Intermeccanica Speedster versus Roadster

As I posted on the wanted section, I am looking for a used IM. I have had the Roadster version and found it to be very comfortable with great visibility. I have always shyed away from going the speedster route because I have a back problem which requires me to use a cushion that I sit on. My concern has been that if I were to buy a Speedster with the lower windshield that I would be looking right into the top of the windshield. I am only 6 feet tall, but the cushion props me up about another two inches. Has anyone had an issue with the Speedster and looking into the top of the windshield and found that it has impeded their view? Maybe I'm over thinking this. I love nthe speedster lines as much as the roadster. Any thoughts or personal experiences would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

Chris

Chris, I drove Howard's Speedster at Carlisle and the seat is very low. Too low for me at 5ft 8 3/4. But at 6ft 2 with cushion it's gonna be a different feel than the Roadster. Not only straight ahead but looking out the side glass too. Plus if you have a bad back, ingress with the top up is somthing to conisder. Check with Henry too.

I'm 6 ft tall and shaped like an orangutang, with short legs and long arms and torso. I have to be sitting almost on the floor to be comfortable in a speedster. If you have any concerns at all about your ability sit in one comfortably... you'll have a problem sitting in one comfortably.

Should you chose to go with a speedster you can have the forward floor pans (seat area) reconfigured. I've a done a couple of these in the past, the altered floor pan looks like a paint roller pan with a 2" drop for a lower seat postion.

At 6' tall with a back problem, I'd recommend the Roadster seats, and probably a Roadster.

Stan,

You are not shaped like an orangutan.

Your body is compact with long graceful limbs.

Of course, orangutans have AWESOME colored hair - LOL!

angela

Go with the speedster and put in the Roadster seats. Best of both worlds.

Why not find someone close by and have a test drive? I'm 6'1" (with a bad back) and have my seats bolted to the floor,perfect!

I'm 6' with speedster seats in a Beck. I'm not looking into the frame but sure would love more padding for my depleted butt.

Rich--I don't know if this would help you but itdid me. My Vintage seats were not comfortable until I found a pair of Porsche 914 seat cushions---the ones you sit on. I replaced the covers with the ones from my VS seats. Plenty of comfort for all day driving.

They're found at junkyards specializing in those cars.

I'm going this route for our seat bottoms.
http://www.seatfoam.com/

Doug:

Apart from the obvious difference of weight, how do those foam pads compare to gel pads?

That stuff Doug is looking at looks like its memory foam.

Gordon: I'm not familiar w/ gel but I have sat in seats with this foam in aircraft and really liked/appreciated it. It is a type of memory foam.

hi
i'm curious in regards of a roadster,are you refering to a convertable D ??????? bruce

Intermeccanica makes a speedtser and a roadster. This is also referred to as a convertible D.

Having owned an IM Roadster, and now in the process of have an IM Speedster prepared for me (used), my preference would be for the Speedster.

But, I am not six feet tall with a bad back.

The Speedster has lines that appeal to me, even overcoming the Roadster's weather tightness and big, comfortable seats.

hi
I go back to the fifties,and any car with roll up windows is not a roadster or touring car
thats why the question bruce

Bruce, Intermeccanica makes a model that they deem a "Roadster", with gold script that states "Roadster" applied where the "Speedster" script is at the front fender area. The car that Intermeccanica calls their "Roadster" model is a replica of a "Convertible D" made by Porsche in 1959. The Convertible D was a Speedster body with the higher windshield, padded top and roll up windows added. In 1960 Porsche changed to the "B" bodied cars and called the car a "Roadster".

just an observation from an old guy,roadsters don't have windows

Bruce. Will is a pretty old guy himself. I'm guessing about 76 or 77.

Bruce, you are correct! Roadsters don't have windows. That was pretty dumb of me to try and fool this crowd. Glad you set the record straight!

Had an IM Roadster for 3 years. Here is my take on pros of each setup, in no particular order:

IM Roadster pros:
(1) Better rain seal along edge of windshield frame
(2) Less buffeting at high speeds with top down
(3) More headroom and easier ingress/egress with top up
(4) Padded inner liner provides more sound and solar insulation when driving top up
(5) Subjectively, top up looks more integrated with overall shape of car, and less like a kludged-on afterthought
(6) Since Porsche put windows on the original Convertible D Roadster, the windows on the IM are consistent with the look of the original car (not so for the Speedster)
(7) Extremely tall drivers will appreciate the higher windshield frame
(8) Roadster has a zip-out rear windshield, which is great on extremely hot days. Leave the top up, drop windows and rear windshield. Airflow through the car makes AC unnecessary even at 95F+, as long as you have forward movement. AC is nice if you get stuck in traffic, and IM

hey troy i'm working on 77 myself, 78 on the 6th of june (if someone doesn't kill me first)