I thought my points on wanting to go with a VW rep over a Subi (at least initially) were fairly salient, but I'm happy to try again:
1) cost: I have a fairly limited budget ($22k-ish) that I'm willing to part with for this seasonal toy. I can't get a new 356 from Steve for this, nor have I seen a single used Subi 356 for anywhere near this number.
2) availability: see response #1. While there don't appear to be a ton of air-cooled 356's available (new or used), it appears to me that there are many more than the Subi variety.
3) authenticity: the original 356's came with little, loud, under-powered VW engines, so why not try that, at least initially in order to recreate the experience as close as possible?
I may very well hate the 356 and sell it after a few months and a few hundred/thousand miles. If so, I probably won't lose too much money if I'm cautious when I buy/sell. If I love the VW 356 and find it's under-powered and/or unreliable (I don't know a hammer from a wrench), I can always get on Steve's 18-24 mth waiting list and trade-up/down, depending on one's perspective.
Thanks!
hts
Originally Posted by Jim Kelly 2013 SAS coupe-Fiji:
Good on ya, Carl. I think the reluctance to consider a Subi swap is decreasing. Much of it is based on industry intertia. The a/c engine builders are comfortable with the platforms they build, they have the tools, knowledge, etc. A notable exception is Jake Raby, who is not afraid to forge a trail into the hinterlands.
It is an economy of scale question, isn't it? There are thousands of Subi running takeouts in shops all over the US and a large cadre of YOUNG guys that seem able to scrounge up enough cash/credit to fund their hobby of making fast Subi engines even faster.
I'm not suggesting that the Subi swap is the final answer for all replica owners, as many knowledgeable guys will always want air-cooled. More power to them! For me, though, the scales weigh much more heavily on the Subi water-cooled end: better cost, quaility parts, increased reliabity, lots of Subi tuner shops, and the real sleeper: thousands of young enthusiasts who provide the market for continued r&d in the industry.
Of course, my ability to tell the future is not the best. I laughed out loud when I first saw bottled water.