Like this:

Watch out !  This article is going to be REALLY boring if you’re not into cars !  But if you’ve ever wondered about my car, read on .
If not, stay away and avoid this like the plague !  I guarantee you will be put to sleep .

Last chance ..

This is my automobile .  My real actual car, that I really actually drive .

Like a mechanical hawk about to take flight and snatch your precious pets .

Not everyday .  Usually only on social nights out, short drives to the Quest studio, or whenever I’ve got a hot date in the city with my girlfriend .  It’s 1 of 3 cars that I normally use .  The other two are both Honda .  A silver accord and a blue civic .  Both so old and so reliable; like having two elderly best friends who take turns carrying you on their aching yet invincible backs .  Exactly somewhat like that .

Back to The DeLorean .
Here’s the top questions I receive regarding this car .

1.  What is that ?
2.  Why’d you get it ?
3.  How’d you get it ?
4.  How much did you get it for ?
5.  What’s it like to drive it around ?

1.  What is that ?

The same thing used here .

It’s a 1981 DeLorean .  It’s the only make and model of its kind, and there’s not that many of them on the road .  Many people would know it as the car from a very popular movie .  If you weren’t alive during the 1980′s, you probably don’t know the huge story about the man who created the car itself: John DeLorean .  He basically ditched a dream job at General Motors to go off and produce his very own automobile company (which is actually ridiculously difficult if not IMPOSSIBLE to do), and was able to make ONE car before his empire completely fell apart due to horrible finance situations and serious felony drug charges .  Even with that elaborate, crazy adventure tacked on the DeLorean’s history, most people only know the car as the one Marty McFly drove in the film, Back To The Future .

2.  Why’d you get it ?

My first trip to Universal Studios at age 7 .. maybe 6 ?

It was my dream car as a kid .  When I first saw Back to the Future, I fell in love with just about everything in it .  The characters, the story, and especially the cars .  I used to watch that movie repeatedly, not even knowing that a DeLorean was a car a person could actually own in real life .  I never saw one on the road before; like i said, it’s a rare car .  If you’ve ever seen one around, chances are .. exactly that .  You’ve seen ONE .  Maybe two or three if you’re really lucky .  I’ve probably only seen three Deloreans on the road my whole life .  And I’ve absolutely never seen one on the road while I’m driving mine .  But as I grew older, the dream of having one someday only burned deeper, and I knew it was something i was meant to have .  It was the only car in the world that expressed who I am, to the most accurate degree .  So unique and rare, full of energy but also cool and sleek, so different from the rest of the pack, emanating a star quality, only one of its kind, and born in the 80s .

3.  How’d you get it ?

Same kid, like 20 years later .

I studied the market for over a year .  I researched how much the car was worth in different physical conditions .  I watched histories of buyers and sellers to see what people were receiving for their sales and what people were willing to bid .  DeLoreans for the most part, are only available used, so there’s no fixed price tag on it .  You can get lucky, or you can get ripped off .  I basically had to educate myself on the whole spectrum of the car, the cost of restoration for different parts, and the rates of repair and maintenance in the long run .  Oh yeah, and I was doing all of this way before I could afford to buy one .  That way, if the right opportunity came around, I’d be prepared to recognize it .

And it did .  I saw a DeLorean in great condition on Ebaymotors and I placed a bid .  I didn’t win, and I couldn’t afford to top the high bidder so I gave up .  The guy totally killed my bid, and my funds at the time were not even close .  Fortunately, the car owner contacted me the day the auction ended, telling me that the winning bidder didn’t come through with the payment .  I told him I couldn’t afford to pay what he offered, and the seller opted to give me the car at the price I last bid .  That was a steal !  I was willing to make the purchase, but I had to see the car with my own eyes first .  My dad is a car-buying expert so I bought us plane tickets to Arizona to check out the car for ourselves .   It turned out to be a very beautiful DeLorean with no heavy problems or dramatic body imperfections, so I paid the amount we agreed upon and had it shipped straight to CaIlifornia on a freight truck .  It arrived a few days later, right at my doorstep .  That picture posted above, is the first photo I took with my car, which looks strikingly similar to that first photo I’d ever taken with a DeLorean as a child .

4.  How much did you get it for ?

Fresh after a wash .

Let’s just say this .  The money from winning a certain television dance show was still not enough to cover the base payment .

On top of that, there was also the expense of restoring parts of the engine, buying new tires, installing new brakes, clutch, having a fresh new stereo system put in, and several other parts that needed replacement .

It also costs serious dough to even register the car for insurance .  And the mileage is nothing to write home about, so the gas money adds up faster than you’d expect .

Don’t ever think you can afford a classic car just because you can pay to BUY it !  The cost definitely does not end there .

5.  What’s it like to drive it around ?

Not having any paint makes for a nice shine .

Good and bad .  More good than bad .  It drives like a champ, but tends to rattle on long trips, or squeaks after some time .  But that’s only because I’m 30% complete on restoration .  Still some things that need replacement .

The attention it gets is what splits me .  It’s fun and everything to have people always look, or give a thumbs up, or come over and compliment the ride, but sometimes people aren’t so clever .  I hear lots of flux capacitor, 88 miles per hour, Back to the Future references as if people think they’re being original .  It’s just sad to think they really believe they’re saying something that I haven’t already said myself .  Gets old .  And I’m not always in the mood to entertain it .  I bought this car because I absolutely love everything about its story, features, and style .  Not because I want people to pay attention to it .  The only thing about this car, is you can never drive it while expecting to have a low-key trip .  But then again, I guess it’s like those girls who wear skank clothes and get mad that guys make snide remarks .

Can’t really drive a DeLorean around LA without expecting to get some kind of line .  Especially when it’s club night in the city .  People run into the middle of the street just to take a picture with my car while I’m at a red light .  Lots of drunk shouting that sounds like slurred movie quotes .  Gets pretty crazy .  Whenever I park it someplace, I always try to valet or park it at a spot where I can keep an eye on it from inside the restaurant .  I guess I’m lightly cautious of somebody messing with it, or getting a little too comfortable .  But, it never seems to enter that realm of threat, because the DeLorean is a car that a lot of people love .  It’s not like a Lamborghini or a Ferrari; whereas those cars are symbols of status, the DeLorean is still a stronger symbol of style .

And in my case, it fits my style terribly well .

Drawback AND benefit : Limit one passenger

If you see one around LA or OC, check for the TIMESET license plate .

I chose ‘TIME SET’ because that is the name of Quest Crew’s very first show which featured the whole crew in one complete performance .  To this date, TIME SET is also the last show which has featured the maximum amount of Quest members .  Since then we have only been able to perform in groups of 7 or 8 max .

Also, TIME SET just happens to fit perfectly with the DeLorean’s history as well .  Not just my own .

Watch Quest Crew’s TIME SET on youtube .  Very old . 

. ryan