I need a speedster wit heat?!

I want to get a speedster but I live in new England and I'm cold blooded and need heat does anyone have any ideas about how to keep a speedster warm, I've had air-cooled vw's all my life and really don't wanna go that route again but I'd love to have a speedster, just sold my miata and have my sights set on a speedster. I have a friend with an old vw bus who uses a gas heater but thats not for me, any ideas?

Ray

Easy - Get one with Subaru or Audi water cooled power then.

Maybe heated seats would suffice to supplement VW type heat.

subaru or audi power?! are you serious??

Ray...See Alan Merklin, he just bought my tub which has heater hoses re-directed into the cabin thru the fire wall and has fans that control the heat...I'm sure this was done by some wrong coast wimp.
He (Alan) should have this tub ready in no time since it is in pretty decent condition right now, and a reliable runner.....

It just ain't that hard to do.
My Speedy is easily 75* inside the cabin when it's 45* outside.
Check out DrClock's "cheap heat" instructions in "knowledge".


Be advised that all my duct-work has been insulated to the max to achieve the resulting cabin warmth.

Ray, several of the manufacturers offer water-cooled cars in addition to traditional air-cooled now. Intermeccanica uses Audi or Porsche engines. Beck uses Audi, VW, or Subaru engines. SAS uses Subaru exclusively. I believe that JPS has also started offering Subaru engines. They also make a coupe. All of the builders can provide heated seats.

Ray, driving a Speedster with the top up is a totally different experience than a Miata. I have had several Miatas.

1. The visibility is very poor with the top up and it's not as easy to raise as a Miata.
2. Its very loud if you have an air-cooled motor and the top up.
3. Unless you get a higher end Replica with an insulted top or one that has been done with custom sound deadening on floors, doors, and engine bay, the insulation factor is very poor.
4. You need to get a scuba suit if you plan to drive in the rain.

The sacrifices are often worth the pleasure but do a lot of research before you buy as a replacement vehicle.

If you REALLY REALLY REALLY want cookie-baking heat, think gas heater.

angela

Marty is right, Ray. make sure you read "Ready for a Speedster Replica? - (Everything you need to know)", which is posted at the top of this forum category as well as others. Owning and driving a replicas is much more of a hobby than a means of daily transportation. That said, it's certainly a FINE hobby, and the folks on this site are an added blessing (or curse, in Vince's case ;-).

Unless you're in a huge hurry to buy, I STRONGLY urge you to come to the gathering in Carlisle, PA in May. A whole bunch of us will be there and you will be able to compare cars, drive a few, speak to most of the manufacturers, and see if this is something you really want. That's how they lured me in. Check out the Carlisle threads in the "Events" forum for details. We have a block of rooms and there may still be some available.

Ray theres a thead on heated seats I done months ago(ebay

Ray.
Read this thread about a very simple and inexpensive heat solution.

https://www.speedsterowners.com/forum/readmsg.asp?t=19663

The link above describes what the problem is with getting good heat and contains photos. The video below shows you just how much increased air flow you will get.

The kit is available from FiberSteel, but may not be listed on their site. Call them and ask for Alex.
Troy

Forgot to add the Mazda rotary (RX7) engine to my initial post of suggested water cooled powered replicas (Subaru and VW/Audi). Now that baby puts out some heat! Exhaust glows a toasty red hot.

I had no idea there were so many options, a few years ago I toyed with the dream of getting a speedster and don't remember any of these options I guess I have a different issue now in just sorting through all the options. Audi's scare me two buddies of mine have em and have loads of $$$ problems, the subaru idea is appealing but then again hearing that its possible to improve the heat flow in an air cooled might be even better, my budget is $30K.

$30K is going to get you a VERY nice Speedster and you can get a really nice one for far less.

OK I've been checkin out some on ebay and I didn't even know there were two models of the same body , one with real windows that roll up rather than the inserts, I like this idea a lot, right these helps my heat issue a bit. And I looked online at the diffent complanies you suggested that make them with audi and subaru motors, this is incredible to me never thought there'd be some options.

How does this one look in the "daily driver" bracket at $6,500 ?

now thats a deal!! are you serious/ sounds really great, let me know

a buddy of mine in Maine who has a speedster has an idea for me to make roll up windows, he's got an older Intermeccanica and is going to contact the company for information. We're coming to Carlisle in the spring in his speedster.

See you there! That's a great place to do the necessary research.

Ernie, I just did my heat install again :~)


If you have pockets with $30k you need to call me, I'll build what you want ... ~Alan