speedster v spyder

What are the advantages between the speedsters and 550 spyders??

besides the price ( which isn't that much different anyway )

What made all of you chose the speedster

-are there any kind of insurance issues with one of them

-is one easier to register

-yatta

-yatta

-yeah well...

I'm kinda torn between these two cars cause I'm maybe planning on gettin one within the next year or so.

thanks for your input!!

Joe

Compared to a Spyder the Speedster is a reasonably (key word is "reasonably") safe, comfortable, all-weather, drive it in traffic car. Spyders are uncomfortable, noisy, don't have bumpers, etc. Spyders are very light and so are quicker with the same given engine power output.

Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer cherce.

Style...for me I like the shape of the Speedster. The spyder just does not do anything for me.

And it seems plausible that a normal Joe like me could own a Speedster...but you wouldn't be fooling anyone with a Spyder on the road. ;-)

Brian

I looked at a used Spyder, very low miles on it and very pretty. I then went to get into it and soon realized it would not be an easy fit. I'm 66, 6'2'' and about 240lbs. Reality soon overcame emotion so I eliminated it from my wants. I checked out a Speedster and I fit very comfortably. The Speedster can be driven around the calender vs the Spyder. More creature comforts for sure. If you want performance and willing to put up with a car you probably wouldn't want to drive for a long period, then the Spyder.Look at both, then decide!

Bruce Williams, (JPS on order)

The real question here is.......

Do you want a go-cart for the street or an actual car that has lots of character?

J-P

At the risk of throwing a wrench in the "Speedster Parade" machine: while the speedster replica is a more well rounded vehicle- it is not quite the 365 day a year, user friendly, vehicle everybody seems to be implying. The top on either car (assuming you get the spyder top) is more of an "well- if I HAVE too" proposition. Unless you live in California or Florida, there are going to be times that either car is going to be down right unusable- in central IL, that means from November to March. Other, more modern, roadsters do not force those down times.

I had a Glasspar hardtop built for my car specifically to extend the season. It's beautiful. But the car is entirely different with the top on. I took it off last night, and remembered why I love to drive the car. I think that unless you are buying a "D", that both cars need to be looked at as primarly (maybe exclusively) top down propositions. That is how Porsche intended the originals. With that in mind, I will modify Jean-Paul's post to fit my opinion- A spyder is a go cart for the street, a speedster is a dune buggy with doors.

I have a different take on this question. Spyders were so rare growing up the only place I ever saw was in racing film clips. I doubt the average car lover would even recognize the Spyder for what it is.

The Speedster on the other hand even found its way into small town America. For me it was love at first sight. I considered a Spyder at first, but as I was determined to test the water before jumping in, there is a much smaller used market for Spyders compared to Speedsters, thus I focused on finding a used Speedster. Is the Speedster more practical? Who knows or cares. Both are about as practical as a motorcycle and should be driven the same way -- with passion but with extreme caution.

Well, Stan, years ago I drove my 1956 1600 super Speedster as daily transportation rain, shine, or snow in Detroit. Didn't really have any problems other than the usual Speedster quirks and the fact that heat and defrost were pretty much non-existant.

After seeing my first Spyder at a Sunday morning motorcycle gathering (Highland House Restaurant, Highland Park, Il.), I began to give some thought to a Porsche replica. I had seen a CMC Speedster in one of the terminals at O'Hare airport and knew someone (a motorcycle buddy from years gone by) who had built one and they were pretty neat. What I noticed about the Spyder was how very spartan it was. Sure, it was cool and racy, but it looked like a vehicle which could be used only on a very limited basis, kind of like a motorcycle. I would not say that the Speedster is basic utilitarian transportation because it isn't, for me at least. However, I do like the nicer appointments and creature comforts.
Would I like one of each.....Sure! Will I have one of each......probably not. :( I think I made the better choice for me and I'm happy.

I took delivery of my IM "D" the end of August 2002. I live in Columbus Ohio. The only days I haven't driven it were when there was too much snow to get out of the driveway.....

As I implied- a "D" is a whole 'nother deal. Good weather protection, and a lack of air leaks are what make Jordan's car different from the average speedster replica. I'd be interested in hearing from IM speedster owners with the newer roll-up side windows concerning exactly how tight they are. As far as George driving a speedster all winter in Detroit... I rode a Z1 one winter back in my misspent youth (which proves very little about a vehicle's winter suitability). I didn't really have any problems either- other than the fact that heat and defrost really WERE non-existant. Eskimo's live in igloos too, but I'm not moving into one.

Stan, in 1992 every day for that year I rode my cherry '77 Honda CB750 Super Sport to work every day in Arlington, Virginia, rain, shine, or snow. I was 54 at the time so maybe that was my mis-spent 2nd childhood (I'm working on my third childhood at the moment).

I've got war stories also, drove a bug eye Sprite thru two Northern Illinois Winters and the following two winters a Healey 3000, both with the plexiglass sidecurtins that actually were not that bad as far as keeping out the elements. Worse part was when you opened the door and got a cascade of rain or snow. I was young and sports car crazy, only set of wheels so you did what you had to in order to get to work,play. All the time wishing for those spring days when you could shed the top. Now that I've got my Speedster ordered I am fortunate that it will be a third car in the family. I really think the British plexiglass side curtins were lots better than the rather 1920's style the Speedster has. That sure is not stopping my anticipation of the JPS arriving soon. If it was an everyday ride for me here in Oregon I would definatly look into getting a set of the hard Plexiglass side curtins. It would appear that the manufacture of these would be an oppurtunity for someone. Keep them reasonably priced and I would the bet the world would beat a path to your door!

Bruce Williams, (JPS on order)

Sorry your car has leaks and non-existant heat Stan. If you work the car out a little you can drive it almost all year round. As for me, I drive mine in 40 deg. weather and in some really bad rain storms. Is the car as driveable as a Civic, no but niether is alot of other cars out there too. You can stay dry if you work the car out. Sorry you think YOUR Speedster is a dunebuggy for the street. I'd agree with you a while back but I've really gone through the car for everyday use. If you need suggestions I can give you pointers.

As for the Spyder, saying that the car is a go-cart for the street is a compliment in my book, I didn't mean to offend. It was a really hard choice for me when I was shopping Speedster vs Spyder.

The convertable D is a nice car but it just doesn't have the gesture of the Speedster. It's like getting an early version of a car and throwing on late model big bumpers. It's a proportion thing. This is why a convertable D is less money than a Speedster.

J-P

I have an 84 IM D and I'd have to say that it is not a year round car. Forget that I live way up north where it gets to minus 40...

The main problem is the leaks in the rain. This could be due to the age of the car but I rather doubt it. Water comes in from the windshield wiper posts...I asked Henry about a gasket for it and he said the only possible cure is to put lots of silcone sealant around it?? Water comes in from around the window too. It is definaatley not tight when it comes to drafts too. I'd compare it to a 76 Spitfire I once had. Very similar in that you could stay reasonably comfortable but not like in a hardtop like the 67 Alfa Duetto I once had that came with a fiberglass top.


Brian

While going to university I drove a 1967 MGB. The car was leak free, as long as I didn't try to go through a car wash! The 'B' was a lot more water/wind tight than my 84 IM (I can't believe I'm saying this about a British sport car!) The 'B' was my only car, while now I have another car to drive when the weather is crappy (which it is from November to May where I live). I was going to say that the 'B' was also easier to get in and out of...but I was 24 then...and I'm 51 now.
Anyone who has lived in Washington state or British Columbia knows why they call this part of the world the 'Wet' coast.
Ron

Jean-Paul- Do you live in California, by chance? 40 deg? That's spring weather man! In this part of the world, winter is cold and long and very windy. My heat is not "non-existant", just inadequate to heat the cabin to 60 deg or so on a reasonably short drive on a day colder than 20 to 30 deg, which means December to March. I have been working dilignatly on sealing the air leaks, and I have original german heat exchangers. My heat runs in PVC, not the frame rails. I think a thermostat would help a lot, as would re-circulating cabin air (instead of using 10 deg air from the engine bay). I am committed to making the car as usable as possible, but I think we are talking about two different kinds of winter here.

Bruce- I have plexiglass side-curtains with seals which I fabricated to fit the hard-top. Part of the problem with side-curtains and the soft-top is the top itself- the sealing surface along the top edge of the side-curtains is a bit "floppy", and the portion behind the doors "scoops" air into the cabin. The hard-top is a major improvement, but is difficult to safely store. I have built a padded crate, which is rugged enough to truck freight the top, but heavy as all get-out. I'm glad to be topless for the next 6 months.

Brian and Ron- Thanks for your honesty.

George- You win.

The point I was trying to make is that we all just kind of live with these cars with the tops up. Visability is poor, the cabin is noisy, it's cold in the winter. Its fun in the same way that camping in the snow is fun- its different, and kind of manly. But once the top goes down, my car becomes nearly perfect. It sounds better, it runs better, and it is fun w/o any excuses.

To get back to the original point- that makes a speedster and a spyder not all that much different. They are more alike than a speedster and a Z3, or Boxter, or MR2 Spyder, or any other "modern" car.

Bruce, I just got off the phone will Russ at Fibersteel. He has plex side curtains in one piece and sliding two piece models, for real Speedsters now and is planning on having some for our cars soon. Call him up and show your interested and maybe he will hurry up. Eddie

Eddie,
Thanks a lot. Where is he located? Do you have his phone #, I'll do a search for a website. The two piece sliding is what I'd be interested in. Thanks much, I'll let everyone know what happens,

Bruce Williams

Bruce try Fibersteel.com or 818 681 8440. Eddie

Re plexiglass sidecurtains. Eddie, I sent Russ an e mail and I got his reply this morning. He says he is getting the last pieces together and should have product by the end of May. Price is estimated to be around $400-$450. He recommends getting back to him then. Something I'll certainly do. Thanks for the tip. Hope to get a user report on them somewhere down the road soon.

Regards, Bruce Williams

Hi Joe, my brother has a 550 Beck Spyder and he loves it. I have a 58 Beck Speedster, and what I don't envy with his car is:

A) the seats do not move forward or back- so you'd better fit or?

B) there is no top. Oh how I love my top when the sun sets, or it's a chilly day- but I just have to take my LILTUB for a spin. I live at the beach in S. Calif. so it really makes life more comfortable
when the fog rolls in. I like to have options.

C) no bumpers- and you WILL thank God you have them when
the day day comes that you do use them. I got rear ended the second day I had my new car. I replaced the rubber center of the bumper and was back in action right away.

The 550 is cool looking, but nothing beats the look of a Speedster. If you do get the 550 you should look into gettinn the style with the vent slits over/near the rear fender.

I wish you well,
Mike SIddons......LILTUB