CAR WANTED!!!

For that money you could commission a new build from Vintage or possible JPS.  Used automatics are a bit rare.

are they too old to learn ?

 

I had the same thought Bill.  Unless they're physically limited, why not learn to drive a stick?  It's a big part of the fun.  If they want an automatic, it makes me wonder how they'll take to the lack of power steering, lack of power brakes, leaky side curtains, etc.

Have them look at an Audi TT. Could be long wait especially for a coupe with auto.

 

 

 

Hey Guys, yeah yeah, i have told them over and over, its easy to learn, I can teach you!

Part of the truth is that age does plays a part.

they are too young! yes, at the age where they just dont have time for anything else, their priority is to build their careers, and the little time they have, they tend to their two young children.

wait, maybe i got that priority part backwards. kids then career

but whatever all the reasons are, who am i to judge.

Audi TT....NO WolfGang!!!!!

 

Lane, I was not aware that Vintage or JPS offers an automatic transmission.

i should look into that if that be the case.

 

Quite honestly, if they don't have time to learn a stick, they don't have time to drive a speedster. 

 

I've taught young people to drive a stick in less than an hour.

They were confident in 2-3 hours.

 

If you don't have 3 hours to add a skill that you will have for a lifetime, the intricacies and nuances of driving a car with 50 year old technology isn't going to be fun for them.

 

-=theron

I think they would be better off buying a used Boxster with an autobox.  I'd be willing to bet your brother is not mechanically inclined and won't be able to work on his speedster.  With the ongoing small problems we have with these cars, he'll soon tire of taking it to a shop (if he can find one) to keep it running properly.

Theron, what you said is exactly gonna be the case,

it will either become a garage queen, and when i go home to visit my folks, i will have a car to drive and save on renting a car.

or they will realize the mistake they made in purchasing their car, but they will have to find out the hard way...

 

seems like i made the mistake of posting for them,

wasnt expecting to get so much negative feedback on personal preference of what transmission a person wants in their ride.

looks like slim chance an auto would find its way here in the forum.

You can get a very nice used Porsche Boxster with a auto for that amount of money.

Ron, yes again you hit the name on the head.

he can barely change a flat tire.

JC - as some have discovered on this website , EVERYBODY's an EXPERT (as with any other online discussion)! There are some in this crowd that have forgotten their humble beginnings in replica ownership, and can be unnecessarily tough/rude to a new or inquisitive member. 

 

That being said, this site is very entertaining and informative if you take comments with a grain of salt (remember what I just said about entertaining?). Missing the nuances of face-to-face communication, on-line discussion can easily degrade to a flame-war!

 

Hope you stick around and find the information you seek! 

JC - I don't know if Vintage or JPS offer an automatic, but I imagine that they would do one for a customer.  They'd have to find a rebuildable Beetle auto and have it refurbished.  That said, the other folks here are right.  If your brother is expecting a neat looking car with the ability of a modern, mass-produced car to be neglected and still run, he will be disappointed.

wise words from a wise man,

thank you Jim!

Didn't someone just buy a white IM w/ automatic?   They do exist, but are pretty rare.

I believe that IM has built some with automatics. However, sourcing a used one might prove difficult and having one built by IM would exceed the budget you quoted. 

I'm sure Vintage can do an auto for $35k.  Henry at IM does autos all the time.  So the technology and parts are out there.  But I do believe its a 3-speed auto.  Ouch.

I'd start with Phil's idea, call Kirk at Vintage. 

Doesn't oldyeller have an automatic?

Sorry if I sounded harsh.  Your friends have good taste.  The Speedster is one of, if not the best looking car ever made & I don't know why everyone wouldn't want to drive one.

However, the romance of a Speedster or a '67 Mustang or any other classic car is often replaced with the hard reality of just how far cars have come since then.

On top of that, these cars are semi-custom built hot rods that don't get millions of dollars of development.

The automatic is just an alarm bell that the romance may be clouding the judgement.  They're very welcome, but hoping, for their own sake, they really understand what they're getting into.

I don't think any of us did fully, but those of us who remain are too stubborn to give up on the dream.

Drive what ya like... but I've already got two automatics and having a four speed street legal go kart with a 2110 in it that I can stretch out a little just gives me that old sense of getting away with something when I jump on it. I'm an old kid, I guess!

Guys,

its all good,

there is no bad advise,

even advise that is viewed negative or bad are usually the ones that remain in the back the the head, and these that remain may save us in the end.

 

so does anyone have an Automatic for Sale?

 

Yes. I believe you do. Take the car you've got, and are selling on the other thread, and have an automatic put in it. It'll be WORLDS easier than trying to find a used one with an slush-box.

 

Kirk can do it, and if he can't there are many, many places that can. You'll sell the car you've got, and find the car your brother wants in your own garage. It's win/win.

 

Message me to find out where to send my commission check. 

forgot you had a spare.... well yeah, there is your answer! plus, as you stated, you 'll have a Speedy to drive when you go home to your parent's place.

 

Send Stan that check. 

Haha, nice option, but not gonna happen, I am selling this car and putting in a build with john @jps.
Not gonna mix the two objectives.

JC,

Don't take our comments as negative. I'm truely being honest when I say they probably won't like the nuances of a speedster, if they can't drive a stick.

 

What you are looking for is called a VW Autostick transmission. It was used on 1970-1979 VWs in the states.  Although, it's not what you would think of today as an automatic transmission.  It will still require adjustments from time to time at a VW mechanic with the know-how and finding a mechanic that understands an Autostick is becoming increasingly difficult.

 

-=theron

I wasn't kidding. You're not going to find a car with an automatic, and getting yours converted wouldn't cost that much

 

... but by all means, carry on.

 

Theron is right on the philosophical level-- although on the nuts and bolts side, I believe Borg-Warner made a true automatic (3-speed) for the aftermarket that JPS and IM have used. I think this is what Barry used. If you are having JPS build the coupe, at least ask him how much to convert the speedster to automatic before you discard the idea out of hand.

I do know the auto stick faults ...It's mostly the shifter points that go bad, a broken wire at the same location or a leak in the vacuum canister /solenoid. When they work well they're fun because you can really wind out the tranny. Most don't know that there actually is a clutch.

How it all works:  On the base of the shifter there is a set of dime sized points, when any pressure is applied to the shifter ( the weight of your hand) the clutch will become disengaged by breaking the contacts which sends a signal to the solenoid next to the vacuum canister which in turn pulls the clutch to release it ....fun to watch and listen to the motor rev as a Newbie  tries to figure out how to shift one  !

JC;

 

Specialty Auto Sports offers both coupes and speedsters in your price range with auto trans.

http://www.specialtyauto.com/available_models.htm

 

commission check not accepted.

^ perfect. It'll be ready in 3 years or so.

wow business must be good, or they are island time slow.

https://www.speedsterowners.com...4#374252102880789974

sorry i wasted the bandwidth,  those guys with deposits I assume back to 2007 must be, furious.

Yeah. Forewarned is forearmed.

thank you, thank you and thank you.

i will talk to john steele and kirk.

do a bit of digging...

maybe i will forward these posts onto my bro/sis in law to change their mind.

ultimately in the end,I really want to get something, even if an auto tranny.

i would really enjoy bonding time with him.

cheers everyone.

 

I had '69 baby blue bug with the Auto Stick Shift ('68 was first year in US and '76 last). Many buying bugs don't want them and convert theme to 4 speed standard transmission so the unwanted parts are available for cheap.  It is a straight bolt in operations (few holes and brackets) needed.  My '69 was very rusty - I parted it out and got $50 for auto stick stuff.  A guy building a vw powered trike bought it.  Be sure to get all the parts as some are becoming hard to come by.  One issue is the use of engine vacuum to pull in the clutch.  Seems that when you try to get more horsepower out of a bug the vacuum goes way down.  So they tend to be bug slow. 

Low vacuum is easy to solve. You just need to drill each runner in the manifold and plumb them to a reservoir. VW had a reservoir on 1.6l Rabbit/Sciroccos to help with the brake booster.

Danny, a bit 'off topic'...but here goes!

 

Stewart Warner's West Wind gasoline cabin heaters aren't recommended for VW's because of weak vacuum pressure... The West Wind sucks in and burns fuel vapor and not fuel directly... Would your suggestion of drilling/plumbing solve that inadequate vacuum pressure?

(Those West Winds are so compact, simple, and neat art-deco looking!) 

I just bought a 2004 Intermecannica with a 3 speed automatic that I'm pretty impressed with. I talked to Henry and he said they have built several of them and they are good strong trannys. He even hooked up a micro switch on the linkage for the passing gear kick down.  Don't get the semi automatics confused with the 3 speed trannys.

    Following up Dannys post....Henry used a master cyl. and booster off a VW Golf and plumbed the intakes for vacuum for power brakes on my car.

The bug automatic stick shift is 3 speed but you have to shift gears.  It is possible to take off in 2nd or 3rd.  It can remain in gear (due to torque converter) at a traffic light.  No clutch pedal - resting hand on shifter takes care of that function.  It's similar to the Porsche Tiptronic transmission.  I think its more fun to drive than a fully auto transmission.  Most VW 411/412's were fully automatic 3 speeds.  I suspect that trans is larger than the T1 but probably not by much.  This 3 spd auto trans was coupled to the 1.7/1.8L T4 engine - so was meant to handle higher HP. These too are readily available as the 411 never was popular and often a victim of the rust worm. HA - New cars seem to sport 7 or 8 speed transmissions.