Buy used or buy used from DMC

[Dangermouse]

I think it's also worth mentioning that while we have heard from a couple of disgruntled "refurbished" owners on here, DMCH have been selling them for several years now so I would assume that there are a few satisfied customers out there.

Forums like ours would tend to attract those that are in need of assistance, perhaps. If your $60k car is running like a top (or parked in your collection), you may have no need or desire to be part of this community.

[DMC3165]

I really think DMCH is unrealistically trying to drive up pricesy asking $60K. You will never get that kind of money back if you try to sell one of those cars privately. It makes no financial sense under any condition to pay that kind of money for a Delorean

[Michael]

I think it's also worth mentioning that while we have heard from a couple of disgruntled "refurbished" owners on here, DMCH have been selling them for several years now so I would assume that there are a few satisfied customers out there.

Forums like ours would tend to attract those that are in need of assistance, perhaps. If your $60k car is running like a top (or parked in your collection), you may have no need or desire to be part of this community.

Well I guess being a refurb. owner for 3.5 years I should say a few things about mine and my experiences. First I didn't spend that kind of coin on it...I bought it used from the original buyer who DMCH sold it to. Actually I didn't buy it as much as I stole it!! The day I picked it up the Dow Jones was around 7,500 and panic was in the air. This was when the cars were selling for 42k stock, but with the stage II, stereo, suspension, and other options, the total sales price that he paid was right at 50k(I have the invoice). My car was remanufactured in May 2006, I bought it in Feb. 2009 with 1,700 miles on it. It was basically just like it rolled out of DMCH's shop. I drove it almost 1000 miles home with no problems. There were a few things wrong with her, the otterstat needed replacing, as well as the rear shocks. Over the years I replaced the steering rack, alternator and fuel pump, needed a few minor repairs but nothing really major. In the past 3.5 years I have spent just north of 3k on repairs AND service. I did a 30k when I first got it, oil changes, tires, and I am a classic "overmaintainer". If I had to estimate what I have spent on repaiars alone, it wold probably be around $1,200-$1,500. Most of those repairs took place in the first 2 years of ownership. I don't think I have done anything other that normal service in the past 1.5 years. It really has been a good car and I have no complaints with her.

Build quality: There were a few things I would not have been crazy about had I bought it new from DMCH. First the tailight boards needed to go. They were flaky from the start and I almost immediately replaced them with PJ Grady boards.

I wasn't thrilled about the liberal use black silicone sealant EVERYWHERE! Gooped around the windows, on every rivet in the door, on the step plates. It took me forever getting it all off and re-applied around the windows in a more professional fasion. I am aware this could have been the previous owner's doing as well and since I didn't buy the car from DMCH I reserved judgement on this.

Things that did bother me was the steering rack going bad after 12k miles. Yes it had been 5 years, but only 12k miles had elapsed and the rack was bad. I do know that maybe original DMC parts were not the best so I did take that into consideration, and to DMCH's credit, they work very hard at remanufacturing parts that have long gone or were not great to begin with. The new DMCH rack was all rebuilt(except the case) and has a very good warranty on it. One of the the rear shocks (The DMC performance shocks that is) locked up from the start was another thing that puzzled me...but I attributed that to the car sitting for 3 years and never being driven. There has been nothing "fall off" due to carelessness on DMCH's part...although I did have a torque converter bolt back out, nothing serious, just retightened it.

Now for the big thing, was it worth 50k? It depends on what you are looking for. If you want as close to new(and updated) DMC that money can buy, then yes. After all every single thing has been replaced(keep in mine mostly with 30 year old NOS parts, but still as new as can be had), every rubber hose, every bolt, every single hose clamp, hose, seal, etc. It's all 0 mile engine and trans and its practically a showroom fresh car..and it does have a warranty(6 month 6k miles I believe) Also know that mileage will be whatever the original mileage is, so even though it's all 0 mile, the odometer does not care.

Any thing else you buy is 30 years old, and even the lowest mileage 30 year old cars show age, especially underneath unless you have an owner as crazy as I am who periodically details his suspension and chassis and waxes his frame. Just remember that if you do buy a "new build" it's new to you, it's just another used DeLorean to the guy you sell it to, so don't expect DMCH new build prices if/when you decide to sell. As for me I love my car and it would take 50k(or very close to that) to buy it from me....right now. The reason I value my car at that number is I have watched the prices for refurbs go up, from 42k base, to 46k base, all the way to now at 57k base. With my engine package and options it would cost north of 70k to have DMCH to build a car just like mine...the only difference is now you have an option to have a stainless frame or a stock (freshly powdercoated rather than epoxy) frame. Now when I WANT to sell, that number may become more flexible, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

[LEVY]

I think it's also worth mentioning that while we have heard from a couple of disgruntled "refurbished" owners on here, DMCH have been selling them for several years now so I would assume that there are a few satisfied customers out there.

Forums like ours would tend to attract those that are in need of assistance, perhaps. If your $60k car is running like a top (or parked in your collection), you may have no need or desire to be part of this community.

Do you have any idea of how many refurbished vehicles DMCH sold already?

Would be great to have those added to the VIN registry (LITTLE NOTE ON THE SIDE).

Now, if you pay $50,000.00 to $60,000.00 would you want people to know that you are not 100% satisfied? I would say some would never admit that they were overcharged (if in fact they were).

LEVY

[stevedmc]

Now, if you pay $50,000.00 to $60,000.00 would you want people to know that you are not 100% satisfied? I would say some would never admit that they were overcharged (if in fact they were).

People forget, but there is a large segment of the Delorean community that doesn't use the forums or even own a computer.

A little over two years ago I met an man in his 80s who had just finished spending $7,800 for some experts in Texas to fix his AC and start issue. I ran into him a year later and asked him about his car. He proudly told me that he got rid of that basket case. From what I observed, he continued to have problems with his car and couldn't afford to keep sending it to Texas.

His story didn't go public simply because he didn't know how to use a computer. He was just happy to no longer own a money pit.

[LEVY]

People forget, but there is a large segment of the Delorean community that doesn't use the forums or even own a computer.

A little over two years ago I met an man in his 80s who had just finished spending $7,800 for some experts in Texas to fix his AC and start issue. I ran into him a year later and asked him about his car. He proudly told me that he got rid of that basket case. From what I observed, he continued to have problems with his car and couldn't afford to keep sending it to Texas.

His story didn't go public simply because he didn't know how to use a computer. He was just happy to no longer own a money pit.

Something that you would fix for under $1000.00 I know.

LEVY

[stevedmc]

People forget, but there is a large segment of the Delorean community that doesn't use the forums or even own a computer.

Something that you would fix for under $1000.00 I know.

You are correct. I could have bought him a computer at Walmart for well under $1,000.

[Dangermouse]

Or he could have phoned you up and dictated his problems to you. You could have then created another account here for him..... No wait.

[stevedmc]

Or he could have phoned you up and dictated his problems to you. You could have then created another account here for him..... No wait.

That wouldn't have solved the problem. It would have only made him dependent of me.

The real problem was that he was an older gentleman who didn't own or know how to use a computer. For $300 he could pickup a laptop at Walmart. For $455.40 he could have a year worth of high speed internet at $37.95 a month. He could have then spent the remaining $244.60 on training.

[Dangermouse]

Or he could have gone to the library and used theirs for free. And used the $1000 for parts