As ar recent purchaser of a Delorean I can say this: Purchased the car for $13,000 Tax:$1,072 Smog: $100 (failed twice) Parts so far:$400 Parts to make it completely reliable: $300(accumulator/coolant hoses) Total: $14,872 I have done all the work myself so far and plan on it in the future. My car is currently perfectly drivable, I just don't like the look of those hoses and the hotstart/coldstart problem is more of an annoyance than anything. So, for me it is the rule of $15,000 give or take. Unless something goes drastically wrong with the car god forbid.... If I were to "restore" the car it would need a lot of cosmetic parts; new louvres, various interior parts, right rear quarter panel and a passenger front fender but these things do not affect the reliability of the car. So, what is this "rule of twenty"? Are there really people that have had to put 8-10 thousand dollars into their cars before they could even drive them?? Or are we talking about cosmetic issues? Confused... Nathan 2277 --- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "tuxr" <tuxdarby@xxxx> wrote: > > Seems a hot topic these days, the real cost of the car. Some still > use the Rule of 20: add what you pay, plus repairs and refurbishment, > it will come to $20,000. So if you pay $12,000, it will cost $8,000 > on top of that. If you pay $15,000, it will cost $5,000 on top of > that. Based on everyone I know, have talked to, my personal > experience with two cars, and reading this and other online > discussions, I'd like to throw on the table that the rule of 20 no > longer applies. Actually, any "rule" should really be two rules, one > for those who have the skills and capability to do the work > themselves, and one for those without those skills and have to get it > worked on at a shop. Two entirely different cost structures. There > can't be only "one" rule. My view is it should be the "Rule of > 22/27". While your heart may want to stick to the Rule of 20, hard > economics must be recognized. And it seems the downside (unexpected > higher costs) really outweigh the upside (coming in under budget). > 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/