Old Newbie

I had a '64 Cabriolet, but since I was too paranoid to drive it in DC traffic, I sold it. I am at the begining of a process that that I will over-analyize, but will end with a Speedster. I figure that it would more repairable/replaceable, so more fun.

This community seems to be the same type of people who waved to each other just because we had "Sports Cars" back in the day.

My first step is too decide "standard or widebody". I used to autocross a 914 and came to really hate 165's and figured the widebody would give a better tire choice. I used to live in Central PA and DC, but live in Pensacola now, so a great heater isn't a problem.

Any adult leadership would be apprciated.

Thanks,

Bill

Welcome to the group!
Most of us are running 185-195 series tires on our standard speedsters.
Maybe think about a mild flared version?
I know JPS offers one. Hell, probably all the builders do.
Now, will it be tube or pan based?

Bill - most of the people on this site are the thumbs WAY UP kinda people. Hey about your speedstah to be. I have an idea.

I was down at Thunder Ranch a couple of weeks ago. They are going to start making an optional body for their speedsters. It is 3" wider at the back. Not flared, the whole body is wider. That's 3" per SIDE... I do have pictures but I don't have their permission to share them.

You might inquire - its a really interesting looking concept and you can fit HUGE tires under it.
angela

GET THE WIDE BODY,
I LOVE MINE AND THE TIRES SCREAM

Man, I'd kill for an extra 3 inches! (ha) On my Speedster that is.

Thanks guys...I knew I could count on you.

Since suicide was always "a downhill lefthander in the rain in a Porsche" I've always liked big rears(tires). I had 3 Big Healeys before moving away from the Dark Side so I'm used to loose tops, leaks, and the defroster being a paper towel (another reason to move to Florida).

I would really like to use a 914/VW bus engine if possible. They're really strong, push/pull alot of air, have a crank driven alternator, and love Webers. Are any of the makers using them?

When I GM'd a dealership I hated guys with clipboards, they were logical and I wanted an impulse purchase. Unfortuneatly, I'm now one of them.

What I'd like to start with is a used one that I could renew/refresh and drive. Be care what you wish for...

Bill

BILL
CALL JOHN AT JPS

John,

Thanks...I'll start there. Maybe I can find a JPS I can retro fit. Time dulls the memory, but I think the bug and bus share a bell housing bolt pattern.

Bill

One more question for the faithful before I go back to lurking in the shadows. Where do you find the 185/70x15 tires. I've checked a couple of my internet sources, but they do not have a listing.

Thanks

Bill

Go with 185/65. Many to choose from. I personally like the Yokohama Avid model.

I have 185/65x15 Goodyear RS-A tires. You may have more luck with that size.

Bill, you might want to take a look at Bruce's car for sale. It's a real beauty, lightly driven, well maintained, new 2110 and priced right. I believe he's even running 185's.

That's a great idea, Scott! What a beautiful car as well.

Looks great, and while I'm sure Bruce is an honorable man, I'd like to drive before buying and Oregon is about as far as you can get from Pensacola (no offense to Seattle folks).

Bill,

I am an honorable guy that loves road trips however the Fla to Or does present a problem for you, and me! I am running the 185-65 Kumho's. Very good results with them.

It is Springtime and my for sale car has a fresh oil change and valve adjustment so you're set for the run! We have an International airport here in Medford so I could pick you up with a full tank of gas and you'd be on your way for an adventure. By the way, my new engine has new twin Weber 44 IDF's, Yahoo!

Bruce tutw@aol.com

Bill,

I forgot to mention that I had Healey's also. A 61 Bugeye and a 61 3000 2 seater with the factory hardtop. And yes, this was in Illinois, where I drove them thru the Midwest winters in the snow and ice. I survived and have many retellable memories of those days, ah, youth! Now I am in far Southern Oregon and the awful weather we had in my youth is but a dim memory, opps, we did get a dusting of snow this morning!

Bruce

Bruce,

You're killing me...had 44's on my 64C...not much on low end end but really screamed once the revs picked up (stinger exahust helped). Just started a new job with Mazda Parts in Pensacola and a weekend is about all I can spare. Second career after early retirement from AT&T (love them packages)and this old dog's learning new tricks now.

Good Luck with it...I'll just wallow in self pity when someone else buys it.

Thanks,

Bill

However, Tom's in New Mexico (since my in-laws are in Tucson) and Fred's in SC are driveable. Just need to resolve my pucker factor. Following the forum posts it seems like Tom just bought his last year and Fred's ,despite all the Surgeon General's warnings, has started smoking.

Bad News ? Your call...I may be going to the dark side

We just traded in a '99 BMW Z3 "M" Roadster, 52K ( I work at a Mazda, BMW, Chevy, Nisan, Chrysler, Hyundai dealership) for about $16K. I won't even mention the car's pwr windows, a/c, and heat/defrost.

It's in pretty good shape and stares at me all day, and I can tell she wants me. Not the first time I've been swayed by a pretty face with 4 exhausts, really wide tires, and 240 hp. Who am I to deny her this 60 year old with the maturity of a 13 year old.

My soul mate is the speedster, but GEEZ, does that M engine kick you in the butt.

Bill - Here's my 2 cents, for what it's worth;

You're probably like most of the members of this site, over the years we've all owned P-cars, Bimmers, Jags, MBs, the occasional exotic euro-car, Muscle cars, you name it.

We reach a point in our lives where we feel we can splurge on an expensive toy (which is exactly what these are). So what do we buy? There are countless other cars available that are easily more comfortable, quicker, more accoutrements and flashier, and these cars are bought for those reasons. Owning a Speedster is a STATE-OF-MIND.

Sitting at a traffic signal next to a Z-3 (or Z-4 or whatever car, it doesn't matter). As pedestrians walk by, they invariably give the Speedster the thumbs-up, while ignoring the Z-3 (or whatever). The light turns green, the Z-3 chirps the tires, zooms away in air-conditioned comfort leaving me in a cloud of dust. Doesn't matter, the satisfaction of my Speedy being recognized as a class act trumps go-fast machismo (I have other cars for THAT, as a lot of other guys on here).

You don't need us to convince you what to get, you ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER!! Just be sure to post pics of your new Speedy when you get it!!!

Peace - Out!

All rumor...a true rumor, buta rumor none the less.

Also true about past history, and like all true car nuts I rue the day that I sold each and every one of them (except the minivan).

Thanks Darth, you are my Father (all visual evidence to the contrary).

Bill, another advantage to owning a Speedster is the group of people that you are instantly including with. None better on the planet.

Favorite quote
..."Is that the car that James Dean died in?"
I respond with "Uh huh, it still has a funny lingering odor"

I'm gonna swim against the tide here.

We're a conflicted bunch here. We want people to like what we like (I suppose because if everyone is infected, then we can tell ourselves that we aren't really sick...), but we're confused when 50% (or more) new speedster buyers bail after about a year of owning (as opposed to driving) them.

If a guy could possibly be happy with a Z3, M3, Z4, Miata, MR2 Spyder, or any other modern car with good rubber, good seals, fuel injection, and real heat and air-- then by all means he should buy one.

The problem with over half the turnkey speedster buyers (cum sellers) with the one year, 2000 mi turn-around-- is that deep in their hearts, they really wanted a Toyota, but they were swayed by a pretty face.

These cars are not low maintenance. They require attention, slavish devotion, a blind eye, and constant upkeep. They are not for everybody.

But... for some of us, we're helpless. We HAVE to have them, even when we know that something else would make a heck of a lot more sense. If somebody has the clarity of thinking to take some other car home to their mother.... then we should respect them for their ability to steer past the siren-song that has intoxicated the rest of us.

I can't help it-- I'm in love.

Yup. Me, too.

wrt the traffic light, the Speedster, the Z3/4, and the tire chirp: I would recommend you look up the torque output of the Z3/4 and also the weight. Compute the ft-lbs/ton. Then do the same with a Speedster running a 2,000 cc or larger engine, of which there appear to be many to choose from. N.B.: I'm going w/ the 2332 myself. Then, if you are still not happy w/ the thumbs up and appreciative smiles from the crowd, and can't get enough satisfaction from the fact of the Beemer being ignored by said crowd, then just do a little chirping of your own, and gain a little respect from all hands, including the Z3/4 driver when you blast past him. If you're in to that sort of thing . . .

As Alan said: "Favorite quote..."Is that the car that James Dean died in?" I respond with "Uh huh, it still has a funny lingering odor"

I've gotten that comment once or twice; funny that even some car connoiseurs get the Speedster and the Spyder mixed up.

Well, I suppose the great unwashed can get some credit for knowing that the James Dean thing had something to do w/ a Porsche. I just don't get it: how can a Spyder and a tub get confused???

Bill -

I think Stan gave an excellent analogy with the 'song of the sirens'. Everybody hears a different 'siren song', unfortunately my siren songs have usually been accompanied with red lights and cops with drawn weapons (laughable but true).

Go with your gut on this one. If you're happy with this toy you keep it, if not you sell it for something else.

Like many others on this site, I've owned cars that are crazy-fast (several modified 911's). And if I could have resisted even the slightest provocation (e.g.,the other car revving their engine, tailgating me, or a myriad of other knucklehead examples), I could have avoided a LOT of trouble (insert HERE any problem associated with driving at ludicrous speed).

You can make ANY CAR go fast, but you can't always make it look cool (an AMC Pacer with a hemi?)! And admit it, you KNOW you would look VERY COOL in your Speedy!

Dang, Kelly, now you got me thinking about that 2332!

Thanks guys...spoken like true car nuts.

Lots of emotions in play here, because none of this is logic. I've also noticed that (seemingly) many go up for sale by dedicated drivers who have a lot posts in many topics.

Obviously, the Pacer will have to go first. Next examine the need to recapture my youth with the Speedie. Then the requirement for thicker and thicker socks every winter. Then the strange phenomenom where I get no taller, but every year it's farther to the floor.

Finally, the finances involved...I work at Bimmer shop where I get parts at cost+10 and labor at half the usual $95 per hour.

All that said, I still want a Speedster. Addressing the Jimmy Dean factor...tell them this is the car that lead him into deceleration syndrome.

Who will win, aging boomer, or former sailor, film at eleven...

Ah, a nerve touched: the "recaptured youth" syndrome. A fool's errand, but one that will put a smile on your face. Mea culpa.

...and I've been on a LOT of those errands!

Correcto mundo...

With that wide open floor in my 356 all I needed was some spirited driing to get my beer cans back on my side of the car...

OOPs...tales from a lost era, must have been Frodo driving.

It is great sorrow (and some fear) that I must admit that I did have relations with with a certain M Roadster on Saturday. I want to apologise to Hillary (OOPS...wrong speech) I mean this Speedster group for letting you all down, after all the good cheer and advice you've shared with me.

They wanted to sell it worse than I thought and made me an offer I couldn't refuse. It needs some TLC, but the good thing about "M" cars is that they always have an audience.

Y'all let me know if you're heading South a need a guide to Gulf Coast... http://www.juanaspagodas.com/

Seriously, Thanks again.

Bill

Bill. Enjoy your new ride. Obviously yu made the right choice for you and that's what matters. If I has your garage and rates available to me, I'd have taken it, too. And don't forget....AC means its drivable and COMFORTABLE most days during the summer.....even if it's sunny.

"Who will win, aging boomer, or former sailor, film at eleven... "
I guess that debate's settled, then.
At least the "M" will have plenty of giddyup!

Thanks for the support guys...maybe after my youngest (13) gets older I can come back to the speedster and not have to worry about things like door beams, airbags, and crush zones.

FYI...in case you're wondering about a 60 yr old with a 13 yr old, I now have figured out what causes them and have taken certain steps to avoid them in the future, I'm staying married.

See you again...

Bill