I know you mentioned a need for a solid sound system in your previous post. I'm a music lover and I wouldn't dream of having a car without a stereo. That said, realize you won't hear it much, due to the wind and engine noise - take one for a ride and you'll see what I mean.
I'm still glad to have my stereo, but it's just one more area to keep your expectations in check. Good luck with your search!
Bill
slowshoes posted:I know you mentioned a need for a solid sound system in your previous post. I'm a music lover and I wouldn't dream of having a car without a stereo. That said, realize you won't hear it much, due to the wind and engine noise - take one for a ride and you'll see what I mean.
I'm still glad to have my stereo, but it's just one more area to keep your expectations in check. Good luck with your search!
Bill
X2: This is a long running debate here. To hear the stereo over the engine, road, and wind noise, you have to have the volume at the pain level. When you pull up at a stop light you will get more attention than you’ve ever gotten in any car without the stereo blaring. With it blaring, you might attract a different kind of attention.
It’s not hard to add later, but will be difficult to remove.
While I agree you will not get an audiophile sound system in a speedster, I completely disagree that you cannot hear music over the wind and engine. I drove my Beck Speedster to Carlisle in 2017 and streamed music the entire 700 mile trip. Around town it is more that background noise and I could not imagine cruising without it. When my car was built, Carey installed the Mark II along with 4 speakers. If you want to go crazy step up to the Mark III and add an amp. It keeps the car uncluttered i.e. no head unit and streams whatever is on my phone. Good luck in your search! 
When you find a Speedster to take a ride in, bring along a portable bluetooth speaker that sounds good to you at home. Try listening to it while underway at highway speeds.
You can then decide how much you want, or don't want, a sound system.
I do get an audiophille sound in my Speedster. I use Bose noise cancelling earphones and an Ipod and listen to music or audio books on long trips. The clarity is sensational and compares to the sound system in my S class Mercedes when I traveled in that. This is saying a lot about similar sound in a Speedster with a high revving Type Iv! To use earphones in cars in some states but in 12 years I have never been stopped because of this. Remember---they can't see into my Speedster anywhere as well as I can see out. I see absolutely no danger as sirens and big trucks never sneak up on me and I am as alert about traffic with or without the audio set up.
Something else---when I want a break from music or audio books, the earphones are wonderful to use just as sound reducers. Super quiet! I use the same set up traveling internationally on planes ----works the same way. Heading to Europe First class on Delta very soon and won't fail to carry this set up on the trip---Alice too.
I learned this from flying a Cessna Cutlass all over the country and that is even a lot noiser form of conveyance than a Speedster! Had I started this back in the early 80s I wouldn't have tinitus today!
I have no issues hearing my sound system, even without having to turn it up too much.
I have 4 kids so far. They all go for rides in my Speedster. 3 at a time. No highways. Usually to school, or the pool, or out for ice cream. My older two (7&9) know the gears and how to shift.
Everyone above is right to scare you off, but my kids wouldn't have it any other way.
Ryan gives me hope for America.
....where does their legs go?
4 kids... So far?!
TRP posted:4 kids... So far?!
We had 3 kids, all born before I was 27. They all turned out to be smart, interesting, kind, and productive people I'm really proud of. I'm 54 and they've given me 9 grandkids so far.
If I'd have known then what I know now, I'd have had 6 more.
.
I didn't know you could use head phones while you drive.
Jack Crosby posted:I do get an audiophille sound in my Speedster. I use Bose noise cancelling earphones and an Ipod and listen to music or audio books on long trips. The clarity is sensational and compares to the sound system in my S class Mercedes when I traveled in that. This is saying a lot about similar sound in a Speedster with a high revving Type Iv! To use earphones in cars in some states but in 12 years I have never been stopped because of this. Remember---they can't see into my Speedster anywhere as well as I can see out. I see absolutely no danger as sirens and big trucks never sneak up on me and I am as alert about traffic with or without the audio set up.
Something else---when I want a break from music or audio books, the earphones are wonderful to use just as sound reducers. Super quiet! I use the same set up traveling internationally on planes ----works the same way. Heading to Europe First class on Delta very soon and won't fail to carry this set up on the trip---Alice too.
I learned this from flying a Cessna Cutlass all over the country and that is even a lot noiser form of conveyance than a Speedster! Had I started this back in the early 80s I wouldn't have tinitus today!
I didn't know you could drive with head phones on. Illegal In California I thought.
I was waiting for @Ryan (formerly) in NorCal to chime in, as I knew he piled the kids in his Speedster. My kid has been riding in mine since he was two. I strap his car seat into the passenger seat. We have a blast together. He loves going for rides in “dadda’s Car”. And loves falling asleep in the Speedster.
My wife is fairly short, at 5’-1”. She can easily sit on the luggage shelf.
I don’t hit the highways with my son, but that doesn’t stop us from taking two-hour rides along the back mountain roads.
The best advice is to try one out for yourself. Your comfort level and size may be much different than someone on here.
michel posted:I didn't know you could use head phones while you drive.
Jack Crosby posted:I do get an audiophille sound in my Speedster. I use Bose noise cancelling earphones and an Ipod and listen to music or audio books on long trips. The clarity is sensational and compares to the sound system in my S class Mercedes when I traveled in that. This is saying a lot about similar sound in a Speedster with a high revving Type Iv! To use earphones in cars in some states but in 12 years I have never been stopped because of this. Remember---they can't see into my Speedster anywhere as well as I can see out. I see absolutely no danger as sirens and big trucks never sneak up on me and I am as alert about traffic with or without the audio set up.
Something else---when I want a break from music or audio books, the earphones are wonderful to use just as sound reducers. Super quiet! I use the same set up traveling internationally on planes ----works the same way. Heading to Europe First class on Delta very soon and won't fail to carry this set up on the trip---Alice too.
I learned this from flying a Cessna Cutlass all over the country and that is even a lot noiser form of conveyance than a Speedster! Had I started this back in the early 80s I wouldn't have tinitus today!
I didn't know you could drive with head phones on. Illegal In California I thought.
In California it is illegal to drive with both ears covered, ie, with headphones on or ear buds in both ears.
On the subject of music. My Conv D had a Retrosound with an amp. If you are going with speakers you must have a high power stereo with an amp. But honestly you will not have good sound quality above 60 mph and you will get high frequency hearing loss. All of us get some degree of high frequency hearing damage if we drive for long periods of time top down at high speeds with no ear protection. It has nothing to do with music. Its the wind. As a former motorcycle enthusiast I never rode without ear plugs or ear buds with music or GPS in my ears.
I have some nice Beats Audio ear buds that I use with my spyder. Very small Bluetooth device. Great sound. Much better than any car audio. I just hook my I-phone up to charge and stream music or GPS or both. Drive spyder now. If I ever get another 356 Conv I will not get a stereo. If I got a Coupe with windows I would get a car stereo.
On the subject of kids. I've put 3 through college and med school. I've been in denial about my retirement. Met with my financial advisor for first time at 57 years old. He told me I can go live in my 1000 sqft 2 bedroom house in Charlottesville or I can work til I'm dead. Charlottesville is starting to look really good. Yes I love my kids and they are smart and successful but 1 more would have sent me over the edge. 3 was an ample plenty.
michel posted:I didn't know you could use head phones while you drive.
Jack Crosby posted:I do get an audiophille sound in my Speedster. I use Bose noise cancelling earphones and an Ipod and listen to music or audio books on long trips. The clarity is sensational and compares to the sound system in my S class Mercedes when I traveled in that. This is saying a lot about similar sound in a Speedster with a high revving Type Iv! To use earphones in cars in some states but in 12 years I have never been stopped because of this. Remember---they can't see into my Speedster anywhere as well as I can see out. I see absolutely no danger as sirens and big trucks never sneak up on me and I am as alert about traffic with or without the audio set up.
Something else---when I want a break from music or audio books, the earphones are wonderful to use just as sound reducers. Super quiet! I use the same set up traveling internationally on planes ----works the same way. Heading to Europe First class on Delta very soon and won't fail to carry this set up on the trip---Alice too.
I learned this from flying a Cessna Cutlass all over the country and that is even a lot noiser form of conveyance than a Speedster! Had I started this back in the early 80s I wouldn't have tinitus today!
I didn't know you could drive with head phones on. Illegal In California I thought.
By mistake in my post I left off "It is illegal " before the words, "To use earphones in some states".
Music: An old Germnan man once said to me:" Vy dus u need music in a vundeful automoblie vin ya have da symphony of da vunderful enghun and exzaust" Retirement: You adjust to live within your means...last Spring we paid off BMW etc. sold our home in PA . After a lot of soul searching we decided on opting out on buying another home electing fixed expenses by leasing our retirement townhouse with a large 2 car heated garage (a must) here in, Elkins WV . No bills other than the usual living expenses. Connie and I do 2-3 small vacations a year...it works for us.
Alan Merklin posted:Music: An old Germnan man once said to me:" Vy dus u need music in a vundeful automoblie vin ya have da symphony of da vunderful enghun and exzaust" Retirement: You adjust to live within your means...last Spring we paid off BMW etc. sold our home in PA . After a lot of soul searching we decided on opting out on buying another home electing fixed expenses by leasing our retirement townhouse with a large 2 car heated garage (a must) here in, Elkins WV . No bills other than the usual living expenses. Connie and I do 2-3 small vacations a year...it works for us.
I hear you Alan. The Mrs is going to take a little work. Don't tell anyone...but I think she's gotten a little spoiled. Just mentioning down sizing and selling the house in Norfolk has sent her brain into a tail spin.
Alan Merklin posted:....where does their legs go?
You'd be surprised how many people you can fit into a Speedster when ice cream is involved. Their legs fit just fine, so far.
Rachel, you and your husband are welcome to have a conversation with my GF Michelle and I. I see we live very close to each other. Come see and ride in my Spyder if you like.
I know the ins and outs of these cars very well. I know most of the manufacturers well also. Well, at least the ones you'd want to spend money with. I've worked on a ton of different cars and I also know Troy S and Alan M personally.
I drive a Vintage Motorcars 550 Spyder with an aircooled type 1 motor. It's not a Speedster but mechanically it's the same. Greg's fit and finish quality is easy to see. But there are MANY good choices for you out there.
I have a bluetooth receiver, some Polk patio speakers under dash, and a tiny 100 watt per channel amp. It isn't audiophile sound, the bass disappears when driving, but it is certainly adequate. It is also easily removable with no trace.
I used to fit our three little ones in the back of my 1953 MGTD. Not very often, but once in a while. Good memories of those days, as they are all in their forties now.
Bob: IM S6 posted:I used to fit our three little ones in the back of my 1953 MGTD. Not very often, but once in a while. Good memories of those days, as they are all in their forties now.
How many of us either rode in or drove with people in the back of pickup trucks as kids? How many wear a seatbelt at all in Taxis or on a bus around the airport for instance, zero? Many people choose to ride motorcycles sans helmets.
People take risks, people take chances, people live life, people have fun....
Music in a Speedster - Sure! Why not? Exhaust drone gets boring after a few minutes, anyway! On long drives (anything over an hour one-way is a long drive) I often pop in a pair of really comfortable ear buds and rave on. They seem to give me less headaches than squishy ear plugs. The Bose noise-cancelling jobs are the bomb, but expensive.
20 years after building my car, I would probably opt for a charging cord and BlueTooth and just plug in my phone, rather than a radio/CD deck and amp. That would de-clutter the dash, and the sound is definitely better at speed, but that's me. Anything I could play on the CD player I already have on my phone, anyway.
On retirement - I'm probably NOT the person to ask. I retired "early", did a little consulting and decided that the time didn't justify the money, and then we moved three times in six years, each time for a good reason (I guess). Eventually, the grandkid magnet hauled us back, just on the other side of town from where started, and we pared down to a single home from two, just to simplify things. In Winter, we take a cruise or two or do "Vacations by Disney" to places we otherwise would never visit.
No mortgage, no major expenses, kids college was paid off when they graduated and our stress level has dropped way off.
Works for us.
Oh, and Ryan! Nice shot - Happy kids! I used to ride bicycle to work (30 miles round trip) and then load two little kids into a bike trailer and ride 7 miles (round trip) as an ice cream run. I was in pretty good shape back then!
I sat in the back of a split-window Vette as a kid and banged my head on the window at EVERY shift of the 327 w/4.11 posi with resounding CHIRP of the tires......
There are way cheaper and just as functional earbuds than Bose, BTW But the speakers and amp allow Michelle to listen in comfort. She can't wear earbuds.
I've had these for YEARS, and they still work nicely for mowing the lawn:
Stan Galat posted:TRP posted:4 kids... So far?!
We had 3 kids, all born before I was 27. They all turned out to be smart, interesting, kind, and productive people I'm really proud of. I'm 54 and they've given me 9 grandkids so far.
If I'd have known then what I know now, I'd have had 6 more.
.
I hear that. I have two of my own. Sometimes I wonder if 3 would be doable. In California, two kids is expensive. I can't imagine the expense of 4.
WNGD posted:Bob: IM S6 posted:I used to fit our three little ones in the back of my 1953 MGTD. Not very often, but once in a while. Good memories of those days, as they are all in their forties now.
How many of us either rode in or drove with people in the back of pickup trucks as kids? How many wear a seatbelt at all in Taxis or on a bus around the airport for instance, zero? Many people choose to ride motorcycles sans helmets.
People take risks, people take chances, people live life, people have fun....
I definitely get that - problem is, nowadays, all it takes is one person driving while texting to take you out. Not that there weren't distracted drivers back in the day. I've been involved in three accidents in my life. All three were pre cell phones, and in all of them, I was rear ended while sitting at a red light. The last one, a furniture moving van creatively made my Celica a two seater.
A couple weeks ago, Lynn and I were taking a drive in the Speedster, and we were almost rear ended by a 350 Pickup truck, again while sitting at a red light. I could see him coming up way too fast in the rear view mirror, but traffic was way too heavy to just go through the intersection. He stomped on the brakes and stopped with what must have been an eyelash of room between us.
While Lynn turned around in her seat and gave the driver a verbal lashing (God bless her - though she said some very ungodly things!), I wanted to get in the other lane to pull in the upcoming gas station. Though we felt nothing, I could hardly believe that there wouldn't be some kind of damage, he was so close. There wasn't though.
While we were looking our car over, a car came pulling up to us and asked if we were ok. He was driving on the other side of the divided road and saw us get rear ended - must have looked pretty close to the folks around us too.
Since that happened, I often thought about how badly we may have been hurt had he not stopped - I don't even want to think what might have been with a grandkid or two in the backseat.
I know life is full of risks and I'm not trying to preach or tell folks what to do - everyone makes their own choices. For me, I'll save the grandkids Speedster rides for the front seat when they're a bit older, which, for cars as small as ours, may not make much difference in an accident anyway. But at least I'm giving them the same shot at surviving being rear ended as myself.
Bill
DannyP posted:There are way cheaper and just as functional earbuds than Bose, BTW But the speakers and amp allow Michelle to listen in comfort. She can't wear earbuds.
I've had these for YEARS, and they still work nicely for mowing the lawn:
Earbuds have come a long way in the past 5-10 years. Prior to that, I bought a pair of Shure SE 535s back around 2001 that are still amazing. I paid about $500 for them back then. You could find comparable 3-driver earbuds today for around $100.
Robert M posted:michel posted:I didn't know you could use head phones while you drive.
Jack Crosby posted:I do get an audiophille sound in my Speedster. I use Bose noise cancelling earphones and an Ipod and listen to music or audio books on long trips. The clarity is sensational and compares to the sound system in my S class Mercedes when I traveled in that. This is saying a lot about similar sound in a Speedster with a high revving Type Iv! To use earphones in cars in some states but in 12 years I have never been stopped because of this. Remember---they can't see into my Speedster anywhere as well as I can see out. I see absolutely no danger as sirens and big trucks never sneak up on me and I am as alert about traffic with or without the audio set up.
Something else---when I want a break from music or audio books, the earphones are wonderful to use just as sound reducers. Super quiet! I use the same set up traveling internationally on planes ----works the same way. Heading to Europe First class on Delta very soon and won't fail to carry this set up on the trip---Alice too.
I learned this from flying a Cessna Cutlass all over the country and that is even a lot noiser form of conveyance than a Speedster! Had I started this back in the early 80s I wouldn't have tinitus today!
I didn't know you could drive with head phones on. Illegal In California I thought.
In California it is illegal to drive with both ears covered, ie, with headphones on or ear buds in both ears.
It's also illegal to exceed the speed limit. ;-)
2 wicked posted:I bought this bluetooth speaker that looks like a mini Marshall amp by Kilburn and it sounds amazing plus the bonus is it fits the look of the car. People love the look of it.
That is very cool!
Troy Sloan posted:Robert M posted:michel posted:I didn't know you could use head phones while you drive.
Jack Crosby posted:I do get an audiophille sound in my Speedster. I use Bose noise cancelling earphones and an Ipod and listen to music or audio books on long trips. The clarity is sensational and compares to the sound system in my S class Mercedes when I traveled in that. This is saying a lot about similar sound in a Speedster with a high revving Type Iv! To use earphones in cars in some states but in 12 years I have never been stopped because of this. Remember---they can't see into my Speedster anywhere as well as I can see out. I see absolutely no danger as sirens and big trucks never sneak up on me and I am as alert about traffic with or without the audio set up.
Something else---when I want a break from music or audio books, the earphones are wonderful to use just as sound reducers. Super quiet! I use the same set up traveling internationally on planes ----works the same way. Heading to Europe First class on Delta very soon and won't fail to carry this set up on the trip---Alice too.
I learned this from flying a Cessna Cutlass all over the country and that is even a lot noiser form of conveyance than a Speedster! Had I started this back in the early 80s I wouldn't have tinitus today!
I didn't know you could drive with head phones on. Illegal In California I thought.
In California it is illegal to drive with both ears covered, ie, with headphones on or ear buds in both ears.
It's also illegal to exceed the speed limit. ;-)
That's right, Troy. I never break any rules especially (gasp!) speeding. And our class won the bible!
Ryan in NorCal posted:...You'd be surprised how many people you can fit into a Speedster when ice cream is involved...
My previous comments about safety and practicality referred strictly to normal vehicular use.
We all know that different rules and procedures apply when any vehicle is operated in close proximity to or under the influence of ice cream.
Troy Sloan posted:Robert M posted:michel posted:I didn't know you could use head phones while you drive.
Jack Crosby posted:I do get an audiophille sound in my Speedster. I use Bose noise cancelling earphones and an Ipod and listen to music or audio books on long trips. The clarity is sensational and compares to the sound system in my S class Mercedes when I traveled in that. This is saying a lot about similar sound in a Speedster with a high revving Type Iv! To use earphones in cars in some states but in 12 years I have never been stopped because of this. Remember---they can't see into my Speedster anywhere as well as I can see out. I see absolutely no danger as sirens and big trucks never sneak up on me and I am as alert about traffic with or without the audio set up.
Something else---when I want a break from music or audio books, the earphones are wonderful to use just as sound reducers. Super quiet! I use the same set up traveling internationally on planes ----works the same way. Heading to Europe First class on Delta very soon and won't fail to carry this set up on the trip---Alice too.
I learned this from flying a Cessna Cutlass all over the country and that is even a lot noiser form of conveyance than a Speedster! Had I started this back in the early 80s I wouldn't have tinitus today!
I didn't know you could drive with head phones on. Illegal In California I thought.
In California it is illegal to drive with both ears covered, ie, with headphones on or ear buds in both ears.
It's also illegal to exceed the speed limit. ;-)
Probably illegal in Scotland too but I don’t always follow my own advice. Lol
VSpyder posted:
Another beauty, Greg!
Late to the party...
It sounds like you got the A-Team posting great stuff. I live in Irvine, CA. Happy to help if you need a ride while in-town or a Speedster looked over.
I like to think I know a few things about these little beauties 
The folks on this site might tell you otherwise... LOL!
Brian
"Probably illegal in Scotland too but I don’t always follow my own advice. Lol" - Robert M.
I believe that in Scotland, it is also illegal to display a vasectomy scar while J-walking with a nun. 
Man, you guys are too quick with the posts... with occasionally funny jokes.
RE the stereo debate - I meant like a hidden stereo or at least one with a vintage look, and comparable with Bluetooth or even a cable.. and more than 2 screeching tweeters at my feet. I'm familiar with the sound having driven in open vehicles and on motorcycles a lot. Honestly, the more sound and wind that disrupts my horrible singing the better, but tunes on a drive are essential IMHO. It doesn't need to be a hi-fi experience.
RE earbuds - I have never had a pair I could stand for more than 15 minutes... but I've never tried "nice" one either. I'm sure it's illegal in NY, but potato patata. Probably not to use on the regular, but seems like a good idea. Will investigate further...
Thank you all for your input on the debate!
@Tom Blankinship Awww, that's the sweetest and love the pic and vid!!!
Same requirements here, but unfortunately mine has a long way to go. She's 6, but is 35". Unless she has a massive growth spurt, she isn't going to be close to 4'9" for a long time. (Hopefully she doesn't figure out the 8 year old loophole. ) I'll probably be okay with short drives around our Village with her in the front seat sometime before we hit 4'9" but TBD... and definitely to each his own on their choices.
@VSpyder Thank you for posting the pictures and making arrangements to meet up with me in October! Excited!
@Kevin - Bay Area I like your advice - drive it and see what your comfort level is. It's all we can do.
p.s. Your green Speedster is crazy beautiful!
@550 Phil One is enough. One.
@DannyP I'll PM you!!!
@slowshoes Yep. Feelin' the same way about it.
Thanks again, all, for your comments!
p.s. ... and for those of you that can hear the music (ha) this is a super cheesy question, but what's your favorite drive jam? I'm making playlists (cuz that's all I got right now) and will review all submissions!
