State of our Cars Poll

[Dangermouse]

I thought it would be interesting to hold an end-of-year review of the state of everyone's DeLorean. I will call “Fall” the end of year as many are preparing to store their cars. I would hope to make this an annual review to compare the overall state of members cars.

If your car is already in storage for the winter pick the selection that best fits the car just before you stored it. If your car was “running perfectly before it was stored 5+ years ago” pick “major issues”

If you have more than one D, the poll should allow you to select more than one choice, if your cars are in different conditions. If they are both in the same state, then you're out of luck :(

[Ozzie]

I was going to say that the top most answer choice can ("can drive") also go with the 2nd top most answer choice ("could drive") ...but I noticed that you can "vote" for both. Cool.

[Nicholas R]

Just drove from Cincinnati to Orlando and back in September :D. Overall trip was >2500mi

[nullset]

I voted twice, one for each car :)

--buddy

[Dangermouse]

I was going to say that the top most answer choice can ("can drive") also go with the 2nd top most answer choice ("could drive") ...but I noticed that you can "vote" for both. Cool.

I was trying to differentiate between cars that are road-worthy but the owner doesn't have the confidence in it to undertake a long trip, whether that comes from a known issue, or lack of mileage under the drivers belt.

For example, prior to my tranny problems, I drove it in and around Atlanta but wouldn't have driven it to Birmingham AL for various reasons.

[Dangermouse]

I voted twice, one for each car :)

--buddy

That's the idea, for multiple-car owners

[opethmike]

Not sure how to answer this poll, since my car is off the road for an EFI conversion. If it weren't, I would certainly drive it anywhere, so I suppose I'll answer with that option.

[Farrar]

I had to be honest and admit that mine is off the road because I have no courtesy lights and a rough idle. That apart, it's perfectly OK, but I don't think I would pass an inspection without it, and the car is past due. If I only had more time... *sigh*

Farrar

[DeLorean]

On the road, drives better than my 2011 car does typically... Just completed a 250+ mile trip without issue.

[Daniel81DMC]

Several times in the past years, I've driven long-distance - 800 kilometers (what is that, 500 miles?) and had no issue whatsoever - even had it going over 200 KPH on a long, flat, open stretch of highway, and it was cruising beautifully.

My car issues are fit/finish/annoyances, nothing genuinely worrisome, or that I'd truly be concerned about breaking down - my valves need adjusting, my fuel pump is starting to wear out, but neither are really serious. I'd drive it anywhere, any distance.

That said, purely because it *is* a DeLorean and *is* 30 years old, if something went wrong, I'd likely be stuck nowhere near anyone who knew how to work on one, so I don't go on the long road-trips too often - both of the last big ones I took were for teacher conventions, and two before that were because I was moving Provinces. If it needs to go long-haul, I really don't worry, but why tempt fate, right?

[Chris 16409]

This past June, I drove down to the LA area from Fresno for the annual Irish fair. Then continued down to San Diego. It was probabbly about a 700 mile round trip. Everything went okay.

[stevedmc]

As much as boast about how bad my car sucks, it is extremely reliable after the two years I have been making improvements to it.

I drive it to work twice a week (75 miles round trip) and I drive it to church on Sunday (50 miles round trip). The only reason I don't drive it every day is because of my long commute and because my Geo Metro gets 50+ mpg.

My sucky little Delorean is very reliable now. Just a few days ago I drove it to Sean and Ron's houses and back home completing a 1,278 mile trip with ZERO problems.

[DMC5180]

Did a 1000 mi RT a couple months back. I've never been afraid to drive the car anywhere. But I'm always tinkering on it (by choice) in some form or another.

[stevedmc]

I wonder how Bill would vote.

[sean]

I wonder how Bill would vote.

Tough call, there's no "Sean's an ass whole" or " These cars suck just like JZD did" options. Also, who really gives a rats ass?

[Ikeaboy1]

I havent driven more than 60 or 70 miles at a time in 2867 since I bought it, but I very seriously considered taking it on a 200 mile trip a month or so ago. I ended up riding with someone else, but not because of lack of faith in the car.

[SIMid]

Drove mine a month ago, 500kms without a hiccup. But Sunday gone, being slightly warmer here in Melbourne, I decided to use the A/C which worked fine for about an hour and has now stopped blowing cold (investigating).

So my D will say yes 250+ in winter and short trips in summer. :tongue2:

[Darth]

Mine's running great right now. The only problems I've been having are cosmetic or inconsequential.

Also, it is not going to be stored for the winter. I don't do that, mainly because I need the thing to be able to get around. Still won't drive it around in bad weather though.

[StainlessBullet]

Condition of 5788,

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=6333&d=1319595130

Condition of 2923,

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=6332&d=1319595118

So...yeah, I thinks it’s obvious how I voted.

[Kenny_Z]

I haven't taken Red on any long trips yet because I don't trust her. It took me about a year to get my Mustang in order so I expect about the same amount of time before I can take Red on any long drive.

I drove her twice a week to work, 50 miles round trip, until Monday. She was being a little bitch all day. It was enough to make me walk away. The Mustang has my attention for now since I need to replace the door skins. Nothing helps stress like cutting and beating metal into submission.

I'll let the little D sulk for a week before I dive back into those electrical problems.

[DMC5180]

WOW 2 frame offs at once. Thats ambitious! Is this the project that was going to make one good car out of two or 2 full restorations?

[sdg3205]

I bet 3205 would be fine but I've got nowhere to go.

Planning on attending the next PNDC drive though.

[Renee_1632]

I think 1632 could do a long trip. I just lack the confidence to take her on it. So I picked the second one.

Also, I fear I'll break down on a deserted road, at night, in the rain, 100 miles from a town, in an area plagued by an on the loose murderer/rapist/evil person and have no cell reception. Because my life would probably work out like that.

[go_leafs_go]

Last year my cooling system blew up. This year, my transmission died. So, needless to say, I don't have much confidence in taking my D for long trips... >:(

Dean
VIN 1930. June '81, Auto, Gas flap

[Farrar]

I fear I'll break down on a deserted road, at night, in the rain, 100 miles from a town, in an area plagued by an on the loose murderer/rapist/evil person and have no cell reception. Because my life would probably work out like that.

Now I know where those cheesy Hollywood horror films come from... ;-)

Farrar

[M4N B4G]

I've made it from Tacoma WA to Sacramento CA both there and back in my Delorean. 1400 miles round trip, although there was a year between trips. Actually driving it back Down to Sacramento tomorrow!! Never had a problem (knock on wood).

[Farrar]

Plenty of wood to knock on in our cars! :D

[Jonathan]

Didn't see the "pick 2" option until I had already voted. I definitely fall into the "I DO keep it to short and medium length trips" but if the right circumstances came up, I "COULD" take it on a longer 250 mile trip. Most of me not driving on any vast road trips is more to do with the car being impractical for taking stuff with you or carrying things home, and not being comfortable leaving it unattended in many places. I live a fair bit away from the cities, so if I go somewhere I normally take the Pontiac. KOW, she's driving about as top notch as I have ever had it since I've owned it.

[StainlessBullet]

WOW 2 frame offs at once. Thats ambitious! Is this the project that was going to make one good car out of two or 2 full restorations?

I had went back and fourth about it, but decided to restore both of them.

I’m restoring 2923 myself (on hold until 5788 is finished), and 5788 is currently at DMC-Midwest for a frame-off. I'll eventually post a thread about the progress on both cars. I’m still trying to get in the swing of things since the old dmctalk crashed. :nervous:

[Dracula]

I've got one with no engine or transmission and one that I'd drive anywhere anytime, so long as there's no snow or road salt. I explicitly trust my DeLorean and still have to get a car for winter sometime before December gets here...

[jawn101]

I've made it from Tacoma WA to Sacramento CA both there and back in my Delorean. 1400 miles round trip, although there was a year between trips. Actually driving it back Down to Sacramento tomorrow!! Never had a problem (knock on wood).

You should look up the NCDMC guys while you're down here, there's a lot in Sac... :)

I'd drive mine anywhere, any day, any time. She's as reliable as my Acura and way more fun to drive :)

[DMC_PRIME]

I think 1632 could do a long trip. I just lack the confidence to take her on it. So I picked the second one.

Also, I fear I'll break down on a deserted road, at night, in the rain, 100 miles from a town, in an area plagued by an on the loose murderer/rapist/evil person and have no cell reception. Because my life would probably work out like that.

HaHaHa, you summed me up exactly!! I'm with you on this one.

[Farrar]

In my case it's more a matter of time... the last couple of times I broke down it took over 90 minutes for AAA to get a tow truck out to me. I don't have that time kind of free time nowadays.

That and I don't like driving a car which doesn't have air conditioning.

Farrar

[sean]

That and I don't like driving a car which doesn't have air conditioning.

Farrar

Yeah,been there and still living it in my daily beater.

[stevedmc]

I don't like driving a car which doesn't have air conditioning.

Huh? You don't need air conditioning right now.

[Farrar]

84° outside and my car's parked in the sun. Yeah, I need air conditioning.

Farrar

[AdmiralSenn]

84° outside and my car's parked in the sun. Yeah, I need air conditioning.

Farrar

It's also lots of fun down here. I just finally got my daily driver's a/c fixed and it really needs to be vacuumed out properly and recharged. Black leather + Florida sun = agony except for about five days in January.

[Dangermouse]

After a week we had 93 owner responses, for 103 cars, with the majority of those being confident in their car, which I find very encouraging. 16 cars are off the road for major work.

For the record, in case it changes:

Long drives - 61 cars
Short drives - 18
Starts - 3
Minor issues - 5
Major issues - 11
Resto - 5

Let's see how that changes next year.

(anyone else notice that the percentages add up to 110% :) )

[sean]

(anyone else notice that the percentages add up to 110% :) )
When you gonna learn Dermot, that's what it takes to be a winner! Yeah!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F4W0R1Zr_8





;)

[Dangermouse]

that may explain why I can never help my kids with their math homework :what_the:

[SoCalDMC12]

A few weeks ago I did a 200 mile trip through the desert. Braved stop-n-go LA traffic, 100+ degree heat, and some sustained "high speed" stretches with no problems. Contemplating a Vegas run (about 700 miles round trip) soon, which would be a bigger test of my confidence in my car (haven't driven it that far yet).