I am *not* down on the vendors and was *not* slamming those who are mechanicaly challenged, I was only pointing out that people come in many varieties of technical competence and it behooves them to know how their possessions work. Otherwise they are at the mercy of those who do. That was my point, period. It's your car, your money, etc, feel free to do anything you like with them. The "Devil Car" reference is a joke that refers to my car's initial ability to do all sorts of very strange things when I first bought it. It's been retained as a "term of endearment", if you will. As David pointed out, these problems were the fault of those "mechanically challenged" owners who came before me who failed to do things properly. They are the ones who *should* have dealt with the vendors and pro mechanics. I'm a professional pilot and the owner of a former military jet trainer. Reliability and failure are serious considerations in the airplane biz and I was only implying that there are times when you should be knowledgable about the machines you operate. If not for financial reasons then for safety reasons. If you choose to support the vendors fine. I do it also, when it's in *my* best interest to do so, not theirs. Otherwise I do what it takes to keep me solvent and living the way I want. I stand by my position about the car. It's only a car and my responsibilty is to myself first and not any vendor. For most of us the Delorean phase will pass as we continue through life. Other things are much more important and I bought this car to enjoy it and then move on at some point in time. I do take very good care of my stuff, better than most people, because I spent 20 years as a machine design/maintenance engineer. The car will go to the next owner in as good or better shape than when I got it. (Certainly better than when I got it) I'll care for it and do what I think is best for it while I own it, my responsibility ends there. It's just another toy, to be cared for and then passed on for someone else to enjoy. --- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, lhemb@xxxx wrote: > I must take issue with the gentleman who slammed the parts vendors and those amongst us who are mechanically challenged. I have owned Harvey (vin 5830) since 1989. I also own a 1931 Ford and a 1956 Thunderbird that I have had longer than Harvey.>