Technodweeb

I have always loved the look of the Speedster.

I bought my first Porsche 1998.....Boxter. Loved it, sold it and am now in a 2002 Boxter. I especially love these cars because with over 120,000 miles of driving I have never had to do anything other than put gas in and check the tire pressure.

I am not capable of doing anything other than putting gas in a car and checking tire pressure.

Given those inadquacies.....am I a candidate for a Speedster replica.....or am I likely to become frustrated? I live in So. Cal. and want to tool around with the top down. It would be a second car so I will not be logging a lot of mileage on it.

Secondary question.....can one get a Speedster replica with glass side windows?

Thanks, Stephen Black

Good question, there are numerous former Speedster replica owners who gave it up at some point after fantasy met reality. I've had a lot of ordinary cars with which all I ever did maintenance-wise was to put in gas, check fluids, occassionally wash it. Otherwise I would take them to mechanics to do any sort of repair or serious maintenance. I am no mechanical whiz by any means but I've found I enjoy working on my Speedster, repairing, tweaking, etc. I did rely on a true mechanic to get things sorted out after I first got it, but I've been wrenching on it quite a bit myself - I got some VW repair books and have perused the valuable "knowledge" section of this site. Iv'e adjusted valves and replaced a clutch cable among other things. Like me, you have probably sensed from lurking here as a 'pre-owner' that it perhaps takes some mechanical inclination to be happy and successful with a Speedster. So unless you are an old dog who doesn't want to learn new tricks, don't sell yourself too short, true love conquers all - you can learn how to do more than you think. On the other hand, if you don't mind writing checks to a trusted mechanic, by all means you can let them do it all for you. VW sources and expertise are bountiful in your area, 2 replica makers as well. Intermeccanica and Specialty Auto Works (maybe others too ?)have glass windows, powered even, optional.

I recently purchased a 356 Roadster; the maker of my car is

Some of the more regular maintenance items you will want to do yourself as they are not hard to do and you will come to enjoy them. I loved changing my oil and now I change the oil on all my cars myself. I also enjoyed syncing the carbuerators...this was practically as good as a sport to me. My previous knowledge was zilch, nodda, nothing.

For anything more serious then that I would take it to a reliable VW mechanic. Now I have moved on to the Specialty Autoworks Car as money has become easier to come by, but my time is short. I also live in the midwest and finding a mechanic is a sport all of its own.

The worst thing that ever happened to me was the electric cutoff switch accidently got turned off while they were cleaning my carpet and I didn't know it. I spent about 5 hours trying to figure out why I had good battery voltage, but no power anywhere else. I gave up and asked Henry at Intermeccanica for help he graciously answered the problem in about 2 seconds. Even the big problems only seem big until you figure it out on these cars.

Is this stephen black from ottumwa????????

Steven, Although at one time in my life it was fun working on my cars, those days are long gone....Now I just enjoy them...That being said, Find yourself a good mechanic in your area, buy the speedster with the fancy electric windows (wimp) and enjoy the ride......

Oh man you are right I am a wimp!!!!! Thanks Vince

Sincere thanks to all for your good counsel. Steven.....I am from Southern California.....and I think Vince was suggesting that I am the wimp with regard to the glass side windows. Vince, I have really been enjoying the dialogue in this great site but one of the themes I have picked up on with reference to general complaints.....is the inability to keep water out of the Speedsters. It does seem most of those complaints come from the cold country.....but fact remains we do get a drop of rain in CAL on occasion.

I have been thinking about the Beck or the IM. Brad, you like the IM but it is quite a bit more expensive than the Beck. Maybe those glass windows and water tight inadequacies are not so tough to live with here in So. Cal.

I am thinking the Beck on the basis that their tubular construction process maybe be superior to chopping down a VW pan. Also I have read that you get more foot room w/o the pedals all jammed to the right. Any thoughts on those observations?

Thanks again to all for taking the time to talk to a neophyte. I really appreciate it.

Stephen Black

I think they all have something to offer to a slightly different market. You need to figure out which market and price point your comfortable with. You basically get what you pay for with these cars...so if its a lot cheaper, but seems the same you are probably missing something in the details. There is a big difference between Vintage and IM for example, but that isn't to say the Vintage is perfectly fine for what you want out of the car??