Do they ask you what you paid for your Speedie?

Seems like everytime I'm out with my Speedie someone asks "Do you mind if I ask you what you paid for that car?". It's sort of embarasing, but I answer their question. I guess I wish they just wouldn't ask.

Does this happen to other owners ---and how do you handle it?

Jack, Hot Springs

Jack:

I think it is just they are so curious to know more about the cars. I get asked the question quite often as well. I answer it honestly and leave it at that. I usually tell them that it is worth a lot more to me in SPG (Smiles per Gallon). I agree I wish they would not ask as well.

Andres D.

Yup, that's a pretty common question for me, too.

Maybe I'm the wrong guy to comment on this thread having the proverbial silk purse made out a sow's ear in replicar-land but...

I have found that a lot of people have no clue that these cars are indeed full-fledged cars.

I have had people suspect that these cars come from the back of a magazine and for $9.95 we get a set of mail order plans. I know there are ads in the magazines, but todays replicar has gone way past the Popular Mechanics mentality.

I have found many people, including posters here, that don't understand that you get what you pay for. Some people who have admired my speedster (or laughed quietly to themselves) have no idea what the scarcity aspect has done to real speedster values. That said, what we choose to invest in the look-alike then makes more cents.

It is my opinion and again, my opinion alone, that we should be ambassadors for these little cars. I responded to a seller (a dealer in specialty sports cars) on ebay who had grossly misrepresented the replica he was selling. I didn't make a cutting remark but asked that he make some clarifications and additions to his ad copy. His reply to me was he didn't know people were so passionate about replicas...

I guess I am.

I tell em I don't know since we have done so much since we bought it. Kinda leaves a blank stare as I walk away! And it's the truth, I have no idea where I am with this car now, I suspect more than it's worth.

My response to that question is along these lines..."entirely too much" or "it is a pretty expensive toy" or "I could probably have a real car for what I have in it" and if that isn't enough I may toss in "think new Corvette". That usually solves the problem...

How much did you pay for that?

Is that one of those kit cars?

Did you assemble it yourself?

I love those questions!

I usually give people a ball park of what they sell for - either pre-assembled, or as a new or "used" unassembled kit. That way they have an idea, but they don't know anything about mine (which I practically stole).

I was at a Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix car show earlier this week. I had a couple "real" Porsche guys ask me if I was going to race in the Porsche event. I told them it wasn't the real thing, but they were still really supportive and said I should do it. I would if I wasn't going to be out of town this weekend.

Then I had a guy ask me what I wanted for the car. I told him if he could pay off my law school loans, I'd probably be willing to part with it. The conversation pretty much ended there. Getting rid of this thing is going to be like selling my first born even if I could profit a little bit from it.

I don't know exactly. The widow down the block gave it to me for services rendered.

Oh yeah, I forgot one of my favorite questions: "Is that a Ferrari?"

I guess since it's red.

What I like are the notes found under the windshield wiper: "If you want to sale this car, call me at ....." I haven't called either (2 so far) yet.

I got asked... "how much did that cost you?" I told him that I paid for in Canadian dollars, so not what you think. Left it at that.

Ernie, Call them & give them my number, 800.823.1999

I LOVE the ferrari question. Like the car from Ferris Bueller? I usually say yes to that one.

I was asked that question this morning. I find it a little rude. Since the guys that asked didn't know it was a replica (and frankly I didn't have the patience, time or desire to go off on a long winded explanation of what it is, and in most cases they don't deserve it because they don't have the slightest clue) I told them they're going for over $100 K (which is true for originals; just not for my car) and said bye bye....

I have been told at more than one car show,"That's a nice Kharman Ghia". Not a clue!!!

I'm with Ricardo. I know it's kind of a flashy car and all but I'm not used to all the prying questions, usually yelled at me while I'm driving. I don't mind fibbing a little to the casual observer who always asks "what year is it" in traffic, I'm not explaining it to them while I wait for the light to change. Hell, I don't even know what year it is.

I can usually peg people for exactly what they're going to say:

Older lady or gentleman: "What year? Sure looks nice!" (huge smiles when I grin, wave, and say "'58!", just don't have the heart to tell 'em it's a phony, I know, I'm a terrible person, sue me)

Younger chick (alone or with friends): "Oooh, pretty! What is it?","Can I have a ride?" or just giggles

Younger chick (with dude): "...(bigeyed look)"

Dude (with younger chick): "...(dirty look)" (drives off fast/cuts me off/peels out/etc.)

Dude (alone or with buds): "What year is it?", "Cool!","Whoa, what's that?","Is it real?" or just a thumbs up

Female (30something): "I love your car!" or "Want to trade?" or just a big grin

Man or woman, middle aged, chasing me down in parking lot while I am in a rush: "HOW MUCH WAS IT?","WHERE DID YOU GET IT","IT'S NOT REAL RIGHT?","TELL ME EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS CAR, IN FACT I DEMAND YOU TELL ME ALL ABOUT THE HISTORY OF SPACE AND TIME!" etc., etc., untill you almost have to be rude to get rid of them.

Regular guy or gal with family: "Nice!" and a big thumbs up <--BEST RESPONSE

Paul hit the nail on the head though, the average guy who has heard of replicas thinks it's kind of like a $10 fake Rolex of a car or something, and we are just trying to fake that we're rich or something.

LOL. Nice breakdown. The top three questions for me are:

1. What year?
2. What kind of car is it?
3. How much is it worth?

Followed by a trailing 4th question...Is that one of those kits?

I have never had anyone really care that it was kit. They say it is cool anyway.

My best response was from a some 30 something guys who came out the store while I was getting out of my car and said, "No f###ing way that is your car! You are too young to have that car!"

Newbie here...
While I was test driving and inspecting a 356. Three different people stopped and asked the owner. How much? is it real?

I think it just comes with the car...How about "If I told you I would have to kill you and my parole officer told me I have to be a better citizen..."

As a side note, I seem to see people respond better to the work replica instead of kit...as if its a snap-to-gether model!

Aloha Mike

Now that I sold my speedster, I definitely do NOT miss those stupid ass questions!

I know you don't Dave, but you certainly miss the car, don't you? These cars are great but the "celebrity factor" that comes with the package can be a little bit bothersome to some people like me.

I agree Ricardo... Some times I rather have the top up just to avoid those type of questions.

How much of the pupulation do you think know about replicas? Hmmm, I wonder...

I have yet to have anybody be anything but very pleasant about my car. Everybody has asked good questions, made nice compliments, and generally looked as if they really wanted one. I had one really cute 30-something soccer-mom type tell me it was the most beautiful car she'd ever seen. One 80-ish fellow proceded to tell me about the MGA he had waaaay back when he was a young 'un. So far I've really enjoyed the attention.

I am such a ham...I love the attention I get with this car. It is nice to own something that is so desirable at a low cost.

I guess I was raised in a more civil time. I learned that to ask how much you earn or how much something costs is just plain rude! why do they ask this question? Usually they have no class and only deserve a courteous "probably more than I should have paid, but I love it". If they preface the question with serious interest and are excited about the car and obviously wold like to investigate ownership I take time to give them the whole story ... with costs. More often the question comes from someone who only wants to find a way to discredit your ownership due to their own feelings of envy or are trying to make themselves look good in front of their peer group. Anyway, the question is still rude and doesn't deserve as much time as I have just put into explaining my own reply.

Another viewpoint ... I find "most" really don't want to know it is a replica. They want to have their picture taken with it an woujld like to brag to their friends that they saw/touched/examined a great classic. Why should I blemish the moment for them?

Keep smiling,
Dusty

I don't recall anyone asking how much. Most want to know how old or what it is. If it goes further, I tell them if they really like it that they can get in a turnkey for about the price of a new Harley Dresser.

Hey Dusty,

The guys next door live and breather for the conversations that start with, "What'dya pay fer it?" It doesn't seem to matter whether it is gravel or my recent Ford F-150. Umptity-ump years ago when I bought the house across the street the first thing the guy's wife said to me ,
"what'dja give for it?" Not welcome to the neighborhood, not my name is_______...in fact to this day (nineteen years+/-) I still don't know her name. Don't want to.

Rude to the max and not over anything unique or worthy of conversation, just a way of life I guess. But then again, I seldom quibble over prices at a flea-market either. Probably just me.

Love the category of inquistionerzzz, so true, so true!

Paul,
way back in the '80's we lived in Temecula, CA, and it was true culture shock for Colorado country folk. (I worked for Horse & Rider Magazine at the time). I was raised to understand that a gentleman (or lady) NEVER asks what someone paid for anything, how much land they owned or how many head of livestock they owned. That is just plain rude. I know that there are many, many courteous and wonderful people in California but we found that a good share of them knew the cost of everything but the value of nothing. 'Nuff said.

Drive safe, smile big, enjoy
Dusty

I like checking my oil when people ask me if it's a kit. It's an autonomic response now. The question causes me to reach inside for the Dzus wrench, and I start undoing fasteners while I explain that my '73 Beetle SS has a few things going on underneath. Pretty quickly, the whole thing's carved up like a Christmas goose ... and then I generally discover that people who don't know have a hard time distinguishing a DTM from a turbo.
Kinda funny, really. Then I check the oil anyway.

Wifey and I made a deal when we bought our Tub, not to talk price, gives people something to chew on, also we counter with Paid in Full!! Cabanaboy ~ no it's a replica

Question - "What did you pay for that?"

MUBJIM Answer - "Tell me what you make per year and I'll tell you if you can afford it!"

Peace - Out!

Jimbo, Jjr has a response that goes along those lines....:"You can't have one..."

Well I took it out for a spin on Saterday and got the normal questions when I was at the shops. The best one was a beetle owner who said damn that's a nice classic........I replied by saying, it's pretty much the same as what you have and he thought I was referring to Ferdinand Porsche....lol.

Over here there is no original speedsters on the road and the repro's cost almost as much as a decent original coupe. The repro's are pretty much all missing thier trim and badges, so they don't even come close to looking the part. So when you have a half decent one...........you get all of the attention.

The best one was that I was parked next to a brand new 911 and everyone was bursting a blood vessel to look at my replica and didn't even notice the 1.5 million rand 911 turbo (7Rand = 1US $, btw), when I came over I had to fight passed 6 people to get into my car.