In a message dated 5/6/02 6:41:38 PM Central Daylight Time, Senatorpack@xxxx writes: > To restore the car, work on it, spend lots of money, spend lots of time, > > really get to know what you are capable of mechanically, emotionally, and > last but not least financially. > > If you buy a machine that has been completely restored from the ground > up...you will work on it, spend lots of money, spend lots of time, really > get > to know what you are capable of mechanically, emotionally, and last but not > > least financially. > Mike, i'm not really sure who you are speaking to (maybe i just didn't get the original message yet) but i'd like to add to this conversation. i was 18 years old when i bought my DeLorean. i looked at a few of them (mostly on ebay) but then i contacted a DML'er and eventually bought his. i was impressed by the condition of the car and the work that had already been done. the car looked like it was almost perfect - i knew it needed lockzilla and new window regulators and the temp gauge didn't work - but that was about it, or so i thought. since then (Nov '00) i have done the following to what i thought was an excellent car: lockzilla, fixed tank sender, new fuel pump and all other tank parts, sent my entire fuel injection to Grady for service and cleaning, replaced the waterpump and all flexible hoses, replaced both oil senders, fixed my T/A dust shields, replaced my temp gauge and temp sender, replaced my pivot bolt, replaced window regulators, fixed my seat backs, replaced my angle drive, replaced LOTS of rusty hardware, replaced all my injectors, clips, hollow bolts, spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter, plug wires, coil wire, ignition coil, mode switch, fan switch, alternator, belts and bearings, A/C blower fan, recharged the A/C, rear headliner and outer door seals, stainless bumper letters, new centerforce clutch kit w/ tranny removal and service, new steering column bushing, and done COUNTLESS hours of cleaning things and making things show-car quality such as shampooing the carpets, steam cleaning the underbody and engine, rebrushing the stainless.... and i'm sure i left out about $1000 worth of little things, not to mention a new stereo. i paid $16,000 for my car, and i'm sure i've put at least $5,000 into it. in two weeks i'm putting a new radiator and cooling fans in, and this winter i'll need new tie rod ends, steering rack, and intermediate shaft with U-joints. and THEN i THINK i'll be done..... but you know how it is - as soon as you think you are done, you find something else. my dad accuses me of looking for things to fix, and it's the truth. when you have a car this cool, you can't stand to let it be anything less than perfect. what i'm trying to say is, just like Mr. Pack mentioned, no matter how perfect your prospective car seems to be..... expect to put some hardcore cash into it unless you can live with a less than perfect car (i can't). in fact, thru all of this, i still feel like i got a hell of a deal on my car. sure i've done lots of work to it, but when i see a lot of the cars out there, i KNOW that mine is in better shape and more reliable. but it hasn't come cheaply.... i've seen a couple of cheaper cars, and i'm glad i didn't get stuck with one of them. if you don't mind spending all of your extra cash and then the cash you don't have yet, then get a DeLorean. if you can't live like that, you should probably wait until you can afford to throw money around!!! Good Luck, Andy Soma576@xxxx 1982 DeLorean DMC-12 VIN#11596 Fargo, ND 58102 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]