To Ship or Not to Ship...(my new car) :'/

MSU grad: probably a very good idea to use the search engine on this forum as there have been many posts on the pros and cons of shipping cars here.

The cost of shipping cars here from the mainland has risen drastically in the last couple of years (now upwards of $2K and that's from Florida} and as much as you love your car it will all too soon become an "island car" in short shrift, replete with dings and dents. You also need to check if Pontiacs are regularly serviced here and that I can't help you with.

Use the search feature for the message board to get answers on car shipping. Cheers and good luck.

So I'm just curious - MSU? Which one? Mississippi State, Missouri State, Michigan State? I'm sure I missed an M in there somewhere - just had a kid graduate from cold, cold Michigan State in Lansing...he is SO happy to be in Arkansas - says it's the first time his feet have been warm since 2004.......

Michigan State!!!! Not a grad technically yet (I'm walking in May!) Tell your son I said congrats! I'll be glad to get out of the cold too!

Law school alumni now - practicing in Arkansas...I'd tell you to leave your car behind, too.....see what happens in a year, store it, and you're coming back to an unrusted, low mileage car. Use an island beater to get around if you can.....the sun and salt water, not to mention the dings and dents, will surely take a toll on a car you seem to love a lot.

Be prepared for that first year of law school - try to get into the Geoffery Feiger Trial Institute program, it's really amazing.....and Genessee County has an extern program that will let you get your feet REAL wet in Detroit - my son loved it and was offered a job by the county as a prosecutor. Much as he loved MI in the summer, he was miserable in the winter!

Go Sparty!

Hey there,

I am visiting STJ for PMV first week in June. Would love to know how you are settling in. We are trying to decide about our new jeep liberty as well. If we decide to rent in cruz bay and have employment in the same area we don't think we will bring the car right away because everything is pretty close. However, cheaper apartments do seem to be in Coral Bay which you would need a car to get around unless you can afford taxis or want to hitch a ride. We will be checking it out. Have you visited before? Maybe we will see you around the deli grotto sometime!

Best of luck

Sarah

shm -

Yet another interesting twist of fate - I gave MY new Liberty to my MSU grad prior to leaving for St. Croix and took his 1997 Cherokee instead - and I am SO glad - the Cherokee will never look the same, and it would have broken my heart for my pretty, new, shiny Liberty to end up all dull from sea air. Please remember - garages are few are far between - maybe a carport, but not too many garages....and I don't know about STT, but you were hard pressed sometimes on STX to find a car wash that actually worked.

I didn't like the way the smaller cars pulled the hills on STJ when I visited there, and the Liberty always seemed to be a little unsteady to me anyway, not a broad enough wheel base, maybe? - and not the greatest gas mileage in the world - unless you have 4 wheel drive, I surely wouldn't consider bringing that as your mode of transportation if it is a car you love......as I used to love mine......but now it is with my own MSU grad and he won't give it back...... 🙂

The island is hard on cars, but as tough as some posters seem to make it out to be. I bought a new Ford Escape two years ago on STX, no dings or scratches yet. Could be that I' m lucky, but most of my neighbors cars look fine also. Wax a car occasionally and the paint stays shiny.

Now I will agree that the roads are tough on tires and brakes. You may have to replace tires for just ordinary wear before 20K miles. If you drive fast and brake hard into corners then you are going to need brake jobs frequently.

Jim

Welcome to the islands MSU grad!

I'll have a "MSU grad" of my own in May. She's in Michigan State's College of Education so she'll have to do a teaching internship for a year in the Lansing area while attending class on Fridays & paying for 12 credit hours each semester... 🙁

She would love to do what you are planning but can't due to the requirements of MSU's teaching program. She was just here a month ago (spring break) for a visit with my older daughter. After her internship, she is planning on moving to Phoenix, AZ to teach and get her Master's degree. So there will be another Michigander heading away from the cold, cold winters... 😉

As far as bringing your car goes, I think you'd be better off if you can leave it behind (maybe mom & dad have room in the garage to park it?). An island clunker is best here... as you'll see. You sure wouldn't want to get your nice car all dinged up. The roads are rough on the tires too. (We've had a flat tire 6 times in the 9 months we've been here... had two tires replaced entirely.)

Best of luck on your move, enjoy your time on STJ and best wishes for the future!

I think STT is rougher on cars than STX. Roads tighter and 'windier'..more potholes, etc. Just observing the condition of cars - many more dings and scratches (side of roads cleared better in STX)...My observation only. No data.

One of the biggest factors in how your car will hold up is the road you live on. My road is very twisty and has lots of over grown brush, trees, etc... its all empty land and the city rarely cuts it back. So my car has numerous scratches and little dings in it. I've had friends who are constantly replacing tires or have their wheels aligned because their roads are a nightmare of potholes. Living up a steep hill isn't going to be kind to your car either.

But with my island beater I just don't worry about it. I'd rather hug the side of the road and get scratched on a twisty road then ride down the center and possibly hit someone as quite a few people do with their new cars.

Hi i just left st. john after almost 2 years, I would suggest buying an island car actaully a 4 wheel drive vehicle. The isalnd ruins your car and shipping and taxes are not cheap.

LEAVE IT!!!
I had a new car, shipped it down because I had a real problem making car payments on something I wouldn't be using. So, I shipped it. All together, shipping from West Palm in Florida, insurance, taxes, fees, registering...it cost over $4,000. Now it looks like crap! It's all scratched up, dented, etc. If I had it to do over again, I would have left the car in the states...even if it was for 3-4 years. Also, it was under warranty, which the dealership WILL NOT honor here. So, I've had to pay an additional $1400 in repairs that would have been covered under the warranty.
Cars take such a beating here...buy an island heap and don't worry about it.
My thoughts -
Lisa

Lisa. what brand car did you have? if i decide to move to stx I'm thinking about a new Toyota truck and shipping it down. Toyota offers a life time drivetrain warranty if serviced every 5,000 miles at any Toyota dealer. have not bought truck yet but salesman says warranty will be good on stx.

Call the warranty people directly. Mine is a GMC Envoy. I was told at the dealership in the states that it would be covered. Then, when I got down here and the stabilizer bars needed to be replaced ($600 repair) the GMC dealership here said the warranty was no good. When I called the warranty people, they said it was only good for the continental US and Canada.
In order for it to have been covered, I would have had to purchase an additional warranty.
Go figure!
Good Luck!

thanks Lisa. i told them usvi stx, but will triple check before buying. have a 2003 Chevy pickup now which i bought new, it's been towed at least 6 times, once for new motor, so i wouldn't think about shipping this piece of junk. thanks for info.

Michael, I'd get it in writing - better yet, I would call the STX Toyota dealer and tell them I needed warranty work done. I would bet you will be surprised at their answer....which may or may not have anything to do with what Toyota is telling you now.

I wouldn't bring a new ANYTHING - by the time you pay to have it shipped, you really haven't saved and you have given yourself a gigantic headache to boot.

Do a search on this forum if you DO decide to bring a truck - make sure that vehicle is completely made in America or you could be up for additional tax - it probably is, but somewhere on here you will find the numbers or letters that the VIN needs to start with in order to keep from paying extra tax.

yes Toyota is now completely made in USA. will check with stx Toyota during my pmv, another non tourist thing to do. like i said will not bring this Chevy i have now. truck will be paid for and more of a choice here so i get the truck i want. will make sure i get it in writing. thanks for giving me things to think about.

Aww thank you guys for your responses! And yes I've been in the Virgin Islands before I've went on cruise trips twice (awful can't stand cruises anymore) but I was on st. john for two weeks on my winter break as part of a study abroad program (we stayed in cinnamon bay - can you say sand fleas?? my legs will NEVER be the same urg) and I met someone - so I came back for a week and a half over spring break.

I will defn. run into you at deli grotto defn. one of my fav spots!!! It's such a cute lil place and I love the food!

Thanks for the advice on the car - my boyfriend was tlaking about possibly buying me a suv thats on the island and I really was objecting becasue of my new car but thanks to you guys I'm defn. going to leave it behind and just go witht he island option!