The DeLorean

[wolf92]

The DeLorian is not trapped in a time loop because Marty McFly said it can't be
And his word is law

 

[Davey Woo]

It obviously needs to be moving at 88mph MORE than the speed it's already naturally travelling through space.

 

[XJ-0461]

Because the DeLorean's tires aren't revolving at a speed that would "tell" the engine that it's going 88 mph. Floating around through space really fast isn't the same as moving the tires.

Oooh that's a good answer. I was gonna say that Doc Brown could have built in something that accounts for the speed of the universe and reaching 88 MPH, but your idea makes a whole ot more sense.

 

[Cheesus333]

This is a stupid cop-out answer, but can't we just say that it always travels in time at a rate of one second every second?

 

[More Fun To Compute]

I thought that it was obvious. Due to relativity time is dependent on gravity and the flux capacitor is calibrated to act with a the earth's gravitational field.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Presumably for the same reason that we can't actually feel that we're moving at speeds that far exceed 88mph.

 

[Anarchemitis]

[HEADING=3]Why is not the DeLorean trapped in a constant time-leap?[/HEADING]

Because Doc accounted for that, therefore the DeLorean must be moving at speeds of 88mph relative to nearest body of sufficent gravity to generate zero based on its mass, as opposed to speeds relative to a zero point in 3D space.
How and why, we will never no; he was killed by terrorists and also escaped to the future in a steam locomotive, presumably killed by other terrorists.

 

[Quaxar]

The speed isn't for the car's own benefit, it's for the benefit of the time-travel device. I haven't seen the movie in ages, so I don't know how this is "explained", but it's possible that in order to work, the device needs power equivalent to that generated by a delorean traveling 88MPH.

No, no, the flux capacitor is powered by atomic energy/fusion energy, so it would work regardless of the tires. Actually, since the DeLorean gets a hover device at the end of the first film the tire-idea can't be anything but disproven.

Anyway, I will ponder about this topic for a while. I am sure we can find something that makes the whole thing at least plausible...

 

[rockyoumonkeys]

The speed isn't for the car's own benefit, it's for the benefit of the time-travel device. I haven't seen the movie in ages, so I don't know how this is "explained", but it's possible that in order to work, the device needs power equivalent to that generated by a delorean traveling 88MPH.

No, no, the flux capacitor is powered by atomic energy/fusion energy, so it would work regardless of the tires. Actually, since the DeLorean gets a hover device at the end of the first film the tire-idea can't be anything but disproven.

Anyway, I will ponder about this topic for a while. I am sure we can find something that makes the whole thing at least plausible...

Well, strictly speaking, I wasn't saying it was the movement of the tires that was required, but rather that the amount of energy required to power the whatever-it-is was generated by the car driving 88MPH. I was speaking more in terms of the engine, not the wheels. I also acknowledged that the whole train-pushing-it thing defeated that suggestion, but I'm perfectly content with the idea that an explanation that was sound in the first movie could be rendered unsound in a money-grubbing sequel.

 

[octafish]

Because the DeLorean's tires aren't revolving at a speed that would "tell" the engine that it's going 88 mph. Floating around through space really fast isn't the same as moving the tires.

I think this is probably pretty close to an actual answer you would get from any aficionado. I personally think it was just a bit of a wow factor thing considering back in the day when BTTF came out, 88mph was quite a feat for any car, let alone a Delorean which is made with a stainless steel shell. Steel is significantly heavier than what most cars use as a shell, not quite sure what that is though.

Steel is what they make car bodies out of. My 1971 1.6 litre four speed Fiat 125 would crack the ton (100 miles an hour) when new and would still do 95 or so in 1994. It actually makes no sense it's just there because 88 is cool number and puts some limitations in to make the plot more interesting.

 

[HerrBobo]

Ermmmmm, no idea....I do know that the DeLorean was made in Ireland though....does that help?

 

[mocruz1200]

Well it is a DeLorean after all. Something probably broke.

i wasnt aware DeLoreans could GO 88 mph!

 

[imagremlin]

88mph and a huge jolt (ie plutonium/lightening strike) was needed to gain the 1.21 Gigawatts to power the flux capacitor in order to travel in time, this is clearly a huge amount of power for the time period they were in xD

This. After the time jump, there would be no more power for a second jump, so speed alone was insufficient. Presumably, Doc Brown would have made the proper corrections to MrFusion when it started running on trash.

And as to why make the time machine out of a DeLorean, Marty does ask the question on the first film, to which the Doc answers: "why not make it in style? Plus the stainless steel frame helps" (or something similar)

 

[Zap Rowsdower]

AAAGGHHH!!!