lot to consider. You're helping my research

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim M (Post 10408775)

Purchased this 2018 Camaro SS 1LE expressly to take overseas for several year long job transfer to Stuttgart, Germany.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/933/4...bc4be240_c.jpg

Bought on 2 July for $8200 off sticker - not exactly what I wanted for options - only desired the 1LE and PDR, but also included the gas cap, trunk mat, wheel locks, and a GM Air Intake (this part led to great challenges).

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4805/...dfc4b9e4_c.jpg

I planned to purchase early to work out any bugs prior to shipping over. This was a good idea as a simple track event (SCCA Track Night @ Palm Beach International Raceway) resulted in power loss, missing, and Check Engine Light which was eventually traced to a programming discrepancy...computer was not reflashed with the GM Air Intake program during PDI as it was supposed to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNhjwXBl4f0&t=30s

2 trips to the drags, 4 trips to the dyno, 5 dealer visits, 26 days out of service, and 1 Defect Notice (Lemon notification) to Chevrolet resulted in a car that I should have from day one. I'm crossing my fingers damage was not significant to the cats or other parts of the powertrain during nearly 7000 miles of incorrect operation. There is no warranty outside of North America!

See thread here as to not regurgitate the ordeal:

LINK

Quick summary can be shown on the dyno chart below...runs with bad program are the low squiggles with the healthy runs reflected in the higher smooth arcs (405 RWHP / 401 RWTQ on a SAE standardized Dynojet).

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4820/...3aec9da6_c.jpg

The best drag time was a 12.8 @ 112 mph...conditions weren't ideal, but quickest I was going to get it to go that night. Certainly closer to expectation for this car.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4880/...78d1620d_c.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7858/...ea0741f9_c.jpg

With that complete...I was down to literally one day to make the boat drop off - leaving no time to prep the car as planned (fluid change, second set of wheels with preferred all season tires just to suit the German inspection, refined full alignment, etc.) I did get an initial/conservative alignment on the front early on, but had hoped to recheck it again before shipping - no chance with the timeline. Additionally, when the car 'greened-up,' I ordered 4 new Goodyears for it from TireRack...only three came the night before the tire installer was scheduled...UPS lost the 4th tire. So I killed the idea of changing only 3 (sticking those in my household goods shipment) and requesting TireRack forward the lost tire to Germany. UPS eventually found the tire and reshipped to my now vacant residence! Sometimes things don't work out...

Nonetheless, 4-hour drive from Tampa, quick car wash, splash gas (must be below 1/4 tank), and drop off was executed at Port Jacksonville, FL. It was not a reassuring process!

The port escort service was out of a trailer in a dirt lot filled with crashed cars...figured I would get a nail in the tires at the very least along with a nice coat of dirt on the hardly dry car. Took a bunch of images and off we went to the port for drop off.

Essentially no inspection was performed in my presence, a hand written sticker placed on the windshield, and a half filled out dock receipt with a stamp stating 'Received.'

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4915/...212b0a31_c.jpg

This thread may be very short when the car is lost forever!

Boat sails on 27 Jan with arrival on 13 Feb in Bremerhaven, GE. Then it will be trucked to Stuttgart.

Interesting data point: roll on/roll off shipping cost from Jacksonville, FL to Stuttgart is $1584. The escort service (water port is like airport security) ran another $90. My USAA insurance covers the 'marine' insurance (while at sea) so avoided another extra cost. I've learned marine insurance is typically 2.7% of the value of the car.

Registration/safety inspection will be another challenge with worn summer tires (1.6 mm minimum across entire face) installed as well as front tires that extend past the front fenders (German law prohibits). They way the Goodyears are molded...one segment of the tread is shallower than the rest - unsure how much they will be sticklers...I'm far away from the 2/32 tread wear indicator on the deeper thread.

If I survive this car, hope to have a few European snaps of the car's travels...the way my luck is going - may just wad the car up on the first lap of the Nurburgring (~3 hour drive from Stuttgart). Either way, should be interesting for someone...

Not too bad on shipping AND you paid cash for the car too-nice!

Here's mine. I dropped mine off in January of last year, and had it in storage this whole time... So, I haven't driven it since January 2018... :pout:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boost Creep (Post 10425603)

Track the ship and your car:
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais...:HOEGH_TRIDENT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9zM5UX-4ew

Moored at Newport News Va. this morning.
Picking up more vehicles?

Boost Creep: Thanks for posting the link...shipping company provided similar. Interesting to track the ship...at such a slow pace!

JeromeS13: Stored the car for a year! Wow...I'm a bit impatient after only a month.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim M (Post 10427712)

Yeah. I'm currently finishing up an unaccompanied, remote tour... So she's been in storage this whole time...

Jerome: of course - should have known. You are much more deserving of a 1LE lap of the ring than I. Great overseas homecoming...