[DMCForum] Re: stupid driving lesson question

["bkp944" <bk_pollard@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rich,

Thank you for the suggestion on 87 octane gas, I will try it.

I had a 1987 Model 944 with 5-speed, normally aspirated. After 8 
years and 150K miles, I sold it. 

It had a 4-cylinder engine that put out 160 HP. At approximately 
3,000 pounds, it was a bit heavier than our DeLoreans. The wheels 
were 15" all around, but the rear wheels were wider than the front. 

You can tell by my Yahoo ID that I still admire that car. I have 
been ID'd as BKP944 for a long time. My DeLorean VIN# is 4494, so I 
guess with a little creative thinking, my ID still applies :-).

Straight line acceleration is comparable to our DeLoreans. The 
difference is in handling. The 944 has the engine in front and the 
transmission in the rear. This created a 51/49% weight ratio. It is 
hard to describe the feeling, but one can take curves very, very 
fast and the car is well-behaved. It is hard to make the 944 break 
loose from the road. 

The DeLorean's weight distribution is all messed up in comparison to 
the 944. I would never attempt to take curves in the DeLorean like I 
did the 944. It is just simply the difference between the two very 
different vehicles.

I wish John DeLorean would have allowed Porsche to take their time 
and design our cars. Can you imagine a gull-winged 911-type car, 
500+ horsepower, etc. :-)

Anyway, I do not to step on anyone's toes about the DeLorean. I 
really enjoy mine, but realize like with *any* car, there are pros 
and cons. 

Technology has followed a steep curve since the DeLoreans were 
built. We are a bit jaded. I think the Porsche 924 (competing car in 
1981) had 140 horsepower. In 1983, Porsche introduced the 944, 
correcting almost all the problems with the 924. Too bad John Z. 
never got that opportunity. The next generation DMC-12 would 
probably been very formidable.

You said you have had your DeLorean up to 110 MPH. I've not had mine 
above 85 MPH. My front end gets so light at those speeds that I do 
not want to push it. My front end is at stock height and the car has 
about 45K miles on it.

Have you upgraded your suspension and lowered the front end? I plan 
to do that this winter.

-Brian
VIN#4494

--- In DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "cruznmd" <racuti1@xxxx> wrote:
> Brian,
> 
> You make an interesting statement. You definitely drive yours 
harder 
> than I do, but I wouldn't call it abuse. If your car is in good 
> repair then I don't see anything wrong with it. Of course you'll 
be 
> getting lower mileage. I know it sounds crazy, but burn a few 
tanks 
> of 87 octane and see what happens.
> 
> A question for you: (This may sound stupid) How would you rate the 
> DeLorean in performance performance compared to your Porsche? You 
> seem to indicate that it was an older model, not built within the 
> last 5 years. Is the DeLorean really that feeble, or are we jaded 
in 
> our expectations because of present-day technology?
> 
> My feeling on the car's performance is that it's adequate. The A/C 
> definitely drags it down, but when it's off I feel I 
> have "comparable" acceleration to other normal street cars, and 
I've 
> had up to 110 mph. Most people who want to race me could probably 
out-
> last me, but they usually lose their nerve and give up once I pass 
> 100 mph. I wouldn't want to race a top-end BMW or Mercedes or 
> anything...but you get the point.
<SNIP>

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