Door Openers

[SGSKBM@xxxx]

I have not posted to this forum in a long time but I felt that the 
recent issues concerning the door launchers was important and I 
wanted to share my 2 cents worth.

Competition is the spice of life. It keeps prices down and quality 
up. The very reason that we all own a Delorean is that we wanted 
something different.

The Zilla products are well made and do offer a "plug and play" type 
of installation. I am sure that they offer a delicate balance 
between price, performance, ease of installation and overall 
engineering. I currently have the Lock Zilla, Tank Zilla and Fan 
Zilla installed on my car.

Other entries into the door lancher market offer viable alternatives 
and I appreciate the opportunity to choose between them. I collect 
cars and current have nine including the Delorean. 

I would dearly love to have door launchers in my Delorean and I 
already have the LockZilla. The thought of an additional $800 to 
$1,000 for this modification seems like it makes the option 
unafforable to me. This "accessory," based on today's market would 
be 7% of the value of the entire car! 

Darryl's option is affordable and it appears to make use of the 
Dakota actuators which seem to be quality products. While his 
version will entail more work, my labor, as a contributing factor to 
the overall costs, is insignificant. In short, he offeres me 
affordability to an option that I want.

In looking at his option, it appears to me that his profit margin has 
to be very, very thin as the costs of the components from Dakota 
seems to add up to about the same price as he is charging. Darryl 
appears to be trying to help those of us who are looking for an 
affordable option, the viability of owning door launchers. I appluad 
his motives.

Overall ownership of my Delorean has been one of the most expensive 
undertakings that I have endured in the car collection process. 
While parts are, for the most part readily available, expertise is 
not, and in many cases I have paid out hudge amounts of money to 
solve simple problems!

The value of the car has not increased, not that I am looking to 
sell, and I see no real opportunity to view the car as anything but 
a "most enjoyable depreciating asset." If I can obtain a desired 
option and save a significant amout of money by doing some of the 
work myself, then the alternative seems clear to me.

Just my 2 cents worth...

Scot Stern
6452 (11K miles)