Geiiga Posted October 15, 2003 Share Posted October 15, 2003 I'm about to engage in a fun ride. Bought my first Subaru just about two years ago. It's a '95 Legacy Brighton that's not in the best shape, but gets me where I'm going. In the meantime, my employment has been shaky at best, and has led to me wielding my own wrench quite a bit of the time. With the knowledge that I am not the world's best mechanic, and also with quite a bit of alcohol, I went on e-Bay and bought the...vehicle...that I'd wanted as a kid. An '83 Brat. For $350. I don't have it yet, but from the pictures that I've seen and the attitude of the seller, I won't actually be driving this beast for awhile. In the meantime, I have to scheme a way of getting it up here. I'm in northern Maryland, he's in southern Virginia. It should be able to drive that distance, but in my experience, not knowing if a soob can make it from point A to point B points a finger to some serious mechanical issues. The seller would tow it here for gas money, which is reasonable, but in addition to that, two nights motel stay, which may be reasonable, but I'm not willing to pay. It's about a six-hour drive from here, and I don't own a truck. What's the best way to bring it up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northguy Posted October 15, 2003 Share Posted October 15, 2003 Buy it, insure it, and put the roadside assistance portion of the insurance on it. If it breaks down on the way back, have it towed to your house on the insurance company's dime, then cancel the roadside insurance once you get it home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geiiga Posted October 15, 2003 Author Share Posted October 15, 2003 Well, that's certainly an elegant way to do it. I was beginning to plot starting a third line of cell phone service with the roadside assistance, signing my roommate up for AAA, and using all that to get it up there. I'm sure someone would get wise to it after tow number five, though. Thanks much for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam N.D.J. Posted October 15, 2003 Share Posted October 15, 2003 One word. U-Haul!!! A Brat fits nicely into the back of one, and they aren't that much, specially when your only going a few hundred miles. You can get a ride down there, take the bus, have a friend take you, fly whatever, then rent the uhaul, get some ramps, drive the Brat into the uhaul, then drive home. Good luck to ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geiiga Posted October 15, 2003 Author Share Posted October 15, 2003 What size U-Haul? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam N.D.J. Posted October 15, 2003 Share Posted October 15, 2003 I use a 17 footer but only have about a foot to spare. A fullsize Brat would prolly need a 24 footer. Uhauls are best cause they have lower decks, and wider doors than Ryder. The doors are a little over 7 feet, so you won't even have to take the mirrors off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHATBRAT Posted October 15, 2003 Share Posted October 15, 2003 It sounds to me like you bought Mark D's BRAT. He's known here as Lostwater. I would go by what he says. He's been around the board for a while and I have yet to hear anything bad about him. I know someone else who has dealt with him and was happy. I don't really know the condition of the BRAT so I can't help you with advice on getting it back unless you have a tow dolly or could rent one. They are cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baccaruda Posted October 15, 2003 Share Posted October 15, 2003 hm, if you can fit a brat IN a uhaul then you could fit any EA81 vehicle inside one.. mwa hahaha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flowmastered87GL Posted October 15, 2003 Share Posted October 15, 2003 Rent a U-haul pickup and tow dolly.... drive down 10 miles... disconnect the speedometer cable.... get the brat drive all but 10 miles home... reconnect cable... turn in the truck with 20 miles on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StormTrooper Posted October 15, 2003 Share Posted October 15, 2003 that's pimp $#!T Flow!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archemitis Posted October 15, 2003 Share Posted October 15, 2003 that only works on local use uhauls, if you pick it up 6hours away, and deliver it with 20 miles on it, they will get wise to you. its not alway a 16year old kid runing things, alot of times the old timers are there. give driving it home a shot. as long as the head gasket is not cracked, it will make it, it is after all a subaru, not a chevy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostWater Posted October 15, 2003 Share Posted October 15, 2003 Two nights motel stay via priceline, in the DC or Baltimore area is around $35 a night on the weekend, I have stayed in the Ramada Inner Harbor for $35, Holiday Inn, Inner Harbor for $30, Best Western Fairfax for $20, Homestead suites all over the dc metro for $25 many times; so you see, two nights is not unreasonable for a free delivery(not charging time, just expense). With approximately $70 in fuel, you are probably out ~$140-$160 total for the delivery, not bad considering the rental would likely cost you half that and then you still have to do the ~5 hrs of driving each way. Anyways, To save you time and Money, I could bring it up to the Northern Shenandoah valley with me this weekend and you could meet me there and pick it up. That would shave about 3 hrs off of a one way trip (Woodstock, VA) The biggest issue preventing its being driven appears to be at grade it sometimes cut out. That is likely fuel filters and I honestly haven't been under there to check it out. Also, the battery appears no good. Otherwise, when I was at the height of my BRAT Passion, I thought this BRAT was an ok deal for $500 I paid for it, but, alas, passions change, now I like my hatch and 360's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meeky Moose Posted October 15, 2003 Share Posted October 15, 2003 sorry to steal the post, but my friend loaded an 89' jeep cherokee in a 26 foot ryder and drove from oregon to virginia with it in there.. fit nicely.. gettin it out was fun, lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostWater Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 He bought my Brat off ebay, sent a non-refundable $100 deposit (auction terms) and now, I haven't been able to track him down for a couple of weeks. He won't answer his email either. Does anybody know him? I would sincerely like to figure out disposition of the brat. Thanks all, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 Hey - it's non-refundable - keep it, and relist the Brat on ebay. Looks like you made $100 of a deadbeat bidder. Good for you! GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subarubrat Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 I recently did some checking on rental trucks (uhaulish stuff) for an arcade auction and it was looking like $300s for a similar distance. I would say that gas and hotel is generous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostWater Posted November 17, 2003 Share Posted November 17, 2003 I hope now that he has been found, me and him can work everything ok. Thanks for the comments however. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
78TurboBrat Posted November 17, 2003 Share Posted November 17, 2003 just got a 83 brat myself yesterday and it is great, it was LDJ1002's (on the board) it was aproximately 4 hours fom me, and i had to keeep it in 4wd as the front axels were cut out of the car. the drivers wheel had a bad wheel bearing, and the trans is making a sound that Adam N.D.J had a problem with, and it made it home just fine, and have driven it over 200 miles so far. it runs great,and didnt give me any problems. if you want to drive it, great, and good luck, and hope it does well for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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