For those who've ordered European cars

[chadbag]

For those who've ordered European cars (track your car)

I was interested in trying to figure out where my Volvo is in its voyage to me and when I could expect it.
I found this site
http://jalopnik.com/5591932/how-to-hyperstalk-a-new-car-from-factory-to-your-door
And using it was able to figure out, using the VIN, which ship it is on and then track the ship. As I type this the ship is in the English Channel on its way to Panama, and from there to California. Based on the data shown I might expect the car a week or two earlier than I had estimated based on Volvo's generic timetables.
Those who have Mercs, or BMW, or whatever ordered might be able to figure out more info on the whereabouts of their cars (if shipped) as well. And if not shipped yet, some sleuthing might help you know its progress anyway.

 

[BuyMeBackSoon]

On the MINI forums people religiously track the car from initial build to delivery. MINI owners lounge gets the process started. All the ships seem to be tracked as well.

 

[Tenebrae]

Wow! Thanks, chadbag. Nifty resource. I love it that we can track stuff like this now.

-T.

 

[chadbag]

Unfortunately the ship trackers I am using don't have updates once the ship reached the open waters of the Atlantic. Last update was Nov 24

Its would show up around 12/5 when it hits the Panama canal.

 

[Rico567]

Unfortunately the ship trackers I am using don't have updates once the ship reached the open waters of the Atlantic. Last update was Nov 24
Its would show up around 12/5 when it hits the Panama canal.

1. The "open waters of the Atlantic" are meaningless today, with satellite communication.

2. There's nothing to communicate in the "open waters of the Atlantic." I was in the Navy for 4 years, 3 of those on a destroyer that in that time made three trips (back and forth) across those "open waters." There's nothing to report. Nothing. It's just this giant blue wet thing that may eat you if you get careless, but......nothing to report.

 

[edofloat]

My car was delivered to Baltimore and arrived at the dealer in Minneapolis 4 days later. It did take almost two weeks on the ship with multiple stops after leaving Bremerhaven.

 

[ericy]

1. The "open waters of the Atlantic" are meaningless today, with satellite communication..

I was poking around on www.marinetraffic.com, and it shows numerous ships in the mid-Atlantic. In general the site wants to upsell you before it gives you much information, but you still might be able to find the ship there.

I am noting that a lot of ships are only identified as "Cargo Ship", and some are identified by their name. It probably depends on what kind of transponder is on the ship.

 

[chadbag]

I was poking around on www.marinetraffic.com, and it shows numerous ships in the mid-Atlantic. In general the site wants to upsell you before it gives you much information, but you still might be able to find the ship there.

I am noting that a lot of ships are only identified as "Cargo Ship", and some are identified by their name. It probably depends on what kind of transponder is on the ship.

I've tried several different sites, looking up "my" ship by call sign, and a few different other registration numbers (MMSI), and unfortunately, they all stopped updating once it left the coastal waters off the UK/France, after steaming through the English channel.

I would think that whatever transponder or whatever they use would continue to be picked up no matter where they are. But I am not in the business. They are using so-called AIS data, and maybe that is shore based and not satellite based. (I am sure the shipper and other have more up to date info).

Anyway... "My" ship is supposed to hit Panama on 12/5 and the Cali port of call on 12/14. Volvo claims up to 15 days to hit the dealer and be ready (including offloading, customs inspection/passage, waiting for the car carrier, actual transit, receipt and prep by dealer, etc.). With the holidays at the end of December, I am not expecting it until the beginning of January.

It was interesting to track by VIN on the shipper's website and see it leave Göteborg (Gothenburg) and go to Bremerhaven, and then offload there and be put on a new ship etc. Stuff you don't really think about normally when buying a new car at a dealer...

 

[david950]

I replaced my TDI Jetta with an Audi A4. Audi, and my salesman, were fairly communicative during the whole process, with Audi sending emails about production of my car starting, it being sent by rail to port, and it getting on a boat. I tracked the boat to its first stop at Davisville, RI, then to Houston, TX. The boat (California Highway) arrived in Houston Sunday night, my car was off Monday, and was released to carrier on Tuesday. I was driving it Wednesday (11/23). It was a pretty smooth process from my placing the order on 9/2.

I submitted my notarized docs 11/18, and am in the large group that's not hearing much about next steps now. My Audi dealership offered to hold a check (from me) for up to 30 days while I wait on VW.

My car was hit from behind on 11/4 and was totalled, but will be able to drive under its own TDI power to my VW dealer. I am still waiting to see how it all turns out. I've requested a call from a claims specialist, and was told it would be 2-3 days, but that was a week ago.

During the nearly three-week trip across the Atlantic, I read up on the so-called "Ro-Ro" ships that VW uses - ships like mine carry up to 6200 cars on 17 decks separated by only 5'5", and crews can load/unload 1000+ cars in under 12 hours. It's crazy stuff.

 

[DanB36]

My car was hit from behind on 11/4 and was totalled, but will be able to drive under its own TDI power to my VW dealer.

Score for you--you should be looking at the full buyback plus the insurance money. I'm in pretty much the same boat, but just to keep my options open, I'm not taking the insurance money until they've taken the car in the buyback.

 

[Mike_04GolfTDI]

You can track a lot more than just ships (but mostly ships):

http://aprs.fi

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System

 

[dpospres]

I replaced my TDI Jetta with an Audi A4. Audi, and my salesman, were fairly communicative during the whole process, with Audi sending emails about production of my car starting, it being sent by rail to port, and it getting on a boat. I tracked the boat to its first stop at Davisville, RI, then to Houston, TX. The boat (California Highway) arrived in Houston Sunday night, my car was off Monday, and was released to carrier on Tuesday. I was driving it Wednesday (11/23). It was a pretty smooth process from my placing the order on 9/2.

I ordered the A3 Prestige to replace my TDI. It went on the ship yesterday. Now I am just waiting for the ship name so I can track it. Should be here before Christmas.

 

[david950]

Score for you--you should be looking at the full buyback plus the insurance money. I'm in pretty much the same boat, but just to keep my options open, I'm not taking the insurance money until they've taken the car in the buyback.

It looks that way, at least. I have an offer from the insurance company that includes my keeping the car and title, but as I understand, once I take that, I'm supposed to request a salvage title from my state (within 30 days), and I want to make sure that won't complicate the buyback in any way. Until I have a buyback date, it really doesn't matter, but hopefully I get all this squared away soon.

 

[david950]

I ordered the A3 Prestige to replace my TDI. It went on the ship yesterday. Now I am just waiting for the ship name so I can track it. Should be here before Christmas.

Congrats!

 

[DanB36]

It looks that way, at least. I have an offer from the insurance company that includes my keeping the car and title, but as I understand, once I take that, I'm supposed to request a salvage title from my state (within 30 days)

Georgia has a similar requirement, which is another reason I'm delaying taking the insurance money until I've turned in the car. The salvage title at this point wouldn't affect my eligibility, but it'd be an additional wrinkle in the process that I'd just rather not deal with, and I don't need the insurance money immediately.