Re: [DML] Cost to maintain a Delorean for a year $349.0332 - 12,194 miles driven

["jtrealtywebspannet" <jtrealty@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As I tried to point out in an earlier post, every time you drive the car you wear out consumable items and even if you don't drive the car some things just age. For example, you have to replace the door struts every 5 years or so. Tires have to be replaced if they get worn or are over 7 years old. Batteries only last around 5 years. The fluids need to be changed. Either you have to average your costs over several years at least or you have to amortize (or put aside) for those big multi-year expenses. Tires alone can blow a year's budget if you put it all in one year! Another point, if you cheap out and skimp on preventive maintenance, it can cause you to spend a lot more in following years. An example is not flushing and bleeding the brakes and clutch. The whole premise is dependent on having a well taken care of car in the first place. Otherwise you are constantly fixing things that are going wrong. It is a 30 year old car after all!
David Teitelbaum

--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Adam Troy"  wrote:
>
> It would be very interesting to see comparable costs for owners that don't
> do any of their own maintenance, although I fear we're a significant
> minority!
> 
>  
> 
> Adam
> 
> #15112
> 
>  
> 
> From: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
> Stephen Rice
> Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2013 7:47 PM
> To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [DML] Cost to maintain a Delorean for a year $349.0332 - 12,194
> miles driven
> 
>  
> 
>   
> 
> Post #364 was my final cost related post for the maintenance thread.
> My final post for the 2012 thread can be seen at:
> http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?2675-How-to-maintain-your-Delorean-for-les
> s-than-500-a-year-and-put-10-000-miles-on-it
>
  ss-than-500-a-year-and-put-10-000-miles-on-it&p=81245&viewfull=1#post81245>
> &p=81245&viewfull=1#post81245
> 
> I had planned to do another cost thread for 2013 but a nameless
> DMCTalk moderator decided to ban me after I quoted forum rules the
> moderators were not following.
> 
> Anyway, for those that are interested, this is my breakdown of
> expenses for 2012. So far I have not spent anything on the car this
> year.
> 
> 11-16-2012 Total expenses to date: $1,266.3732 Miles Driven: 12,194
> Expense #1 (Radiator Leak) - January 7, 2012 - 44,079 Miles - Total
> Cost: $117.83 (including tax)
> Expense #2 (Radiator Leak) - January 15, 2012 - 44,386 Miles - Total
> Cost: $7.40 (including tax)
> Expense #3 (Replaced windshield wipers) - January 15, 2012 - 44,386
> Miles - Total Cost: $17.54 (including tax)
> Expense #4 (Oil Change) - January 21, 2012 - 44,643 Miles - Total
> Cost: $24.4616 (including tax)
> Expense #4 (Reinstalled steering column bushing) - January 22, 2012 -
> 44,693 - Total Cost: $1.35 (including tax)
> Expense #5 (bought coolant and water) - February 20, 2012 - 45,000 -
> Total Cost: $11.88 (including tax)
> Expense #6 (replaced rear interior light) - February 23, 2012 - 45,500
> - Total Cost: $31 (no tax and free shipping courtesy of Farrar)
> Expense #7 (replaced heater control valve) - March 4, 2012 - 45,766 -
> Total Cost: $10.39 (including tax)
> Expense #8 (bought more coolant/water) - March 7, 2012 - 45,766 -
> Total Cost: 23.65 (including tax)
> Expense #9 (glued rear view mirror to windshield) - March 16, 2012 -
> 45,772 - Total Cost: $1.57
> Expense #10 (604 Manifold and Shipping to Captain Carburetor) - March
> 22, 2012 - 45,840 - Total Cost: $179.65
> Expense #11 (7mm Helicoil Kit) - March 23, 2012 - 45,840 - Total Cost:
> $49.25 (including tax)
> Expense #12 (throttle cable) - March 23, 2012 - 45,840 - Total Cost:
> $4.20ish (I lost my receipt)
> Expense #13 (new wire connector) - April 14, 2012 - 46,123 - Total
> Cost: $0.25ish (part was laying around)
> Expense/Deduction #14 (removed 604 manifold/carb) - April 15th, 2012 -
> 46,200 - Total Cost: -$179.65 (selling it)
> Expense #15 (installed new crimp on throttle cable) - April 16th, 2012
> - 46,220 - Total Cost : $1.51 (including tax)
> Expense #16 (alignment) - April 21, 2012 - 46,700 - Total Cost: Free
> (I have a lifetime alignment plan)
> Expense #17 (reinforced black lip of binnacle with black screw) -
> April 21, 2012 - 46,725 - Total Cost: $2.32 (including tax)
> Expense # 18 (installed adjustable alternator bracket) - April 24,
> 2012 - 46,873 - Total Cost: $55.90 (including shipping from McMaster)
> Expense # 19 (front wheel balance) - April 26, 2012 - 47,002 - Total
> Cost $23.92 (including tax/fees)
> Expense #20 (oil change) - April 29, 2012 - 47,238 - Total Cost
> $24.4716 (including tax)
> Expense #21 (LCA Brackets from DMCMW) - May 2, 2012 - 47,461 - Total
> Cost $361.78 (including shipping)
> Expense #22 (Shift Linkage) - May 5, 2012 - 47,640 - Total Cost $0.00
> Expense #23 (Weather stripping glue, CB Radio, Cigarette Lighter,
> Fixed some rattles) - June 12, 2012 - 49,219 - Total Cost $2.50
> Expense #24 (Filled coolant and replaced coolant tank cap) - June 14,
> 2012 - 49,920 - Total Cost $15.26
> Expense #25 (Added washers and replaced LCA bolts) - June 16, 2012 -
> 49,930 - Total Cost $48.43
> Expense #26 (Replaced ignition rotor) - July 13, 2012 - 51,256 -
> $11.98 (including tax)
> Expense #27 (Oil Change and replaced distributor cap) - July 29, 2012
> - 52,158 - $55.39 (including tax)
> Expense #28 (r134a charge) - October 5, 2012 - 53,482 - $6.98 (including
> tax)
> Expense #29 (redneck cruise control bushing) - October 6, 2012 -
> 53,517 - $5.44 (including tax)
> Expense #30 (Third brake light and AC Belt) - October 6, 2012 - 53,525
> - $9.23 (including tax and shipping)
> Expense #31 (6 new intake O rings, 3 helicoils in intake valley, and
> emergency hood release cable) - October 11, 2012 - XX,XXX - $5.56
> Expense #32 (replaced speedometer dust cap, patched water pump hose) -
> October 13, 2012 - XX,XXX - $1
> Expense #33 (replaced alternator belt) - October 14, 2012 - 54,783 - $5.44
> Expense #34 (oil change) - October 16, 2012 - 55,722 - $25.27
> Expense #35 (Upgrade to Spec .01 steering and replaced steering column
> bushing) - November 10, 2012 - 56,273 - $315.22
> 
> As you can see, my real world cost for 2012 was $1,266.3732. Many of
> my expenses were unnecessary according to many experts in the Delorean
> community. Several of my expenses were due to a car accident the year
> before that I ultimately ended up having someone else's insurance pay
> for.
> 
> Deduction #1
> -$160.76
> All of my coolant and radiator expenses before Expense #24 were due to
> the accident. You can subtract $160.76 for the radiator stuff that
> wasn't my fault or the cars. It ended up being unnecessary anyway
> since insurance paid for a replacement radiator, AC condenser, and a
> paint job. None of this was needed before the accident in 2011.
> 
> Deduction #2
> -$55.90
> This was recorded in expense # 18. I decided to install an adjustable
> alternator bracket to make belt replacements super easy. This wasn't
> necessary but I liked the idea of being able to replace an alternator
> belt in 5 minutes without using a jack to tension the belt. It came
> in handy when my alternator belt popped somewhere in Kentucky last
> year. While this isn't a maintenance item, I like it and it was worth
> going over my budget.
> 
> Deduction #3
> -$361.78
> This was recorded in expense #21. After hearing about the wonderful
> LCA brackets being sold by Ed in Europe and the friendly folks at
> DMCMW I decided to splurge and purchase a pair. According to some of
> the drama on this forum, I wasted my money and should have never
> purchased them. According to my car, it was money well spent. I'm
> happy with the LCA brackets, but because people on here say they are
> not necessary, the expense probably should not be counted against my
> in my total.
> 
> Deduction #4
> -$48.43
> This was recorded in expense #25. I added some fancy washers to my
> LCA bracket bushings and replaced the bolts with longer ones. This
> was to prevent premature wear on the bushings. Once again, according
> to the experts, these cars don't need LCA brackets and Deloreans are
> perfect just the way they left the factory. Based on this expert
> logic, I didn't need the LCA brackets and had I not purchased them, I
> wouldn't have spent an additional $48.43 on hardware.
> 
> Deduction #5
> -$290.47
> This was recorded in expense #35. For this expense I replaced my
> steering column bushing with a stainless vibration reducing steering
> column. White trash like me refers to this as Spec .01 steering. I
> also replaced my steering column bushing with one of those fancy units
> from Toby Peterson. My steering column bushing was worn out and
> needed to be replaced. My old steering column (lower) was fine and
> according to some people, the vibrations were a feature that I was
> supposed to be happy about. Well, I wasn't happy about it and wanted
> to spend some money so I did. But since some people want to feel
> every little bump on the road, I'll go ahead and deduct the cost for
> my Spec .01 steering.
> 
> My actual cost for all expenses excluding gasoline, speeding tickets,
> and insurance: $1,266.3732.
> 
> Deductions for unnecessary parts: $917.34
> 
> My actual cost for maintenance excluding gasoline, speeding tickets,
> insurance and unnecessary parts: $349.0332
> 
> Thats pretty dang good for someone who drove over 12,000 miles in one year.
> 
> Now would someone please post this text on my DMCTalk thread since I
> have been banned and can no longer post?
> 
> -Steve Rice
> Proudly banned from DMCTalk
> #16510
> 
> On Tue, Jan 15, 2013 at 2:34 PM, d_rex_2002 rich@...
>  > wrote:
> > Hey Steve,
> >
> > What was your end of year total for maintenance on 16510 last year?
> >
> > I noticed that you were banned about a month before the end of year.
> >
> > Were you able to keep the total under $1500 for the year?
> >
> > Just curious...it was an interesting thread to watch.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Rich W.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>




------------------------------------

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/dmcnewsYahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    dmcnews-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    dmcnews-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> 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/