Beck vs VS

*sigh*

Im back to my dreaming about a Speedster... and as usual (usual for me) I find myself here begging, pleading and basically reaching for any input.

So the scenario. I am in North Carolina, and there is a Beck Dealer here. (less the 5 miles from my house)
Obviously there is a huge comfort level added by the proximety.

I look at VS just from the feedback given on this site...

This car would be my primary car. I would rack up rounghly 4500 miles a year on it (ain't that nice to be so close to work... errr)

Is it reasonable to use it everyday?
Anyone know the price difference? (waiting on an email from Beck, and just not that patient)

And how do you finance these? Do I need to out of pocket it, or can you do a traditional car loan?

I know, I know... too many questions.

Thanks

Might as well give you the all of bad news:

Beck "dealer"? Beware - probably just someone reselling and I would not expect much support.

Most insurance companies will not cover a Speedster replica as an only car daily driver.

It will not finance like a new Ford or Mazda; you will need a collateralized loan (stock, mortgage refi, etc.).

Only practical as a daily driver if you can put up with its shortcomings in weather protection, etc.

Most of that I figured...

I should have clarified on the weather... I have no intention of driving it in the rain or snow (rarely happens here) and do have a back up car for that.

Financing could be rather interesting, but nothing I can't figure out. And I think I saw a list of insurance companies on the site here.

Now on the Beck... yeah, I agree its a reseller, but I got the name of them from the Beck site... still marketing mumbo jumbo Im sure.

Thanks

Maybe check into a home equity loan for part of the financing, and I think you can declare the interest on your tax returns. Just a thought. As far as weather goes, I am sure many of us drove leaky sports cars as an only driver, I know I did and I survived OK. This was in the midwest snow belt too. Bruce

Ben

Feel free to give me a call regarding the pricing and literature on the Beck Speedster (614) 325-6684

Regarding the dealers, we have much more than what George refers to as "re-sellers". Both east coast dealers are extremely customer oriented, and are happy to go "above and beyond"...

Our pricing is uniform, so you'd actually SAVE a little money by buying from your local dealer, as opposed to going directly through me. (i.e. no shipping costs as you'd have from me)

Carey

Time to clear the schedule and make me a call...

Thanks (note: probably will not be able to call you till tomorrow)

Carey, with all due respect I've seen "dealers" for this type of product come and go; while they're active some are helpful and knowledgable, and some aren't.

Chuck Beck is a cool guy but he seems to come and go in this business, too.

Ben,

As far as Speedsters for daily drivers that is a broad question and a lot depends on your situation (young kids, wife, etc.), do you own other vehicles, do you "entertain" clients so need a comfortable car for your guests to get into and out of... Hell, several of us here used motorcycles year round for our day drivers so a Speedster would be no problem for some.

The Beck sounds nice to me. I would check to see if they have roll-up windows yet, think I read where they are in the pipeline, would be a shame to buy one of the last models with side curtains.

Carey, what does a Beck dealer do for the customer? Do they handle Beck warranty work in-house?

Daily drive is less then 10 miles, street driving (little to no highway... kind of a shame really).
Married, no kids (no intention either.. but I know, I know mistakes happen).
Wife works 2 blocks from me an our hours are almost identical.
Yes I entertain.. alot, but in a downtown market. For the most part I walk.... but I also have a limo at my disposal (company perk)

I live so close to work that a moped would be fine (though I would love to do the motorcycle thing... kind of not happening)

I be curious to see how long people have owned their cars, how many miles they have on them. I just worry that in 3 years Ill be staring at a mess (nothing to prove that, actually more info pointing the other way)

Erik,

Yes, everything from scheduled maintainence to warranty repairs and more.
If there is something that a dealer couldn't do (I don't know what this would be, but IF) I CAN!

Roll up windows will be an option for '04. Side curtains will still be standard.

George,

I don't follow the Chuck has "come and gone" comment. I have known Chuck since before I was even thinking about a driver's license, and have never known him to be out of the "loop" Sometimes you just have to know where to look...

I too have seen many dealers (and companies for that matter) in this business, come and go. So I understand where you're coming from on this. But, I work hand in hand with my dealers. They have to understand that they represent us, and the reputation that Chuck, my father, and various others have spent the better part of their lives establishing.

Ben,

I put some info in your inbox.

CEH

So Ben, do you live in Charlotte?

About four years ago I wanted to buy a new Beck Spyder for cash and looked high and low for info/leads; didn't know if Chuck was still building cars; couldn't get any leads. So I guess "knowing where to look" was a closely held secret?

Ben,
If you own a home and have equity in it, an equity line is a real good way to go. The money you pull accumulates interest as pointed out,and you can creatively call it related to your house and write it off... Most equity lines require interest only payments for say, 10-15 years, then the whole balance gets amortized into a pay-off mode.

I used an equity line to buy my Sport Trac a few years ago. Then Ford bought the Sport Trac back because of some lemon-aid laws, paid off the equity line...drove a new truck for almost a full year and was out of pocket about$1400.00.

Didn't someone on the forum say they insured their replica as a daily driver with State Farm?

There are some very serious weather issues you'll want to keep in mind. Out here in CA it still gets wet and windy and I've been known to put my top up on occasion. Slippery roads, poor visibility and my growing fear of soccer moms insulated (read oblivious) in their SUVs may keep my mileage down this winter!

But then again, a light mist at dawn, top down, Jimmy Buffet on the box, Hell what could be better?
MM

Getting financing couldn't be easier than click www.peoplefrst.com They have incredible low rates and you'll get an answer within minutes.
As for the quality of a BECK Speedster, in my opinion, it's simply one of the better replica's around. If I could sell my Intermecchanica I would trade up to a BECK. The chassis alone makes the biggest difference, not to mention the correct "scissor-style" top frame & latching mechanism to the windscreen. They're exactly what Porsche intended.

You can also check out www.jjbest.com They will finance, but you need excellent credit and at least 20% down payment.

Check out www.hagerty.com Hagerty insures "high quality" replicas. However, I believe they have a "second car" or "limited use" restriction.

George,
I overlooked your post earlier...

No secret. I've been told that he can be a hard person to get on the phone. But that's not something I've experienced.

I'm a little suprised that you couldn't find any leads.
I think you'd have liked a Spyder. It's one of my favorite toys.

C

Carey, I came very close to buying a used Beck Spyder that needed some minor work but the owner wanted too much money for it. Also, they're very impractical cars, but a ride in Bob Tomlinson's turbo Beck Spyder (1915cc) almost made me think about it again. God, but that little car is FAST.

Glenn, selling an IM is a very easy thing to do - lots of prospective buyers out there. If you want a Beck, go for it...

Sorry to reply so slow...

YES I am in Charlotte.

*begins the "oh please tell me you have a speedster with low miles and want to get rid of it and happen to live in Charlotte" dance*

Since I have not had a chance to check the forum in a bit, I figured I might as well jump in. We are the Beck Speedster dealer here in Charlotte. And just so everyone knows, we are not only selling the Beck Speedster, but are also buying/selling high end sports cars such as Porsches and stuff, both consignment and general resale. So, we are not planning to be going away anytime soon.

As we have only been a Beck Speedster dealer for about two months now, we are in the process of putting together our first kit. We are just waiting on the engine and a couple minor pieces. Actually wasn't very hard so far.

From a service standpoint, we work with Eurowerks here in Charlotte. Anybody out there with a Porsche in this area knows Jim Burton, he is one of the best.

Honestly everyone, Carey and Kevin have been very responsive and extremely helpful in getting this kit of ours together. They are taking the dealer network thing very seriously and not wanting any fly-by-nighters, so I think from that standpoint everything is OK.

Ben, I hope I answered some of your questions in my email to you.

-Bob Saville
Exclusive Motors, Inc.

So, do I have this right - individual Beck "dealers" are assembling Beck kit cars? IMO that doesn't compete with VS, JPS, or IM.

I guess that depends on the experience and knowledge of the dealers.

I guess Bob, but how do you complete with the years of experience that Kirk, John and Henry have? In most jobs there are 'tricks of the trade' that allow those with experience to do what appears to be the same job, but do it much better. That fact is multiplied by the complexity of the job, and building a car is reasonably complex. In my opinion, those 'tricks of the trade' show up a few years after the build has been done. For example, knowing how to run wires correctly so that they don't wear at points where they come in contact with the body, or other parts on the car. It sounds simple, you just run the wires, but it's not that simple. And you learn those things by making mistakes and having to fix those mistakes in your 'early years' in the business. I would rather not buy a car from someone who is still learning those early lessons.

No. ALL of the body lamination, chassis, wiring, painting, upholstery, top, etc. is done by us... regardless.

Bob Saville's assembly is from a "deluxe" kit stage, which entails the bolt on of minor front suspension parts, engine, transaxle, and a few basics (taillights/badges). He did this to understand the process of building a "kit" first hand.

This is the MOST amount of assembly that we allow ANYONE to do. Dealer, customer, friend... doesn't matter.

CEH

I apologize for the confusion. As Carey stated, the "kit" comes as a complete chassis, painted, wired, all interior installed, etc. All anybody has to do to "build" one is install some front suspension parts, transaxle, engine, lights, and some minor cosmetic items.

We decided to put one together ourselves so that when one of out customers orders one to assemble themselves, we will have first hand knowledge of what they are doing and how to help them.

Then the Beck is a kit car (owner finished) whereas most VS, JPS and IM cars are "factory built" cars. Will this may make a difference in titling and insurance in some states?

George,

The Beck is available in three stages.

Deluxe kit, in which the customer can add his own engine, and some basic components without the involvement of the paint, upholstery, and wiring professionals.

Roller, in which the customer has to supply only his engine.

Turn-key, which is factory built, ready to go.

Registration varies so greatly between the states, that it just depends on where you live. Some states base year according to engine, some according to chassis, some according to what you tell them...

CEH

I think IM will sell a rolling kit as well? Everything pretty much done but the drive train? Someone who has talked to IM lately could probably tell us more exactly

Intermeccanica does offer a Coach. If you are mechanical the savings can be substantial.

Ben, are you still out there? My email to you was bounced back. Our Beck Speedster is finally finished so we are having an open house at our facility this Saturday Dec 6 to introduce it to all the people that have expressed interest. Email me or give me a call if you are interested in attending,

Anyone else planning to be in the Charlotte area on the 6th is also welcome to attend.

Bob Saville bob@exclusive-motors.com

BTW, pictures can be seen on our website at www.exclusive-motors.com. Go to Beck Speedster and scroll down to the section that talks about our Project Car, #061. We posted some pictures of our progress. Drove it for the first time since it's alignment. Great drive, but VERY COLD today.

Hello Ben Thorman. Welcome to our group! As you can see we are passionate about these cars and many of us are vocal in our opinions.

I think others addressed the financing. Paul (MM) is a good source for discussing that aspect of your plans as he does mortgages.

I have a VS that I bought new in 2001 and have put 17,000+ miles on it. It's not a daily driver as I am retired and have plenty (read: too many) other vehicles available when it's cold or wet. But I liked the earlier comment regarding "leaky sports cars"..... if you are young (or going through a mid lifer - see another thread about age) then you will put up with the discomfort in exchange for the thrill. Bottom line is these are not 'true' daily drivers except in So-Cal or Hawaii. IM may be an exception... and possibly Beck.. the jury is still out on the last one.

I love my VS and am your basic satisfied customer. Write privately and I will give you my experience and answer any specific Qs you may have about VS.

Another option is JPS. I personally think John Steele builds a great car and think he might be a good choice too. Write John Leader and also check out his ride in the files under 'Leader'. My VS is listed under 'dubudee'. Also, I'd check out some of the recent IM speedster owners. Start with Dale and work through the list. George and Scott have new ones that I'd give a "10" rating on too.

Beck seems like a neat car and a great deal to me. It's awful hard to commit $$$ from a distance on a new builder in our market, so I'm not sure on a true 'recommendation'. But if I could work directly with C.Hines and get a contract on the turn-key I would definitely consider his product. Best bet is to visit him and eyeball a car up close. Pictures and the concept of roll ups and a custom frame get me excited, that's for sure. Visit ALL the manufacturers... or at least the ones you are considering. But I would heavily consider Beck if you can get that comfort level needed to part with the start up $$$.

IM? You didn't ask, but here it is. If I were buying again I'd pop the extra 12-14G and get a nice IM Speedster. Call that a recommendation.

If money is an issue, why not look into the used market? On e-bay and others I see CMCs, VS, JPS, and IMs in a 13-20G range that appear to be a great buy.

Insurance. I have Hagerty and it's a great deal at around $325 with towing but a little restrictive. I watched Speedvision this weekend and was so impressed with Grundy's Rep that I called and got a quote from them. $500,000 Liability Zero Deducts, full C&C with an agreed value of 25G with no depreciation and NO mileage limit (they recognize this to be a folly in classic car insurance) was $300. Still had that not for work caveat though.....

Hope this helps... just an opinion. Study, do your homework... and go buy a Speedster replica!

Jim

Jim, is the not for work mean you can't drive it to work or that you can't use it for work.

Paul, George, Jim ; Glad as punch you guys are still out there. My ship's come in and am looking for an O rigenal speedy and 356SC cabo for the 'barn' Whant a 550 to play with. Eny imput is welcome revsharp@hotmail .com Be Safe, Doug

Ben,
What ever happened to you? Please contact me if you are still interested in seeing the Beck.

-Bob Saville
704.309.5499

Is there a Beck Speedster dealer in San Diego, CA.? Thanks!

Per Special Edition's (Beck) website, there is a dealer in So. Cal, but their web page does not work (www.SDSpeedster.com), that sounds like San Diego for SD doesn't it?

I am waiting for a new Speedster from Carey Hines at Beck, and should get it in about 4 weeks. I did not actually go to a dealer to see one. In addition, I don't think there is any delivery charge if you order one from Special Edition directly.

Your other option is to go to the local show in So. Cal it's in about 4 weeks.

Per Special Edition's (Beck) website, there is a dealer in So. Cal, but their web page does not work (www.SDSpeedster.com), that sounds like San Diego for SD doesn't it?

I am waiting for a new Speedster from Carey Hines at Beck, and should get it in about 4 weeks. I did not actually go to a dealer to see one. In addition, I don't think there is any delivery charge if you order one from Special Edition directly.

Your other option is to go to the local show in So. Cal it's in about 4 weeks.

Ken,

Call Luke Richards in San Diego.
858 705 4400

Carey