Not a new owner yet but advice and opinions I need before I purchase

These are all just Bugs with fibreglass on top & ain't a one of 'em worth more than $5-8k.

(ducks, runs away)

Yeah, Ed, you better run! ;-)

That Beck is seriously overpriced at $29k.  Given the power plant and the odd placement of some of the trim, I'd say no more than $20k.  Heck, for $29k I'd sell you mine!

I'd like to address the DD comment.  Btw, I graduated from Rolla and know the weather where you are.  These cars are lousy in the rain and snow. If you don't make modifications, the heat is pretty much useless too.  

I would never recommend that anyone drive these as a DD even if they lived in Hawaii, because they still get rain.  

These cars are great toys when the sun shines and the top and side curtains are good enough to get you to a far away gathering and in and out of storage, but that's about it.  

These cars are basically motorcycles with 4 wheels in terms of safety and weather protection.

I think Ed's cassa is ripe for a Speedster drive by on way to Carlisle!  Spare Bridgett though. 

If you're set on using your 356 replica as a daily driver I'd recommend getting one with roll up windows.  For $29K you should be able to get a decent used Intermeccanica, which comes with roll up windows and a multi-speed fan to help defog the windshield.

You've got a few hours left on this one...http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Speedster-/300893969034;jsessionid=702F9EA5C9909E981FDD26DDD4732275?ViewItem=&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:1123&item=300893969034&forcev4exp=true

First time speedy owner... I suggest buy a cheaper used car drive it and decide you wants and dislikes before d(r)iving into a major investment.

Dr. Clock's answer makes real good sense to me. It's what we did and got things figured out over a couple of years. With respect, Tom Blakenship's reply above, third para in particular seems surprisingly narrow minded. Anyone need some of this with a $9,500 car ? http://s1224.photobucket.com/user/beezered1/library/#/user/beezered1/library/?sort=6&page=1&_suid=13671889532130004119670717960877 And by the way, our original investment was $6,500 and we drove it from Boise, Idaho across the USA and up to Ottawa, Canada on it's original 1600 cc engine. The photo set above was one year later with a 1915 cc engine built by others.

David, no "e" in Blankinship :-)

I'm just trying to protect someone from relying on this car as their daily driver.

This is a great fun car, but not everyone has the inclination to sort out the issues and keep them maintained.  This is why so many are sold after a few miles.

You're on the extreme other end having converted your car to water-cooled and I think that that is your 3rd engine.

I too agree with the good Dr.'s advice.

Also, if Lane is serious (and I hope that he's not) his car is a very well-sorted car.

Also, I have nothing but praise for Becks.

10-4 on the e-i mistake Tom and sorry for that. I just wanted to make sure a new fella might understand that there are longer range possibilities too. Yup, three engines. Boise, Idaho to Ottawa on a straight stock 1600. Could have gone straight back there too no sweat, but I wanted more power for the bits of freeway travelling we get into from time to time. The second engine was an (el cheapo)  1915 built by others and lasted 10,000 miles and gave in to a cam/lifter failure after getting home from the Sacramento to Carlisle and home deal in 2011. Blame could be cast on wrong oil or shytty Chinese parts. Got my head straight and dumped in a Soob EJ22 on my own and went from Ottawa Canada to Key West and back on my way to Carlisle and home last year. Seems to work well. Just got it out of hibernation today. Started and ran well about 50 miles to home. I'd head out to the Hoover Dam tomorrow if you wanted and instead of adjusting the valves along the way I might have my feet up and enjoy a few in Durango...or Denver..or Tucumcari....( Rich were you ever there ) :-) 

Why yes, David, I was.

I guess I need to clarify daily driver, I live around 3 miles from work and when it is not raining or below 30 to 40 degrees I will be driving this car back and forth to work, I am not new to the Volkswagen drivetrain and power plant , in the 70s and 80s had several bugs and 2 sand rails but ,  new to the speedster,  trying to get the best value for the money and something close to my location in southeast Missouri I have found a Beck a few hours away but it only has the single carb 1600cc and is over priced by 6 to 8k For my budget,  So hoping sooner or later the correct car will become available somewhere in the Midwest in the 16 to 18k range, not a big fan of the Volkswagen pan built ones but in my price range that is the direction I may end up with.  Look forward to learning more about these cars as I read more on this forum.