Having a weak moment, Looking into the possibility of selling... Options

['73-914kid]

Well, lately the 914 and I have not been getting along so well.......

When I was driving my car to and from high school on a daily basis, if something broke, it was no issue to have it fixed before the next morning to get me to school in time. It only left me stranded twice, both of which required waiting until I could get home, grab the trailer, and get the car home. I was never busy enough to highschool to ever have the car interfere with studies or school work. Now that I'm in college however, things have gotten to be a little different.

I've been stranded a total of 3 times now, always about an hour from home. I've done valve adjustments in the school parking lot, resynched carbs in the parking lot, changed tires, and fixed electrical problems. Lately, these problems have been occurring with more frequency. two weeks ago, I was stranded in Irvine with an electrical fault. Before that, I melted a distributor Rotor right outside of school. The recent problem was a failed fuel pump. All of these little things have been getting to me, and significantly taking time away from my studies. I'm getting sick of driving this car every day, and taking so much of my time to fix it.

So the question must arise... Is the car worth keeping anymore? What say you fellow world members? I love my car to death, and couldn't ever imagine seeing someone else drive down the road in it, but I just am ready to drive something that is more reliable, and it's not at all in my plan economically to purchase a second car. After 3 years, this car has become a part of me, so a sell would be unbearable... It's hard enough paying for college as it is, much less throw money at another car.


So help me out guys, what would you do? I'm hoping that the problems subside, but recently it feels like the car has been trying to tell me it doesn't want to be a daily driver anymore. I'm stuck..

Any advice appreciated.
-Ethan

[Als914]

Well, lately the 914 and I have not been getting along so well.......

When I was driving my car to and from high school on a daily basis, if something broke, it was no issue to have it fixed before the next morning to get me to school in time. It only left me stranded twice, both of which required waiting until I could get home, grab the trailer, and get the car home. I was never busy enough to highschool to ever have the car interfere with studies or school work. Now that I'm in college however, things have gotten to be a little different.

I've been stranded a total of 3 times now, always about an hour from home. I've done valve adjustments in the school parking lot, resynched carbs in the parking lot, changed tires, and fixed electrical problems. Lately, these problems have been occurring with more frequency. two weeks ago, I was stranded in Irvine with an electrical fault. Before that, I melted a distributor Rotor right outside of school. The recent problem was a failed fuel pump. All of these little things have been getting to me, and significantly taking time away from my studies. I'm getting sick of driving this car every day, and taking so much of my time to fix it.

So the question must arise... Is the car worth keeping anymore? What say you fellow world members? I love my car to death, and couldn't ever imagine seeing someone else drive down the road in it, but I just am ready to drive something that is more reliable, and it's not at all in my plan economically to purchase a second car. After 3 years, this car has become a part of me, so a sell would be unbearable... It's hard enough paying for college as it is, much less throw money at another car.


So help me out guys, what would you do? I'm hoping that the problems subside, but recently it feels like the car has been trying to tell me it doesn't want to be a daily driver anymore. I'm stuck..

Any advice appreciated.
-Ethan

I went through the same problems when I was in college...sorry it's happening to you. Don't look at these as problems ...look at them as opportunites that in time will eventually go away an you will be left with a more reliable collectable 914. You will undoubtedly kick yourself in the pants if you sell your Baby...don't do it!

You friend,

Al

[914_teener]

Well, lately the 914 and I have not been getting along so well.......

When I was driving my car to and from high school on a daily basis, if something broke, it was no issue to have it fixed before the next morning to get me to school in time. It only left me stranded twice, both of which required waiting until I could get home, grab the trailer, and get the car home. I was never busy enough to highschool to ever have the car interfere with studies or school work. Now that I'm in college however, things have gotten to be a little different.

I've been stranded a total of 3 times now, always about an hour from home. I've done valve adjustments in the school parking lot, resynched carbs in the parking lot, changed tires, and fixed electrical problems. Lately, these problems have been occurring with more frequency. two weeks ago, I was stranded in Irvine with an electrical fault. Before that, I melted a distributor Rotor right outside of school. The recent problem was a failed fuel pump. All of these little things have been getting to me, and significantly taking time away from my studies. I'm getting sick of driving this car every day, and taking so much of my time to fix it.

So the question must arise... Is the car worth keeping anymore? What say you fellow world members? I love my car to death, and couldn't ever imagine seeing someone else drive down the road in it, but I just am ready to drive something that is more reliable, and it's not at all in my plan economically to purchase a second car. After 3 years, this car has become a part of me, so a sell would be unbearable... It's hard enough paying for college as it is, much less throw money at another car.


So help me out guys, what would you do? I'm hoping that the problems subside, but recently it feels like the car has been trying to tell me it doesn't want to be a daily driver anymore. I'm stuck..

Any advice appreciated.
-Ethan

Counseling...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[messix]

keep the car and go buy a beater to get to school. i bought a geo metro for under 2k and it's reliable and cheap to drive.

[scrz914]

I'm betting that most of us here have a primary or another car to bail them out. Although I do subscribe to the idea that if you persevere through the failures, your car will get better and be more reliable, I also know that some of the parts on our cars are NLA and you are left with the option of finding good used. That means the failure rate will always be higher than if you buy more contemporary car. My daughter is in college and she has a '96 Honda Accord that has been nails. The continual maintenance on old cars can get really old when you need to focus on other things.

[PeeGreen 914]

Ethan, Getting the most out of your schooling is the most important thing for you right now. With that said, in life you will go through hard times. Sometimes it is with people you care a great deal about and others it will be with something like this. Although a car is never something to be considered important in life it is also about the attitude one develops in how they deal with things. I know you are not the type to simply give up on something just because it is hard so if you do decide to give up this car I can certainly understand.

From the sound of it I don't think you are ready to move on from this car. Then again, that could just be me reading into it.

Good luck with whatever you decide. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[ruby914]

My 914 is a DD to work.
I had my Yamaha XT 600 as a back up, but I sold that when the WRX914 was up and running.
Still the WRX is a project and not a good back up, it could be down for weeks or longer.
Now, I have a KTM dual sport as a back up to my 914s.
Somehow, I can find a way to run my back up's back up out of gas.
If that happens I have to run home and get the skateboard and lawnmower gas can.
Good thing I am only 3 miles from work.

[Cairo94507]

I say find a reliable beater - Honda, Toyota, etc., or try to car pool when possible (if possible) to reduce your dependency on the 914. The number one priority has to be school though.

[SUNAB914]

Been there done that same as you. Quit college and join the Marine Corps, kill two birds with one stone. I left my 914 in the yard for 9 years, grass didn't begin to grow back for years afterward.

[rick 918-S]

your asking alot from a 35 + yr old car. Sometimes you need to stop driving and do a tip to tail inspection and replace or repair anything that looks like it's ready to fail or it just makes good sense to rebuild. You've had a really good run. Maybe plan ahead and be pro-active instead of reactive.

This approch is likely to cost some money and several days down time but when your jumping from class to work and home you'll be glad you took care of the old girl.

[MoveQik]

My current 914 is my 3rd. Why did I get rid of the first two? Same reasons you are facing. I bought my first one the summer I graduated high school back in 1988. I couldn't afford a second car and I couldn't afford(both time and money) to keep the 914 running. Something had to give and I can assure that getting to my classes and study groups and work on time was the better choice.

When I could finally afford to get back into 914's I had a much better budget and could afford a DD and a better 914. The car I finally bought proved to be the most reliable by far. Go figger.

[sean_v8_914]

that education is #1. I believe that we get attached to the car but it was never the car. it's you, your friends and what we do with the car that we are truly attached to. the car is only a prop in the act of life. the car is that single photo that reminds us of what we did, what we learned along the path or who we were with when "it" happened. it is a car and there will be many more in your life. the next one will be built better with what you learned along this path. new car, new path, new chapter of experiences.
Hello Miata

[sean_v8_914]

it is also a piece of you that you get to share with the world that you dont have to feed for 18 years

[76-914]

Sounds like it's been too long since you've drove a spirited run. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

[nsr-jamie]

Most definetely school comes first!! Thats the priority right now!! You sound like me....(20 years ago). I know you don't want to sell the car...but perhaps a friend or relative could help you out with some space and put the car away for a couple of years until your schooling is finished and you have a steady job....in the meantime you could buy some old car, I use to drive an old Toyota pickup and that thing never broke down compared to my old 914....don't sell it if you can, maybe take it off the road for a couple of years and spend more time on your studies and school and when you are done you will have the car waiting and may be able to afford the 914 as a hobby car and some other daily driver......

[ThePaintedMan]

Hey Ethan,
I'm in a similar boat as you as a graduate student. However I bought my 914 as a "second" car when my Mustang craps out. (Unfortunately that already happened while the 914 was on jackstands so no help there!) I was very attached to my '84 Thunderbird which was my daily driver during my undergrad, but plagued with problems. Eventually I was forced to get rid of it for something more reliable - at the time, that was the Mustang.
I think these guys have given you some good advice. Either get a second, reliable car like a civic or do a good run-through of all the components on that car. Either way, its going to cost money, which is always tough for college students. I'd lean towards a second car if I were you, but again, its all dependent on your finances. A good Honda can be as cheap as $1,000, which hopefully is within your range. Good luck buddy! Don't get frustrated!

[DRPHIL914]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
all good advice, there is "wisdom in the council of many"

- now 46yoa, i had a 69 austin healy in high school and college , and a 73 BMW motorcycle neither of which i could drive much in the winter, so i kept the cycle sold the healy for a ford excort, which i drove for 5 years thru grad school etc. but i always wished i had kept the car---- and never found another like it- was all set up for Autox etc. big bore kit etc etc.
but a pain in the butt with the webbers ,

- took me 20 years to get my 914,

you do what is best there will always be more, but i would follow the advice of those who say keep it and get a cheep beater honda or something, even if it sits for a couple years like chris's did. --

good luck.

[914werke]

Get a motorcycle.

[carr914]

I say find a reliable beater - Honda, Toyota, etc., or try to car pool when possible (if possible) to reduce your dependency on the 914. The number one priority has to be school though.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Store your 914 in a Relative's Garage & get Collector Car Insurance (cheap), so you can still drive it.

How far is it to School? I rode Bicycles from my Apartment to School when I was in College - Good exercize to work off the Beer (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[nsr-jamie]

There you go, bicycle is another option. I did this for about 6 months. It was a 25 minute commute each way (well maybe 30 minutes back home due to fatigue from work) but it is possible depending on how far you are and the region you live in. I drove in the rain lots of times. Driving a bicycle doesn't sound too good but can be fun, no gas and insurance to pay. Good for the enviorment...sure you can't pick up your girlfriend on it, but some girls like dudes who drive bicycles....after enough of the bicycle I got quite tired and bought a moped, than worked my way up from there. I always had the 914 sitting at home but could not afford to keep it on the road as a daily driver. Having it off the road allowed me to do some work on it as well.