Some 80's nostalgia

[MikeQ]

A lot of people don't know this but when Delorean Motor Company went out of business it was bought and has been operating in Houston Texas. 

I was just on vacation and passed through Houston so I stopped and checked it out.  I'm hoping to restore a Delorean and a Ferarri 308 GTS so I had an interest in seeing what DMC Houston provided in restoration services.

DMC has a complete inventory of parts and can actually build you a new Delorean from parts.  They have VIN #'s issued to them from the 80's and can legally build new Deloreans.

[ChadTower]

If I ever have a midlife crisis and get a sports car, it will be a DeLorean.  And a garage.

[MikeQ]

If I ever have a midlife crisis and get a sports car, it will be a DeLorean.  And a garage.

My restoration project is gated by the size of my garage.  I can only fit three cars in it so something has to go before I can do the 308.  I'm thinking about putting a lift in the small bay.  This would let me stack the Delorean and the 308.

[ChadTower]

That's some $$ right there.  The whole thing, the cars/garage/lift.

[MikeQ]

Delorean restored is about $25,000.

Good lift  $3000

308 unrestored $16,000 - restored $30,000.

about equal to a good size game room  (like saints).

[ChadTower]

3 car garage is also a 5 figure item, not a small one either.  Here in MA you're looking at mid 5 figures if you count the land it occupies.

[billf]

Just saw a Ferrari 308 GTS on the road yesterday.  Not something you see everyday on the streets around the upper midwest.  That car still looks cool after all these years.

[MikeQ]

They are awesome.  A little finicy but still awesome.

[MikeQ]

3 car garage is also a 5 figure item, not a small one either.  Here in MA you're looking at mid 5 figures if you count the land it occupies.

I already have the garage.    

[TOK]

If I ever have a midlife crisis and get a sports car, it will be a DeLorean.  And a garage.

If you ever have a midlife crisis and get a DeLorean, you still won't have a sports car.

Its a 130 horspower 2 3/4 ton car that does 0-60 in 10.5 seconds. Hardly a sports car. A new V8 pickup will blow it away while towing a 25 foot boat. Its notorious for its role in Back To The Future, but it never wound up being the car John DeLorean envisioned, and basically ruined his life trying to save.

Edit to add: Sorry Mike, but restore the Ferrari first. 

[ChadTower]

If you ever have a midlife crisis and get a DeLorean, you still won't have a sports car.

Still works for me as I don't care about performance.  I'd be doing it to look cool.  If I want a sports car with real power I'll buy a <cheap ass red wedged late 80s domestic "sports car" that I can't place the name of no matter how hard I try>.

[shardian]

At this point in time, I don't think it would be "cool" to drive around in a Delorean. I think that it more appropriately screams "nerd".

Personally, I think it would be neat to have an MG sportster. IMO, they are like a poor man's James Bond car.

[TOK]

If you ever have a midlife crisis and get a DeLorean, you still won't have a sports car.

Still works for me as I don't care about performance.  I'd be doing it to look cool.  If I want a sports car with real power I'll buy a <cheap ass red wedged late 80s domestic "sports car" that I can't place the name of no matter how hard I try>.

Fiero? 

[ChadTower]

I didn't say I would be cool.  I'd be sitting in the seat giggling "I HAVE A DELOREAN" over and over.


YES!  A Fiero!


EDIT:  ooh!  How do I get onto the Fiero Who's Who?!   

[AtomSmasher]

If I ever have a midlife crisis and get a sports car, it will be a DeLorean.  And a garage.

If you ever have a midlife crisis and get a DeLorean, you still won't have a sports car.

Its a 130 horspower 2 3/4 ton car that does 0-60 in 10.5 seconds. Hardly a sports car. A new V8 pickup will blow it away while towing a 25 foot boat. Its notorious for its role in Back To The Future, but it never wound up being the car John DeLorean envisioned, and basically ruined his life trying to save.

Edit to add: Sorry Mike, but restore the Ferrari first. 

Thats why the car I eventually want to restore is one of DeLorean's other creations, a classic GTO.

[shardian]

Fire Bomb? 

Fixed that for you.

I have a buddy who has restored three Fiero's. He loves the things. I drove his first one once and hated it. Unresponsive as hell on all control fronts. BTW, the original design flaw was that the oil cooler was not properly designed and the oil would overheat and ignite. Not all Fiero's are fires waiting to happen, but they are still poorly designed and a ---smurfette--- to work on.

[TOK]

OK, at this point all I can do is strongly advise you against having a midlife crisis!

[shardian]

And to think that most people would consider a grown man with a basement full of video games and pinballs a mid-life crisis...

[MikeQ]

There is a lot that can be done to enhance the performance of the Delorean.  There is a company building a turbo for it that will bring it up to around 300hp after some manifold and pipe replacement.

But that isn't why people own them anyway.

[MikeQ]

At this point in time, I don't think it would be "cool" to drive around in a Delorean. I think that it more appropriately screams "nerd".

Personally, I think it would be neat to have an MG sportster. IMO, they are like a poor man's James Bond car.

We have a Delorean club here and get a crowd everytime they meet at a local burger joint.  A lot of people like them.

[ChadTower]

And to think that most people would consider a grown man with a basement full of video games and pinballs a mid-life crisis...

Hell no!  Most of mine are broken!     I don't think you can say mid-life crisis until someone approachines mid-life.  I better not be at or past mid-life yet!

[shardian]

And to think that most people would consider a grown man with a basement full of video games and pinballs a mid-life crisis...

Hell no!  Most of mine are broken!     I don't think you can say mid-life crisis until someone approachines mid-life.  I better not be at or past mid-life yet!

Didn't you get the memo? the 30's are the new 50's. My brother-in-law is 32 and he is having the equivalent of a mid-life crisis.

[ChadTower]

I don't think it's even possible while your kids are still in elementary school.

[MikeQ]

I don't think I've had a midlife crisis.  It's more that I spend the last 20 years busting ---my bottom--- and am finally at a point that I can afford to buy toys for myself.

I'm 40 and have kids in elementary and preschool so I'm somewhat of an anomoly.

[ChadTower]

I've mentioned that "at 45 maybe the guy just has some spare cash finally" concept and people generally shrug it off.  It makes them feel better about themselves to make fun of the guy. 

[RayB]

Fiero....     Poorly engineered car...  If you want an 80's era low-cost sports car then go for a Toyota MR2.

[shardian]

Fiero....     Poorly engineered car...  If you want an 80's era low-cost sports car then go for a Toyota MR2.

The early 90's MR2's were awesome looking.

[MikeQ]

I've mentioned that "at 45 maybe the guy just has some spare cash finally" concept and people generally shrug it off.  It makes them feel better about themselves to make fun of the guy. 

Ya, I got a bunch of crap from my co-workers when I bought my last car.  I had never drove a new car because any new car we bought went to my wife and I got the hand me down.  When I bought me a nice new car, I got the whole midlife crisis speech.

[boykster]

Fiero....     Poorly engineered car...  If you want an 80's era low-cost sports car then go for a Toyota MR2.

The early 90's MR2's were awesome looking.

Agreed.  I came very close to buying a '91 or '92 MR2 turbo....man that car was a kick in the pants to drive....I had a '90 Celica GT that looked fast, but was pretty much a dog performance wise.  (this was back in '95 I think)

[ChadTower]

Ya, I got a bunch of crap from my co-workers when I bought my last car.  I had never drove a new car because any new car we bought went to my wife and I got the hand me down.  When I bought me a nice new car, I got the whole midlife crisis speech.

Trust me, when my midlife crisis hits, you won't see me in a new car.  You'll see my wife in a new bra.

[MikeQ]

Ya, I got a bunch of crap from my co-workers when I bought my last car.  I had never drove a new car because any new car we bought went to my wife and I got the hand me down.  When I bought me a nice new car, I got the whole midlife crisis speech.

Trust me, when my midlife crisis hits, you won't see me in a new car.  You'll see my wife in a new bra.

 

[lanman31337]

I used to have a fiero, for 4 months no doubt. 

[shorthair]

They are awesome.  A little finicy but still awesome.

Looks-wise, I prefer the 348.



DeLorean: ugly nose on it.

MR2: pretty fast, I heard.

Trust me, when my midlife crisis hits, you won't see me in a new car.  You'll see my wife in a new bra.

No surprise, here. Why don't you just treat her like a car and add another to the collection?

[MikeQ]

They are awesome.  A little finicy but still awesome.

Looks-wise, I prefer the 348.



DeLorean: ugly nose on it.

MR2: pretty fast, I heard.

Trust me, when my midlife crisis hits, you won't see me in a new car.  You'll see my wife in a new bra.

No surprise, here. Why don't you just treat her like a car and add another to the collection?

328 is very nice too (basically the 308 with body colored bumpers and better fuel injection) but I like the original classic design of the 308.

[shorthair]

Oh, the 328 is homely-lookin compared to the 308. Not a lot different but definitely that toned-down look characteristic of the late 80s. I'm a little conservative when it comes to contour, though, hence the preference for the 348.

[ChadTower]

No surprise, here. Why don't you just treat her like a car and add another to the collection?

I don't have a garage. 

[danny_galaga]

Looks-wise, I prefer the 348.

yes, but thats not what magnum drove, is it?

saw one parked a few months ago. i wanted to just jump in and solve a murder!

[MikeQ]

Magnum originally drove a 1979 308 gts.  These were fiberglass.

I'd like to find a 1984ish 308 gts QV to restore.  Steel body, quadrovalue.

[shorthair]

I don't have a garage. 

Just have to get a bigger bed you know.

danny: Magnum was cool. But spacier was cooler. (I was in junior high when things like Voltron, and Transformers, and Mighty Orbots came out. All the other kids were, like, 'past that/those are toys!'.)

[geomartin]

I drove my buddies 90 ish Turbo Charged Dodge Stealth a few times.  It was a kick in the pants, great acceleration, handling and looks.  Can be had fairly cheaply these days.