[DML] 1 Year Anniversary...and a message of hope!

["usndmc" <usndmc@xxxxxxxxx>]

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








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