From: JDL To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, March 10, 2000 3:06 AM Subject: Re: [DML] Re: Over-valuing our DeLoreans This is really silly. There are lots of reasons for selling a DeLorean, or any car, for less than what a knowledeable and informed seller and a knowlegeable buyer is willing to pay. And DeLoreans are particularly vulnerable targets. 1) Misperception or lack of knowledge as to what the car is worth. It is not like there is lots of information out there without searching a little as to determining the true value of the car. You don't see many advertised in the newspaper for sale. I'm not saying information is not out there or can't be found, but the information, for a non-specialist (ie, someone who inherited a DeLorean, fell into one or purchased one new), particualrly one not internet savvy, is not as easy to find as say for a 65 Mustang or a Corvette. 2) Misunderstanding of the condition of the car. Our cars can look great but be really screwed up. On the other hand, there are lots of cars out there that are mechanically great, but don't run because someone let them sit for a few years (or perhaps since new) and don't run. That means they might have lots of gunk on the outside of them, the dashes may be cracked, the tires might be flat, but they may still be really, really good cars. When we hosted DMC Joe on his visit to Cleveland, one of the cars he serviced was a DMC that was picked up that was nearly perfect that was bought for less than 15K. With a couple grand, it was a fantastic, truly low milage car without blemish that ran great. 3) There is a lot of original owners out there that are now dying and passing the cars on. The estates want nothing to do with them- so they go for what the insurance company or apprasal company says it is worth. And as we know from past threads, these folks don't know very much about D's in general. A good example of that is the D now being reassembled by one of our DMC newsgroup members in Pittsburgh that was bought in parts as part of a divorce proceeding. 4) Geography: There are probably not many D's in Tulsa (for example) or other out of the way places, so it is near impossible to really make comparisons. I bet there are quite a few D's at used car lots and in barns way out in the middle of nowhere. They may have been sitting there a long time, not because they are not good or great deal, but because simply there aren't many people interested in a D in Tulsa (for example) or an easy way to service them. So a real deal can be had from a dealer wanting to move sheet metal (or stainless steel, in this case). The lack of a dealer service network was part of DMC's problem, and that is why there is a concentration of D's increasingly in cities or areas where a DMC specialist exists, like Houston, LA, NY and Florida. So there is no one nearby to service them. So there are no doubt many great bargains out there to be had, kinda like that perfect D found in the English countryside recently. My point is that it is bunk that there are not bargains to be had out there on DeLoreans. There are lots of bargains. You might have to do a little work to get them running, but there are loads of D's to be had for very favorable prices if you know what to look for (what is expensive to replace), are willing to spend some time and energy looking and are willing to do a little work to get a car running that has been sitting but is essentially sound in all of the most important and expensive to repair areas. Your friend in Cleveland, Respectfully, David Levey ----- Original Message ----- From: <SEDeLorean@xxxx> To: <dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2000 9:09 PM Subject: [DML] Re: Over-valuing our DeLoreans > Not too long ago there was a posting on this list that said the difference between a $15,000 DeLorean and a $20,000 DeLorean is $10,000. > Whoever said that hit the nail on the head. > I think the difference is 15k, myself... > > But on the subject of what the cars are worth, everyone has mixed feelings. > If an owner is trying to sell his/her car and the car is in mint condition and has all the upgrades, the ONLY way that individual is going to sell that car for 15k or less is: > 1) They need $$$ quick, or otherwise they're going to be wearing concrete shoes. > 2) See above. >