Reality check... (long, but informative...)

["Dan RC30" <Danrc30@xxxx>]

I wanted to show everyone on the DML what the Lotus list had to say about 
the recent comments on how a DeLorean could be modified to keep up with, or 
outhandle an Esprit... I don't know about you, but I'm embarassed...

snip--->"Kevin,
Lotus actually did a large part of the design for DMC (DeLorean
Motor Company). I don't know the full extent of it, but I do know
they designed the entire suspension. I follow the DeLorean list
(planning on picking one up one day), and they almost seem to have a
little penis envy when it comes to Lotus IMHO. There have been
threads recently claiming that the Delorean handles better than its
Lotus cousin. I find that a little hard to believe. Regardless, it's
hard to take the comparison too seriously when the DeLorean motor is
only putting out about 130HP.
I also believe that the Delorean body was styled by the same design
house that styled the first Esprit (Giugario).

-Gary G."<---snip


snip--->"Message: 8
Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2001 15:36:05 -0800
From: "Brad Sterling" <bgsterling@xxxx>
Subject: [NLC]Deloren

<snip Kevin>
> From what he said, Lotus aided in developing the car. Does anyone know
if this is true?
<end snip>

I don't know about developing the car, but the Delorean had a dog of a Volvo
engine in it. I think it had a Renault gearbox though. I looked at a
couple of these since I'm struck by it's uniqueness on the road and in
design, but they're all show and no go.

-Brad"<---snip


THIS IS INTEESTING...
snip--->"C'mon guys, how can you give such short shrift to the car that 
nearly
destroyed Lotus?

Lotus held the development contract for the DeLorean and was responsible
for its overall engineering. When the project turned into a fiasco, it
was discovered that millions of pounds of subsidies from the UK government
were unaccounted for. The stress of the subsequent investigation is what
finally broke Chapman, and is widely believed to have caused his untimely
death in 1982. The silver lining is that the DMC development firmly
established Lotus's then-new consultancy arm, which has kept the company
alive ever since.

It is not an Americanized Esprit, although Lotus did design it around a
backbone chassis. For one thing, the DeLorean is rear-engined, not mid.
I believe it was originally meant to use the Renault Alpine drivetrain
(also a rear-engine setup, and the origin of the current Esprit's
transaxle) but in the end, the wimpy normally-aspirated version of the
PRV (Peugeot-Renault-Volvo) V6 was used.

The handling is supposed to be something of a pig thanks to the
considerable weight and the high nose, but if you have an itch to get
one, this outfit is supposed to be the best around:
http://www.pjgrady.com/

-dave"<---snip


snip--->"Message: 23
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 14:34:17 -0800 (PST)
From: Mark Rector <espritaville@xxxx>
Subject: Delorean handling

Further to my earlier (late) posting someone said the
delorean had great handling, especially in the
snow??!?!
I don't know what he drove but I've driven the
delorean a few times and it handles like a grocery
cart with an over sized load of groceies for Rosanne
Barr!!!! Its a pig with way too much weight (the
stainless) and way too little power (the pedestrian
Puegot-renault-volvo engine of which the knowledgeable
Mr Hsu writes). Delorean had grandiose dreams of a
ceramic twin turbo engine with hundreds of HP....too
bad the performance didn't match the promise of the
looks... its still one of my favorite looking cars..My
friends sometimes overshadowed the Esprit, especially
when ever he opened those glorious doors.
Mark Wasting away in Espritaville!"<---snip


THESE COMMENTS I AGREE WITH...

snip--->"Message: 4
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 18:28:40 -0800
From: Larry Kjellberg <larry@xxxx>
Subject: Re: Delorean handling

I bought a Delorean new in 81 while the factory was still running. I
still have it today but haven't driven it in quite a while. I grew up
in Duluth, Mn and learned to drive there so I'm pretty familiar with
driving in snow and ice. The Delorean handles better in these
conditions than any other car I've driven. I purchased it Omaha, Ne
where Ice storms are legendary.

I agree that it's underpowered, but then what car made in 1981 wasn't?
Back then 0-60 times below 10 seconds was considered fast. The Delorean
has very heavy steering in parking lots and at low speeds, but then my
90SE isn't any better in those situations. At 75 the Delorean has very
light steering and responds quite quickly to driver input. Like any
other car, it has it's own pluses and minuses. I've owned a number of
fairly exotic cars and they each are very unique. My 90SE is vastly
underpowered compared to the enhanced Pantera I had 15 years ago.
(about 450hp/450ft lbs -- Throttle steering sure can be fun!) But it
just requires a different approach when driving it. And it's a blast to
drive, just different.

I did get a chance to drive other Deloreans back in the early 80's when
I was in the Delorean owners club. There is a substantial difference
from car to car. I can't say why, but Deloean owners have no problem
telling each others cars apart. If the car you drove handled poorly it
may have been specific to the specific car.

Larry Kjellberg"<---snip

In a nutshell, we should not compare our cars to any other. I don't think 
that they fall into any catagory but it's own. If DeLorean owners keep 
trying to make the car seem like more than it really is, it will ultimately 
reduce the value of the car, and the owners will lose credibility. The car 
will also lose it's most valuable posession... it's uniqueness!!!

There was a comment made by Mark DiNunzio that was published by a local 
paper in Mesa Arizona on the 21st of this month. He said "Getting in my car 
is exciting every single time. The car gets so much attention. It's classy, 
sporty and elegant, but has a lot more personality that a Porsche." Now, I'm 
sure Mark had no bad intentions here, but it seems to portray that we are in 
a comparison war here... Like we need to prove something by comparing it to 
other cars like Porsche's. I agree with his comments, up until the Porsche 
comparison part. People, please... let's stop comparing our cars to others 
out there, and keep them unique. If they are unique, and there is nothing 
else like them on the road out there, then there is no competition, and our 
cars are the best at what they were designed to do. :-)

---Dan Vin#5493--- Unique!!!
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