vendors and other scammers

["checksix3" <checksix3@xxxx>]

>>>Your comments are well thought out, worded and well accepted by 
the DeLorean community who don't want to "mickey mouse" their car.<<<

Excuse me? As a former machine design and materials engineer for 20 
years, EE and machinist now turned professional pilot operating the 
B737-500 and Lear 35, an aircraft mechanic and owner of two high 
performance aircraft (one a former military light attack jet), I can 
assure you the words "mickey mouse" are not in my vocabulary. Every 
modification I make, to everything I own, is based on that 
experience. I suspect future owners of my car will appreciate my 
efforts.

No offense to those folks, but don't lump me in with the backyard 
mechanics and college students who often can't diagnose and repair 
(let alone re-engineer) the simplest of problems. While I do value 
the vendors and some of the talent that posts here, the care and 
feeding of this vehicle isn't exactly rocket science.

Unusual car? Maybe, but in many cases not so unusual parts. For 
example, the generic parts I mentioned are identical (if not 
superior) to what the vendors offer. Unless they have manufacturing 
facilities out back making, for example, silicone hose (they don't), 
they get it from the same places you and I can and then mark it way 
up. Nothing wrong with that, its a free market. You're the one who 
must decide if you're going to pay it.

You need to remember its only a car, and not a very good one at that. 
Poorly desigend and built, it desperately needs attention. That means 
better materials and engineering, not patchwork fixes to shore up the 
original poor design. I commend the vendors for doing some of this 
work but as I pointed out to James, its not my responsibility to 
finance or perpetrate this car's continued exsistence, nor the 
companies who support it. My responsibility is first and foremost to 
myself, especially with regard to my coin.

I'll deal with the vendors when its in *my* best interests, not 
theirs. They are, after all, not in this for some noble cause but to 
take our money, as much as we will give them. If they fail, others 
will take their place. Whats DMC going to do anyway? Shut down and be 
stuck with a warehouse full of parts? No, they'll learn they must at 
least compete on the generics. 

As for your $600 radiator mishap, I suggest you remember when it 
comes to money it isn't what one makes, its what one keeps. I never 
lose sight of this, otherwise I couldn't afford to own such frivolous 
toys.

My experience with "type" clubs is that they exsist to help reduce 
costs while maintaining an equivalent level of quality and safety. 
In the business of aircraft onwership, this is crucial. I regret 
taking that approach here and will refrain from offering any further 
information in the future. If you're personaly not interested in 
reducing costs, better engineering and materials, improved SS fuel 
baffles, intelligent door locking and release systems, real 
electrical improvements, electronic engine management and monitoring 
as well as other engineering that can be applied, thats fine by me.

If you choose to retain the stock "attributes" of your car (with all 
the hassles that entails) for purists reasons, thats certainly your 
right and also OK by me. Just don't slam those of us who prefer 
putting our hard earned cash into something other than a vendor's 
pocket when, in many cases, we have the skills to do better for less.