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Subaru/Japanese motors? Only beck and SAW?

FM Former Member
Hello everyone
I dont know how this is going to be taken but I really like the newer water-cooled motors with the modern suspension etc, but with the look of the speedster.

Something I can drive cross country thats reliable, good on gas, lots of power and that I can have serviced at most shops. Also something I can drive daily. With that in mind I have been looking and have only found the SAW and the Beck, although Beck says: "customers have put in the Subaru motor" I am not sure they offer it as an option. Are these the only two companies at the moment putting Subaru/Japanese motors in? I have seen CSW's site but no concrete info on it yet.

I want something as close to the miata as possible but with the speedster look. Reliable, daily driver, easy top, enough "passing" freeway power, good on gas, roll up windows, easy to put up top, windshield wipers, modern suspension. But dont want a cookie-cutter, S2000, boxster, MX-5 etc.

Are there any other companies? And do you know off hand if Beck puts in the Subaru motor from the factory?

Thanks
Shawn

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FM Former Member
Hello everyone
I dont know how this is going to be taken but I really like the newer water-cooled motors with the modern suspension etc, but with the look of the speedster.

Something I can drive cross country thats reliable, good on gas, lots of power and that I can have serviced at most shops. Also something I can drive daily. With that in mind I have been looking and have only found the SAW and the Beck, although Beck says: "customers have put in the Subaru motor" I am not sure they offer it as an option. Are these the only two companies at the moment putting Subaru/Japanese motors in? I have seen CSW's site but no concrete info on it yet.

I want something as close to the miata as possible but with the speedster look. Reliable, daily driver, easy top, enough "passing" freeway power, good on gas, roll up windows, easy to put up top, windshield wipers, modern suspension. But dont want a cookie-cutter, S2000, boxster, MX-5 etc.

Are there any other companies? And do you know off hand if Beck puts in the Subaru motor from the factory?

Thanks
Shawn

Lane AndersonLane AndersonMt. Pleasant, SC Supporting Member
Shawn,

Beck doesn't offer a Subaru engine as an option, but there are adapter kits from Kennedy (I think) that will work for that. Beck IS working on a watercooled car, but they're a couple of months from production. It will use a brand new drivetrain from the '02-'06 (I think) MINI Cooper, and it will be mid-mounted. Should be sweet. They also plan to make the Convertible D style (taller windscreen and roll-up window) available. Contact Carey Hines for details.
HossHoss
Shawn, from what I have observed for the last year or so, CSW has not been a producer, mostly just a nice looking website. Time will tell if they put any meat on their bones and start delivering cars to folks that do or will hang out here.

As far as Beck, there was a version of their Speedster, an test example, that had a Subaru in the engine bay, but the current effort centers around a car with a 1.6L BMW mini engine in it. It looks and sounds very promising and Beck is and continues to have a very good reputation. Nice folks too.

Much like yourself, I have previously chosen to go with a modern engine and drive train. All of the reasons you stated are the reasons that I made my choice and yes I did drive across country to Knotts in 2005. That journey is documented, in a somewhat romanticized manner, on the SAS website. It was a fun trip to be sure.
Hoss
M mickey356
Shawn,
Look into an Intermeccanica. If it's "luxury" your looking for in one of these cars then from what I've read they are the ones to go with. Be ready to shell out some seriuos $$$, all those things cost money. The originals were not meant to be anything but a sports car / roadster with very few options. You're pretty close in comparing cars like S2000, Boxter and MX5's because in order to get a Speedster with the same things those cars offer you'll have to pay about the same money you would for a nice used one of those.
FM Former Member
Shawn, Intermeccanica makes cars with watercooled VW engines, both turbo and naturally aspirated. They have roll-up windows, and for options there are heated seats, A/C, power windows, built-in GPS, gas heater, etc. All in all, a very classic car with all the modern conveniences and equipment. And they do cost more, but you get what you pay for.
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