Would you make a 1370 mile, ~26 hr drive for a game?

[kencinder]

So without giving up your game...where is this journey taking you too...

Normandin, Quebec. On Google Maps...looks like "Buttfuck Nowhere Quebec" lol and I live in a rural area myself...

I know gas prices are out there, but like I said I'm gonna move machines for other fellow collectors in the area, so that will help cover my gas.

My girlfriend is the one who pushed me to go, and she's coming along to help with the driving. She knows I want this pin, and she loves playing them too.

If it was just me, I probably wouldn't be going. I already asked the seller if he could get it to the Montreal area for me which would shave like 1/3 of the trip off...but he could only do it with a shipper, so I'd definitely be spending more.

Food and drinks? I have this thing called a cooler that will be accompanying me.

Hotel? We may just stop back in Montreal and stay there to see stuff, as I've never been there. If not, we can hammer out the drive in one go, taking turns sleeping (At her suggestion), but I will likely want to stay in Montreal overnight anyway.

It's not a Craigslist listing, I'd have to be batshit insane to drive that far for someone on CL.

 

[metahugh]

It's not a Craigslist listing, I'd have to be batshit insane to drive that far for someone on CL.

Not to mention you could get 1/2 way there and get a call stating the machine was sold

 

[arcadecup]

Seen it done a couple of times.. the one that sticks to my memory the most is the guy who drove about that for a xmen 6 player cab.

 

[Tighe]

Furthest I have driven was a 4 hour trip one way. Once for a Baby Pac, and another for a monitor. I would drive pretty far for a good deal on a ST:TNG pin, But I would check shipping first. Especially since Dale made his offer to help us with shipping.

 

[jow]

These dudes would walk it for some snatch, Im sure most would drive it for a "grail".

 

[OregonPacman]

I thought you meant 1 way at first. That would really suck. I wouldn't want a round trip like that either. I am not sure either of my vehicles would make it that far in one shot.

 

[tec9]

Thats a pretty far ride....I would make SURE that you have every question answered, and have seen a lot of pics before making that trip. Would really suck to drive that far, only to find out the games a turd.

We should start a thread to see who's driven the furthest....only to come home empty handed, because the seller screwed them, or the machine was not as described.

-Mark

 

[pookdolie]

I'd do this for a really rare machine that I really wanted, no question. (Offhand, I can't think of one...)

But it'd have to be a fun route, with sight-seeing and nekkid girlies along the way.

 

[andys80s]

Whats the machine? That makes all the difference.

 

[kencinder]

Whats the machine? That makes all the difference.

Maybe to you, it's individual preference.

I'm not disclosing until I bring it home. The local crowd here knows, and I would imagine it's the sheer distance keeping anyone else from grabbing it. (Or maybe cause I've made it very clear I want one, who knows)
There are other locals that have paid hundreds more, for lesser condition of the same game. This is probably the game I want most, at the very least out of ones I have played.

Yes I've seen pics, it's in excellent condition and 100% working.

Displays 10/10, High voltage section redone.
Backglass 10/10
Playfield 9/10
Body 9/10

Bring it home, and play...

 

[gutsman004]

No f**kin' way. And this would be especially true if it were a craigslist listing, because the flake factor would be too high.

Absolutely! I would never go that far for ANY game although I tip my hat to anyone on here who does.You guys have some serious dedication that I simply cannot (nor want to) match.
About the only way I would go on one of these trips is if I was simply a helper because I would be going on a cool road trip while not having to worry about a game that I bought even getting the slightest scratch from point A to point B.

 

[Parpunk]

Hey I drove 15 hrs to get my 720..That was a round trip and we always have a blast. Got some big ass burritos at Moe's. I always turn my trips into gettin some killer grub expeditions. My buddy snagged a Freddy pin from same guy which was minty on the same run.
The road trips are a big part of the fun!!!!Have a great trip and screw the monetary side of it. Cant take it with you.

I feel the same way! The farthest ive went is is about 13 hour round trip or so. But the road trip is the coolest\ part. Also since you can move other games for collectors etc. thats always real cool.

 

[YellowDog]

Good luck. I enjoy road trips. My wife says that I must have the trucker gene that kicks in every so often. I used to drive from Denver to Las Vegas and back for weekends a couple of times a year (spring or fall, never summer or winter, too hot or too much chance of a blizzard). That was about 13 hours each way.

ken

 

[kencinder]

My Current Route

Going out with me from my place, then the first and 2nd stops are 3 pins and a 29" monitor. Coming back so far are 2 pins, both mine.
Decided to not make any stretch runs, we are likely staying at a fellow collectors place in Montreal on Friday night, and Saturday night at a hotel for some site-seeing and such.

My gas is pretty much paid for and maybe then some by moving stuff for others.

 

[kencinder]

On the back stretch, in my hotel room in Montreal...8 hours or so of driving left. 3 pins delivered, 1 of my 2 picked up.

Time to sleep...

 

[m_mcgovern]

Would you make a 1370 mile, ~26 hr drive for a game?

Ahem. Yes I would...at least...pretty close to 26 hrs...

 

[rainman154]

I would, and I'm going to. Of course, I've offered to move other machines for people along the way to help and make it more worthwhile.

Am I crazy? Maybe...

What is the game? Guess you'll have to wait and see!

That's round trip btw, not one way...I think that might be too crazy for me.

There is a Night Striker I wanted in FL, but it is SO damn far from MN!

 

[SterlingRush]

I say kudos to you for a fun and eventful trip. Some people get it and some don't. There's a sense of adventure to road trips, half the fun is the "unknown" factor. Sure you may get there and find out it's a dud, so you're out some money. Better to be out a few dollars and have fun vs. having it shipped only to be dissapointed with no other experiences to go with the story. Especially if it's something you want, that's worth the effort right there. And as others have said, that's where you do your research before you go. Have plenty of contact with the seller, ask all of your questions, get pics, ect...

I just got back from an 11 hour road trip myself, sold a game along the way, turned around and picked up another on the way back. The game I grabbed is for a buddy of mine who's over seas right now, so for me it was worth every moment of the trip. And it came from a seller I contacted on Craigslist back in December, who even after I offered multiple times to give him a deposit on the game, refused taking money until I came and got the game. That guy had class and gets a lot of respect from me, for holding it that long with no money down. Of course we kept in contact every other week trying to make arrangements, damn weather kept getting in the way.

Sorry to hijack, back on topic:
-Glad to hear that you're making the trip work out for you.
-Road trips can be a blast.
-Some(not all) people from Craigslist can be good people to deal with.

 

[gabesdad1981]

I bet you picked up a Captain Fantastic and a Ted Nugent!!!!!LMAO....We will see how close I am..( Or maybe Twilight Zone and Theatre of Magic!! )

Cool thread.............Worth reading for sure..Sure beats a bitchfest whine / rant thread...

 

[kencinder]

Ok I'm home, a few hours ago. All unloaded and everything put back in our van.

I don't much care for newer pins, so no nothing DMD and likely never will be. I got to play a TZ at a stop along the way, and I enjoyed it...but it's price tag is too steep for me to ever own one, newer machines are far too expensive for what is a toy in my house.

What I went all that way for?

An overall 9/10 Fireball Classic.

Cab is a 9(Maybe a 9.5, just a couple scratches)

Playfield 9/10 - 1 tiny wear spot at the top left below the metal ramp where the ball drops)

Backglass is a 10/10 for sure, not a single bit of flaking or anything.

Original displays you would swear are brand new, HV section was rebuilt before I bought it.

I also picked up a Chicago Coin Sound Stage. It's in excellent condition too, with an amazing playfield and the backglass only has a little flaking at the bottom. This was a bonus on my way back.

I was also given a gift by one of the collectors I brought a pin out for. A near complete playfield for my Phoenix. Missing 1 flipper and 1 insert, but the playfield is in excellent shape...and may even be better than the one I have.

Would I have made this trip just for the Fireball? Not likely, the cost in fuel was up there in the hundreds, but moving machines for others offset that considerably.
Not to mention I saw some beautiful scenery, and have tons of pictures.