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Comment by johnm1019 | Hacker News Reader

> The main problem with them is that Delorean Motor Company didn't really follow the concept of "model years," instead changing things as they went along, so restoring one to original condition is practically impossible.

I've heard there is a new car company that does something similar (not having precise model years) and also offers a car with gullwing doors.... I think it starts with a "T".... I wonder if they'll be hard to restore when collectors look back in 20 years.

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It's really not that big a deal these days with computerized inventory systems at parts shops. Even within a model year, there can be multiple versions of the same part as things get redesigned to improve reliability or for value engineering. Parts guy will just ask for the VIN and get the right part that way.

I think the battery will be impossible to reengineer. No factory will exist anywhere to make those tiny old pathetic, flammable things.

Teslas will be effectively impossible to maintain. On the upside there are way fewer moving parts to go awry.

There will be some forum on the internet where a bunch of guys are reverse engineering them, much as they do for 6502 based systems now.

That's when I will probally buy one. I was just thing about this the other day. I was thinking when they get to the used market, and guys start modifying them; that's the day I'll put on my dielectric gloves and put that charging station in my garage.

Right now, a vechicle I can't modify, and work on is just not my style. If I had disposable income, it would probally be a different story.

Exactly why I'm hesitant to buy one. I mean, I was paranoid enough when buying my Macbook Pro (omg, it's all soldered!), so a Tesla is probably not for me in the long run.

I would gladly lease one though, but it seems impossible here in Denmark.

That's one thing I really liked about the first Honda Insight (lightweight two-seater hatchback hybrid - looks like a space egg). Picked one up last year for dirt cheap because I have a long commute. Got 70 mpg (mostly freeway). Great thing was I could also work on it pretty easily. Even worked fine without the hybrid system (they're all old enough where the batteries are crapping out) So sad when another car totaled it.

> hard to restore

Especially if you want the original programming. ;)

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