Beck or VS to purchase

Anybody get to compare the fit and finish side by side in real life?

Opinion for a first time purchase.

I am looking for a long term three season car to drive daily that looks like the "REAL DEAL"

I do not have access to any of the models where I live.

Mouser

Scott,

Where are you located? These things are everywhere!

Long term? Three season? Daily driver? Depends on where you live and what 3 seasons your dealing with. Here in the midwest Iowa, we have 4 seasons and the SAW is the closest you would come to a daily driver, but some other areas of the country may get by with less??

I am in Seattle, looked at a yellow VS at Park Place, no chance to drive or ride in one. They pretty much will let you test drive the one you buy after signing the paper work and handing them the check only.

A new owner drove in while I was there in a green one with some warranty issue. He said his only complaint was the car tracking on the freeway, stated you have to hang onto to it and really drive it.
Sounds like a bug I once drove.

I have yet to travel to Vancouver to talk with IM although we spoke on the phone.

I spoke to Luke with Beck (Boulder speedsters). They are desiging a roll up window option. No cars to see or drive without flying to Denver.

Looks like the rating system here has everyone pretty much pleased with their own purchase.

I guess the question would be......Do all of the makes have a fit and finish similar to the VS, not saying I felt it was good or bad, just as a camparative. I am looking for a car that is truly finished i.e., under the deck hood, under the fiberglass and on the back of the unseen areas. Highest quality fasteners used and so on.

IF this does not exist anyone build a kit with tube frame and body hand laid not shot with a gun?

Mouser

Call Henry back and order an IM

Scott,

I think a nice IM "D" is what you are after, but you will pay a premium. Don't forget to take your wallet size into consideration. From what I've seen and heard you would be most likly happy with any of the above.

Keeping in mind what you are looking for, this is how I would rank the manufacurers in order by wallet size. Large wallet to small wallet.

1. Intermechanica "Conv D" (Tube frame, roll up windows, best of the best)
2. SAW "Conv D" (Tube frame, Modern Suby power, rollups)
3. Beck (Tube frame, nice fit & finish)
4. JPS (pan based, nice fit & finish)
5. Vintage (pan based, volume leader)

Thunder ranch is in there somewhere, I just don't know a whole lot about them.

More times than not you get what you paid for.

Jerome

Jerome, small correction. The SAW cars come as Speedsters or Cabriolets only. No Convertible D's.

Scott, Hello! In my opinion you need to see Henry with IM. His cars can be ordered with windows for better a sealing out of any harsh weather.
I have a Vintage car and I love it, but would not be able to drive it in the rain.

Gabe

Hey,

You vintage and JPS guys can indeed drive them in the rain, a little rustic but with some corrections to the original way it came, it can be done and lots of people have done it, including myself. Just think about the real Speedies and the drivers back in the 50's and 60's and it really becomes a vintage type thing! I think the main thing that worries us is getting it mud splattered, hey, wash it! I got the vinyl inbterior figuring it might get wet at times. I drove mine down I-5 in the rain with the drivers side side curtain off and very little rain came in, just wiped it off with an old towel I carry. Bet you wondered what that was for, I confess to that accesory.

Bruce

To everyone I thank you for your considerate information. I have a lot to consider and may see many of you at Knotts.

Scott

Scott, I think Jerome offers you some sound advice. He lives far enough north to have a better feel for things. In spite of being in OK, I also face plenty of less than ideal weather. But nothing like the rain you get up there! Other posters, Terry and Bruce have a long time experience with cars further north... of sunny,dry, and mudslide free LA!

You live in Seattle? I will be at IM looking over my Speedster in build on the 10th, next week and so will another owner/member: Brooks. Henry has a nice Roadster about finished for a member in SF, Bill Steele, and so you will see all of the stages of a build. It would be worth your time. Bill's Roadster will give most prospective 356 replica buyers the fever.

Close to you is a member, Scott Sloan, who owns an IM Speedster based on an Outlaw look, Bruce Williams in OR with a nice Sig Red JPS, Dale Bates near Sacrameto with an IM 58 Black Speedster that is on the annual caledar. Eddie Jarvis has a great Black/Deep Red VS in northern Cali... so these guys can give you an individual opinion with a knowledge of the weather and driving conditions. There are at least two members in the Vancouver area too. Just put your name into the registry, fill out the zip code, and then search for owners near you.

THE VERY BEST advice any of us could give you? Go to Vancouver, see the operation and cars. Fly to LA for Knotts, meet John Steele and Kirk, meet the Beck crew, meet the TR crew, meet John Halstrand with his SAW, meet all the owners, ride in some cars, and gain your OWN perspective. You will get the fever and you will find the perfect car for you! Whatever you buy, it will be cool, and you'll have fun with it. They are all fun, and a great buy compared to any other custom built car.

Oh, and a last piece of advice. It's my opinion, that if you buy a VS, or a Beck, or any of the dealer network cars? Well you are far better off buying from the manufacturer. You'll save money, and you will have less warranty issues. There may be an exception, from what I hear there is a quaility dealer in the NE US, for several makes.

That's it! Welcome to our group.

Jim VS Owner 3 Years and Proud of It! Now getting an IM.. I'm retired and it's a present to myself!

I owned an IM and loved it. I'm having a new SAW built. Why? I live in an area that has no one willing to work on a VW engine. You actually live in an area that I believe has some?? But, if you want a daily driver and rain kept out you only have the IM D, the SAW Cabriolet, and the Beck with roll-up windows? Let me warn you though that sometimes a manufacturer works on a new option for a long time before it is actually available?

If you want a modern engine you have only one choice...SAW (specialty autoworks). They are built on more of a modern platform and modern systems.

Steve, Like an Audi TT? I'm kidding, ok? We all have our own vision of the dream... it's all good.

Vinatge VW engines are so simple that anyone that can read should be able to do their own routine maintenance with the help of a manual or two.

The Mechanics are not a problem, I have been working on cars all my life, will do my own service work, I even owned a very well done "old style" dune buggy back in high school with I believe a 1835cc motor.

I have looked at the SAW with great interest, but there is a part of me that enjoys the feedback you get while driving old technology.

i.e. I recently restored a 74 Moto Guzzi Eldorado frame up and also bought a new 05 Harley. I persoanlly enjoy the Guzzi much more.

The Harley is refined and beautiful but there is something about the feel of no power brakes or steering to get between me and the road.

The SAW is very appealing though! and I have not laid the cash down yet.

Scott

Hey, I definitely think that the SAW is only for certain lazy people such as myself. And I agree with George that the VW maintenance isn't hard if you have the time, but man a lot of us have no time. If you have the time and inclination to work on the VW, then what the heck, they are a neat little engine.

But for rain protection I stand by what I said, its roll-ups or forget it. And even then you have to expect a little leak once in awhile with any convertible.

Above he said he wanted to make it a daily driver?? I hope none of you are really suggesting that the old VW is a good daily driver? It does ok with some real limitations, if you know what they are and can except them then go for it!!!

Jim, Audi TT??? Ok, but not very interesting compared to the speedster replica. And man does that local dealership piss me off.

Hey I did test drive the toyota spyder though and that is a neat little car for the money!!!!! Of course I don't have any money left for cars at this point..LOL