need to know if this car can truely be a daily driver

i am about to give up my current car and tamk the plunge on a new speedster. looking so forward to it. im in vegas and only drive around town. I asked about the airconditioning and you guys were very helpful thanks. now I am wondering how many of you really use the car as a daily driver. it will be my main source of transpo and I love what you guys have done with your cars esprcially michael out of manhattan beach....does he still drive that one havent seen much from him lately

I drove my car for an entire Maryland winter while I was between all-weather cars. Never got stuck, never got warm.
Good and dependable, though.

cory car looks amazing truely............i appreciate the info. do you guys find it hard to do rooutine maintenance? carbs valves or do most of you have a local mechanic

I'm pretty much a newby myself.... Got my car in Feb, but here's my view: I tried driving the thing with the top up only once. My next action was to remove it (the top) and put it storage. While I think the top looks cool, I just can't take the noise that the single layer of canvas generates.
In my student days, I drove tha heck out of a '60 VW convert rain, shine or snow (cross country in the winter of '74). It was tolerable because the bug top had a headliner and a layer of insulation that attenuated the noise (roll up windows helped also).
Bottom line for me is: My Speedy is my warm weather FUN car. I would never part with my modern, comfortable and useful diesel pick up.

your car looks great. do you have a local mechanic or do most of the work yourself

Ernie, Recheck the fit on your top...I have a CMC with a Vintage hartz canvas top and this thing is a pleasure to drive at 65/70 mph with very little noise at all. It's a good tight fit and sealed good at the windsheld. Alot of people get alot of noise from loose fitting tops....they flop and pop in the wind like a flag....check yours out. Mine is even better when I have the side curtins in. These also need to fit snug! michael

beautiful car truely beautiful. how about engine noise. and what does anyone know about the smoothest ride possible lets take a poll

Will; these cars are very easy to work on; get John Muir's "idiot" book and the Bentley VW Service Manual for your year chassis and you're set. I don't know about smoothest ride; let's face it, it's '30's technology; they are what they are. The tools needed are somewhat basic; definitely not rocket science although you do need to do things right. These cars can be daily drivers in places where it doesn't rain. In your case it could be; get a nice powerplant with a nice A/C system and you'll be set. For sound insulation try some Dynamat or Dynamat substitutes(some people have used foil faced asphalt roofing membrane).

Another good alternative is the SAW cars built using Subaru powertrains. Click on the banner at the top of the page or go to the Makers tab.

Will,

I had many of the same questions/hopes you had about using one of these cars on a daily basis. My previous Vintage Speedster was a great dry weather car. In any steady rain, you will get wet, no matter how well the top fits. Perhaps you should consider a "beater" for the inclement and extreme temperature days. My honest opinion is that the majority of 356 replicas are not well suited for daily use from a user perspective and a product quality point of view. That said, everyone has a different threshold on what acceptable is. Daily commutes on a bicycle are preferred by most of the world, when much of Southern California prefers a Hummer to haul their solitary a$$ to and from. My Intermeccanica offers many of the requirements that I need to consider it a daily driver, however I still use my other cars for 90% of my driving tasks. I've put over 9,000 miles on my IM in the last 12 mos and offer my comments only to provide insight into my own experience. My greatest advice is to buy at the right price and you can sell it with little to no loss if the whole things not for you.

Hey Will. I do in fact drive my car daily to work as it is my only car. I've had it since July and made it through the hurricane season down here in miami. During the heavy rains, even after sealing the hell out of the thing, I still get some drips. But the other 94% of the time I couldn't be happier with my choice. I've put over 10,000 miles on my car already and it is running better than ever. Who knows how long I'll last with this as my only car but so far it has been a total thrill.

I remember in college (years ago) 3 of my friends had sports cars - both with side curtains. One a red TR, BRG MGA and the other a Morgan. We'd duct tape them in before the left sothern VA for northern NJ. Suspect pit stops were fun. They used to huddle close to transmission tunnel cuz that was about the only heat available. My Opel Kadette Rallye was pure luxury!

Will, I too am here in Vegas. This car certainly could be a daily driver, especially here in Vegas, however I still have my old truck with air conditioning for those scorching hot days. I would reccomend against any dark interior as I have and it get's HOT! Good luck, Wil

Will; add to that a light colored top too...mine is black and on sunny days I feel the top of my head cooking.....Although black hides dirt better it will be hot as hell too.

you guys are awesome...will I'd like to see your car I think I am going to go ahead and get it

Hmmm.. ideas for a daily driver ... that coupe JPS is making come to my mind, only time and the daring will tell.