[DML] Re: Rule of 20

["tuxr" <tuxdarby@xxxxxxx>]

I was including enough cosmetic things to make it presentable, so 
when people come up and see it when you're getting gas, it looks 
pretty good.  Not necessarily showroom new, but decent enough that 
there aren't glaring faults that hit an admirer right in the face 
when they look at it briefly.  Maybe if they hung around for a 
little while or drove in it they'd notice the flaws, but not right 
off the bat with a first impression.  I wouldn't want a Delorean, or 
any car, that was mechanically reliable but had a tear in the 
shoulder of the seats, a cracked dashboard, withered shift boot, and 
a headliner that really was a "shoulderliner".  Just my personal 
preference, I drive it everyday, so that's how I was defining the 
end result and the cost associated with it.  If you don't have a 
passenger front fender or right rear quarter panel as you mentioned 
below, I wouldn't say that's a finished car for "rule" purposes.  
Not knocking that at all, to me that would be a restoration in 
progress, nothing wrong with that.  But just wanted to compare 
apples to apples.

Just out of curiosity, on your car, did you check out the condition 
of some of the critical safety parts, such as ball joints, trailing 
arm bolts, etc.  You may consider it driveable and reliable, but it 
may be an extremely serious safety hazard.  Again, I was including 
replacement of critical safety items whether it looked like it 
needed it or not (and I've learned from experience how a ball joint 
may look OK, but breaks - fortunately at 2 mph, wouldn't want to 
think what would have happened on the interstate).

--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "valleyrat12" <valleyrat12@xxxx> 
wrote:
>
> As ar recent purchaser of a Delorean I can say this:
> 
> Purchased the car for $13,000
> Tax:$1,072
> Smog: $100 (failed twice) 
> Parts so far:$400
> Parts to make it completely reliable: $300(accumulator/coolant 
hoses)
> Total: $14,872
> 
> I have done all the work myself so far and plan on it in the 
future. 
> My car is currently perfectly drivable, I just don't like the look 
> of those hoses and the hotstart/coldstart problem is more of an 
> annoyance than anything. So, for me it is the rule of $15,000 give 
> or take. Unless something goes drastically wrong with the car god 
> forbid....
> 
> If I were to "restore" the car it would need a lot of cosmetic 
> parts; new louvres, various interior parts, right rear quarter 
panel 
> and a passenger front fender but these things do not affect the 
> reliability of the car.  So, what is this "rule of twenty"? Are 
> there really people that have had to put 8-10 thousand dollars 
into 
> their cars before they could even drive them?? Or are we talking 
> about cosmetic issues?
> 
> Confused...
> 
> Nathan
> 2277
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "tuxr" <tuxdarby@xxxx> wrote:
> >
> > Seems a hot topic these days, the real cost of the car.  Some 
> still 
> > use the Rule of 20:  add what you pay, plus repairs and 
> refurbishment, 
> > it will come to $20,000.  So if you pay $12,000, it will cost 
> $8,000 
> > on top of that.  If you pay $15,000, it will cost $5,000 on top 
of 
> > that.  Based on everyone I know, have talked to, my personal 
> > experience with two cars, and reading this and other online 
> > discussions, I'd like to throw on the table that the rule of 20 
no 
> > longer applies.  Actually, any "rule" should really be two 
rules, 
> one 
> > for those who have the skills and capability to do the work 
> > themselves, and one for those without those skills and have to 
get 
> it 
> > worked on at a shop.  Two entirely different cost structures.  
> There 
> > can't be only "one" rule.  My view is it should be the "Rule of 
> > 22/27".  While your heart may want to stick to the Rule of 20, 
> hard 
> > economics must be recognized.  And it seems the downside 
> (unexpected 
> > higher costs) really outweigh the upside (coming in under 
budget).
> >
>









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