Your litany sounds familiar. But I didn't buy this car with the intent of treating it like a turn key driver. As I became more familiar with it I realized that Rube Goldberg must have been on the engineering staff. The only thing I can think of as to why they did certain things is because they were desperate, out of time, out of money, and maybe had no other choice. Anyway, I consider my Delorean a kit car that comes 70% assembled from the factory, with the remaining 30% to be done by you the owner. But the catch is the factory doesn't tell you what the remaining 30% is before you buy in. I don't intend to keep it stock. Stock is synonomous with inferior in too many areas of this car. I love to tinker and this is a great kit car to tinker with. It gets better with every change I make, and if it doesn't then it's no worse off then what Dunmurry gave us, and I simply roll back to oem. I worry that maybe if I keep having fun with it, and making changes, that I'll eventually end up loosing money on this one when it comes time to cash out. I've made a habit out of making money on all of my special interest cars over the past 10 years or so. I think the DMC may be the exception. But it's been a concious choice.... the cost of fun and having a good time.. Jim