Hank Ryan

tomt - I don't know what was first with cornering lights, but our 1964 Buick LeSabre station wagon had them. <g>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> ... Where did you get the storage compartment? ... Did you cut the harness or get a plug?</div></div> As I recall, I got the storage compartment from someone on this forum. I did not cut or plug the harness. I had to do some rewiring on a connector that I got a Radio Shack to make it work. I have an Excel file I can send you with the plug wiring information for the Audio Vox. It might help with a different unit.

Here's a picture of the Audio Vox GC600 that I put in my 1991 Coupe back in 2000. I also removed (and sold) the factory CD player and replaced it with the storage box.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">who said the reatta 2 would be 60k? i was thinking more like 45. and in such low numbers it would be a great seller. ... </div></div> The lower the number sold, the higher the selling price has to be to stay in business. As I recall, the base price for the 1966 Avanti II (~$6000) was significantly higher than the 1964 Studebaker Avanti (~$4500). Even then, the Avanti Motor Corporation survived through its early years off sales from the Studebaker truck parts inventory that was also part of the deal. If Buick currently offered the 1991 Reatta, I believe the MSRP would be >$40K. If a low-volume company were building it, the costs would be significantly higher, and I expect the MSRP would reflect that increase.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i think buick should sell the rights to the reatta desing and name, and someoneshould buy it and make themin a very limited, private small companny type thing, like they do with the avanti, which studebaker sold to a privat company, thatstill make them in california. make them identicle on the outside,maybe a llittle on the inside, i think they would sell well.. </div></div> Regrettably, a $60K+ Reatta II would be out of my price range.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Even though I am retired from a long career with Buick Motor Division, I still stay in touch with several friends that are working for the General and currently there is no word that the corporation is pulling the plug on Buick. </div></div> Please ask your friends at Buick whether the Epsilon platform would be a viable basis for a next-generation Reatta. (Envision a shortened Pontiac G6 coupe with no back seat after the Buick stylists have Reattasized it.) And, IMHO, Buick probably could have done well with a version of the soon-to-be-discontinued Malibu Maxx.

FWIW, we replaced my 1991 coupe with a 2004 Thunderbird, but my wife drives it. It's a good car, but lacks the versatility I want in my daily driver. I agree with the Lexus SC400 suggestion, and would add the SC300, the 2001-2003 Acura CL and the 2003 (or newer) Infiniti G35 coupe to your candidates. Of these, only the Acura is FWD.

I think an older Mercedes (and, probably, a Volvo) might be just as great a financial/maintenance challenge as a 1991 Reatta. The most trouble-free car I have owned was a 1990 Miata (92,000 miles in 8 years with one driver's window motor & one set of spark plug wires). However, at 24K miles, the 2004 Malibu Maxx I am currently driving has been rock solid. Its size and versatility are impressive. It has more power than my 1991 Reatta and gets better gas mileage (23-32mpg). You can probably get a clean 2005 Maxx at CarMax for <$15K. You might be able to sell the idea to your daughter by telling her that it's an American SAAB.

For the 112,000 miles that I had my 1991 Coupe, I averaged 21.80 mpg. Tank averages ranged from 19.5 to 26.5. I almost always used 89 octane fuel.

Mark - FYI, I ran a local classified ad and sold my 1991 coupe (sunroof, 16-way, 170,000 miles) at the end of May for $5,000 cash. We replaced the Reatta with a 2004 Thunderbird. But the T-Bird is my wife's daily driver, and I now drive the Malibu Maxx that we bought in January 2005. Life goes on.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> This seems like a totally unfair comparison; a NEW Miata compared to a 58k mile Reatta. You stated the Miata was sold with only 90k miles on it. Did the Reatta demand all this work before 90k? Did the Miata require no work by 90k? </div></div> Please review this thread. My post was in response to your assertion that the Reatta was the "inspiration" for the Miata and your implication that the Miata was a "cheap imitation" of the Reatta. Having spent 8 years with a Miata as my daily driver and 9 years with a Reatta as my daily driver, I thought I might offer some first-hand experience. I wasn't trying to pick a fight. I was trying to provide information. Of the cars I have owned, my Reatta is my favorite by a large margin. FYI, the only mechanical repairs to my Miata were a driver's window motor and two rear window zippers. (I consider brake pads and spark plug wires maintenance items.) However, IMHO, a well-maintained 150k Reatta will likely be a much better daily driver than a 150k Miata.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The Miata is a much smaller, lighter car, no comparison. It is a poor facsimile of a Reatta, with less space, options, power and style than it's inspiration, the Reatta. They even copied the mane, as best as they could pronounce it, since they have trouble with the pronounciation of the letter "R". Of course there is a brace offered for Miata, any cheap imitation will need upgrades to approach the integrity of the original from which it was "Knocked-off"!!! That said, I'm sure the Miata is a good car, just NOT comparable to Reatta, the original hand-built Buick personal luxury 2-seater. </div></div> I assume all of this must be "tongue-in-cheek". AFAIK, the Reatta had ZERO influence on the design of the Miata (an old German word for "reward"). The primary design target for the Miata was the original (late 1960s) Lotus Elan. About the only things the Reatta and the Miata have in common are (1) they are two-seaters and (2) they are both among the best automobiles ever offered to the American public. I was one of the first Miata orders in the U.S. (January 1989). I expected to keep the car three years. I ended up keeping it 8 years. (The last two years were spent finding the perfect Reatta.) The car had >90K miles when I sold it. It was the most reliable car I have ever owned. I have never driven a convertible with less body flex than the Miata. My 1991 Reatta coupe had 58K miles when I purchased it in April 1997. It had 170K miles on it when sold it earlier this year. I found I was no longer physically able to handle maintenance/repairs, and, as you may know, third-party repairs are often expensive and frustrating. The Miata and the Reatta were my daily drivers. IMHO, the Miata is the best "affordable" small sports car ever --- nimble, reliable, economical and comfortable. The Reatta is simply my favorite car ever --- reliable, economical, comfortable and exclusive.

1987 Sterling 825SL. We didn't really "purchase" it in the normal sense. My wife "won" it in a "half-price" drawing. We didn't hate it. The leather-and-wood interior was great. However, before we took delivery, my wife agreed that the first time the great god Lucas reared his head, we would sell the car. Four months and 4500 miles later, as we backed out of our garage, smoke started coming out of the driver's door speaker. I traded it back to the selling dealer (Bob Moore Cadillac-SAAB-Sterling in Oklahoma City) for a 1984 Nissan Maxima + $10K. I told our son (college freshman) that he was on the Bob Moore scholarship that year. <g>

FYI, I sold my 1991 black/grey coupe for $5,000 in late May. The car had 170,000 miles. It was well-maintained and was in very good condition. The car had spent its entire life in Oklahoma and north Texas, and had no rust. It had the 16-way seat and factory sunroof. I was the second owner. I purchased it in April 1997 with 56,000 miles. I replaced the original radio/cassette and cd player with an Audiovox unit several years ago. The sale included a factory service manual, the original radio/cassette and an extra set of (used) floor mats.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">On the Aurora: ... We got rid of it because it was starting to become unreliable and costly. Last straw was the $500.00 headlight switch. Traded it in for a 2004 Regal. Talk about a step back. </div></div> We traded our 1996 Aurora (w/Autobahn) in January 2005 for a left-over 2004 Malibu Maxx. After our GM Major Guard $0-deductible extended service policy expired on the Aurora (@ 72,000 miles), repairs were costly. An ~$1,100 steering rack replacement at ~90,000 miles followed a couple of months later by an ~$500.00 serpentine belt replacement put us in the market for something newer. The Aurora might be the nicest 4-door car we will ever own.

The car has been sold. The mourning period has begun.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> ... Why wouldn't one just scrap the factory tape deck and slave CD and just use a newer CD player where the tape deck is? It would free up the lower space ... </div></div> Attached is a picture of the Audio Vox GC600 in my 1991 coupe. I replaced the original radio/cassette and CD-Player in December 2000. Luckily, I was able to replace the CD panel with the storage cubby from a non-CD Reatta. I sold the CD player and panel, but I still have the original radio/cassette unit.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> ... Looking at the listings there I am comfortable with my price. ...</div></div> FYI, I have the black 1991 coupe with 170,000 miles listed on AutoTrader at $5,450. Likewise, I am comfortable with my price. Someone who is merely looking for a Reatta will likely not consider our cars. However, someone who is actively looking for a 1991 sunroof coupe will. The cars are rare, but, unfortunately, so are buyers. And, while this forum is invaluable for Reatta owners, most of the participants already have at least one Reatta. Thus, they aren't potential buyers unless the car is priced under what they consider current market value.

This car is still available. Anyone interested?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> ... he's asking $3500 with a 90 parts car included. ... I told him I had some bad news: It's not a $3500 car. ... </div></div> Are you opining that the two cars together are not worth $3500?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> ... My door key lock only works on passenger side ... </div></div> Same on my 1991. Anybody else out there with this "feature"?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> ... Cover the pillar/roof with stainless like a Crown Vic. ...</div></div> Or, IMHO more correctly, like the original (1966) Porsche 911/912 Targa.

Everyone - I've lowered the asking price to $5,450.00. Pictures and information are available at www.autotrader.com and www.cars.com.

eBay currently has 7 DeLoreans up, but no 1983 models. Although these are all >23 years old. None of them have over 50,000 miles. AutoTrader.com lists 6 --- no 1983 models, but one 1981 with 40,000+ miles. Cars.com lists 12 --- again, no 1983 models, but four with >35,000 miles. The 1981 model with 101,000 miles may be the rarest DeLorean currently available. That should tell you something about their reliability.

55-year-old male. I bought my 1991 coupe in April 19, 1997. Background: I followed development of the Reatta since the first "spy" shots in 1981. The Reatta replaced my 1990 Miata (AFAIK, the first Miata ordered in Oklahoma --- delivered a deposit to the local Mazda dealer in late January 1989). Prior to that I owned a 1972 Volvo 1800ES that I purchased in 1977. It was my daily driver for 10 years and 250,000 miles. Have owned/driven several other "interesting" cars over the past 40 years. The Reatta is my favorite.