Convertible D versus Speedster......

I was reading in another thread that George decided to go with a speedster this time instead of the convertible D.....this makes me wonder, if I use a gas heater like george is doing, can I expect the roll up windows in a speedster to work as well as the convertible D and will I have a car that is just as good in the rain and what kind of cold temp could I still expect to be able to drive comfortably in. I'm curious as to drawback on speedsters with roll up windows??

sorry about that run on sentence

I have a speedster with the electric windows. I seldom have the top up and I think side glass is for wusses. My wife is a wuss. She likes the side glass up on cool evenings but personally, I dont think it makes much of a difference. We did get caught in a huge downpour on the way home to Sacramento after the Knotts Berry Farm show and the side windows were ALMOST leak proof. I have probably the third set Henry (Intermeccanica) made and the newer versions probably seal much better. I have never been in a roadster, but can imagine that the side glass in those cars is more effective. The front of the window is straight compared to the curve required in a speedster window. I had no leaks from the High Bow top, but I can tell you, being on the Grapevine in a heavy rain with itsybitsy speedster "viewports" is not fun and does not make for easy driving. For weather protection, the Roadster has it over the speedster. As for looks.......

Sorry, forgot to mention temperature. With the top up and windows up the VW heater works fine. I imagine that I could drive in weather below freezing with the car in that configuration. But I used to drive my TR5 at 20degrees with the top down, tonneau on and a couple of coats, and gloves. oh yeah, barefoot.

You seem to know exactly what I'm thinking, because I do prefer the looks of the speedster window. I'm going to drive my car down to about 35 degrees, but leave it in the garage below that temperature. I am tempted to go with curtains, but I think the roll ups will seal up better and in Iowa you never know when a rain shower will pop up. As for visibility I don't think this will be any problem as the traffic here is just not as bad as most places.

Steven, the roll-up windows for a Speedster will not only seal better they will improve the visibility to each side (but visibility still won't be nearly as good as a "D"). The gas heater could probably force you out of the car in Antarctica, but best of all it gives you freedom of selection for exhaust systems (no heater boxes required). Since the heater boxes are extra weight at the rear their absence contributes to improved weight distribution.

George, have you picked up a set of heater boxes lately. The hollow cored heater boxes weigh next to nothing. I just took mine off of my car again (mine are enlarged to 1 5/8")and I doubt they both weight much more than 10 pounds, and that 10 pounds is situated low in the vehicle. I bet the gas heater weighs more.
If I were to drive one of these vehicles, all year long and in cold weather, I'd put in both. Around town I'd like a gas heater, since the heater boxes don't put out much heat in stop and go traffic. On the highway the heater boxes should be enough, and if they are not you can alway put on the gas heater for a bit. The nice thing about heater boxes is that the heat is free, while a gas heater uses gas, and I've been told that they're quite thirsty.
Ron

I have been told in the past that a gas heater will average anywhere between 1-2 gallons an hour which seems cheap if your freezing your *ss off, but I will be going to work and the total drive time is only 15 minutes so I probably will stick with the gas heater....I am a wimp....but still maybe I could get by with out the gas heater. I am torn between the two options maybe I will just do both? Its seems like it would be wasteful to do both, but I don't want to have regrets either way.

As for the windows.....do the D windows seal up better then the roll up speedster windows? I think George is saying that they do, I just want to make sure I'm clear on this issue.

Steven, many years ago I owned a 1970 beetle that I used for my daily commute to university. It had a gas heater in it and I loved it. When I hopped in the car, on a cold morning, I fired up the gas heater and had instant heat (sooooo nice, when the temperature gets close to freezing). Then, when I got going, and the motor warmed up, I turned off the gas heater and used the heater boxes.
Ron

Like Ron, I had a '67 Beetle with a gas heater. Driving around Western Michigan winters in that little bomber was a pleasure. Not only did I have instant heat in single-digit weather, but with a pair of studded, over-sized snow tires on the back, I was unstoppable!

great answers guys I have a much better idea of the differences and I feel I can make a much better decision.

My numbers for gas heater were, as George pointed out, way high, I was thinking in terms of gas heaters on small airplanes and the heater is much bigger in small airplanes then what is needed in small cars.

Ron, the small Espar gas heaters are really quite efficient and burn somewhat less than you mentioned. Also, they don't weigh much and in any event are usually mounted in the front trunk area.

Steven, the "D" top seals better at the top of the door glass - on the Speedster the glass presses against a flap of top material, but on the "D" the glass mates to a rubber seal on part of the top frame itself.

The sides of the "D" top frame are pretty substantial - you normally roll down the windows or open the doors when raising or lowering a "D" top to avoid chipping the door glass (just one of the reasons original "D" cars came with a separate manual on raising and lowering the top).
(Message Edited 8/13/2003 1:49:02 PM)

Espar is one manufacturer and Webasto is another. Webasto makes their "Air Top" model which is a forced air unit as opposed to their "Thermo Top" model which heats coolant. There are quite a few on Ebay Germany...you'd be looking for an Air Top that runs on Benzine (not diesel of course).

I've seen them for a couple of hundred Euros...not too sure on an Espar but when I checked on a diesel Espar that heated coolant it was about $1,500. Something to look at...

Brian