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

[Stephen Rice <stevedmc@xxxxxxxxx>]

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-less-than-500-a-year-and-put-10-000-miles-on-it&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@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 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.


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