Whats the best speedster/spyder/904 for a daily driver

None.  I see you're in Hamilton (Ontario?).

These are fair weather toys, not daily drivers.  One drives one as one would drive a motorcycle.

If we have another winter like the last (current here), you wouldn't want any of these to be your daily driver. Period.

Well, In 1965 I drove a '57 cloth sunroof VW bug to college in NJ.  No heat then on an 8 year old car.  Drove 30 minutes before a small area of windshield cleared.  Speedsters have less heat and defrost due to soft top and side curtains. Most Spyders don't have tops even.  904s are great, rare/expensive and have bad visibility. Much as we need young owners - it just isn't a good first car especially for a daily driver in frozen north.  A late model honda/yota/yugo (kidding there) would be better choice.  Fess up - it's your dad that wants the Speedster.

 

Historical - Speedsters (and all Porsches) are unibody - there is no pan to unbolt from body.  Created by same guy but significantly different execution of same theory.

 

P.S. I wanted a new just out Mustang then but could only afford a $325 VW and its insurance.  Mowing grass didn't pay much back then.

As the above posters have mentioned, these cars don't make great daily drivers.  Then-again you're 18.....you don't feel pain/cold like us old guys do.

 

I think my Tubaru would serve me well as a daily driver.  I live in an area that has a moderate climate and I have a car that has heat, air and good weather sealing.  If this was really a consideration for me, which it isn't since I'm retired, the only thing I would have to change is my insurance coverage.  Nuff said?

OK

Everything said above is true - but that being said - you are only 18 once.

I wish I would of purchased that Jag that I wanted when I was 20 and the 911 about the same time but passed because I needed something practical - I say dream big and go for it if you are handy.

I want to see pictures of a Speedster (better yet, a 904) on the streets of Hamilton, Ontario next January.

^^^What Rich said^^^

I really like that someone of your age has an appreciation of classic cars.  Unfortunately the climate where you live does not support a Speedster as a daily driver.  A coupe would probably work, but they haven't been produced for very long, and prices are not low.  If you can afford one, fantastic.   As for pan versus tube frame, don't worry about that.  For most purposes that is not a major consideration.  It would be wonderful if you can pull this off as you would have the coolest car among all of your friends, but don't be too disappointed if you have to wait a bit.

Adam...I like your name....my first born is named Adam. Ignore much of what you have just read so far except what Ron O has said. I'm in Ottawa and likely my Speedster will be available later this year. It's got Soob power and thus, heat and will go for a very fair price...pan based older IM and licensed in Ontario right now. Stay on this list and you'll never be short on advice.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Dave ;-), but is your Speedster a daily driver?

 

Adam, Dave is a great local source of info, so if the two of you could get together it would be great.  Of course he's not so good with throttle cables :-D.

 

If you can get away for a few days and have some extra cash in mid-May, come to Carlisle, PA for a serious education on these wonderful cars.

I'll just post this as a quick addendum to what Lane posted as I posted mine, I apologize for nothing when I say.....some Southern buggers have NO CLUE what it's like to live in Canada, be 18 years of age and have a bone for something like a Speedster. Get the Phuck over it and deal with it, eh ? It's cold, we know that, we deal with it, so don't offer advice it you don't live here. We do and we still enjoy it.

 

I had a buddy with a Bug Eyed Sprite in high school that drove it for three years straight and we ran it every year at the ice races on Dows Lake back in the day just for fun. When I was 17 we put a Mini part way thru the ice the night before the next days race. When security called the cops, we were a couple of miles down the canal hiding....on thin ice more or less. ? Like Long John Baldry said, eh?

 

Thanks for that...laner  -...I'm bringing a spare cable for the gift thing giving deal on the Social night. I owe you one dood and will have some local hooch for

sampling....looking fwd to it !

Not to squash all these young dreams, but this climate change thing has cast a whole new light on 50's-60's car technology. But I'll bet Stroud could mount some snowmobile skis on the front end for even a little more excitement 

We did crazy things when young Rich and thru the winters too. I ran a $50 CZ...Jawa 250 across many a field chasing snow mobiles back in the '60's. Flew open Ultalites on a clear January day in -24 C. Sailed ice boats too...scary and noisy.  Don't get me started, eh ?

 

I'm a half decent photog too....NOT :-) here's a neat pic of Aaron White going by with Nolan Scott coming up from the rear....near Christiansburg, 2012

Eh...it's still cold, eh!

 Ya, ice boating is noisy too.

Get the one you love and drive it like you stole it every single day and the weather won't matter because you will be to happy to care. I had my first speedster at 19. It was my daily driver in the winter. Better heat than my 67 splitty.  From a practical stand point air cooled is super cheap to maintain and easy to work on.

Actually my dad doesn't care for cars! I have always been a classic car nut... I'm reading that people are saying its a bad idea and I'm curious as to why?

Im thinking if someone puts a ceramic heater in the car it will be okay in the winter months 

Im a university student, however growing up in an italian house hold i learned everything i needed to from my nono (grand father)

Ive seen coupes going for around 34 K and thats not entirely out of my league... its expensive but i can get my pops to pitch in I'm sure 

Dude thats epic! I have a jeep wrangler so i assume if a ceramic heater was tossed in it'll be fine as long as i weather proof it and powder coat the pan no?

Thats exactly what the intention was from day one! I was only looking for air cooled as i can take those apart with my eyes closed... and i was thinking buying a vs as its v dub panned which means it already has a cheap insurable title and its not to far off from the real thing. I read the original speedsters had a v dub chassis that was modded for stiffness. 

I know the subie will get way more power but I'm also looking at air cold vw because the porsche basically was an immature version of that car 

Go for it kid!  One of the problems with getting older is that you have lots of experience to draw on and tend to get really practical, especially if you are a parent. I had a '61 Beetle when I was 18 with no heat (okay, it was a hard top but so what) and it was some of the most memorable motoring of my life.  My best friend frequently gives we the old "remember when".  Buy a decent car and you can always sell it if it doesn't meet your needs. I waited too long to get a Speedster.....

Good luck.

Thanks for the advice and Im totally going for it. However the question is raised what is better for the driving pleasure a tube frame or a beetle pan? or are they exactly the same to drive?

Is there enough duct tape made to keep one dry using a speedster as a daily driver in Canada?  I hate the sound of mine with the top on too, but it is awesome down. 

Duck tape? and what suspension would be best to make it handle similarly to an original?

Your knowledge of VW is huge plus.  If you are in Canada, a bigger concern other than the climate is registration. David Stroud is your expert there.  Replicas imported have to be something like 25 years old.

 

With custom made side curtains and modified heat (heat up front is useless, but moved to the rear bulkheads is toasty.  David Stroud did this too, btw) it becomes a 3 season car.

 

I wouldn't want to drive one on the snow and ice.

 

With regards to rain, they leak A LOT  They're really no fun in the rain.  Most of us only drive our cars in the rain if we have to, like to a group event that might involve some rain.

 

I live in Detroit and drive my car from March through October, but not many days until May.  Spring is always surprisingly bad and fall is always surprisingly good.

 

You can survive the cold with some cheap heat mods and homemade side curtains, but snow, ice and rain can't be avoided.

 

IMHO the ceramic heater is a blind alley.  They don't put out enough heat.  The heat through the rear bulkheads eliminates most of the loss and REALLY puts out the heat.

Almost all replicas have stock VW suspension, which happens to be the exact same design as the original 356s.  Plenty of folks on this site can provide the right advice to make it handle well.

 

Sounds like you have the right attitude and resources to make this work, so I'll retract my previous advice and say go for it.  If you can make the Carlisle, PA show in mid-May it would be a fantastic way to get introduced to the cars.  As for pan versus tube frame, the differences are not huge related to performance.  It's a long conversation regarding vendors, new/used, etc.  Do some searches on this site and try to make it to Carlisle.  Hope to see you there.

Hey, I drove various Aircooled cars in Youngstown, OH as a teen. Standard winter gear was an ice scraper and towel for the inside of the windshield! At that age it was an adventure..,
Adam, your bigger problem will be Canada in general. You'll need to find something in Canada already, or one that has been on the road in the US for 15+ years due to import laws.
Forget the 904. 2-3x your budget and not a car for the weather.

Really, my Spyder with top, side curtains, and HEAT is a three season car. Snow and ice, well, let's just say NO!. But it's not my daily driver, Quattro takes care of that duty. I did get caught out in some freezing rain in the end of November once. I had just installed the top and wanted to drive the Spyder in the rain to see how "comfortable" it was! THAT was an experience! Barely made it home, too light and too much power.

 

If it was my daily driver, and I was younger, I might put studded snows on it on an extra set of narrow(15" X 4") wheels and raise the suspension an inch or so.

Carey , you left out the spray can de icer that left us with a unhealthy buzz, then as we drove over frozen ruts of ice the guy in the back says .... did you hear that that buzzing and  hey.....whats burning as the rear seat springs bottom out on the battery terminals.

Danny

A Spyder with heat?  Owned my 2 Vintage Spyders when I lived in FL.  Didn't need heat.  A Spyder with heat?  And Vintage doesn't have a top or curtains.  Are you using a Beck top?  A Spyder with heat?  Did you come up with it yourself or did Greg provide a roller like that?  This I've got to see.

Lucky you.  You might consider a Porsche Boxster.

 

You can probably buy a very good used one for about $12,000 and it would be a suitable daily driver in nearly any weather and have the latest safety equipment. 

 

Just be sure to check to see if the IMS problem has been resolved. 

We do vented heat, defrost, and completely hidden heat in water-cooled Spyders fairly regularly.

Found out, by mistake, that a simple heater core dumping heat under the dash works pretty darn well.  The natural suction of the car at speed pulls the heat across your lower body and then up your torso before being sucked out of the car.  Makes a top down below freezing drive somewhat more bearable... as long as you are OK with a frozen face and fingers...

One piece ski suit and you're good to go! Speedster all the way!

Phil, top bought used from Ray Colbert in western PA. He got it from Greg with his Vintage, then couldn't use it anymore with his permanent and high rollbar for track use. Carey Hines told me Greg used to source his tops from Beck. So I retrofitted it to mine before I got it repainted. Got all new Tenax snaps from Carey and used small SS washers to protect the paint when I installed the Tenax studs on the rear clamshell. I have to remove my headrest when I put the top on, one bolt.

 

Heat is an Eberspacher BN-2 under the dash. Carey supplied me with a couple aluminum dash vents which got hooked up to have actual defrost, and two vents under the dash aimed at driver and passenger.

 

I've driven top-down and half-tonneau down to 32 F. Not that much fun but doable. Hat and gloves mandatory and cover your ears. Top up you will sweat. I usually leave a side curtain partially unzipped for fresh air.

 

You can check it out in a month.

Sorry.  New to this winter thing with replicas.  So this heater, Eberspacher BN-2, actually runs off gasoline from the car?  No need to go into it here.  I will do search. 

Phil, yup, from a 60s type 1 or type 3. Mostly sold with the car in Canada but could also be dealer installed later.