Have you ever considered buying a $500 beater to drive daily? Wear & tear adds up fast on these cars, not so much mechanically, but a lot more cosmetically. Plus it would help speed up the repairs. Just a thought to help "save the dream" But I do admire the few of you who drive their Deloreans everyday regardless of the elements. You're braver than me. Later, Joe OBrien --- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "usndmc" <usndmc@xxxx> wrote: > > > Hi all, > > A year ago today I flew to Albany, NY and purchased my dream car, > #5968, and embarked on the 1200 mile maiden voyage drive back home. > My DeLorean is my ONLY car, and in the last year I've only had to > bum a ride to work from a friend once. She's been almost as > dependable as a new car, keeping me mobile for 1 year and almost > 12,000 miles--with about 7 "cross-country" drives ranging from 4 to > 18 hours each way. I've of course had my share of problems, but I've > been able to work around them and the car has stayed operational. > > There's 2 reasons I'm posting this message. One is to say thank you > to all the experts on this list without who's technical knowledge > and advice I would NEVER have made it through the last year. So, > thank you David Teitlebaum, Bill Robertson, John Hervey, Toby > Peterson, and everyone else out there, whose names would take too > long to list obviously, that I've collected wisdom from while > lurking! > > The second reason is that a few weeks ago I was catching up on old > messages and came across message #47877 from Tom Porter in Maine. > Basically he says that he's been saving for a D for 10 years and is > now at the point where he could purchase one, but is having second > thoughts because of driveability, repair costs, and general > sensibility. His message was posted almost 2 months ago, so this > reply is more for all the other Tom Porters out there in lurking. > > In replies to that posting, people have already hit on the fact that > DeLoreans can be reliable daily drivers, as mine is a prime example. > Basically, if you're looking to go the smart route, you should > definitely not buy a D as your first or only car. You should learn > more about them, lurk on the list for a while, budget extra cash for > repairs, and have a newer daily driver car for when the D can't get > you around. That is definitely the smart way. > > I, however, and I'm sure there are others out there like me, > generally in life prefer the cavalier and somewhat foolish route, as > I find it more fun. By being a member of this list you already have > done more prepwork and learned more about DeLorean repair and > technical knowledge than I had before I bought the car. I've > definitely had my share of problems in the past year but with the > help of the list and the willingness to put time and effort into the > car I've gotten through them all. Basically mine is a slow and > ongoing project, updating the car here and there and replacing what > needs to be replaced to stay on the road and as budget permits. It > is very possible, you just need to be okay with the fact that you > won't be able to go crazy on the car and fix everything all at once > and have a mint condition show car. Sure, I get jealous when I read > these posts about people doing the frame-off restorations and > everything--I would love to take my car completely apart for a few > months and go over EVERYTHING. But I like owning and driving the car > now, and putting off doing stuff like that for a handful of years, > more than not having one at all for years to come and then being > able to buy one and do that right away. You just have to be > comfortable pacing yourself. > > Basically there is no right or wrong answer, it all boils down to > what type of person you are and what your goal with the car is. If > you're the type of person that needs to have your fears assuaged or > likes to do things the sensible way, then by God wait and do it the > sensible way! For those of you that embrace the young and foolish > attitude at any age and when faced with situations like this always > figure (like Doc Brown) "What the hell?", then go for it! > > The only thing I have left to say is, I love living the dream!! > Dave > #5968 To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address: moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/