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I was actually a VW mechanic as a kid and took care of a few customers 356's (all coupes)...decided to get a replica only recently. I've only had the chance to plunk my butt down in an Intermeccanica Roadster (roll up windows, taller windscreen, roadster seats)....I fit just fine.  Aside from the compromised leg room in a pan based car, can anyone tell me if the ergonomics (namely backward seat adjustment) are as good in a pan based car?  I've jumped into a couple of old Beetles lately and don't really fit...so it seems like the substantially dropped seats in the Speedster pan replicas probably have enough room. I'm just wondering if it's any different than the Intermeccanica or the Beck....the fellows at Beck tell me they can actually drop the pan 2 inches inside their frame, allowing for either Roadster seats or the same eye level  in the Speedster windshield as in the  Roadster replica......I'd like to stay at $25k or under. The tube frames are rare at that price point. The car I'm hot on at the moment is a a Vintage Speedster w/ a build date of 2011. (2k miles, 1915, 3.88, heat and full carpet kit). 

Thanks all.

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There area changes that can be made to increase room, one being sure that the steering shaft is all the way forward on the steering coupler spline shaft ( there is about 1" adjustment forward and aft.  A smaller diameter steering wheel.  Also confirm that the seat is all the way back against the rear seat shelf ( raising the front to tilt the seat back also helps) and lastly with some fabrication you can have someone reconfigure the area under the seats for $200 $300 to resemble a paint roller pan,  a 1-1/2 - 2" " drop will do wonders and is fairly simple to do.  

Last edited by Alan Merklin
Panhandle Bob posted:

Welcome! How tall are you?

Only 6'0" but long torso...inseam of only 30"....fit into an early Miata between the soft top bows but a hardtop scrubs the head...Weight is top secret....just fitting into a new Slingshot but not into a Type 1 or Thing.....The tube frame Intermeccanica was very comfy.....even easy to slide across from the passenger side...

there's some decent discussion on seat styles.  I'm 5'5" and went with VS' cushy seat.  it's a softer ride and allows me to see over the dash.  You'll probably like the bucket seats.  with the cushy seats, you might look like big bird in a clown car.

not sure what you mean by tight quarters for leg room.  i find there's plenty of room for man spreading.

Meh....already look like a circus bear on my motorbikes anyway....Re: leg room...The pan based cars are instantly identifiable by the diagonal angle on the outside edges of the passenger compartment whereas in a tube frame car, you can stretch both legs out.  I like the roadster seats too....and in the Intermeccanica Roadster, my eye line was 4-5 inches below the top of the frame.....Roadsters are uncommon however and the  lower Speedster seats will probably let me see out as well. Additionally I just confirmed that Beck can drop the seat mounts a further 2 inches. I need to find a show somewhere in the Northwest.....swap some owners an iced mocha for a test sit in their cars....

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