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Posted by: RangerRhett Dec 17 2004, 04:53 PM

I would like to post an open letter to anyone who can help out a soon-to-be-nOOb owner of a 914.

For starters I am not a 914 owner; yet....!
I am in the market and waiting for the right car.

The concerns that I have are very general and have to do with in-experience and reliability.
http://www.914fan.net/philringenberger.html

It has been years since he was involved in an accident with the afore mentioned car and he is no longer a good resource for maintenance assistance.

What can I do to prepare myself for a non-start when I am 200 miles from home on a Saturday afternoon.
How can I prepare myself for all of the random quirks and bugs that could leave me up sh*t creek...

General enough for you?

Posted by: SLITS Dec 17 2004, 04:59 PM

Have an AAA card and a zillion dollars in the bank



You will learn grasshopper, you will learn!

Oh, and carry a paddle.

Posted by: seanery Dec 17 2004, 05:05 PM

What Ron said and a good travelling tool kit, screwdrivers, fuses, relays, wrenches, etc...Oh and a cell phone.

Count on us Indiana guys to help you with your car search. That way you won't have to sneak-in to the Fall Foliage Classic next year

Posted by: RangerRhett Dec 17 2004, 05:16 PM

Sean....you remember me, huh....?

My pop is trying to be 'convincing' and tell me that this car is going to leave me high and dry all of the time...

It is starting to scare me....I just want to put some of my fears to rest...

Posted by: seanery Dec 17 2004, 05:20 PM

I wouldn't want to drive it year round.
Is this gonna be your only car?

You may get stranded, may not.

I bought an Alfa Spider years ago, every single person I knew told me it was a piece of crap and would break down ALL the time. It never did. The only things I did to that car where shocks, sway bar bushings and a new top. Sold it for $500 less than I bought it for 5 years later.

It takes a commitment of sorts to own these cars, they aren't appliance vehicles like an escort, taurus, etc...but they offer lots of smiles those cars can't.

Posted by: RangerRhett Dec 17 2004, 05:25 PM

No no no no no no no no

Secondary car....(occasional summer work car)....

This is going to be the car I take to the local cruise-ins (if I can get it looking nice) and drive on the backroads on weekends....

Which kind of frightens me....

by the way...have you seen anything locally...I have been looking but I havn't seen much as of late....

Posted by: jim912928 Dec 17 2004, 05:25 PM

Yep..you can always get help from us Indiana guys. I've taken mine on two trips this summer/fall totalling about 500 miles each trip..no issues. Just remember they are 30 year old cars and will require tinkering...just like any 30 year old car would.

Posted by: jim912928 Dec 17 2004, 05:28 PM

there is a 75 (I think) white one that has been for sale since summer..(this is in south bend) sitting in front of an autoshop. Haven't stopped to look at it as he had a 6000 dollar price tag on it....saw it at 5400 the other day. Just from the road I can tell it is no way worth close to this..but never know what someone would haggle down to.

Posted by: Red-Beard Dec 17 2004, 05:30 PM

First trip with the girlfriend with my first 914 - pulled over to put the top on, raining, stalled. Wouldn't start. Hot start starter issue...

She didn't know how to pop the clutch on a car (only ever driven an automatic). I had to have her push...

Bad news...

Posted by: scruz914 Dec 17 2004, 05:36 PM

So you are not looking at buying the car in the link? (looks like a real nice 914.) It was your dad's old car and he no longer owns it? But you are looking for the right 914?

You did come to the right place. Your dad's concerns about a 914 leaving you high and dry are valid if you buy the wrong car. Any car, old or new, can leave you stranded. The keys to not getting stranded is to start with a good running car, regular maintenance, and, for an older car, learning how to detect and diagnose problems before they happen. The first takes patience, the second take money, or time and less money, and the last takes time. But it is all fun in the process. It will also take time and patience to learn how to get a stranded car running again. The right tools and manual is the place to start.

My suggestion is to read every thread on this board that discusses buying a 914 and rust. Then ask questions.

Go luck and welcome to the "garage".

-Jeff

Posted by: SLITS Dec 17 2004, 05:40 PM

Was it the push you gave her or the car that was bad news?




Anyway, I have driven mine on 3 Baja runs(1200 miles) and two Temecula (250 each) runs before I blew the engine (and it was my fault).

The second engine has gone to SF 1200 miles, Arizona twice 1100 miles each time and several fun runs and I haven't blown it up yet.

You will have the emergency list...people who are willing to help in case of a crisis...believe me I know.

Don't let Ol' Dad panic you (I'm prolly older than he is anyway).

Posted by: RangerRhett Dec 17 2004, 05:42 PM

No, unfortunately, that (in the link) car was destroyed several years ago in an accident....it is just a look at dear-ol-dad's car...

Posted by: RangerRhett Dec 17 2004, 05:44 PM

How old are you?

Sounds like I will be upgrading my AAA service

Posted by: Red-Beard Dec 17 2004, 05:56 PM

Ron - I just learned to park it on hills until I fixed it...

as far as what she liked...


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Posted by: Jeff Bonanno Dec 17 2004, 06:01 PM

James LOLOLOLOLOL!!

Posted by: SLITS Dec 17 2004, 06:34 PM

I was born 25 years before they built the 914.


James is a true Tejasan now I see.

Posted by: itsa914 Dec 17 2004, 06:55 PM

I would recommend you call Brad Mayeur. He is a great source for finding any condition 914 your are looking for. Brad is over in East Peoria, I think you met him there at the FFC. Call Brad at 309-694-1797

Whats your price range? I know of one good project car and 3 parts cars up here by me. If you buy it it will keep from doing it

Garold

Oh, and for the record I put over 5000 miles on my car last year. Had to replace a clutch cable and just do oil changes & tune up stuff. I Autocross my baby every chance I get also.

Posted by: RangerRhett Dec 17 2004, 07:01 PM

I don't mind working on a car....I have no experience doinf body work and I wouldn't trust myself to do it in the first place...

I am saying 5000 or below...

hopefully a 2.0 L ...

Posted by: seanery Dec 17 2004, 08:33 PM

Posted by: GWN7 Dec 17 2004, 09:01 PM

I saw this one forsale while I was on my way to the airport after the FFC....It was getting paint and I think he wanted $4500. He said it ran great.


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Posted by: Doug Leggins Dec 17 2004, 09:02 PM

You should be able to find a good car in that range. Look in all of the usual places - This site, pelicanparts.com, Autorv.com, Traderonline.com, US.trader.com, Hemmings.com, Rennlist.com, .... There are lots of 914s to choose from, take your time and find the right car. Over the past 5 years I have looked at many cars in Indiana and the surrounding states. Most of them have substantial rust issues, but there are a few nice ones in the area also.

You can also open up your search area. The shipping cost of getting a low rust car from from another state even as far away as CA is less costly than repairing a substantial rust area on a 914. You are likely to be able to find a 914club member nearby any 914 for sale and have a knowledgeable person give the car an inspection for you. It is very possible to find a good 914 for $3500 - $4000 and then pay about $1000 to ship it.

Look around at any cars that you can and get personally familiar with the rust issues. Soon you will become informed enough to know what to look for and what questions to ask.

I know of a 75 1.8 in Ellettsville. It is a project car. The guy is asking $1200 and I think that the car is worth it. But this one is a project that needs quite a bit of work. There is also a 73 1.7 in Columbus that is in great shape. But, I think that the guy wants $7000 - $8000 for it.

I don't think that I would want to own a 914 in this area as a year round daily driver. But as a pleasure car they are a blast!

The 914 has some great things going for it. The support for the cars is amazing and most parts are readily available.

Posted by: GWN7 Dec 17 2004, 09:02 PM

Here is the number...


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Posted by: seanery Dec 17 2004, 09:05 PM

I think that car is for sale.
My sister's boyfriend aske me about it the other day.

Posted by: GWN7 Dec 17 2004, 09:10 PM

If I remember it has a new clutch and the guy said it ran very well.

As to the drivability of a 914, it's just like any old car. It can break just like any car.

Posted by: RangerRhett Dec 17 2004, 09:11 PM

I talked to Brad at the FFC and I went to his house when I was home over the Thanksgiving holiday (he works out of his garage). He told me that he is not really in that game of selling cars....

He said he maybe sells 3-4 per year....maybe....

when I was at his home he had several he was working on and whatnot...only one for sale for 15,000...it looked like a peach of a car though...I am not going to be willing to pay that....

I maybe even saw some of your cars there....!~!!!!!!~~!

The winter coming in doesn't help the desire to go air cooled sports car shopping!

Posted by: BMartin914 Dec 17 2004, 09:14 PM

My $.02 from someone that was in your position not so long ago...

Buy THE BEST CAR YOU CAN AFFORD!

After looking at a lot of cars in basically two conditions (crunchy/projects and nice drivers/restored cars) I came to the conclusion that I would rather have a 914 that I could drive when I wanted, that wasn't always up on jackstands. I bought my car from a local guy that had had it since '86, drove it daily til '92 and then restored the car (new paint and real good body work, fresh interior, top end of the motor and all little things like fuel lines, etc replaced) and drove it very little after that.

My car looks nice, drives nice and is original with D-jet fuel injection and 2.0 motor.

I have had to work out a couple of electrical bugs here and there, but nothing major. I keep it up and love to replace and work on anything that needs it. I have put about 3K miles on the car and it starts up and runs fantastically every time.

Again, just my $.02. If you want a nice driver, spend the $. If you want a car on jackstands, find a project. I see it a lot around here. Cheap car, I'll take it...and the problems.

I LOVE to drive my 914!

Posted by: redshift Dec 17 2004, 09:27 PM

I bought a car with 42k miles on it, and drove it up to 178k without more than standard service, and that includes replacing scheduled stuff. That car is out there with near 200k on it, and still does a decent leak down.

I have also owned cars that burned to the ground in 2k miles (lines) and I my most recent 2 rebuilds ate themselves in under 5k each.

As a second car, who cares!?

I am not scared to drive my car 500 miles one way, but I have been there 100 times.. so.

Are you Experienced?


M

Posted by: itsa914 Dec 17 2004, 10:18 PM

Did one look like this one


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Posted by: RangerRhett Dec 18 2004, 07:13 AM

Was that a 70-71 or something like that?

I think I saw it.... Brad even wanted to show me the fact that the passenger seat didn't move on the earlier models...so yes I saw it...

Posted by: seanery Dec 18 2004, 07:14 AM

itsa 70, check out his autocross #s

Posted by: seanery Dec 18 2004, 07:20 AM

i forgot, as far as driving the car long distance, Andy drove my car from San Francisco to Hot Springs, Arkansas where I picked it up and drove it to Indy. The only concern was a dirty carb jet, that had to be cleaned a couple times on the way, other than that it was smoooth sailing

Posted by: RangerRhett Dec 18 2004, 07:28 AM

And my concern is that I wouldn't know that....

See what I am saying!

Posted by: DNHunt Dec 18 2004, 07:51 AM

AAA, a good cell phone plan, flares, jack, lug wrench and spare. Coveralls!! Then, clutch cable, throttle cable, plus, valve cover gaskets, oil,oil, oil oil, and oil, assorted nuts, bolts and fasteners, fuses, relays, wire, electrical connectors, electical tape, Super Glue, JB Weld, RTV, 100 mile an hour tape (duct tape), Haynes Manual, flashight, metric sockets, spark plug socket, 3/8 drive socket, extension, metric box and open wrenches, Cresent wrench, needle nose pliers, Vice Grips, electrical pliers, metric allen wrenches, feeler gauges, Swiss Army knife, screw driver with changeable nibs, tweezers, old dental instruments, very small flat and phillips screw drivers, and rags, rags, rags and rags.

Then a blanket and survival kit (I don't actually carry this but it's not a bad idea).

I'm sure I left something out.

Dave

Posted by: 9146986 Dec 18 2004, 08:50 AM

Generally speaking, the less you spend on a 914 on the front end, the more you'll spend on it in the long run. Get the best 914 you can afford, and DO NOT BUY A RUSTY CAR THAT NEEDS "A LITTLE WORK"!!!!

I'd increase my budget to $7500 at least. If you are worried about getting stranded, consider a car with a midly warmed over engine with dual Webers. Don't get in a hurry to get a car, but have cash in hand and be ready to jump, if the perfect one should fall your way. Look at as many cars as you can, and don't be afraid to walk away from one that doesn't make the cut, but seems like a good deal.

The 914 injection system is a very good set up, and all the guys with these old cars and all the miles is a true testament to how good it really is, but the odds of getting stranded are less with carbs than injection.

These are after all, old cars, and old cars in general have the potential to break down at the worst possible moment. I've only had a carb'd 914 leave me stranded once, and that was one of those Ignitors went bad. Really and truly, I wasn't stranded because I pulled the Ignitor, put the points and condensor back on, and drove it home. The fact that it was 1:30am in the parking lot of a nightclub after a four hour gig wasn't a big plus, but I did fix it myself and drive home that night.

If you are commited to getting a 914, then as Dave Hunt says, you need to have enough simple tools and knowledge to be able to make simple repairs, which for a bunch of wackos like us, is considered fun

The other thing you'll be gaining is a awesome support group in the form of this website and the "brotherhood" of 914 owners all over. You'll find (if you haven't already) that 914 owners are the best people and willing to help in ways too numerous to mention. There are tons of stories how these great little cars have brought people together in so many ways

PK

Posted by: RangerRhett Dec 18 2004, 09:37 AM

It definately seems like Porsche people are the best people (in the car world)

I love working on cars, and if this won't be my daily driver, I won't have the added pressure of not getting to work the next day.

Is there a quick and dirty way to check the compression ratios on a 914 that I am looking at? I think that would be indicative way of seeing some funky engine metrics....

No one has told me that I should/shouldn't do that...