Opel Speedster 2000–2005 car dimensions: 3786 mm long, 1708 mm wide and 1117 mm high. Unladen weight is 870 kg. Boot space with the seats up is 206 litres.
The cabin is deliberately spartan with exposed aluminium chassis sections, manual window winders and a basic air-blend heater with fan but no air conditioning. A driver airbag sits in the three-spoke leather steering wheel and ABS is standard. there is no passenger airbag, power steering, traction control or other electronic aids. Radio preparation with aerial and two speakers is fitted as standard, with optional CD players available. Seats are sports buckets with adjustable lumbar support on the driver side, cloth as standard or leather as an option. Central locking and electric features were omitted to save weight.
The rear load compartment holds 206 litres and is accessed via a small opening behind the engine. It suits weekend bags for two but nothing larger.
Payload is listed at 205 kg on the naturally aspirated model and lower on the Turbo. Towing capacity is zero for both braked and unbraked trailers. The car is a pure two-seat roadster with no provision for work use or heavy loads.
The cabin is minimalist and race-inspired with bare aluminium surfaces and limited carpeting as standard. Sports bucket seats feature high bolsters for support and adjustable lumbar on the driver side, with cloth standard or optional leather. A soft top is standard and folds behind the seats, with an optional hardtop available. Heating and ventilation are basic with a variable fan, but air conditioning, power windows, power steering and central locking are not offered.
Petrol fuel only with combined consumption around 8.5 l/100 km.
Main service every 15 000 km or annually, whichever first.
No official crash-test rating published.
Standard safety includes ABS, driver airbag, seatbelt pretensioners and integral roll-over bar.
The Speedster runs on unleaded petrol with either a 2.2-litre naturally aspirated engine or a 2.0-litre turbo. Combined fuel use sits near 8.5 litres per 100 km for both, with a 36-litre tank.
Service is scheduled every 15 000 km or once a year. Timing belt and tensioner replacement falls due every 60 000 km or four years. Oil and filter changes follow the same main interval, with extra oil changes advised for short trips.
Safety kit centres on ABS, a full-size driver airbag, body-lock seatbelt pretensioners, laminated windscreen, fixed head restraints and an integral steel roll-over bar. No passenger airbag, ESP or traction control is fitted. The car was not subjected to a published Euro NCAP test.
Living with the car means accepting its light aluminium chassis and glassfibre body. Keep an eye on the radiator end tanks, soft-top condition and brake fluid. Parts commonality with other Opel models helps with routine maintenance.
Length 3786 mm, Width 1708 mm, Height 1117 mm, Wheelbase 2330 mm (Speedster 2000–2005)
Sources: manufacturer data, Opel Speedster brochure PDFs, carfolio.com/cars-data.com/ultimatespecs, autoevolution.