What do you guys think of these cars? [Archive]

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01-28-2005, 10:56 AM

JST

01-28-2005, 11:07 AM

http://www.boulderspeedster.com/bscf/

I was just having a conversation with the VP I support here at work (who happens to be a huge P-car guy) and he indicated that he's seriously thinking about one of these as his next car. He's talking about using it as his daily driver. (Granted he has multiple other cars that he can used in inclement weather - we're talking about a well-compensated individual here).

But I have to admit that I am quite unfamiliar with them so I was wondering what you guys know about them.

Apparently a "loaded" copy can be had for around $30K.

Looks old.

Actually, looks fake old.

I'm not a big fan of fake old. Old is bad enough, but at least old has history. Fake old has all the drawbacks of old without having the history.

You can get a very nice, actual authentic old Porsche for 30K. Hell, you can get one for 15.

nate

01-28-2005, 11:17 AM

I don't like the Speedster that much.

And JST is right, it is fake old. A newer car will be much safer, handle better, be faster, and more comfortable.

01-28-2005, 11:20 AM

I agree with JST. There are only a selected few classic cars I'd ever consider owning. And I'd probably not drive them very often.

So for me, those cars do nothing.

undefined

01-28-2005, 11:21 AM

tell him to check into the Lotus Elise

clyde

01-28-2005, 11:36 AM

One of the advantages of these fakes is that rust shouldn't be an issue as with an original. Based on my father's experience with one (a 356B coupe, not a Speedster) 25 years ago, I'd be very hesitant about buying a real one. At the lower end of the price spectrum, you will have a significant rust problem to deal with. At the higher end, you will almost certainly have a real rust problem during your ownership experience if you don't constantly work on preventing it.

To use a nice weather daily driver, I'd take the replica if I had to choose between the two...but I wouldn't want to have to make that choice. Although they have interesting dynamics and are true sports cars, they are truly anemic by today's power and acceleration standards.

I don't know anything about these kits or the maker, but from the info on the website, it looks like they're doing things the right way...

kognito

01-28-2005, 11:44 AM

I did one of those kit-cars about 15 years ago (turned a Mustang II into a fake AC Cobra) Had a lot of fun doing it. (Now it was fun, back then it was a pain in the ass)

It is always a fake, and I was reminded of that many, many times. But it was a head turner. The friend who helped me, turned a pontiac fiero into a ferrari.

If I remove most of the labor hours, I sold it for a small profit

01-28-2005, 11:45 AM

JST

01-28-2005, 12:22 PM

tell him to check into the Lotus Elise

I actually mentioned the Elise in the conversation after he mentioned to me the HP and weight figures for the Speedster (which I think were both similar to the specs for the Elise).

He thinks the Elise is too garish (read "tacky").

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/images/smilies/spit.gif*

Person buying fake Porsche is concerned that real Elise is too "tacky?"

--shakes head in amazement--

Even if the weight and hp figures are similar, the Elise is going to be a better drive, I wager.

*credit to bonoboy[/img]

undefined

01-28-2005, 12:30 PM

--insert spit take here--

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/images/smilies/spit.gif

ZBB

01-28-2005, 12:35 PM

My dad had a '56 Speedster when I was a kid... white with black interior. Great car and it was in perfect condition. But it was a weekend toy that got driven <1 time a month.

I don't remember exactly when he sold it, but he also had a '62 Roadster(one of 196 "mistake" cars made -- so extremely valuable). It was semi-restored when I was little. After he sold the Speedster, he spent a considerable amount to finish the restoration of the '62. But again, that was only a weekend toy, and I was only able to ride in it a couple times before he sold it.

My dad was a P-car freek -- he also had an '89 911 Speedster for a few years (bought new). Unfortunately it was also a weekend toy -- and he sold it with ~1000 miles on it.

By the way -- I'm heading to the Barrett-Jackson auction this afternoon -- want me to check prices?

01-28-2005, 12:56 PM

Don't run too far with that "garish" comment. You're taking it further than I think he intended it.

I genuinely like this guy and he is a serious car guy. He's a bit older with a graying beard and I could see him in a car like this. I suspect that his community of car guys actually would approve. But it's not definite either.

He said he's still very seriously considering another 911. He's had a 911 of some vintage more or less since 1971 (with short windows of 911-lessness interspersed along the way). He's currently on his longest run of 911-lessness, going on a year and a half (his twin sons turned 16 and he though having a 911 around the house was too much of a temptation).

Again, the point of the thread was to see what you guys knew about these replica speedsters not question his judgment.

blee

01-28-2005, 07:16 PM

I happen to like replicas. :dunno: One of those very cars was parked outside of an old-style drive-in place in Norfolk a few years ago, and it looked very appropriate. It's unmistakably *not* a Porsche if you know what to look for, but at the same time it looks new, drives like a new version of that car, and probably won't rust in half after six months. And if you're into those kinds of cars, then there's no reason not to use one as a daily driver.

Heck, I once knew someone who had ordered an F20C-powered 7 replica (Locost) and intended to drive it to work every day. He ended up going to Iraq before that became a reality, as an assistant to one of their ministries (he's an Iraqi). So I guess I'll never know just how good of a daily driver a 1200-lb car with an S2000 engine and side curtains will idle on 495.

Doug

01-28-2005, 08:05 PM

Mark Greene, VP of Griots Garage has a Beck. Sweet car though his has so many real pee car parts it's almost the real thing

undefined

01-28-2005, 08:05 PM

Again, the point of the thread was to see what you guys knew about these replica speedsters not question his judgment.

well then you've clearly come to the wrong place :eek:

SARAFIL

01-28-2005, 08:51 PM

http://www.boulderspeedster.com/bscf/

I was just having a conversation with the VP I support here at work (who happens to be a huge P-car guy) and he indicated that he's seriously thinking about one of these as his next car. He's talking about using it as his daily driver. (Granted he has multiple other cars that he can used in inclement weather - we're talking about a well-compensated individual here).

But I have to admit that I am quite unfamiliar with them so I was wondering what you guys know about them.

Apparently a "loaded" copy can be had for around $30K.

Interesting.... I really wonder how good of a replica it is. If it offers a good copy in new condition for a reasonable price, it might serve the intended purpose well.

My boss (another very well compensated VP) has one of the real ones, in amazing condition. It spends part of the year in his garage, and the rest of the year in our Porsche showroom as a conversation piece. It definately has a different appeal than a classic high-output sports car or muscle car, but it is nice in its own way.

lemming

01-29-2005, 10:06 AM

30k is a lot of jack for a replica.

i'd save my pennies and opt for a superformance car over that little four banger car if it were my choice.

you could get a beautiful 964 for 30k and you can likely get 1995 993s for that money (or less) right about now, too.

i'll always love porsches --i will own another one someday and if your buddy, TD, is a porsche guy, he won't like the replica.

01-29-2005, 10:58 AM

Mark Greene, VP of Griots Garage has a Beck. Sweet car though his has so many real pee car parts it's almost the real thing

That's what this guy is looking at, the Beck. I forget why (he said why) but he claims they are the best of the speedsters.