[DMCForum] Re: DMC Whine..

["therealdmcvegas" <dmcvegas@xxxxxxx>]

I think that we're talking about two seperate things here. Specificly,
the difference between a "Rolling Restoration", and a "Cheap-ass,
irresponsable owner."

Let me relate this by telling a small story about one DeLorean, and
two owners who both represented these two catergories.

About 2 years ago, I met Ron. I pulled out into traffic, and spotted
his DeLorean in front of me. So, I pulled up to him, honked my horn,
we pulled over and met. Ron had a decent car with good potential. In
fact, if you have any older copies of "DeLorean World" magazine,
you've seen it. He was the black guy from Hawaii. Now, while Ron was a
nice person, he was hardly someone who should own a classic car. Let's
examine Ron for a second here:
1. Purchased the car years ago, before he had 3 kids. But never fixed
it up.
2. Decided to become dependant upon a classic car as main
transportation, that he had sitting in storage for 3 years.
3. He was DEATHLY afraid of car repair!
4. He was also the cheapest man to walk the face of the earth.

Years ago, Ron's original radiator cracked a side tank while it was in
Hawaii. He took it into a radiator shop, and the guy there advised him
to simply order a new one from a mainland DeLorean vendor, and he'd
install it for him. No, Ron wanted this one repaired. And it was at
this point that the repair man PLEADED with him to replace both tanks.
Because if one broke, the other was most likely to fail as well. But
alas, Ron believed that this wasn't nessisary, and that the guy was
just simply trying to squeeze more money out of him. Years later when
Ron relocated to Las Vegas, the other tank on his radiator decided to
blow out. I advised him to replace it. Our local DeLorean mechanic
Owen advised him to replace it. But it was only after Darryl
Tinnerstet finally convinced him to replace it, did he break down and
buy it.

Now let me further explain how bad Ron was. He was convinced that his
car suffered from the worst electrical system problems ever. Because
his door lights would never come on. A few seconds later, I discovered
that fuse #12 was missing. Lo and behold, the lights magicly came on!
Several times I had to slap his hands away from my louvers, because he
was trying to spray them with Amorall (I use non-silicone products).
He belived that even after installing a 3 layer radiator, that his car
was still over heating-because the fans wouldn't come on until just a
couple needle spaces below 220 on the temp gague. And my all time
favorite, it took his car to get repaired at a Hyundai dealership,
rather than a garage with a factory trained DeLorean mechanic. Why?
Because it was an extra 3 miles for the tow to the DeLorean mechanic.

Now it also became apparent that his car had a classic hot-start
issue. He asked me, and I told him to replace the Accumulator. He
called Warren @ DMCH, and got the same answer. He called Darryl, and
got the same answer. His trusted Hyundai mechanic who didn't know
K-Jetronic theory didn't have a clue. So naturally Ron blames his
problem on the Cold Start Valve. I asked him if his car started ok
when it was cold. He said it did, and that the problem would only
occur if he started the engine while it was warm. Then how could it be
the CSV?, I asked. Frustration the likes of which I have seldom seen
erupted from Ron. He wanted me to do the work, and said that he'd pay
me for it, and I declined. I told him that if he wanted me to help
him, I would gladly do it for free. Under the condition that he helps,
and learns from me how to do things for himself. I told him that my
goal was not to make money off of him, but to educate him. He
complained the he didn't have tools or space, which I countered with
an offer to arrainge it all. He scoffed at the idea, and became pissed
when I told him that there was nothing stopping him from working on
his car, except for his own fears that had no basis. All he could do
was bitch about the car not working properly, as I pointed out it was
all his own fault.

Save for two breif conversation after that, I totally turned my back
on him. Never answered his phone calls again. I have my pride, and it
greatly offended me that every time he came at me with a problem, like
his passenger door that became stuck shut soon after, that he scoffed
at my ideas, and pointed out that he was going to first consult with
his Hyundai mechanic who "knows about car repair". Especially when
he'd contact DMCH or someone, and they'd tell him the same thing I did
previous. I do not forgive things on a whim.

About 3 months or so later, I saw that he finally posted his car for
sale in the local paper. To say the least, I was releaved.

Earlier this month, Micheal Babb came to town, and another local
DeLorean owner on the list here, Matt Stits, and I both went down to
meet him. At the last minute, Matt tells me that there is going to be
another local owner whom I don't know that's going to be joining us.
Durring our conversation, I find out that this new person, Japheth, is
the one whop purchased Ron's car. I already knew a bit of history
about his car, and we get to talking. I make the same offer to him,
and he takes me up on it. Because that passenger side door is still
stuck shut.

So in one afternoon I guided him thru pulling the door panels off,
showed him how the door linkage worked, and adjusted the cable that
connects to the outer door handle. This eliminated the binding in this
cable that was causing the front door latch to lock up. And we then
went on to lubricating the door linkage, cleaning the wiper switches,
along with installing new door lock actuators, and a keyless entry
system. All in one after noon.

Yes he still has to install new door regulators, and yes the cost of
them is high. However, the car has other prioroties first such as that
accumulator, and it's Ducey alternator that need to be replaced first.
Slowy but surely, this car will be restored again, but it progress
will be visable, because it'll be on the road at the same time. Yes,
he too has put his car into Daily Driver Duty.

Now the reason that I give this example is this. One car, two seperate
owners who are distinctly different, but easily confusable with one
another because of their car's appearance/status.

Now, I agree totally with you, Video Bob, that people like Ron are
idiots, and should be made to realize this as such. However, when you
vocaly expressed this, it ended up pissing off people in situations
like Japheth, because no distintion can be made simply by the
condition of their cars, as to whom/what the owners are like. Yes, the
clothes do tend to make the man. But they're just guidelines, and
can't always be used to make a consice judgement. After all, here we
had one car. The exact same car that didn't magicly become any more
reliable by itself when it changed hands between two owners. It simply
encountered a new owner.

So for a car that is cosmeticly the same, how am I supposed to be able
to tell any differences in owner responsability?


Now don't worry, VB. There are no hard feelings here. So I'm not
pissed at you. I understand sarcasm just fine, and can tell the
difference between the stating of an opinion, and a direct attack. In
fact, whenyou come out to Vegas, let me know, and we'll meet.

-Robert



--- In DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Videobob Moseley" <videobob@xxxx> wrote:
> You are absolutely worthy of your car.
> I think that these things convey a little about yourself.
> It tells a little story about you.
> Kinda like the way a hobo dresses when he is begging for spare change.
> "Clothes make the man"" theory.
> Now, I am sure the hobo is a nice guy, he is a wonderful human being
I am 
> sure.
> However his outward appearance would make you think otherwise.
> 
> SO I am sure your a great guy.
> Shit, you can come over and fuck my sister.
> Take her for a ride in that awesomely well kept car of yours!
> I bet that everyone who sees your car loves the peeling paint,
warped fascia 
> and moldy cracked dashboard... I bet they cream when they see it.
> 
> Or maybe, just maybe they walk away muttering under their breath...
> "Man, those DeLorean's are real pieces of shit!"
> 
> Do you see my point at all or does this just blow by you?
> I am being sarcastic but I am honestly not trying to insult you.
> I am trying to make a point here and I think it is valid.
> That point is that the public perception of the DeLorean is that it
is a 
> piece of shit.
> When people see a car that has not been up kept then they think all the 
> DeLoreans  look this way and confirms the mis-information.
> By not fixing the cars you are doing the other owners and injustice.
> If you can't afford to fix the car then maybe you are not
financially ready 
> to own one.
> These are luxury cars and not necessity, and if your life is
situated enough 
> to afford a luxury car and the ability to fix it up then maybe you
are being 
> irrisponsible with your finances, and if you have a family on top of
that 
> then you are being irrisponsible to them as well.
> 
> I can't say it any clearer than that.
> 
> I have been accused of bragging about my "stuff",
> my original intention was to proove that I was not talking out of
both sides 
> of my head.
> That I had in fact taken care of my life first, car second.
> I don't have any debt, and no kids to e responsible for, therefore I
can 
> afford to have this car and t's upkeep.
> 
> I will be in Vegas next month if you want to talk about it some more.
> -VB
> 
> >From: "therealdmcvegas" <dmcvegas@xxxx>
> >Reply-To: DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >To: DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >Subject: [DMCForum] Re: DMC Whine..
> >Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 16:42:29 -0000
> >
> >
> >--- In DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Videobob Moseley" <videobob@xxxx>
> >wrote:
> ><SNIP>
> > > So, I am not going to stick my nose into all of their personal
> >business, I
> > > don't give a shit about them selling wine or DMC salad dressing -
> >who cares?
> > > I don't.
> ><SNIP>
> >
> >But I'm not worthy of my car because of "eyebrows", damaged facia
> >paint, and a cracked binnacle?!?
> >
> >-Robert
> >
> >
> >

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