What to look for when buying

[MTB]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum and have been interested in purchasing one of these cars ever since I was a kid and saw BTTF. I plan to covert the car into the time machine from part 2. I've already started collecting some screen accurate parts but I think it's time I actually get the car itself.

I found one not far from my home but I'm just starting to learn about the these cars so I'm not knowledgeable on what to look for and how to tell if it's worth the price.

The one I found has this description but no pictures yet.


1981 Delorean D

For sale is my beautiful 81 DMC-12 Delorean. I originally purchased this car in Washington a few years ago and have since completely restored it to showroom condition. It is currently registered in California with a clean title, manual transmission and a little over 25,xxx original miles. I love this car but unfortunately must part with it. Asking 27k.*

The Good:

New weather stripping*
Restored interior
New catalytic converter
Clean title
New windshield*

The Bad:

Speedo is busted.

Just wanted to ask the experts so I don't make any rookie mistakes.

Thanks for the help!

[Lou and "Boo"]

Sounds like a good deal, but you should take an owner with you to look at it.

Busted speedo ain't no biggie

[cravings]

http://deloreanguide.com/

definitely worth the money before a purchase that big.

[burch]

Agreed on the DeLorean Guide. Great piece of literature to have at your disposal. If you're planning a time machine conversion, you will also be able to get away with a car that has some cosmetic issues that will be covered or obscured by conversion parts, and maybe save a bit of money!

[MTB]

Thanks guys!

[Rich_NYS]

Showroom condition for 27K is the best price I've seen lately.

But...."showroom condition" to some people might not include the undercarriage, so be sure to look there. The frame on DeLorean is susceptible to rust & corrosion so look underneath as more than everywhere else.

Read through the forums as much as possible to see the common issues owners re working on, I have the book but I learned more here.

[Lou and "Boo"]

My Delorean is in showroom condition. That is, if there's a showroom for half done cars.
;)

[Michael]

No matter what temprature a room is, it's always room temprature.




By the same token, No matter what condition a car is in, if it's in a showroom then it's showroom condition.

[Lou and "Boo"]

No matter what temprature a room is, it's always room temprature.




By the same token, No matter what condition a car is in, if it's in a showroom then it's showroom condition.

O . . . K . . .

I guess mine is in 'driveway condition' if we go by that reasoning.

Hey, I'll take it !! After all, it IS a Delorean.

[BladeBronson]

Where do you live?

[DMCVegas]

O . . . K . . .

I guess mine is in 'driveway condition' if we go by that reasoning.

http://static2.fjcdn.com/comments/5330953+_cf831d5cbb90f0d83e27a090a57ba4db.jpg

It has nothing at all to do with "reasoning". It's plain legal speak to protect the seller by ensuring that they promise nothing at all. It's just like when you have a "Certified Pre-Owned" vehicle. The only thing the selling dealership has certified is the fact that it's a used car. The name itself legally implies nothing about quality, reliability, nor warranty.

Same with that line about how "All of our cars go through a 100/200/500-point inspection before we sell them." All the dealer is certifying there is that the vehicle was inspected. Doesn't mean that even if they saw a problem, they bothered to fix it. Just means that it was inspected.

If I tell you I'm selling a car in "Brand new" condition, you might have me there. That would imply that the vehicle was as reliable and in tip-top shape as the very day it was sold brand-new at a dealership. "Showroom Condition" only means that it's in the condition that someone might have a car be to be inside of a showroom. Which implies absolutely nothing about reliability, et al. Just means it was good enough to meet the seller's standards to publicly display in a showroom.

Buy a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle that went through a 5,000-point inspection, and if it breaks down you have no legal recourse under those two buzz word terms alone.

[MTB]

San Jose Ca