Boys and Toys

I agree completely? jkl

Boys and toys:

VS, Thunder Ranch, IM, SAW, Beck,and any others are all toys in different price ranges and of different quality. Each Manufacturer or reseller has had bad experinces. Each customer has his own story and experince.
Is it correct for someone to say that VS is cheap junk or IM is overpriced? The answer in my book is no. I recent member got a VS in the price range he can afford and has had nothing but joy. The gent on a recent IM thread describes his car as "cheap" Two differnt experinces. Im is the most expensive (I think) and it appeals to a certain buyer value. I have never seen one but I would imagine that the attention to detail would have to be outstanding. So, I can't coment other than to say above my budget for a replica.
My point is as follows; we all do what we can and drive what we can. You should feel good about what you own and we should support each other on this site.
I don't care if you made the car, bought the car padi top dollar for the car or tried a new car like I did with my SAW speedster.
What ever you drive is fine by me.
What I and a number of others are getting sick of is the mine is better than your's concept. So, if possible whatever you drive tip your hat to your fellow speedster driver cause he is also part of a pretty exclusive club, VS, Beck, Thunder Ranch or IM

Yeah Jim I shot to quickly but, I am getting a bit sick of the game being played on this site by a select few which is transparent!

Jim:

I think you are holdin on a bit tight here.
You are respected by many and liked by almost as many as far as I can tell but I will tell you with no agenda you are not achieving your objective, frankly quite the opposite. You are piisin off a lot of people me included.

Stu. I agree 98% with what you posted above. I alsoo know of 19-20 long time (and respected) SOC members that quit posting here because of the thread highjacks, the crap about IM or any other maker, and the number of posts offering answers to issues out of their area of expertise.

I would like to see those 18 return some day. I would also love to see Gordon's group return someday. Stan was one of the SOC MIAs and he posted a good post... and promptly got a blast from Vince. Yes, I understand Vince does that opccasionally... but not to this degree. I took appropritae action. Pretty simple. I would do the same if someone made that remark about Kirk, John Steele, C. Hines, or Stevew at SAW. It was inappropriare beyonf "fun" and a light flame.

That is my agenda. I am an owner, and I have been on here for 4 years. I have a stake in it as all of you do.

Jim

Stu. Most of the members of the SOC are gone... either lurking, or just gone period. Many of them complained about the lack of contol on the threads, the arguments, the flame wars, the rookies trying to answer tech questions, or what car to buy (that is a big one), and the need for site improvment.

If I had a heavy hand I would be moving threads & posts around daily. I just moved that one, because of Vince's remarks and the arguement/counter arguments that followed it. Those remarks are intact, and if anyone wants to continiue that arguement, then jump on it within boundries. Stan's thread is intact, the Arguement has been moved (minus Vince's post)...... that's all I did.

I have facilitated and moderated other groups, discussions, and forums. I do not expect needed change to the SOC to come easy. I'm sorry if it pissed off a few people. But as grown adults it shouldn't be too hard to stay within the line..... within reason. A side joke is not going to get moved....

I will police the for sale adds though.

That's it.
Jim

Jim, no offense, but I think you only need to moderate completely out of control comments. If you keep moving every comment that is slightly off topic, it is rediculous. Personally, I can't find half the posts I make & I think that sucks. I would like to find a reasonable comment right where I put it.

Stuart

Your ignorance of these cars is very obvious! Your postings are meaningless.

Joel entitled to your opinion.
Like I said this is not about the cars. It is about people. It should be about the cars of which my knowledge base in limited. I have never said otherwise but, appreciate your wisely pointing out.

Stu, your lack of knowledge on the cars hasn't stopped you from giving buyers advice in the newbie section. Ditto, what Joel said!

Well, I have to say, this isn't exactly rocket science. We all like to think its complicated and takes years to understand the basic issues at hand, but with the search engine used effectively I think the average person can have it pretty well figured out in a week.

I know my opinion hasn't changed much on most issues in the last 3 years and that was after about 4 weeks of research right here on this site, so I'm not sure how long a person really needs to figure out the issues involved in speedsters.

Now figuring out exactly what you want for options and such is a little harder, I mean just look at how much people who have owned more then one car change what they want. Its really kind of amazing and kind of cool.

Steve

How long have you owned a speedster? Would that be less than 6 months.

How many miles have you logged on a speedster? Would that be less that 3000.

How much work have you done on a speedster? Would that be none.

You have much to learn.

Joel, why are you flaming me? I have driven one about 12 thousand miles, my 93 IM and I drove it more then most people will ever drive there cars in total. I have done 5 oil changes. 2 valve adjustments and one very stubborn pulley 356 pulley upgrade, an oil cooler install, and several electrical issues including a tachometer that didn't function and a headlight relay that blew. Oh and I synced my carbs every weekend just because I thought it was fun. What wasn't so fun is I have watched the engine rebuild process 3 times in those 12 thousand miles. That frankly I was unwilling to take on while I as working 50 hours a week, but in retrospect I should have, because I'm convinced I could have bought a CBperformanc engine put it in myself and been done with it, and that is what I have learned.

I have driven 2 different Vintage speedsters and 2 different CMC speesdters. I also have driven a 3 different IM's including my own.
I have unfortunately only rode in one SAW. AND IT WASN'T MINE...LOL

I have lots to learn, but not about VW engines, suspensions, or electrical systems. Why? Frankly, because I don't own one anymore.

Now what was your point, or was it just to jump on someone?

Hey Steve, like my dad always said "There's more horses asses in this world than there are horses". A few of them are members on SOC. But I guess if it weren't for them we wouldn't as great as we are....

To everyone please ignore mine and Joels post. It's ok, I don't know why or how I have offended joel, but lets move on, it doesn't really matter.

And Joel, I truely have no idea what I have done to make you mad, but I'll apologize for it right now. Whatever it was, it was unintentional.

Done.

It seems that you need to wrench a speedster and drive one 3,000 miles to render an opinion.
I think on mechanical issues (wrenching) that would be right.
I do not thinkn this is rocket science in any way shape or form.
Mybuyer values were as stated on this site a long time ago to buy a car that does nothave all the needs of a VW plant, a pan frame and old suspension and drum brakes.
In what I bought I hope I found that.
To understand these issues does not mean you have to wrench which is not what I want to do at all.
Iwant to drive it and have it serviced anywhere.
With the Subaru plant I can do that. With it being water cooled I Hope I have avoided other problems with over heating.
These buyer values do not take a degree in automotive engineering.
You can really m,ake this as complicated as you want with enough mystique.
Sorry I don't think it is that complicated.
Trying to make a positive Post

The Jerk

Nolan. Joel happens to be one of the sharpest T-1 guys around, and he is a good soul with a big smile and a positive attitude. He has many friends in the community and I'm proud to call him a friend. Steve is also a nice guy with a good heart and I am sure he will write Joel privately.

Maybe we, you and I, should let Steve & Joel sort this out without stoking the coals?

Jim

What's with you guys? Are to trying to build this site or destroy it? Enough of the BS back and forth about who is right and who is wrong. Just post approriate questions and responses and leave your egos at home. I don't post often but I do read to try to learn more about Speedsters kit cars, not about personal adgendas.

Enough already!

Jim you are right.
I have become a blowhard myself which I apologize for.

Shawn,
Leave it alone

Hi Troy, I actually just got back on the site after a week or two off due to the baby. I will leave it alone, but was not sure what was happening here. I saw all these horrible posts between everyone. I went back to read them to catch up, but I could not read the first one, so I was a little in the dark. Sorry guys, did not mean to stir something up. Still love you fellas! Big hug.

Hi Stuart,
I hope all is well with your SAW.
Shawn

Shawn. I will be driving my Saw all week this week in the mountains of Idaho to see the colors and hopefuly enjoy my car and get to know it better.
I wil report good or bad as to how all goes. More info to come.
Wish everyone well.

It's good to hear you're up and running. That's a BAD car.

Drove the car 60 miles in the mountains. Lost 1st and 3rd gear due to a faulty shifting cable which broke at the stem by the end of the cable eyelet connection. Cause of this event was a clutch which needed adjustment and bleeding of the line. The clutch started to get "soft" and shifting becam difficult. While I did not want to be a wrench I am getting experince since I went to friends shop and pulled the channel etc to get to the offending part, learned how to adjust my clutch and Bleed the line. So much for my buyer values.
SAW has been great with customer service and I will have a new cable today which should be a 30 min installation. Steve Lawling talked us through the issues which speeded up diagnostics which was simple enough.
Bit disappointing to report but that is where I am at.
LTL (lot to learn) and LOL

Stuart, I know you wanted a car that you could just drive and didn't have to mess with, so I am sorry to hear you are having these problems. However, these are mechanical beasts and they all have problems of one sort or another. The good news is once these things are sorted out you should be OK, and you still won't need to adjust your valves....

Talk about mechanical problems, my wife's 2001 Jetta VR6 has been in and out of the VW dealer's shop. It has only 20K miles on it and has had the following replaced: 4 different sensors, 2 cooling fans, 2 spark plug wires (said to be arcing), window motor, stop light switch, emergency switch, battery, and door handle. The hood has been repainted twice, from a minor fender bender when she hit from the rear, and still needs to be repainted because of a piss poor spray job. This piece of fine German engineering cost over $32,000 and when I ask the service manager why so many problems his reply was " well with all the new technology put in these things there's so many things that can go wrong". Duhhhhhhh

Ron:
thanks fopr your note. I figure it this way. I keep learning. I now can adjust my clutch, Have taken apart the shifting mechnisum with help I might add. SAW has stood behind their warranty. The car will get sorted and I will have fun. All part of the experince I guess and I am still loving the car.
It is so fast it is scary fast. Handles well (when it shifts)and shortly that issue will be behind me.
I am impressed by SAW and response I getit back in the AM Friday and I will be off on the road again.

All I can say is LOL

I would expect these kind of break in things on any new hand built car. In fact I don't mind doing little things, but I don't want to have to pull the engine, so I'm hoping that will never be a problem.

Steve;

You I am on the road Thursday. fedex screwed up and sent to the wrong depot??//(*%#
The isnstall of the shifting cableis about 30 mins and some test driving but no big deal.
The guy who is working on the car works on all the other speedsters in SV (I have been advised that there are 6).; He said this was by far the best put togeather kit car he has seen thus far and also commented that there would be a period of time to work out the kinks. He races also and said the same thing happens with his new cars for the track as he works out the kinks.
End of the day he was pleased the car is very easy to work on.
Steve has been great back up his warranty and I cannot comlan about customer service at all.
LOL
Beware when I hit the road!