Horror stories abound on pretty much every auto transport company that charges under $1000. If you are willing to pay for your car to ride in an enclosed carrier and on the top rack you have a much greater chance of everything going perfect!
I purchased my '06 Saab in Houston and drove it back. Flew in on Friday afternoon and arrived back home 1,900 miles later at 3pm on Sunday. Summer time driving was super easy.
I purchased my '08 Saab in Macomb, MI and drove the 2400 miles back. Was a rough drive as there was a lot of snow - lake effect through Michigan, disaterous conditions in Iowa, white outs and blowing snow through the passes of Wyoming and temperatures as low as negative 13 and mountain passes with elevations of 8900ft. We started driving Wednesday night at 6pm and made it to Reno on Friday at 9pm where we spent the weekend hanging with friends before driving the final 250 miles home.
I was not willing to pay $1300 - $1600 for an enclosed carrier service and we did the '08 Saab trip for under $500 including two plane tickets, gas, food & lodging. I will also not buy a car site unseen.
Road trips are a lot of fun as well and you get to see parts of the country you have never seen before. Eating at White Castle, having soul food in Omaha, crossing the Mississippi, seeing Wyoming & the Salt Lake, and the Bonneville Salt Flats was very cool.