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I was going to say Reutter but I thought it was a trick question.
Porsche
How deep is your pocket? Intermeccanica is said to be the top of the line. You can order a speedster with a 911 engine,tranny,suspension from them for around $70-80k or a VW powered for almost half the price. Also JPS does a great job along with Vintage speedster.
All comes down to money and the what purpose the car will serve.
All comes down to money and the what purpose the car will serve.
For those of us in areas of the country that get low winter temps---it will be 17 hrere in Hot Springs, Arkansas this evening---we have to wonder how much we can afford to have a car that will be undriveable some of the year. I have a new Vintage Speedster that the original owner paid over $33,000 for (he got his from those mark-up specialists Automotive Legends instead of from the real maker---Vintage in Hawaiian Gardens, CA for about $27k while I paid $24k with just 700 miles.) For me $24 is about my outer limit for a car that I can drive pretty much 10 months a year. If I had $80 grand in the Canadian maker's car I would not feel so good having it sit. Even with roll up windows and a decent heater.
From all the research I have done my own feeling is that the Vintage Speedster is by far the most bang for the buck out there---bar none.
Of course some are not interested in bang for their buck---they want the best there is, and can pay for it. I am that way about 5 string pre war Gibson banjos, computers, and airplane parts. Not Speedies though.
----Just my 2 cents worth.----Jack
From all the research I have done my own feeling is that the Vintage Speedster is by far the most bang for the buck out there---bar none.
Of course some are not interested in bang for their buck---they want the best there is, and can pay for it. I am that way about 5 string pre war Gibson banjos, computers, and airplane parts. Not Speedies though.
----Just my 2 cents worth.----Jack
Sorry for following hi-jack!
Hi Jack!
Have you checked out Gibson's 'robotic guitar' yet? It is VERY COOL! You can pre-program several open-string tunings that the robotic tuner re-tunes your guitar to at the touch of a switch. No more need for numerous guitars tuned for different song effects.
I don't know if they have an application for other instruments (banjo, mandolin, etc.).
WRT 'best' - whatever fits your (big-boy-toy) budget!
Peace - Out!
Hi Jack!
Have you checked out Gibson's 'robotic guitar' yet? It is VERY COOL! You can pre-program several open-string tunings that the robotic tuner re-tunes your guitar to at the touch of a switch. No more need for numerous guitars tuned for different song effects.
I don't know if they have an application for other instruments (banjo, mandolin, etc.).
WRT 'best' - whatever fits your (big-boy-toy) budget!
Peace - Out!
I wouldn't buy an intermeccanica. I mean, for the price of those, you might as well get a real one!
The "REAL" ones suck! They are not driven, they are carried to the shows, so they wont put on miles or, god forbid need reapir.
Awww, geez Howard! That was a little harsh!
(You could've just said they only had four cylinders!)
;)
It is funny how that question keeps popping up. I'll throw my two cents in for our Belgian friend, though.
I've now mashed the gas pedal in a JPS, ridden in an Intermeccanica with Henry, carefully driven a Beck, borrowed a Vintage, owned a CMC and only once had a seat in a SAW.
For my money, I really like the Beck. If you REALLY want a driver, and if you could find one of those for a good deal, you'd be set for life.
I haven't driven the SAW, but it seemed to sit kind of high for my liking. I'd like to ride in one to see how the mid-mount handles before I commit to an opinion on them.
The IM seemed a little like a well-crafted motor yacht to me, but I'd put it a very, very close second to the Beck -- I'd just be afraid to wreck it. The Beck seems to be more rugged and built for my style of driving.
As beautiful as the JPS cars are, I really wouldn't like to chase all the little problems to ground. I'd probably buy a well-documented used one with the bugs sorted out if the price was right, but I'd hate to be the first owner.
I've never seen a Vintage that wasn't well-cared for, but they're kind of vanilla (my opinion) until they're personalized by their owners. I wouldn't turn one away for the kind of money they bring used, but I think I'd like a little more finish if I was buying new. They also seem to be uber reliable -- I don't recall seeing much in the way of problems posted here that weren't standard VW stuff and easily handled.
I drive like an idiot, so it's GOT to be reliable. Classic Motor Carriages cars seem to vary with the time and attention the owners put into their builds. I wouldn't buy one without looking at its history, and I'd absolutely have to take a test-drive.
I'd also have to see the car in person before I bought a CMC again. The indoor-outdoor carpet that came with the kits isn't the best-quality carpet available, and I think a lot of first-time kit builders use it because it's what came with the kit.
Bear in mind, these are the kinds of opinions we argue over beers and dinner, so we can generally say these kinds of things about each others' cars and we're laughing about the fortunes of what we bought already. I think everyone on this board probably has a thing or two they'd like to change on their cars, very few folks need them as their primary transportation and most of us would really like to have something better than what we've got in the garage.
Try to take anyone's opinion here with a grain of salt -- including mine. ANY car on this site is better in overall appearance than what I've got.
(You could've just said they only had four cylinders!)
;)
It is funny how that question keeps popping up. I'll throw my two cents in for our Belgian friend, though.
I've now mashed the gas pedal in a JPS, ridden in an Intermeccanica with Henry, carefully driven a Beck, borrowed a Vintage, owned a CMC and only once had a seat in a SAW.
For my money, I really like the Beck. If you REALLY want a driver, and if you could find one of those for a good deal, you'd be set for life.
I haven't driven the SAW, but it seemed to sit kind of high for my liking. I'd like to ride in one to see how the mid-mount handles before I commit to an opinion on them.
The IM seemed a little like a well-crafted motor yacht to me, but I'd put it a very, very close second to the Beck -- I'd just be afraid to wreck it. The Beck seems to be more rugged and built for my style of driving.
As beautiful as the JPS cars are, I really wouldn't like to chase all the little problems to ground. I'd probably buy a well-documented used one with the bugs sorted out if the price was right, but I'd hate to be the first owner.
I've never seen a Vintage that wasn't well-cared for, but they're kind of vanilla (my opinion) until they're personalized by their owners. I wouldn't turn one away for the kind of money they bring used, but I think I'd like a little more finish if I was buying new. They also seem to be uber reliable -- I don't recall seeing much in the way of problems posted here that weren't standard VW stuff and easily handled.
I drive like an idiot, so it's GOT to be reliable. Classic Motor Carriages cars seem to vary with the time and attention the owners put into their builds. I wouldn't buy one without looking at its history, and I'd absolutely have to take a test-drive.
I'd also have to see the car in person before I bought a CMC again. The indoor-outdoor carpet that came with the kits isn't the best-quality carpet available, and I think a lot of first-time kit builders use it because it's what came with the kit.
Bear in mind, these are the kinds of opinions we argue over beers and dinner, so we can generally say these kinds of things about each others' cars and we're laughing about the fortunes of what we bought already. I think everyone on this board probably has a thing or two they'd like to change on their cars, very few folks need them as their primary transportation and most of us would really like to have something better than what we've got in the garage.
Try to take anyone's opinion here with a grain of salt -- including mine. ANY car on this site is better in overall appearance than what I've got.
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My vote goes to Intermeccanica. I have owned 4 of Henry's vehicles now and the newer the better.
I guess you buy to what you want to put into your car ($$$). If you are looking for a new 4 door vehicle...some are $15,000 and some are $100,000. The $15,000 is not a bad car, it's just not as nice as a new Mercedes, this is where the Speedster makers come in. IM seems to finish better, use higher quality materials and they invest in engineering and small details, this all has a cost associated to it.
I guess you buy to what you want to put into your car ($$$). If you are looking for a new 4 door vehicle...some are $15,000 and some are $100,000. The $15,000 is not a bad car, it's just not as nice as a new Mercedes, this is where the Speedster makers come in. IM seems to finish better, use higher quality materials and they invest in engineering and small details, this all has a cost associated to it.
For the price of an IM you can get a "real one" that is "REAL RUSTY". That is one of the "Original features" that I decided I did not want in my Intermeccanica. I was standard on all 356 real Porsches.
I was not standard equipment, rust was.
Ya Cory, I guess a little harsh..... BUT, all these cars are fun. The more you can do yourself, the better. I wish I had the time and the talent to get "into" the vehicle. Money IS a factor for all of us, how you intend to you the car, 12-20k a year/ or 2-5k a year determines to a great extend what you will tolerate in one of these cars. The decision is personal, Beck is the car I would have gone with if I didn't see the IM at Carlisle in comparison. More money, definitley more car. A close friend of mine has a "real" 58 Speedster, bought it it in 1974 for 2500. Stopped driving it in the 90's, car worth 125k, more or less. Not driven anymore, except to 365 Registry events. Who is going to have more fun???? going foward.
Howard, I think you'll be having a lot with your 6 cyl, while I'm pretty close to you with my Beck. Everybody, let's not start any penile comparison wars. I love my Beck, and I love the IMs I've seen. More money usually buys more car, and I drool over the pictures of Howard's. I also drool a bit over some Becks, JPS', Vintages, and etc. that I've seen. Of all the Speedsters I've driven I think Gordon's CMC was the most refined and Cory's the most exhilarating, but I like mine the best (don't we all?). They're all a $hitload of fun, and we all have different priorities, but we all love the hobby. And yes, I prefer the replicas to the real ones because we can drive 'em.
Geez, I sound sappy, don't I?
Geez, I sound sappy, don't I?
This question should go in the I'm too lazy to take the time to study section, so how can we take it seriously. Study each vendor's value offer and ask intelligent questions. We can address an informed consumer with clarification. Dreamers are too lazy to take seriously.
hey belgian
buy my JPS
already built, 15 months old,5000 miles and no problems
buy my JPS
already built, 15 months old,5000 miles and no problems