Are these Intermeccanicas worth the price??

I'm looking for a good speedy, but can't believe the prices for Intermeccanicas. I like the jps coupe, but I also like to stay dry, so I rule that one out mate! Are Intermeccanicas worth the price??

YUP ! ! !

With an extra dash of Yes Sir.

I second that.....Yup, they're worth the price of admission.

What do you want? I have never, for a second, thought that I paid more than the Intermeccancia was worth TO ME. I have a speedster and I love it. For most people, it probably isn't. To me, it was.

Disclaimer: Henry has become one of my best friends.

Browse through the 'Events' section of this site and look for an SOC cruise/gathering close to your location. Go and meet the friendly SOC folks and see the various mfg examples to develop your own opinion of which builder best suits your Speedy needs.

NO FRIGGING WAY.......MATE

I reckon I might look at originals instead of dropping that many clams eh?

HEY VINCE
FOCK THE BLOODY QUEEN

They certainly were before the dollar fell through the floor. I love my car, glad I did it, but at this price point, I couldn't justify it against what I could buy for the same money. Maybe a nice 05 911 cab with low miledge. Then again, damn the car is fun, fast, and different. Only you know if its worth the investment.

Gerd....I already did....
Remember "mother goose"? I had her too....

Yeah, but Howard; Imagine how that IM price point looks to the Europeans and Asians right now. Bargain of the decade and it's gonna stay that way for quite a while...

IM's are the way to go period. That said, if you have the deep pockets, want a high end top of the line quality product that comes with Henry's personal customer support throughout the build as well as post delivery.
There are also a few other speedster manufactures that also provide a very good product, do a search here as most of the questions for the new buyer have been previously addressed. ~Alan

I would like to take Alan's words and just move them around a bit....

"IM's are the way to go period. That said, if you have the deep pockets, want a high end top of the line quality product that comes with Henry's personal customer support throughout the build as well as post delivery".

the way they should read.....

"If you have the deep pockets, want a high end top of the line quality product that comes with Henry's personal customer support throughout the build as well as post delivery, IM's are the way to go period.

same words, but more realistic, IMHO....

Not all of us have deep pockets, but want a cool ride for under, lets say 25K....Doesn't seem like to much to ask...

Why are we always having to hear about IM and how great they are...
If you want to spend twice as much as you really need to..get an IM.
that should be their slogan.....
No...I got a better one...Need a new best friend? go to IM and drop a cool 50K, Henry will love you the rest of your life....

ouch. no wonder you get to have the horns

Dale...Nothing Personal, although I don't know Henry, he sounds like a stand up guy, I just get tired of hearing how great IM's are, when in fact for the price, they should be f ing outstanding...
Besides, I haven't been earning my horns lately..

Everybody would be better served if we could stop comparing apples and oranges- a car like Howard's IM/6 shares nothing but a basic shape with a 1600cc Vintage. Both cars are perfectly fine for what they were intended, but they are as different as a Miata and a 911 cab.

To carry the analogy even further- I can easily see a Miata owner saying something to the effect that he's got 90% of the 911 for 1/5 the money, and a 911 owner looking down his nose at the Miata guy for his plebian little Asian roadster. However, I know lots of guys who start out in an inexpensive sports car, and slowly move up to something they never thought they'd have a chance to own as their situation improves. I'm a guy like that.

The guys I want to hang out with are either looking down from the top at an old MG or Triumph, and thinking how fun they were, or are looking up at the guy in the 997 and thinking, "that's really neat. Maybe someday....". The last place I want to be is in the middle of a bunch of dogs peeing circles around their respective socio-eco trees. It's class envy and warfare, pure and simple.

Vintage makes a fine $25K speedster, Intermeccanica builds something on a completely different level. I've owned speedsters from three different companies, and worked my way up the food chain as my job and situation allowed. I've got no animosity for anybody's choice of car, as long as they don't try to justify their own choice by putting down everybody else's. Genghis Khan said, "it's not enough that we succeed- everyone else must fail." That's complete balderdash.

Paul Harford wrote an excellent comparison that is at the top of every section as a sticky. Everybody taking a deep breath and reading it again would be a great idea.

So, "are these Intermeccanicas worth the price??". Absolutely. Does that mean the other builders cars aren't? Absolutely not- and I'm not sure how you get from here to there.

I own an Intermeccanica. I don't think I'm better or smarter than anybody else because of it. I really do like my car though, and I'm not going to apologize.

.... and one more thing.... could we PLEASE stop the "why, you could buy a "real" one for that much" thing every time this comes up? I'll tell you what- you find me a perfect speedster for $50K, and I'll eat the chair I'm sitting on. Perfect speedsters are going for 3-4 times that much, and a VIN plate and a pile of rust are bringing about that.

THAT'S nuts.

Thanks a lot Stan....You took the wind right out of my sails....
I was hoping for a nice argument here....

Yeah Gordo, The Euro rules. 90% of what Henry builds goes stateside. Thats where is customer base is, and he needs to price his cars with that in mind. Large companies,can hedge their currencies against the valgaries of the market place, but Henry has no such comfort zone. The fact that he can produce these cars at a profit, constantly amazes me, given the time and effort that goes into each one.

Crap.... Mitchell asks for opinions and again it gets messy and nearly hits the fan, this get'n way old.
It was asked : .....Are Intermeccanicas worth the price??
Having been around these cars long enough to provide an educated opinion, I did, based on quality and IM is, the premier product.
The remaining "order" of product quality and satisfaction can be found on the site.

stan stan stan

your quote
I've got no animosity for anybody's choice of car, as long as they don't try to justify their own choice by putting down everybody else's.

you constantly rip JPS any chance you get
that my friend is animosity!!!!

I really do like my car though, and I'm not going to apologize.
I agree with this feeling as I feel the same way about my JPS

i have actually enjoyed your last few posts the last few days.then you make this comment

so u get my stamp

Stop it Howard, I'm getting all weepy....how does Henry do it...
somehow I think he will be just fine, he may be a nice guy, but I doubt he is suffering much....

Gerd-

I'm glad you like your car. Honest.

I try not to deviate too much from my main point, with every post, right down the line: Everybody ends up happier if they know what to expect.

stan
i agree
glad we can agree and i do understand your frustrations
again you have been posting some great thoughts lately
have a nice evening

OK, Mitchell - lob another one in there! LOL

You'll find the entertainment factor on this site worth the visit...

Mitchell - YES

All of this Miata chat has got me thinkin'

Someone ought to fab up a replacement panel kit to re-body the Miata as a Speedster. You could make all of the kit cost right back again by selling the factory Mazda panel, spend a little to adjust the fiberglass to make it all fit together, and have something kinda neat. The windshield and top wouldn't be spot on, but the profile would certainly carry the day.

Weather tight, modern as can be, and retro styling.

...it shall be named the 'Miatster'...

Mitchell, you bet'cha.
Taking a reciprocating saw to a P.O.S. Classic Motor Carriages starter car is a great way to feel good about buying a pile of junk, though, if you wanna go that route as a Plan B.
I've got IM money into my car, but I also get a great deal of satisfaction driving the Frankenstein of the repro Speedster world. A hot-rodder took me under his wing and helped me build my dream -- and I learned an awful lot along the way.

Team Evil,

You are so right! I have also been thinking about a Miata platform with Speedster body for a while.

Why not, it is an ideal platform just like the VW bugs used to be. There are millions of Miata's on the road, very plentiful and very inexpensive for the older years. We already know that the miata seats fit. Might not be a big stretch to fit a body.
Have the builders ever looked into this?

Dave

Uh wait I just remembered front engine, that might be a problem. No $hit sherlock.
But I bet there are other types of bodies that would fit over the miata running gear.

Dave

Maybe a Speedster body on a Fiero.

Nope, tried that. Fiero was WAY too big in every dimension.

Toyota MR-2 is a nice mid engine platform. Would this frame be too small?

Dave

"The last place I want to be is in the middle of a bunch of dogs peeing circles around their respective socio-eco trees"
love ya Stan!

I've waded into this debate as much as anyone and I went over the top arguing my point with the king of tree-pissing, the late GB. In the end he was right, I couldn't polish a turd... but I built and personalized and enjoyed the hell outta my Vintage turd!(and I'm pleased to say I met and have become friends with Henry along the way)

If you want one buy one (replica speedster) of any stripe. The main thing is to drive it. If your appreciation for a replicar grows, spend some more, I know I will again.

I stand by my opinion that there are entry level cars, pig-in-poke cars and top-of-the-line cars. Each builder is capable of giving you your money's worth...

Well said, Paul. Even though I don't have one of his cars, I've shared a number of tales with Henry over an equal number of beers. He's good company, as are the other builders I've spoken with. There are excellent manufacturers that cover all price points. Just be realistic in your expectations.

Back to Miatas...

Anyone see Gearz where Stacy has that V8 Mazda with a body kit that looks somewhat like a convertible GTO? Can't recall the name of that kit but that was one nice ride.

Banshee. That was the name.

speedsters are available in south africa from US$14000 for a basic car with a stock (rebuilt) motor up to about US$20000 with a Subaru 2 liter turbo! Our money's not worth sh1t at the moment!

Having never seen the quality of your manufactures i can't really compare but these cars are not bad at all!