Satisfactory experience, but hesitant to deal with again.

Brian Submitted this review about Classic Auto Express LLC
Review made Live: 1/20/2010 4:01:00 PM
After much research, I settled with Classic Auto Express to ship my new car from California to Maryland. Their reviews were outstanding and customers seemed to describe a different experience than a friend of mine who very recently used a larger, cheaper company.

I wanted my car to arrive in one piece, and I wanted peace of mind since this was a very new and foreign process to me. (I'm not a collector and of meager means.) Customer service was polite and honest, I felt confident that I had chosen the right company even though the price ended up being nearly $200 over an average-reviewed competitor's quote.

I'm still not sure if it was worth it, and I think my mixed feelings are the fault of the actual contracted team. Classic Auto Express told me that they would be picking up my car on Saturday, the day after the first available date I gave them. I was ecstatic. Saturday, and then Sunday went by. No one had contacted the seller in CA, the car had not been picked up. I left a message late Sunday and explained my situation.

CAE was just as confused as me, and were at one point under the impression that my car was picked up and on its way. Not the case! Apparently the transporter itself had "mechanical issues" that delayed my estimated pick-up time until the following Tuesday or Wednesday. The skeptic in me has doubts about the mechanical issues...but the car was nonetheless picked up very late Wednesday.

The team drivers must have driven like crazy to get the car to me on Monday, across the country in five days. I was very happy to have the car and it arrived EXTREMELY dirty, which was a little expected. Some advice I have for anyone purchasing a small car and using an open carrier...they will likely put your car in the smallest space available, which is under the front/rear ramps at the very base of the carrier. Your car will get very, very dirty.

I'm happy to have the car but I think I paid too much considering the delay, which I don't believe is entirely Classic Auto Express's fault...but it still reflects badly on them and I'll be avoiding auto transport in the future.

I did notice that the car's grille badge had fallen off sometime during the transit, but I unfortunately did not notice it until the drivers had left. Do not quicken your inspection of the vehicle, no matter how rushed the drivers seem! $30 to replace, but my mistake for not finding it.

Company Response
Tim Wagnon from Classic Auto Express LLC Submitted this response.
Response Date: 1/21/2010 9:37:00 AM
Dear Brian, Thank you for your business to begin with, I personally thank you for your words, unfortunetly sometimes what the drivers do is out of our control; when we find ourselves in that type of situation Classic Auto handles those types of situation by excluding those companies from our preferred listing. Again Thank you and take care, Carolyn