IM Speedster options

I am getting ready to order an IM Speedster. I live in Columbus Ohio and this would pretty much be my daily driver. What options do I absolutely have to have for this car in this type of climate? Heated seats? AC? Can I live without a radio for awhile and just enjoy the car and the sights? What other options should I think about? Thanks.

Richard

Why don't you talk to Henry Reisner at Intrermeccanica first? Of course you can get heated seats,ac,and everything else you want with it. Are you planning to order the watercooled version?Do you want electric windows? Many options and plenty of choices to make. Good luck.

I believe that the electric windows are standard now. Were I to do it again, and did not do a WaterMeccanica, I would definitly do the gas heater like Stan Galat.

A full tonneau is a must, at least to me. I love the roadster seats [opps-coupe seats ;-)] and if it were a daily driver in wet weather, I might consider the less expensive non-square weave carpet.

Another thing I'd do is get the right side mirror with a convex lens and see how large a rear window Henry can install.

I use the door pockets all the time and the bins down by the floor are very handy. In the IM they do not cut into the foot space.

Enjoy.

Richard, you need to answer the first question, air-cooled VW or watercooled modern engine.

Daily driver in the midwest? Anytime it gets below 15 degrees a convertible top car has a lot of trouble keeping up do to heat loss. But it can be done. Are you really planning on driving it daily in the winter? These cars are not real good on slick roads, but otherwise can be spect out to work as daily drivers.

Electric seats are nice plus inexpensive ($120 per seat for parts). They don't warm the arms, legs or head - nor do they defrost/defog the windshield. So a real heater system is a must in a daily driver (although I'd be tempted to get an old Subaru as a foul weather daily beater for backup).

Richard,

I live in the Peoria, IL neighborhood, and had an Intermeccanica built in 2005. My car is an air-cooled speedster with a gas heater. It was never meant to be a daily driver, but I'd been through two pan-based speedsters with other builders- so I really knew what I wanted. I LOVE my car, but even with all the experience I brought to the build, there are several things I'd do differently if the chance ever came up again.

What I would recommend for a daily driver is this- unless you absolutely MUST have a speedster- I'd get a Roadster (Convertible D). It's just a far more practical vehicle with the larger side windows, better sealing glass, higher top, etc. I had no intent to drive the car daily- but even so, I thought long and hard about it. It's the biggest single choice you'll make.

Doing a Roadster opens up the whole world to more practical things. The seats that Dale recommends ride a bit higher in the car than the speedster seats, and as a result are much better suited to the "D". They are better seats, and would be the first choice for daily use. I'd get them heated (in leather), without a doubt. I'd also skip the square-weave, and get a stereo that was hidden from view.

The powerplant is the key to the next set of choices, and what do do depends how "retro" you want to be with the car. There is no doubt that a watercooled car is functionally superior in every way. It will meet emissions, will start and idle smoothly when cold, and will have manners like every "real" car produced since about 1990 or so. A water-pumper has a radiator, and a heater core. Heat is vastly more important to using the car every day than A/C in this part of the world. Adapting A/C to a water-cooled car also has no ill effects.

If you want the real-deal-air-cooled mill, plan on knowing something about how to work on it, because nobody in the Midwest remembers. If you do an ACVW, you'll need real heat, and the only way to get it is from a gasoline heater, and they are far from perfect. IMHO, A/C is a bad idea with an air-cooled car, but you'll miss it less than you think you will. That being said- the whole air-cooled thing is really "it" for me, and part of the essence of a 356. I'm not a mechanic, but I play one on TV and love working on/tinkering/improving my car- if this isn't something you like, or have any experience with, I'd never go this route. Proceed with caution here.

I'd get Henry's stock suspension set-up in a daily driver- and wouldn't do the stiff torsion bars, sway bars, or Konis. They are great for the whole cafe racer thing, but for a daily driver, just make the ride rougher. I would do a rack and pinion and four wheel discs for sure.

The rest is just personal choices. It's enormous fun. Good luck with your build, you'll absolutely love working with Henry.

I would get just as much hp as you can get if water-cooled. Stan is giving you great advice. On the issue of A/C, I like having it, but would I do it again? I don't know? Extra weight, extra things to go wrong, extra expense, and I have really only needed it once, and used it maybe 10 times.

My build from IM will begin in February(I hope). Porsche 6. air cooled, No A/C. Heated seats, electric windows, its a speedster model. This is not a daily driver. Its a toy, only to be used for fun. Ive spoken to Henry, and he thinks the Roadster vs speedster is really dependent on your height. Anyone over 6feet probably would be more comfortable in a Roadster due to the higher windshield frame. As a daily driver good luck.

OK, i found and bought an IM 'd', early 80's vintage. Very low mileage and no engine. I want to drive it daily and need ac (Houston). I would like good power with no overheating problem. I have looked into the electric ceramic heaters to compliment the stock VWs. I can go with various set ups, but really need a dependable ride. I did drive my previous iM, but found it underpowered and didn't like the automatic.
I know that much of this is personal preference. I really want to avoid 'the madness' as much as possible (other than the love of the bug). Please be candid :-{)))))

George

Your best bet is to talk to an experienced air cooled VW engine builder such as Chico Performance or CB Performance and they'll steer you in the right direction; in this case it's definitely worth it to do it right the first time and go with a quality builder.