Delorean review and question

[08087]

Just back from a short stay in California. A good friend of mine offered me his Delorean to drive around during my stay! Now that's a friend!

My friend has 35K invested in the purchase and upgrade of his Delorean, it does not have a stage II but he has done extensive work on the eng. and exhaust. The eng. puts out about 200HP with the new exhaust system, aggressive cams and whatever else was done (his wording not mine). It's a 5 speed w grey int. frame has been completely gone over and powder coated, new leather seat covers from DMC, headliner, luvers and much more. (I'll get the VIN from him as again I forgot this is important to many of you.

It was a blast to drive this car up and down the 101 for a few hours at a clip! Yippy!!! Much faster than I expected, not mustang or Camaro fast but plenty fast for me.

Now for the questions concerns, I notice the car gives a great deal of feedback to the driver, so much so that this spoiled driver got annoyed. Every bump you could feel and being this is not meant to be a performance car as much as a cruiser I'd like to find a way of softening the ride a bit. Is there any practical way of accomplishing this without making it into a "boat" like ride of a 1970's Cadillac?

At the same time I tried a little accident avoidance test of my own and found that body roll was excessive, any way of correcting this aspect of the car? I felt rather unsafe with the way the car responded.

Don't get me wrong, I love the car and cannot thank my friend enough for the treat he bestowed upon me, but this treat also opened my eyes more to the problems I find get in the way of my future enjoyment of a Delorean.

All feedback is certainly welcome, even from Sean!:p:worship:

[SoCalDMC12]

Sounds like you had a fun time.

There are many things that could affect the car's ride and handling:

- Was it lowered?
- What shocks does he have?
- What tires?
- is everything in proper working order?

10718 has a stock suspension and Cooper Cobra tires, and I like the ride/handling balance. 16423 has a stock suspension and Yokohama tires... I think it handles better, but rides a bit rougher... I might switch to Cooper Cobra's this year and add a front strut brace to see how it affects the car.

[08087]

Sounds like you had a fun time.

There are many things that could affect the car's ride and handling:

- Was it lowered?
- What shocks does he have?
- What tires?
- is everything in proper working order?

10718 has a stock suspension and Cooper Cobra tires, and I like the ride/handling balance. 16423 has a stock suspension and Yokohama tires... I think it handles better, but rides a bit rougher... I might switch to Cooper Cobra's this year and add a front strut brace to see how it affects the car.

The car was not lowered, it had B.F. Goddrich tires, model I do not know. The car is in very good working order, as stated he has some 35K invested and that may be a low number as you always forget the little things you add over time.

[sean]

The car was not lowered, it had B.F. Goddrich tires,

IIRC, those BFs are pretty hard tires. I've driven on them and they are good about transferring the road to your butt.

[Dracula]

Lowering the car really cuts down on body roll and the harshness of the ride. The way I figure it, the front shocks are nearly bottomed out and have an extremely limited range of travel at stock height, but by dropping the front end, the car becomes more aerodynamic, increases shock travel, and leads to a more pleasant ride.

Though, what's wrong with 1970's Cadillac feel? There are few things better in the world than the ride in a '70s Cadillac.

[08087]

Lowering the car really cuts down on body roll and the harshness of the ride. The way I figure it, the front shocks are nearly bottomed out and have an extremely limited range of travel at stock height, but by dropping the front end, the car becomes more aerodynamic, increases shock travel, and leads to a more pleasant ride.

Though, what's wrong with 1970's Cadillac feel? There are few things better in the world than the ride in a '70s Cadillac.


The "Cadillac" feel is fine for a marshmellow Cadillac not for a Delorean, just as the harsh ride of the new style Vettes that came out in the 80's is not right either. There should be a happy medium IMO for the ride of a cruiser, a BMW comes to mind, maybe not that refined but you get where I'm shooting.

[louielouie2000]

DMC Northwest has been working on developing a rear antiroll bar for some time. That should dramatically help with the excessive body roll the DeLorean exhibits, especially if you consider that 65% of the weight of the car is over the rear wheels. That's an awful lot of polar inertia which is not being reigned in.

Like others have said, modern shocks & tires help dramatically too (as does lowering the front end). I see you stated the car has new(er) tires... but is it still running on it's original (or NOS) Girling shock absorbers? They have an odd combination of hard ride with little aid in controlling unwanted body motion. 21st century shock absorber technology performs staggering wonders for both ride & handling on DeLoreans.

[Chris Burns]

The Eibach suspension kit offered by DMCH seems to work pretty well. I know one vendor sells a strut bar for the trunk that mounts between the shock towers. Rear engine cars always have the "swing out" feeling, due to all the weight being in the back. Lowering the Delorean does help with handling (and plus the car looks great lowered!).

Remember the car is 30 yrs old. No traction control, no ABS, no power steering. Just a pure driver's car!

[Dangermouse]

I know some folks who invest $$ in polybushings have found them too hard and jarring and have switched back to rubber. Perhaps your buddy's car has a full set of polybushes.

[Bitsyncmaster]

The front shocks are the key to the ride. My 30 year old originals (still working) you would feel every pebble in the road. Installed John's easy riders and the ride will put a smile on your face for days. My car has been lowered a little by Gradey's front springs but that never curred that hard ride.

[08087]

DMC Northwest has been working on developing a rear antiroll bar for some time. That should dramatically help with the excessive body roll the DeLorean exhibits, especially if you consider that 65% of the weight of the car is over the rear wheels. That's an awful lot of polar inertia which is not being reigned in.

Like others have said, modern shocks & tires help dramatically too (as does lowering the front end). I see you stated the car has new(er) tires... but is it still running on it's original (or NOS) Girling shock absorbers? They have an odd combination of hard ride with little aid in controlling unwanted body motion. 21st century shock absorber technology performs staggering wonders for both ride & handling on DeLoreans.

I'll have to check with him on what shocks he uses, good thing to know. It'd be nice if they came out with the antiroll bar sometime soon.

"Dangermouse" I'll have to check into if he made the switch or not. (Poly VS. Rubber) 30 yr old shocks? Really? You may want to change them out!

"Jammer96" I agree the car looks much sharper lowered, the one thing I wish he had done to his "D" and I will be doing to mine when I get it.

Thanks for the give and take guys!

[thegovernor9912]

Lowering springs and shocks to replace the 30 year old ones make a big difference. I have poly bushings and the LCA and front sway bar and I don't think it makes a big increase the the NVH. The front strut bar will also help with body roll.

I am assuming that you don't already own a DeLorean with this next part.

You need to remember that the DeLorean has manual steering and will transmit alot more "feedback" through the system then a car with power assist.
It sounds bad but I also think you need to lower your expectations a bit. Its a car that was designed in the late 70's and rushed into production by a largely untrained workforce. It lackes all of the technology and creature comforts that make new cars perform so much better than their older counterparts. A masterpiece, yes but a 30 year old one.

[08087]

Lowering springs and shocks to replace the 30 year old ones make a big difference. I have poly bushings and the LCA and front sway bar and I don't think it makes a big increase the the NVH. The front strut bar will also help with body roll.

I am assuming that you don't already own a DeLorean with this next part.

You need to remember that the DeLorean has manual steering and will transmit alot more "feedback" through the system then a car with power assist.
It sounds bad but I also think you need to lower your expectations a bit. Its a car that was designed in the late 70's and rushed into production by a largely untrained workforce. It lackes all of the technology and creature comforts that make new cars perform so much better than their older counterparts. A masterpiece, yes but a 30 year old one.


I'm truly hoping that a few upgrades can smooth the ride out, if I had to buy one and be stuck with the ride of my friends car I'd have to pass on it. And saying that doesn't come easy to me.

I boat and if any of you do or have taken out a small boat on a choppy day the boat will slam into the waves, you feel every bump and it can be fun but not enjoyable, I felt the same way behind the wheel of the Delorean, THRILLED! But not enjoying the ride.

I've driven quite a few exotics over the years and always found them to have a choppy ride, for that reason I'd never buy one, I need some comfort in my ride.

Are my expectations too high? Or do you think the shock factor can be softened?

[Dracula]

Your expectations are probably too high. The car will never have that smooth of a ride and, if you want that, buy a Cadillac. It'll always have some stiffness and bumps due to the very nature of the steering and suspension system.

This is also why its important to test drive a car you're considering purchasing to see if its the right fit.

[08087]

Your expectations are probably too high. The car will never have that smooth of a ride and, if you want that, buy a Cadillac. It'll always have some stiffness and bumps due to the very nature of the steering and suspension system.

This is also why its important to test drive a car you're considering purchasing to see if its the right fit.

I'm not looking for a "Cadillac ride" as we've discussed before, I'm looking more for an M3 type of ride, firm but not jarring.
The Delorean may not be for me after all, very disappointing if that is truly the case but I'll live.

I still welcome the opinions of other owners past and present for their opinions and insights (not that I discount yours but many is always better than a few).

[Dracula]

Now, you were the one who used the term "Cadillac ride" before me. Though, if you want the feel of driving an M3, then that'd be your best bet. The DeLorean will always have its own unique, fairly rough, quasi-performance ride. Some love it, some hate it. I'd say that it feels like the car is one with the road. You can hug the turns and corner beautifully, but you feel every little characteristic in the pavement beneath you. It's a fair trade-off. This is just a part of their nature and its hard to change without spending insane amounts of money on moderate improvements. It'd be the same as taking one of my beloved '70s Cadillacs and adding in a manual transmission, rack and pinion steering, and whatever else it took to make it feel like a sports car, instead.

I'd also advise, before making up your mind, that you try a few other DeLoreans to see. For some inexplicable reason, these cars vary intensely in ride characteristics from one to the other. If you find one you like, learn what makes it that way and see if its something you want to replicate.

[08087]

Now, you were the one who used the term "Cadillac ride" before me. Though, if you want the feel of driving an M3, then that'd be your best bet. The DeLorean will always have its own unique, fairly rough, quasi-performance ride. Some love it, some hate it. I'd say that it feels like the car is one with the road. You can hug the turns and corner beautifully, but you feel every little characteristic in the pavement beneath you. It's a fair trade-off. This is just a part of their nature and its hard to change without spending insane amounts of money on moderate improvements. It'd be the same as taking one of my beloved '70s Cadillacs and adding in a manual transmission, rack and pinion steering, and whatever else it took to make it feel like a sports car, instead.

I'd also advise, before making up your mind, that you try a few other DeLoreans to see. For some inexplicable reason, these cars vary intensely in ride characteristics from one to the other. If you find one you like, learn what makes it that way and see if its something you want to replicate.



Your being far too literal with your advice, if I wanted an M3 I wouldn't be posting here, it's nothing more than a description a point of reference, just like the Cadillac reference.

I also posted this up top in the forum and got some good advice about shocks, springs, tires, etc. Others think I should have little problem with softening the ride a bit. Thank you and everyone for the advice and thought placed into this question.

I will be riding in at least one or two other Deloreans prior to any deposit I place.

[SoCalDMC12]

So this is gonna sound like a pretty basic question: how does one tell if their shocks are ready to be replaced? 16432 is about to turn 128k, and I believe the shocks are original. Don't want to buy new shocks until necessary.

Does the bounce test apply to D's?

[08087]

So this is gonna sound like a pretty basic question: how does one tell if their shocks are ready to be replaced? 16432 is about to turn 128k, and I believe the shocks are original. Don't want to buy new shocks until necessary.

Does the bounce test apply to D's?

I've been told the bounce test went by the way side along with the 70's but that wasn't from any expert so I guess it's almost a non answer.

I've always been of the opinion that if you take a bump the shock should allow the car to come back up and stop the up and down movement at that point, any more movement then that and it's too much. Again it's only my rule of thumb.

[TheDutchTexan]

+1

Just ride over a set of train tracks. If you get seasick your shocks need replacing.

[louielouie2000]

Does the bounce test apply to D's?


+1

Just ride over a set of train tracks. If you get seasick your shocks need replacing.

DeLorean shocks seem to age differently than most. Instead of becoming soft & squishy with age they get super hard. If your car is riding extremely high compared to other DeLoreans, this is a good indication that your original shocks are done for.

This is how a stock DeLorean should sit:

http://www.specialtysales.com/galleria_images/1510/1510_main_f.jpg

See how high this DeLorean sits? It most likely is running it's original shocks and they're done for:

http://www.blenheimgang.com/guide/delorean/images/delorean_1.jpg

[valdez]

Sports cars are supposed to have stiff suspension it keeps them on the road.

This helps the driver feel the road, make it much more responsive, and keeps down body roll with cornering (flat as a pancake on corners is what you want, not shocks compressing on one side of the car and lifting on the other).

People who want a soft ride should not expect to get that from any car that claims to be a sports car. Same with the other way around, don't expect a boat to have a firm ride unless it was built for the race track.

There is a reason the 'Boats' (Buick, caddy, Lincoln etc) handle like boats. They are not as responsive because of the soft suspension.

To me putting soft suspension on a sports car is like trading bucket seats for a bench. I would never waste my money or time doing something to make the car less sporty, but to each their own.

[SoCalDMC12]

See how high this DeLorean sits? It most likely is running it's original shocks and they're done for:

http://www.blenheimgang.com/guide/delorean/images/delorean_1.jpg

Actually, I think that photo originally came from the ItalDesign archive... I remember seeing it on their site a while back. (Unfortunately, they redesigned their site recently and no longer allow you to search their photo archive, so I can't confirm.) If this did come from ItalDesign, then the car was probably new, and its suspension would not have been worn out.

On an unrelated note: When I went to ItalDesign's site, they had a neat concept drawing that I had never seen before:

http://www.italdesign.it/project/delorean-dmc12-eng