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I have the bug to buy an original coupe...big bug with teeth... how many of you would sell your replica's to purchase an original coupe of the same value? I just bought my IM exactly one month ago today and I love it, but am having thoughts of selling it to buy a coupe...I can't completely afford to buy both so I was thinking of selling my IM, buy a less expensive speedster replica and a coupe... that I can swing and still have one kidney left. Somebody give me some sane advice...

James
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I have the bug to buy an original coupe...big bug with teeth... how many of you would sell your replica's to purchase an original coupe of the same value? I just bought my IM exactly one month ago today and I love it, but am having thoughts of selling it to buy a coupe...I can't completely afford to buy both so I was thinking of selling my IM, buy a less expensive speedster replica and a coupe... that I can swing and still have one kidney left. Somebody give me some sane advice...

James
Tell you what. Hold that thought for about six months -- better make that a year -- and I'll tell you how it is to have both on the same chassis.
If you're still contemplating getting rid of your IM at that time, I should be able to talk you off the ledge. Or trade, especially if this doesn't go well for me.
:)
Cory.. I am not sure i will have anything to do with a car where one stormy night you will be screaming "It's ALIVE!!!... IT'S ALIVE!!!" from some garage on the top of a hill...

Well, I got my wife to agree to it as well, so its officially going on the market as soon as the title arrives in the mail.. lol... so if anyone knows of someone willing to trade a coupe for an IM in mint shape, let me know...or if anyone wants to buy the car...I guess classified is the appropriate place for this...
Cory, not a greedy guy, so exactly what I paid for it.. $37500.

Lane, I will not be leaving the speedster replica community, just buying one that is a little less expensive. If I can get one around 20K (which i know I can) then I can buy my coupe and have my speedster. Thats the only reason I would sell this car. Now, the only problem will be if I drive it again and change my mind.. which has been known to happen.

James
Well, back to the original question: Nice FG Speester replica or an original Coupe? That is very gnarly. I owned two orginal coupes many years ago, and I am about to own a very nice FG Speedster. Of course, one can own a very nice FG Coupe for not too much $$ too, thanks to JPS Motorsports, but we'll leave that aside for now. To me it is first about style: both are classics in their own right. One might be more water-tight than the other, and that may be a big consideration, I dunno. Quickly comes the practicality of owning the thing. To me, an old orignial Coupe presents a host of problems wrt up-keep and maintenance, not the least of which will be the old rust bug-a-boo. That last one is why I still do not have my orginal coupes -- basically, they rusted away as I had not the means to rebuild them, and then let the process start anew. If none of these things bothers you: rust potential, expensive parts, old fashioned engineering, then go ahead and jump into an old original, and feel very special in a very special car. It will give you plenty to fuss with making it or keeping it looking good. If you want the look and the advantage of modern running gear, and would just as soon not have the car rust out on you, the FG versions would seem to make a lot of sense. Maybe it never rains/snows on your particualr mountain in NC -?- Or just save it for sunny days -- that would work.

The new JPS FG Coupe replicar comes w/ A/C and electric windows, if that is important.
People... please... I said I was gonna get another speedster replica AND A COUPE... burn him, wow... thats a little harsh.. lol

The more I see of the coupes the more I worry about buying one in the price range of 25-30K I am looking at. They seem to be on the verge of nice at that price, but even my untrained eye see's lots of issues with most of them, and thats only the stuff that you can see.

Maybe I will look into this replica coupe... seems like an extremely nice car, but I am not one to wait for a year for something I have paid for, so I will wait until either the production ramps up or this green one comes back on the market.. ha.

James
Sounds like you should look closely at the JPS Coupe, which, as I understand it is now at serial number 3 or 4. Call John Steele, talk to him about what you are looking for, listen to him tell you about the way he can build this car (basic $$ is <$30K) to meet your needs, and then figure a way to go have a look at one. Tom Dewalt will have his pretty soon (we all hope), and that is the east coast, PA, I think. Or take a trip to LA and visit John up close and personal. That is what I did, and it was very instructive. John's hallmark in his business is fit and finish, which by my observation is as good as it gets. His cars are beautiful. Second, he will work to put into the cars just about whatever you want. The downside of that is the $$ it will take to execute it. Seems to me a "comparable condition", i.e., like-new or 100 pt restoration original Coupe on the open market is going to run you $60K and up.
"There is no such thing as too many cars, just not enough garage space. I have a deal with my wife: When she starts with the "we need a bigger house" crap, I say "That sounds great honey! I'm thinking a 5 car garage...." and she gets real quite for some reason. If I had the space I'd do it in a second!"

I've tried that approach as well, and my wifes answer to that is the house has to be bigger than the garage!
"so I will wait until either the production ramps up or this green one comes back on the market."

James . . . I certainly HOPE that green one will be off the market for quite a while. I have plans for that green one for the next several years at least! LOL


Seriously - get a basic JPS Coupe and a nice Vintage or other used Speedy for not much more money than you put into that IM. I inquired about your car before I went with the coupe. I almost pulled the trigger. Always wanted an IM. But then insanity took over and I went for TWO. I think a coupe and a speedy look PERFECT in any 2-car garage - one for sun and one for anytime. It doesn't get any better than that. IMHO.
I agree that it sounds good, but like I said, I would be a complete bast@rd and be calling every day if I was going through a wait like you are. No doubt it would be a better car than I could find as a coupe in the same money, but I really want an original car for some stupid reason. I am sure I will cool my jets and figure a few things out before i buy one though. Thanks for the sane advice.. but being insane, I am going to listen and ignore like my wife taught me... lol.

PS - When did you inquire about my car?

James
Vic Weals and I traded a few emails back in January just after he posted it for sale here. I was already close to putting $ on the coupe and would have needed to sell my Beck to make it work, so I passed. I loved that car and was envious when I saw you were getting it. It is a beauty. Stored in an aircraft hangar wasn't it?

I understand the interest in a real coupe. I want to have one some day along with an IM and a long list of others. That list keeps growing so I need to have a great deal of success in my business and build a big garage to make my car dreams come true. My wife may have a thing or two to say about it as well. I've already pushed this thing pretty far for now.

I do love these things. I drive my speedy every day I can.

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James, et al;
Can I thow in my two cents worth? I have the Vintage Speedster (about 1 1/2 yrs now) and a fully restored (rated 1-) 1962 B Coupe (about 9 weeks now) and I can tell you they are both more fun than I ever imagined. The Coupe is fun but nowhere near the fun to drive as the Vintage! The question you have to ask yourself is... do I want performance and sporty-ness or do I want originality and weather protection? Buy a replica and expect to lose a bit of money when you sell it (not much if you keep it in excellent condition) or buy an original for a good price (I am not sure I did but I am happy with it for the price paid) and expect it to appreciate during your ownership. If you are interested in the resale value be aware that Prosche coupes are, right now, the best buy out there AND they are rising in value faster than almost any other Porsche in the 356 genre. Resale value isn't everything but it sure makes your hobby easier to maintain.

I tend to buy cars with a view towards resale but only if it is a car I can really enjoy driving and showing around. If we are lucky enough to own these exotic cars don't we have an obligation to share them with the public??!!

Well, there is another view for you to "chew on" while making your decision. Go for it! You only live once.

Keep smiling,
Dusty

BTW, Sharon says I buy and sell frequently enough that my collection should really be called "catch & release".

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