longevity

Lots of people can Bob, but talk to Jim Ignacio and then quit worrying about it and just drive. 

I'm been in for 2 1/2 years with 12,000 trouble free miles. I do regular maintenance at the end of my driving season, well really a pause in the driving season> I do things such as an oil change, valve adjustment, timing check/adjustment, and a spark plug check/change. I also make sure my anti-sway bar in front is still properly fastened and secure, check the grease fittings as well as the rubber boots etc to make sure they aren't dry/damaged. I check the tightness of bolts and the condition of the cables etc. Before every drive I get the car cleaned off, check the oil, and check the air pressure. I also drive my car to the limit when I'm out running the twisties in the Sierra Nevadas.

Jim "MUSBJIM" Ignacio may do less than that and as Troy said he's logged many, many miles on his cars. He had over 100,000 miles on his last car and the only reason he's not still driving that one is someone was jealous of his coolness and ran their car into him on the highway and totaled it.

I think for many the guys with the 2110's and smaller have the least issues. The more tweaked, twisted, customized, and farther from stock you get the more troubles you may have. That of course IMHO.

It's also the luck of the draw. Even a reputable engine builder can have issues with the parts available. Driving style is definitely another factor. If you drive the car with sightseeing in mind, your engine is rarely taxed and you drive 1000 or less miles a year you'll have fewer problems than someone like me, who puts 3-5,000 hard, spirited miles per year and is more interested in the curves ahead than the beautiful fall foliage.

As Robert mentioned, maintenance is key. Being "tuned in" to the sounds your engine makes is vitally important as well. It'll tell you if it's happy or not. Early detection equals less in repair bills.

With that being said, these plastic potatoes are totally impractical for reliable transportation. They require at least  rudimentary mechanical knowledge and/or a seasoned, air-cooled mechanic to care for your steed. Hell, for the price you pay for decent quality speedster you could buy a near new Mazda Miata. Forget about a used Boxster, that's a totally different animal and shouldn't even be considered.

The interesting thing is that if you find yourself falling out of love with your speedster, given the current climate you could probably sell it for close to what you bought it for. Of course, some of us have dumped so much money in these things we could have bought a new Boxster...

I've had mine together for 3 1/2 years. I drive it to work 5 days per week from March to November as long as it's not raining and above 40 degrees (F), unknown mileage (speedometer only works half the time) so I'm guessing about 20K miles. Several times it started running funny, usually junk in the idle jet or ignition (points or condenser) and I could fix it on the side of the road or limp home. I had to be towed home once because it blew out a plug and I didn't have any tools to put it back.  It's a 1600 dual port with dual 36 DRLA Dellorto's and I give it the same attention I've given the dozens of VW's I've owned. I try to keep it below 4500 rpm and it runs about 3500-4000 on the freeway at 65-70. I think Robert is right, the more you flog it the more trouble you'll have. So if you want something to run around and look cool, like MUSBJIM, I wouldn't worry about it. If you want something to beat up on Mustangs and Camaros, it going to be a different story. 

Chris

I've put about 15,000-20,000 on mine and outside of basic maintenance the only outstanding issue is a small oil leak. O and I should add mine was assembled by a idiot (not me - someone even dumber). I am far from being a competent mechanic and I can keep it running with out to much issue.

There's no reason a VW aircooled engine can't live a long, happy and trouble free life if the combo (camshaft, heads, carbs, exhaust, compression and displacement) all play well together, if the engine is assembled properly with good parts (which is getting harder to do these days), if it's installed properly so it only receives an adequate and steady supply of fresh air, if it isn't ever forced to recycle and consume it's own spent cooling air and/or air preheated by the exhaust (much more important than a lot of people realize), if it is maintained properly and fed the right gas and oil, and if it's not driven like it's been stolen all the time from the moment it's started to when it's shut off.

I know it's a lot of if's, but even an engine that puts out 150 or 180 hp should live a reasonable life provided it meets all the above conditions. And the rest of the car, being (for the most part) VW based, if maintained properly should give a long and happy life as well. Al

Not thinking of bailing at all.  Seems as though I'm more concerned as I get older about such things.  There was a time when "I drove them like I stole em" and never worried about the fact that I only had enough cash for gas to get home.  .  Many times some road side innovation got me home.  Now  I just have to call for tow and deal with it.   Just wanted  some re assurance.  Thank you. We'll see you in  Hollister of SLO

I may be poking a hornet's nest with this, but it seems to me that a lot of the problems experienced by replica owners are from (a.) questionable Asian after-market parts (Most of it is junk) and (b.) self-inflicted problems.  For example, it's getting really hard to find decent-quality parts, no matter what part of the car they're meant for.  Also, fewer and fewer professional people are working on these cars all the time, so the owners are left with mechanics with little real experience with our cars, or the owner is left to do a lot of their own maintenance.  Some people learn quickly and are soon competent, while others might be intimidated and/or make mistakes, especially at first.  These aircooled cars are NOT like your Grandfather's Oldsmobile, for sure, and are really something new to most folks.  THAT, in my opinion, leads to a lot of the issues being seen/worked by SOC members.  Even with help from people on here, most of the things owners are trying to solve are really new to them and that may cause anxiety or a "Try this" approach - if that doesn't work, then ask the SOC for answers and then try that.  

So it's not so much that these are inherently unreliable cars, but more that they are custom-built cars, of often questionable quality parts (that's all that's often available) being run by people who might have little experience with them.

Can't argue w/ that.  Back in the day (early 60s, A Coupe) if I didn't fix it, it didn't get fixed.  Economics.  So I'll just call it OJT.  Which plays directly into (b) above: self inflicted headaches.  So I will own up to a number of these for this or that w/ the Speedster.  Not all problems have been mine to blame, but too many to be proud of my abilities. Oh, and there is this: it's a hobby . . .

Gordon nailed it.  Most, if not all, of my problems fit into one of those categories.  That said, in 11 years I have about 48k miles and made the 1500+ mile round trip between Charleston, SC and Carlisle, PA 10 times.  While I've had a few unplanned stops I've always quickly been able to get back on the road.  No flatbed trips (yet).

I'm afraid I can't agree with Gordon's analysis above, stating that most of the problems with our replicas come from inferior parts that are often the only available ones.  If that were true, one would expect that complaints about quality and breakdowns after delivery would be equally divided among the manufacturers.  However, that doesn't seem to be the case.  I'm not saying that there is not a lack of quality parts, but that there are other, more important considerations.

As many of us have observed, there is something inherently wrong in the business model of a company when their product gains value by having been purchased by an owner who was forced to do his own "sorting".  He then offers it for sale, advertising that he's worked out the bugs.  He has actually added value by buying it and trying to fix what should have been fixed by the builder.  

I'm not suggesting that IM's and Beck's never have problems, but they seem to have a robust QC program in place.  Owners of other makes  voice a litany of complaints that seem to expose the lack of quality control.

In the intent of full disclosure, I own an SAS coupe.  Quality control at SAS is zero as I have found to my dismay.  They are living proof that it takes more than quality parts to produce a quality replica.

Hey Bob @Bob Hampton! I think Terry Knuckles  @Terry Nuckels pretty much nailed the answer to your longevity concerns. Amongst all the the x-factors involved, the luck of the draw may be the biggest determination of car's longevity!

I have owned 2 VS Speedsters (both as daily drivers) over the past 18 years. In that time, I have logged just over 126,000 relatively trouble-free miles, 100K in my first VS...

...and just passed 26K on my current VS (just over two years since new). All while following and embarrassingly slackard maintenance schedule. 25K on my current VS and I've only done 1 tune-up and two oil changes. 

They both had engines from whatever builder Kirk was using when the cars were built. Nothing fancy, 1915 with Kadrons and A-1 sidewinder exhaust. I'm a cruiser, but the cars have been peppy enough to satisfy my occassional speed runs.

With all that said, I drive to whatever destination local or distant without ANY angst regarding head temps, selection of oil viscosity or additives used, gearing combinations, electric or mechanical fuel pumps & regulators, or breather configurations. I just drive, and whatever engine failure should happen, well, I take comfort in knowing that the basic engines I've had just aren't that expensive to replace.

I guess it could be boiled down to 'Don't Worry....Be Happy', or 'Carpe Diem'!  

Life is complicated enough as it is, don't fret over all the hypothetical calamities that may, or may not happen.

I think I probably started this on the "SLO Heartbreak" thread elsewhere on the site. In my opinion, it's important to have this discussion periodically. Amid all the hype and excitement, it's a good idea to keep expectations grounded in reality.

Unfortunately, I stand behind everything I said over there. I wish it were not so, but it is. There are a lot of ways to screw this up, and very few ways to get it right.

Gordon is right--  all car parts are rapidly becoming garbage, but ACVW parts in particular seem to be in a race for the bottom. Will's latest engine shelled because of a poorly made distributor drive gear. Think about that for a minute-- a distributor drive gear. Builders who want to do a good job (and that is by no means all of them) have to be hypervigilant regarding what they use for parts. It's ridiculous, really. 

Al is also correct, at least in the hypothetical abstract. A big, powerful, reliable Type 1 is possible, but it is neither easy nor inexpensive (ask me how I know). There are a lot of "ifs" in his recipe. I really wouldn't trust more than a couple of builders IN THE ENTIRE WORLD to screw another big one together.

Actually, everybody brings up good points, but Terry, Chris, and especially Jim Kelly echo everything I've seen along the way. "Cruisers" under 2L don't seem to experience anywhere near the problems "bruisers" do. I've had both-- it'd be hard to go back, but there are tradeoffs.

Jim Ignacio seems like a statistical anomaly, but there is a secret sauce in his recipe for success.  He keeps his expectations reasonable. He has posted many times that he doesn't expect is speedster to win drag races, best 911s in the canyons, or carry him across time zones at a high rate of speed. If a guy expects to do those things, expecting the kind of success Jim has enjoyed is not reasonable.

Everybody has a different value equation regarding the trade-offs they are willing to make for speed, cost, and reliability-- a guy can pick any two, but not all three. 

MusbJim posted:

Hey Bob @Bob Hampton! I think Terry Knuckles  @Terry Nuckels pretty much nailed the answer to your longevity concerns. Amongst all the the x-factors involved, the luck of the draw may be the biggest determination of car's longevity!

I have owned 2 VS Speedsters (both as daily drivers) over the past 18 years. In that time, I have logged just over 126,000 relatively trouble-free miles, 100K in my first VS...

...and just passed 26K on my current VS (just over two years since new). All while following and embarrassingly slackard maintenance schedule. 25K on my current VS and I've only done 1 tune-up and two oil changes. 

They both had engines from whatever builder Kirk was using when the cars were built. Nothing fancy, 1915 with Kadrons and A-1 sidewinder exhaust. I'm a cruiser, but the cars have been peppy enough to satisfy my occassional speed runs.

With all that said, I drive to whatever destination local or distant without ANY angst regarding head temps, selection of oil viscosity or additives used, gearing combinations, electric or mechanical fuel pumps & regulators, or breather configurations. I just drive, and whatever engine failure should happen, well, I take comfort in knowing that the basic engines I've had just aren't that expensive to replace.

I guess it could be boiled down to 'Don't Worry....Be Happy', or 'Carpe Diem'!  

Life is complicated enough as it is, don't fret over all the hypothetical calamities that may, or may not happen.

  Thanks for this post. My Vintage Speedster hasn't even been completed yet, and I've been starting to wonder (and worry) if I've spent money on a plastic tub loaded up with junk Chinese mechanicals that will be ready for the scrap heap after a few months.

 It's nice to know that at least some folks are getting some long life out of them. I don't thrash my cars, and I've always done my best to take car of them. They always rewarded me with reliability and long life - I'm hoping  my future Speedster will do the same.

 Thanks again for the post that, at least for now, have eased a bit of my worry.

     Bill

Just curious.  What caused you to worry in the first place?  Was it posts or  this site? 

I Think the recent severe breakdowns reported had me spooked.  Just wanted to hear its not  the norm.   

Bob---Jim Ignacio is the world mileage champion when it comes to replica Speedsters.

He has almost 130,000 miles in two speedsters and no one else even comes close.  Frankly I believe Jim is such an outstanding human being who has bought so much pleasure to so many knuclkeheads (his word) on this site, that plain old karma looks after him and assures him of the extraordinary success he has had with his Speedsters.  

My story is similar to Lane Andersons in years and mileage.  My car is 10 1/2 years old and after ten 2,800 mile round trips from hot Springs, AR  to the great Eastern Carlisle Speedster trip plus one 4,000 + mile trips to the West Coast event at Morrro Bay, CA , I now have 52,000 miles on my Vintage Speedster--same mfg as Musbejim.  Today it looks and runs better than when I got it and I do road trips at 75-80 mph with confidence that I will complete my journey in safety and reliability.  

Jim lives in the same area where his car was born and saw to it that it was pre-sorted at the factory while I have spend a fair amount of money making improvements to mine making it like it is today.  I wouldn't hesitate to change the oil after the recent Carlisle trip, fuel it up and strike out for CA i the morning with complete confidence that I'd experience a great trouble free trip.

The only "real unscheduled maintenance" I have ever had was this spring Carlisle trip where I had  to replace the starter ($59.95) and the wing nut at the end of the clutch cable ($2) --I can't complain about that and the pleasure I have received from my Speedster and the wonderful Speedster/Spyder/MG  friends I have made has been a priceless experience.

Get a good car and hook up with an old timer VW Bug mechanic and you will be fine.

I'm with @MusbJim. While I've had my VS, since last November, I've nearly clocked 7000 km driving to work.  I'm "cruising" at 130-140 km/hr, when the 405 allows. This is on a 1600cc. That's about as fast as you can go on that freeway. I  think the only significant work I've performed has been tightening the clamps on the exhaust to keep the backfires down. 75hp on a good day at 130km/hr with no top and trying to keep a cowboy hat attached to my head feels like Mach 2.

Let the timid Mercedes, Maserati, and Tesla drivers know that speedster pilots rule. ��

* it should be noted that "iron butt" Jack Crosby has a $XX,XXX Raby Type 4 under the deck-lid.

There's a world of difference between that mill and a "low bidder" 1915, 

I wondered why Jack failed to mention that most important fact.  A Raby engine is another beast entirely vs. a run of the mill Type 1.  Proving, I guess, that it is possible to build a proper machine if you know how.

I'll toss in my .02......there are many factors that contribute to engine failure, mis- matched parts, poor assembly practices i.e. inexperienced air cooled builder, restricted oil delivery, high operating temps and those that tinker causing poor valve , timing , carb adjustments .

MusbJim posted:

Hey Bob @Bob Hampton! I think Terry Knuckles  @Terry Nuckels pretty much nailed the answer to your longevity concerns. Amongst all the the x-factors involved, the luck of the draw may be the biggest determination of car's longevity!

I have owned 2 VS Speedsters (both as daily drivers) over the past 18 years. In that time, I have logged just over 126,000 relatively trouble-free miles, 100K in my first VS...

...and just passed 26K on my current VS (just over two years since new). All while following and embarrassingly slackard maintenance schedule. 25K on my current VS and I've only done 1 tune-up and two oil changes. 

They both had engines from whatever builder Kirk was using when the cars were built. Nothing fancy, 1915 with Kadrons and A-1 sidewinder exhaust. I'm a cruiser, but the cars have been peppy enough to satisfy my occassional speed runs.

With all that said, I drive to whatever destination local or distant without ANY angst regarding head temps, selection of oil viscosity or additives used, gearing combinations, electric or mechanical fuel pumps & regulators, or breather configurations. I just drive, and whatever engine failure should happen, well, I take comfort in knowing that the basic engines I've had just aren't that expensive to replace.

I guess it could be boiled down to 'Don't Worry....Be Happy', or 'Carpe Diem'!  

Life is complicated enough as it is, don't fret over all the hypothetical calamities that may, or may not happen.

Hey Jim,What HP are you getting out of your motor?

Alan nailed it. After all, these are very reliable engines provided they're put together right and with the right parts...

I've driven the 405 in SoCal maybe fifteen times - Never was able to do more than about 20mph.  Musta just kept hitting it wrong.....   

hey @Gordon Nichols,   down here in Dixie (South OC), the 405 is a little more palatable.  I think 20 mph on the same road in LA is pretty respectable.

@michel - I have a basic 1915, 110 cam (mild) dual single throat Kadrons, A-1 Sidewinder exhaust. So, I'm guessing maybe 90 HP.