Private Seller Car Vs. DMC Franchise Car

[LordFly]

I'm looking to get a D this spring and I was wondering if a few people could weigh in on private seller vs. franchise. I've seen a lot of private listings in the $22K - $24K range, where as the franchise cars seem to START at $30K. I inquired about #6989 and was quoted the following prices:

AS-IS $39,995
Safety Checked $49,995
DMC Certified $64,995

I'm not looking for something that is in absolutely MINT condition, but I want it to be in pretty good condition. But $65K is double my budget. I have no issues at all doing all work on the car myself, so the only cost would be parts. I would imagine in my case, on a $30K budget, I would be best off to get a private car and use the remaining $6K - $8K on needed parts. I could also spread the parts costs out over time, rather than all up front. Thoughts?

[cybercusp]

Did they give a breakdown as to what you're getting for the additional costs?

[thirdmanj]

For your money, if you're considering buying from a vendor, call Josh at DPI. www.deloreanindustries.com

[dmc4087]

What do they do in a ten thousand dollar safety check??

Go private.

[LordFly]

What do they do in a ten thousand dollar safety check??

Go private.

That was my thought exactly. Replacing complete rolling chassis? ;)

[Michael]

What do they do in a ten thousand dollar safety check??

Go private.

I wouldn't mind hearing the answer to that one myself.

[LordFly]

For your money, if you're considering buying from a vendor, call Josh at DPI. www.deloreanindustries.com

DPI isn't showing anything for sale. Except a complete car build for $67K.

[David T]

There are a lot of advantages buying from DMC*. They can help finance it, and you would expect to be buying it in decent condition. At least you figure you will know exactly what the condition is. There may even be some kind of warrranty. That is partly what the premium price is for. Buying from a private seller you can save money but expect the sale to all cash and it is entirely up to the buyer (you) to figure out just what the condition of the car is. Be aware you can pay $30K for a car and it is not a $30K car! If you are planning on buying a car and can do your own work you should be able to find a very nice one for $20K-25K. DMC* is not the only "game in town". If you are willing to pay shipping you can spread out your geographic area and have a much larger pool to pick from. Call PJ Grady and see what he can do. If you are not in a rush, keep looking till the right one comes along. Go to the local club events and see if anyone is selling their car.
David Teitelbaum

[LordFly]

Did they give a breakdown as to what you're getting for the additional costs?

No break down. They just briefly explained the 3 different categories. They were as you would expect. Although, in my opinion, not worth the prices listed.

[cybercusp]

See if you can get a specific breakdown as to specifically what service is provided at each price point. I bought from a vendor and the pricing was simply a sticker price, including safety inspections, etc, and we negotiated from there.

[LordFly]

There are a lot of advantages buying from DMC*. They can help finance it, and you would expect to be buying it in decent condition. At least you figure you will know exactly what the condition is. There may even be some kind of warrranty. That is partly what the premium price is for. Buying from a private seller you can save money but expect the sale to all cash and it is entirely up to the buyer (you) to figure out just what the condition of the car is. Be aware you can pay $30K for a car and it is not a $30K car! If you are planning on buying a car and can do your own work you should be able to find a very nice one for $20K-25K. DMC* is not the only "game in town". If you are willing to pay shipping you can spread out your geographic area and have a much larger pool to pick from. Call PJ Grady and see what he can do. If you are not in a rush, keep looking till the right one comes along. Go to the local club events and see if anyone is selling their car.
David Teitelbaum


Thanks David. I believe the DMC Certified one has a 12 month, 12,000 mile warranty, but for that price I could almost buy 3 private ones. By the looks of it PJ Grady only has one for sale, at $40K. I'm not looking to specific geographically. I'm in Ontario Canada, so DMC Florida is not exactly down the road, but I'll be in the area on vacation next week, so I might as well check it out. For the right price (and if the car is in good enough running condition), I would have no problems flying out and doing a cross country tour to get home :) What typical highway mileage on a D?

[Cory W]

I'm in Ontario Canada...

Where are you in the province?


What typical highway mileage on a D?

The original factory info claimed 19/29 city/highway with a manual. I know my car is roughly 27MPG on the highway.

[LordFly]

Where are you in the province?



The original factory info claimed 19/29 city/highway with a manual. I know my car is roughly 27MPG on the highway.

London.

High 27 isn't bad, that would be an affordable road trip ;)

[LordFly]

Wait, Cory, you're in North Bay? I saw your car at the Chippewa reunion! I remember the license plate! Small world :)

16292

[thirdmanj]

A 12 month 12,000 mile warranty is pretty lame for the price you're paying. I'm also afraid I'll have to disagree with David too. Even though you're buying from DMCH you still won't know what you're getting. You're buying a used car, a 30 year old used car and a very unique one. It's a Delorean, you never really know what you're getting.

[Dangermouse]

Does the Safety Checked option include any sort of a warrant , perhaps on safety items like brakes, ?

[sdg3205]

I went to UWO. Love London. Saw a DeLorean at the theatre up at Fanshawe once. They're around. Also, 2648 (red barn find) once existed in Glencoe, just outside London. Keep digging, you'll find something.

2510 will be for sale by the spring.

[LordFly]

Does the Safety Checked option include any sort of a warrant , perhaps on safety items like brakes, ?

The email I got specifically said "no warranty" for the Safety Checked option. The DMC Certified one is the only one with a warranty, and it's pretty short.

[Jonathan]

LordFly,

Have you contacted Mike B or Ken K from the ODOC (Ontario club)? I believe there are a couple for sale in the province at the moment and it tends to be easier to buy one already on this side of the border. Depends on condition and price of course.

Have you met up with any other owners in the area? There are quite a few around. Most stored for the winter, but plenty that are accessible still in the garage. If you want to look over one in person as you think up questions and what you're looking for, just let us know. My car is at my house in Port Elgin at the moment.

[Spittybug]

STOP.
BREATH.
REALIZE YOU MUST DO NOTHING QUICKLY.

If you are truly interested in buying one of these beasts, my PERSONAL SUGGESTION is to spend time learning. Either befriend an owner and put in some quality sweat equity time with them to learn the ins and outs of the car or troll these boards ad-infinitem to learn all there is to learn.

If you are:

Capable of reading the English language (DMCtalk.org, workshop manual, personal messages, etc.)
Capable of visually inspecting for suspect mechanical issues (rust, leakage, wear, neglect, corner cutting, etc...)
Equipped with wrenches, screwdrivers, voltmeters, various sundry tools.....
Willing to dig into your car
Not needing to drive in your Delorean on Monday morning to go to work
An enthusiast
Have balls


Then you should avoid the "resellers" of these cars. No offense whatsoever intended to the DMCH or affiliates, but to bring a car up to "standards", they bill out their time and materials at book values. For those willing to do all of the above, you will find them to be very expensive. I personally prefer to do my own work and support them through my parts purchases. Nobody can "guarantee" the work on a 30+ year old car.

Look to buy one in the high teens and be prepared to work on it based on what you learn it needs. The key is to be EDUCATED on what it will need. NOBODY can exonerate you from that responsibility. If you need to buy one with everything "done", then pay up buddy, and be ready to keep paying up since these things need constant attention at their age.

Hope that helps.
Owen.

[LordFly]

LordFly,

Have you contacted Mike B or Ken K from the ODOC (Ontario club)? I believe there are a couple for sale in the province at the moment and it tends to be easier to buy one already on this side of the border. Depends on condition and price of course.

Have you met up with any other owners in the area? There are quite a few around. Most stored for the winter, but plenty that are accessible still in the garage. If you want to look over one in person as you think up questions and what you're looking for, just let us know. My car is at my house in Port Elgin at the moment.

I have not. In fact, until I saw Cory W's "Unicycle DeLorean (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=k15XmFRMMGc)" video, I didn't know there were so many in the province, and had never heard of ODOC. I have seen one around the city a few times, so I'm pretty sure there is a London owner, just not sure who, or how to find them.

[LordFly]

Then you should avoid the "resellers" of these cars. No offense whatsoever intended to the DMCH or affiliates, but to bring a car up to "standards", they bill out their time and materials at book values. For those willing to do all of the above, you will find them to be very expensive. I personally prefer to do my own work and support them through my parts purchases. Nobody can "guarantee" the work on a 30+ year old car.

Look to buy one in the high teens and be prepared to work on it based on what you learn it needs. The key is to be EDUCATED on what it will need. NOBODY can exonerate you from that responsibility. If you need to buy one with everything "done", then pay up buddy, and be ready to keep paying up since these things need constant attention at their age.

Thanks, that's basically exactly what I wanted to hear :) I have a 400HP Talon that I paid $500 for with a blown engine. Built it completely myself. There is not a single stock engine related part. So any kind of mechanical automotive work is not a problem for me in the least. The only automotive thing I'm not skilled at is body work, but that doesn't really apply here anyways. But at the same time, I don't want a project car, I want something I can DRIVE :) And work on from time to time.

[pezzonovante88]

odoc.ca has a classifieds section with a few cars for sale. Also, there are currently two DeLoreans in London, two in Guelph, and two in Kitchener. There are actually a lot of D's in Ontario.
Buying within the Province/Country is far less of a hassle than importing from abroad. If you choose to buy one in the US, you'd be better off buying from a vendor and avoiding private sales as dealer's can take (more safely) deposits and help with importing/exporting and transport. I bought mine privately in NY and had to bring the seller $100 bills, not certified cheque/bank draft, but cash, as the banks there wouldn't accept an RBC cert. cheque (crazy but that's another story). I also couldn't be sure what I was getting into driving all the way out there, whereas with a know dealer/vendor, you can be a little more certain. I ended up getting a great car for a steal, so it worked out, but anyway....
With your budget, you should have no problem finding a beautiful example. Just do your research and wait for the "right" one.

Good luck!

[LordFly]

odoc.ca has a classifieds section with a few cars for sale. Also, there are currently two DeLoreans in London

I see that, however the site could use some work, descriptions and pictures are fairly.... amateur? Not to insult the site in any way, I hope to soon be a member, just pointing out fact.

In regards to the 2 in London, how would one go about contacting these people, without being an annoyance, or a pain in the ass? Sorry, I'm fairly new to the site, so if there are resources I'm not making use of for this type of thing, please let me know. Thanks.

[pezzonovante88]

I see that, however the site could use some work, descriptions and pictures are fairly.... amateur? Not to insult the site in any way, I hope to soon be a member, just pointing out fact.

In regards to the 2 in London, how would one go about contacting these people, without being an annoyance, or a pain in the ass? Sorry, I'm fairly new to the site, so if there are resources I'm not making use of for this type of thing, please let me know. Thanks.

Sorry, miscommunication. The cars I mentioned in London are not for sale (as far as I know). I was just pointing out how there are so many in that small area. But yeah, the website could use some updates, but it's really just a hobby for Ken K. and Mike B. as they have day jobs, too.
Your best bet for local cars would be to email Ken or Mike. Under the "Members" section, there is a link to "Join ODOC". This will get you in contact.

[LordFly]

Sorry, miscommunication. The cars I mentioned in London are not for sale (as far as I know). I was just pointing out how there are so many in that small area. But yeah, the website could use some updates, but it's really just a hobby for Ken K. and Mike B. as they have day jobs, too.
Your best bet for local cars would be to email Ken or Mike. Under the "Members" section, there is a link to "Join ODOC". This will get you in contact.

No, no miscommunication, I didn't think they were for sale. But it would be great to get in contact with a local owner, just to get an inside on things to look for, known issues, recommendations, and just to stare in awe :D

Email already sent ;)

[pezzonovante88]

No, no miscommunication, I didn't think they were for sale. But it would be great to get in contact with a local owner, just to get an inside on things to look for, known issues, recommendations, and just to stare in awe :D

Email already sent ;)

Nice! I'm sure most of these guys will be glad to show you their cars.

[David T]

Your plan on buying a car in the US and driving it home to Canada is not realistic. When you figure what you will have to pay in insurance, Titling and registration , licensing, and sales tax to drive it, it isn't worth it. And you need special insurance that you have to purchase in the US to drive into Canada with a US licensed car. For planning purposes 25 MPG on a good running Delorean will be fine. DMC* probably won't get too specific on what they do to a car because it probably varies depending on the condition they get it as to how much they actually do to any particular car. You have a unique requirement because you are buying it in one country and moving it to another. You have to deal with all kinds of regulations and tax issues. It may be better if you could find one in Canada even if you have to pay a little more. in the meantime you have some homework to do to find out just what is required to get a US car into Canada.
David Teitelbaum

[pezzonovante88]

Your plan on buying a car in the US and driving it home to Canada is not realistic. When you figure what you will have to pay in insurance, Titling and registration , licensing, and sales tax to drive it, it isn't worth it. And you need special insurance that you have to purchase in the US to drive into Canada with a US licensed car. For planning purposes 25 MPG on a good running Delorean will be fine. DMC* probably won't get too specific on what they do to a car because it probably varies depending on the condition they get it as to how much they actually do to any particular car. You have a unique requirement because you are buying it in one country and moving it to another. You have to deal with all kinds of regulations and tax issues. It may be better if you could find one in Canada even if you have to pay a little more. in the meantime you have some homework to do to find out just what is required to get a US car into Canada.
David Teitelbaum

A lot of guys here have done it, including me. But, it can be a pain in the ass.

[Jonathan]

I bought mine in the US and had it shipped to my front door. I am quite glad I did not try and drive it home from St Louis, but that had more to do with the condition of the car rather than costs.

Here is an approximate breakdown of costs I had and perhaps the nexy guy importing to Canada from the US would too:

Purchase price x exchange rate (currently pretty close to being even Steven, so maybe add 2% to the purchase price from USD to CAD). For argument sake, say $20,000 becomes $20,400 CAD.

Shipping costs. Mine was around $1,000 and it was an open carrier. I'd likely go for a closed carrier if there was another time around. Add that to the list of things I didn't know what I was doing. Call it $1,500 CAD (regardless of purchase price).

Shipping incidentals. I got a bill for about $300 for the shipping people draining the battery, wrecking my ignition tumblers, and storing the car for a couple extra days. Thanks a lot guys. This could be avoidable if you find a better condition car.

Taxes/duty. This is not as bad as you might think. Two reasons. You pay PST (which in Ontario is 8%) and the GST (the other 5%) on the purchase price in Canadian dollars but you do not have to pay duty on the car (6.1% I think it would have been) because of it being over 25 years old and the car was meant to be sold in North America (NAFTA). Expect a possible hassle here speaking to customs agents that don't always understand this as most cars I believe do pay that extra amount. So, 8% of your purchase is $1,632 and 5% is $1,020. The GST part you pay through the customs broker when it is at the border and the PST you pay when you go to get your plate sticker at the DMV. Customs broker will also charge you $100 air conditioning tax and a few other things, call it another $400 say total including the A/C tax.

DMC when you get your plate and sticker will be $75 for the sticker for 12 months and around $250 if you want a personalized plate. Oh yea, you need to get a safety done at the mechanics somewhere in there. That could be $100 if you are in and out in short order, or you can add a couple zeroes to it if he keeps it for nine months fixing your project/disaster car you didn't realize you bought (see post about why to buy from a franchise...)

So, let's see:

$20,400
$1,500
$300
$1,632
$1,020
$400
$75
$250
$100+
----------
$25,677 CAD

Which, above the price in USD of the purchase of the car, you get to pay $5,677 CAD in extras to get it in your driveway. 28% more in fact. Welcome to Canada. Consolation prize I guess though is if you really hit your head hard on one of the doors, your trip to the hospital to get stitches is free :)

May I suggest buying it from the DMC-Canada franchise they just opened ;) Oh wait, sorry, not quite there yet. I would look very closely at cars already in Canada first. Then look very closely at DMC* cars. Then elsewhere. I paid those numbers you see above except the mystery number added $10k for the unknown issues. Funny how the DMC* cars at the time were about $29k. Damn you hindsight :)

[LordFly]

DMC when you get your plate and sticker will be $75 for the sticker for 12 months and around $250 if you want a personalized plate. Oh yea, you need to get a safety done at the mechanics somewhere in there. That could be $100 if you are in and out in short order, or you can add a couple zeroes to it if he keeps it for nine months fixing your project/disaster car you didn't realize you bought (see post about why to buy from a franchise...)

So, let's see:

$20,400
$1,500
$300
$1,632
$1,020
$400
$75
$250
$100+
----------
$25,677 CAD


I have a good friend who brought a car in from the US and had very few issues. I haven't discussed it with him yet, but plan to shortly.

A number of the fees listed are going to be in there regardless of the car, not just because it's being imports. Plates, sticker, safety, etc, would all have to get done whether it was import from the US, or if I bought my neighbors Civic. And I've seen far too many episodes of Shipping Wars to let anyone haul anything for me. I would either drive it back myself, or trailer it myself with my buddys car trailer. But I do appreciate the heads up. There are always going to be a bunch of fees in there when doing something like this. Buying a car already in Canada would definitely be easier, but I don't want to buy my second choice car to save $1000 either. I intend to have this thing until I die :)

[Jonathan]

I have a good friend who brought a car in from the US and had very few issues. I haven't discussed it with him yet, but plan to shortly.

A number of the fees listed are going to be in there regardless of the car, not just because it's being imports. Plates ($250), sticker ($75), safety ($100), etc, would all have to get done whether it was import from the US, or if I bought my neighbors Civic. And I've seen far too many episodes of Shipping Wars to let anyone haul anything for me. I would either drive it back myself, or trailer it myself with my buddys car trailer. But I do appreciate the heads up. There are always going to be a bunch of fees in there when doing something like this. Buying a car already in Canada would definitely be easier, but I don't want to buy my second choice car to save $1000 ($5,252) either. I intend to have this thing until I die :)

Ok, no problem. Good luck!

[DMC3165]

Buy private. Do your homework first and you'll save tens of thousands of dollars. However if you decide to buy from a franchise I'd call Josh at DPI I believe he has several available. PJ Grady might not have any available at the moment but he can put you in touch with an owner looking to sell. Which might be good for you and anyone he refers you to will most likely be a car he's familiar with. Good luck!

[WelmoedJ]

Being a buyer from the other side of the big pond, I don't want to keep you from reading my experiences buying in a foreign country.

I first saw my D advertised on the internet (this forum) for sale in Texas.
After some consideration I got bold, contacted the owner and finally flew over to see the car.
Took a three weeks for this, so in the unhappy event I at least had a good holiday.

Saw and nspected the car, bought it and drove it to DMCH for minor patch work.
Patch work involved repairing the speedo, new tires and hoses in the cooling system (a must IMO) and new seat covers.
As the car has some hickups in the 2200-2700 RPM range DMC decided to open the air system (intake).
After three days and almost 5k Dollars I moved on (with the hickups) and drove the car all the way to Gettysburg DCS (2008).
From there to Baltimore for shipping to Europe.
In those 3k+ miles in the USA the car didn't fail me once.
Yes, I had some minor issues (the hickup and a footbath in the passenger area due to a clogged A/C drain), but that has been all.
BTW: the hickup issue has been solved once the car was in my country.

Prices are a bit dated as the Dollar/euro had a perfect rate for me.
Car: USD 12,5k (converted: 8,45k euro), transport and taxes 1,9K (euro), repairs and replacing interrior parts too another 10k (euro).
But that was 2008. Prices of the cars have gone up gradually, not only because of owners, but mainly because the commerce drove it up.

Advise: get James' book (Buyer's Guide), learn as much as you can (ins and outs) and only when you feel you're prepared, start.
Conclusion: if you know what you're looking for and you're able to inspect the car, knowing what bad to look for and you're bold enough: go for it!
If you want my story on the 3 weeks, PM me and I'll e-mail you a copy (PDF in English).

[Morpheus]

This thread piqued my interest, since there is something about this guy's story that seems a bit off.

In the original post, he throws out a bunch of numbers about a particular VIN, only he doesn't provide any additional info about the car he was inquiring about. You know, the usual info such as mileage, interior color, stock or modified, transmission, etc. etc. Nor did he list out what was involved with the 3 levels of pricing and what you get at each level. People asked for the breakdown, but he says:


No break down. They just briefly explained the 3 different categories. They were as you would expect. Although, in my opinion, not worth the prices listed.

After reading that, I began to wonder a few things. First off, how much experience in the DeLorean world have you had, LordFly? Are you intimately familiar with the cost of parts and the cost per hour of shop time, not to mention all other overhead costs? What makes the price points not worth it in your opinion?


He mentioned DMCFL in his post, and since I know Tony well, I decided to call him and find out what the deal was about this car. I had the complete breakdown within a 5 minute conversation.

As it turns out, VIN# 6989 is a 900 mile, grey interior, 5speed car on its original NCTs. It was stored properly and looks beautiful, but still requires some work to bring it out of hibernation mechanically-speaking. For those of us in the know, this is essentially a near-Concours level car, or could be made into one easily. Personally, I would expect this car's price to START somewhere around $50K given that information alone. Then again, I've been around DeLoreans for quite a few years and I know what a Concours car is.

According to Tony, the breakdown in price for this car is as follows:

AS-IS: You get the car essentially as they got it. Nothing has been done to it, and it may or may not be running. $39,995
Safety Checked: The car is inspected, it is made to be a running and driving car, all systems functional @ time of delivery, no warranty. $49,995
DMC Certified: Car has had extensive work performed: some working parts replaced with new for warranty purposes, every update performed, etc. Warrantied for 12 mos or 12K miles. Warrantied items include engine, trans, cooling system, brakes, fuel system & electrical system. $64,995


I'm not looking for something that is in absolutely MINT condition, but I want it to be in pretty good condition.

As LordFly pointed out in his first post, he isn't looking for a MINT car. Why, then, is he inquiring about (and then bitching about) the price of a CONCOURS DeLorean? There are plenty of drivable, good condition cars available from DMC, Grady, DPI and private sellers that are considerably less expensive than this particular car!

LordFly, if your budget is $30k to spend on a DMC, then you will most certainly be able to purchase a very nice, drivable car. I'm not saying you should buy the car from DMCFL or PJ Grady or DPI, I'm just saying you should do your homework before you buy anything. Read as much as you can about this car and it's idiosyncrasies, because once you are an owner, this car will do it's best to make you hate it. Trust me.

BUT, don't come on the forum bitching about the prices of a DMC franchise's cars and then leave out the fact that the car you are inquiring about is a 900 mile Concours car. That's not what I would consider a fair gripe. The DMC community is a very small one, built on relationships. You will find that our 'automotive brotherhood' has no shortage of people willing to help you with whatever you need, whenever you need it. However, without the support of ALL the vendors, we would have no hobby. Even if you didn't mean to badmouth someone on a public forum, relationships frequently get strained over much less than this.

Food for thought, friend. Welcome to the Forum!

[WelmoedJ]

This thread piqued my interest, since there is something about this guy's story that seems a bit off.

Brandon,

I left out all but your first line.
You hit the nail on the head.

Not sure what LordFly's intentions are.
He opened a new thread about "most expensive replacement part....".

He may or may not yet have decided to go for a D, but he's apparently trying to figure out the TCO?

Anyway sometimes a cheap car can be reasonably well and stay that way for a long time.
Sometimes an expensive car can be a bummer, moneywise.
We all have seen and read here examples of both over time.

[Morpheus]

I feel like I should point out that the prices I listed above were for THAT particular car. Different cars obviously have different prices attached to them.

I think you're right, Welomed. He seems to be in the "info gathering" stage. ;)

[thirdmanj]

What's TCO?

[WelmoedJ]

I feel like I should point out that the prices I listed above were for THAT particular car. Different cars obviously have different prices attached to them.

I think you're right, Welomed. He seems to be in the "info gathering" stage. ;)

We either have been there or we are preparing to go there :)

[WelmoedJ]

What's TCO?

From the computer world: Total Cost of Ownership (actually not accurately for while being an owner you can get costs not calculated or prepared for).

In the D world a SCO (Starting Cost of Ownership) would probably be more applicable.

BTW: I noticed someone mentioned LNA - in the other thread mentioned by me previously - as opposite to NOS.
Any of you able to elaborate on that?

[Morpheus]

BTW: I noticed someone mentioned LNA - in the other thread mentioned by me previously - as opposite to NOS.
Any of you able to elaborate on that?

I believe that's a typo... it should be NLA as in No Longer Available.

[David T]

I believe the OP's biggest problem is the fact that he is going to import the car. That, all by itself, is a daunting and expensive proposition. Buying it in the US and then DRIVING it is only making the whole situation even more complex and challenging. Once he gets it to Canada he will have to register and insure it all over again, adding to the cost. If he should break down on the way, is he going to have it towed to Canada or stay in the US till he can get it fixed? When buying an old, used car, driving it on a long trip is really gamboling big. The safest way is to get in touch with an importer who specializes in moving cars from the US to Canada and have them insure and ship it. Unless you know what you are doing and have the time to do this it makes no sense. That leaves the problem of finding and buying a "good" car. At his price level he should have no problem finding a good (not mint) one from a private seller. The importer can arrange the deal and handle the transaction too for a price. For instance you agree to buy a particular car. You arrange to have it inspected at a Delorean shop. Once it is inspected and the deal consummated, the shop stores the car till the importer picks it up. If you think shipping is expensive wait till you see what it will cost when you break down halfway home in the middle of nowhere! And how long you are going to be stuck there till they can get to you!
David Teitelbaum

[Cory W]

I believe the OP's biggest problem is the fact that he is going to import the car. That, all by itself, is a daunting and expensive proposition.

My experience was FAR from your doom and gloom statement. Others here could say the same. Either you had a horrible experience once, or have never done it.


Buying it in the US and then DRIVING it is only making the whole situation even more complex and challenging.
Explain how? I could visit the US in any of my vehicles and break down. The differences are academic at best.


Once he gets it to Canada he will have to register and insure it all over again, adding to the cost.

In a US purchase, you would arrange insurance to drive it with your current insurer BEFORE you go get it. You give them a timeline, and then they work with you once you get it home. It's no more different than trading in an old vehicle for a new one in complexity.

As for licensing, in my case an x-day temp permit was on it when I got there, so it's a lot like an out of state transaction. The actual licensing comes into play ONLY when it's back home.


If he should break down on the way, is he going to have it towed to Canada or stay in the US till he can get it fixed?

You could say that for any vehicle, even one you already own (see above). In my situation, I had a cell phone that didn't work for half the trip and the emergency Part Crossover list with vendor phone numbers up front. I bought one car battery and windshield wipers on the entire trip. YMMV, but if he's worth his (metric) toolkit, it's a small hurdle.


When buying an old, used car, driving it on a long trip is really gamboling big.

Better odds than Vegas if you go in with a clue, are handy, and inspect before plunking the money down.


The safest way is to get in touch with an importer who specializes in moving cars from the US to Canada and have them insure and ship it.

This quote paid for by anybody with a truck and trailer who can fill out Vehicle Import form 1.


Unless you know what you are doing and have the time to do this it makes no sense.

There are a good number of us, in Canada or Ontario alone, who have done it and are likely laughing at this as hard as I am. Your statement had no leg to stand on and is an insult to the intelligence of people who happen to live in another country.


That leaves the problem of finding and buying a "good" car. At his price level he should have no problem finding a good (not mint) one from a private seller.

Agreed. But one still has to run the numbers and compare a US vehicle (and cost to bring over) vs. the prices being asked in Canada.


The importer can arrange the deal and handle the transaction too for a price.

You own a truck and trailer, don't you? For some, it's an excuse to get away, it's vacation time, it's taking a road trip in the vehicle you have always wanted...warts and all.

This rebuttal written by somebody who has done it, without outside companies demanding a piece, and would do it again in a heartbeat.

[pezzonovante88]

My experience was FAR from your doom and gloom statement. Others here could say the same. Either you had a horrible experience once, or have never done it.
...

This rebuttal written by somebody who has done it, without outside companies demanding a piece, and would do it again in a heartbeat.

Yep. I did it and was pretty easy. Since the car is over 15 y/o it's even easier/cheaper. I did use a broker once I got to the border as they had the paperwork all filled out, but it was like a hundred bucks and saved me a lot of time (and gave me piece of mind). Anyway, as long as you inspect the car and ensure that it is running properly, driving to the border and importing it is not a big deal. Licensing and insurance are not a problem. Just have the Bill of Sale and ownership/registration signed over and proof of insurance before visiting the DMV. It was really quite easy, but buying within the country would be a lot easier. Would I do it again? For a car like the one I got, yes I absolutely would.

[Jimmyvonviggle]

I as well imported my car from the US. There is more selection, with pricing in all categories. Of course the only thing is that the ownership papers have to arrive at export control at least 48 hrs before the car crosses over ( this might vary from one port of entry to the next). I met the transport guy at export control and handled all the paperwork.

The one mistake I made is that when I bought my car I didn't know of any of the vendors except Grady. I called him and asked if I could ship my car to him to go through before bringing it home. He blew me off and said he didn't have time.

And you can send western union money order, no need to transport cash, I think there is a problem if you bring more than 10k across the border.

[pezzonovante88]

I as well imported my car from the US. There is more selection, with pricing in all categories. Of course the only thing is that the ownership papers have to arrive at export control at least 48 hrs before the car crosses over ( this might vary from one port of entry to the next). I met the transport guy at export control and handled all the paperwork.

The one mistake I made is that when I bought my car I didn't know of any of the vendors except Grady. I called him and asked if I could ship my car to him to go through before bringing it home. He blew me off and said he didn't have time.

And you can send western union money order, no need to transport cash, I think there is a problem if you bring more than 10k across the border.

I actually looked into Western Union. The guy from Western Union actually recommended not to do it because the kind of money I would need would take weeks for them to get (I needed it within 48hrs). It's also not secure enough to risk it with that kind of money. At the border, all I did was tell the guy in the booth that I had over $10k US and then check in with the officer in the customs office. They were super nice, efficient, and excited that I was buying a DeLorean. Took about an extra 20mins. :)

[David T]

Even after a through inspection, it is still a 30 year old car. Maybe it was sitting for years and was just recently "waken" up. IMHO you are taking a huge chance taking it for it's first drive on a long trip. Much better to arrange shipping than to break down in "West Nowhere" and start calling for a tow. When you do you will find out it is now going to cost you even more than if you had it shipped from the start and you may have to stay in a hotel for a few days till they can get you. A better plan is to rent a car and a trailer and trailer it home if you have to have a road trip. Now you don't have to worry about break-downs or insurance. I never imported a car into Canada so I do not know how or how big a deal it is. If I was to do it myself I would do enough research so it would go smoothly. Hiring an agent only makes it easier at a small cost. You have to consider the taxes, exchange rate, and shipping costs vs buying one already in Canada. I agree buying one in the US will give you more choices since there are more Deloreans in the US than in Canada.
David Teitelbaum

[LordFly]

Wow, missed a lot while I was gone today. As someone mentioned, I am definitely in the "info gathering stage". And to be honest, I didn't notice the VIN I had inquired about at DMC FL was a 900 mile car. I was only paying attention to tranny, hood, door pulls, etc., which matched what I was looking for. While only having 900 miles on the odometer is kinda cool in its own way, to me personally from a buying point, it's no better than 90,000. I can see why so much $$$ would need to be put into it to get it back to perfect condition. And my primary reason for looking at DMC FL is that I will be less than 20 minutes from there next week while on vacation.

I may be asking some seemingly odd questions, but I'm just trying to get a feel for certain things. One thing I'm starting to notice is that despite the car, it is owned by all types of people, not just gear heads, which is great! Some may be doing their own engine work, some may take it in to replace a headlight. I'm in a fairly unique position where my circle of friends is ALL car guys. I have access to everything from car hoists to paint booths (the latter of which is not useful here), and more air and specialty tools that most people would know what to do with. If I ended up in a situation where the frame needed to be replaced and the engine completely rebuilt, I would be doing it.

I know I'm new to the forum, and to DeLorean, and my post count is low, but its a place every single one of you has been at some point. But one thing I'm not new at is cars in general. And I have access to a few things other may not. My employer ships a TON of equipment back and forth to the US, so we have our own customs broker in Michigan who would have no issues getting the appropriate paperwork filled out. If driving the car across the border isn't a likely option, I can rent a truck and car trailer for a case of beer plus gas. A very good friend of mine imported a car just a couple of years ago. As long as you've filled out the proper forms, notified the proper people, and haven't loaded the car full of fireworks and drugs, it's a fairly simple process. I'm not in any way against buying a car already in Canada, there just isn't as much selection.

I do appreciate all the help, and the criticism (when needed), but let's try to keep it positive if we can. After all, we're all DeLorean fans here :D

[Dangermouse]

I'm not sure if you have covered it before, but if you have never driven one, I would thoroughly recommend hitting DMCFL up when you are on vacation and getting some seat time in both a stick and a slushbox, as well as seeing what the various $ levels get you IRL, so to speak.

[Chris Burns]

The private sellers usually have the better Deloreans in my opinion. DMC does sell some nice rides though!

Look at it this way:

The Delorean is a 30yr old car (A lot of them have sat for yrs and yrs). Either way your going to be putting money into it, so factor in your budget with the amount needed to get your Delorean roadworthy.

Also buy a copy of the "Delorean Buyer Guide" made last year from Amazon or DMC Houston. I highly recommend it!:headbang:

[Mike C.]

The private sellers usually have the better Deloreans in my opinion. DMC does sell some nice rides though!

Look at it this way:

The Delorean is a 30yr old car (A lot of them have sat for yrs and yrs). Either way your going to be putting money into it, so factor in your budget with the amount needed to get your Delorean roadworthy.

Also buy a copy of the "Delorean Buyer Guide" made last year from Amazon or DMC Houston. I highly recommend it!:headbang:

Not necessarily.

The last few times I was at Tony's shop, he had some amazing low mile cars that would fit the car buyer who was looking for extremely low mile, cleaned up, ready to enjoy vehicles. Normally when u find a car with a couple of thousand miles on it, the car has been sitting around, under a tarp, or under boxes, full of mice nesting in the winter, etc...

Honestly, if I were looking for a low mile early VIN, i'd have bought from Tony. It does suck that some people have had unsatisfactory experiences, but as I will do with anyone who has given me great service, I've never had any issues using DMCFL.

[Evildeli]

Even after I ended up buying my D from a private seller Tony still looked over the pictures I sent to help determine it was a solid car. When my D broke down in a major way, his shop did a lot of work to get her back on the road and to keep her solid.

[Jonathan]

...some amazing low mile cars that would fit the car buyer who was looking for extremely low mile, cleaned up, ready to enjoy vehicles. Normally when u find a car with a couple of thousand miles on it, the car has been sitting around, under a tarp, or under boxes, full of mice nesting in the winter, etc...

If John Q Carbuyer is looking for a low low mile car, my advice would be to pay less attention to the odometer and more on the condition you can see with your own eyes (or the eyes of someone helping you).

Two reasons for this:

1) Our odometers/angle drives work intermittently at best from my experience so you can't always trust what number of miles are on the clock.

2) If I were out looking for my first car now the way I did in 2007, I would much rather find one that the guy drove every weekend for 100 miles or something and had a few extra 1,000s racked up than the one that boasts a low odometer. If you know for sure that the guy selling it drives it frequently, then you stand a better chance of having found a car with a lot more of the usual failure areas already being taken care of.

Again though, inspect it yourself or through someone you know and trust to be giving you an honest and educated opinion, and know what you are buying.

And it is key to find someone who can give you both the honest part and the educated part. Having an old buddy in the city where the car for sale is great cause he'll be honest with you, but might not know what he is looking at (this was my experience unfortunately). The other combination wouldn't be any better if you found a guy who knew what he saw, but didn't tell you.

Buy the book as a few others have said. I haven't seen it myself yet, but plan on buying a copy.

[Mike C.]

If John Q Carbuyer is looking for a low low mile car, my advice would be to pay less attention to the odometer and more on the condition you can see with your own eyes (or the eyes of someone helping you).

Two reasons for this:

1) Our odometers/angle drives work intermittently at best from my experience so you can't always trust what number of miles are on the clock.

2) If I were out looking for my first car now the way I did in 2007, I would much rather find one that the guy drove every weekend for 100 miles or something and had a few extra 1,000s racked up than the one that boasts a low odometer. If you know for sure that the guy selling it drives it frequently, then you stand a better chance of having found a car with a lot more of the usual failure areas already being taken care of.

Again though, inspect it yourself or through someone you know and trust to be giving you an honest and educated opinion, and know what you are buying.

And it is key to find someone who can give you both the honest part and the educated part. Having an old buddy in the city where the car for sale is great cause he'll be honest with you, but might not know what he is looking at (this was my experience unfortunately). The other combination wouldn't be any better if you found a guy who knew what he saw, but didn't tell you.

Buy the book as a few others have said. I haven't seen it myself yet, but plan on buying a copy.

This is all true, but what I was saying was I'd trust buying a low mile cleaned up car from say DMCFL that can tell the wear on the car is adequate to the mileage reported, versus a a car with 40k miles and a new angle drive. There's definitely a HUGE difference in what both of those cars will look like. The ones that were on his show room were immaculate low mile cars that you could tell were mileage accurate cars.

[timothymoore]

For your money, if you're considering buying from a vendor, call Josh at DPI. www.deloreanindustries.com

according to his site, his restored cars are going for 67k, double the guys budget, but i would josh has some quality parts though.

[thirdmanj]

according to his site, his restored cars are going for 67k, double the guys budget, but i would josh has some quality parts though.

You'll save money in the long run if you do business with Josh.

[Byrne H&A]

Hello Lordfly,
We have Deloreans in inventory for process of restoration and waiting in line for restoration. All of our DeLoreans were selected as excellent candidates for restoration. Let us know your preference. Thanks, Byrne

[LordFly]

Hello Lordfly,
We have Deloreans in inventory for process of restoration and waiting in line for restoration. All of our DeLoreans were selected as excellent candidates for restoration. Let us know your preference. Thanks, Byrne

Thanks Bryne, do you have a website?

[LordFly]

Talked to Tony at DMC Florida today. WOW, he knows his stuff! His cars are still all out of my price range though :(

[refugeefromcalif]

Talked to Tony at DMC Florida today. WOW, he knows his stuff! His cars are still all out of my price range though :(

But, If you can buy one from Tony, it'll be the Cats Meow...

George

[pezzonovante88]

Yeah, Tony seems to get the cream of the crop. Super low mile Concours cars. I use the pictures in his eBay listings to reference how original parts should look.

[LordFly]

Yeah, he had a 35 mile car there. Absolutely PERFECT. But the only thing he's got in my price range is a $10,000 "project car". But I will definitely rely on him for parts.

[Jonathan]

I use the pictures in his eBay listings to reference how original parts should look.

Right on. I took a few pictures of a frame they had there a couple years ago. Like you said, really nice to see what parts look like when they are new and shiny. Not having a body tub in the way of your photo doesn't hurt either.

1649316495164961649716499

I found the pictures of the trailing arm bolts the most valuable to see what they should look like installed without the rest of the car being in the way.