Which 914 to buy?, Looking for a 914, which yr is best? Options

[Doug73/2.0]

Need advice. I learned to drive on my uncles 914...(I was 12 back then) and have wanted one ever since but the 914's i've seen here in the north east are all basket cases. I've seen so many discusions on rusted out hulks, poor shifting, underpowered, engines not running well and lousy brakes that I wounder if it is insane to buy a 30 year old 914. I remember doing a lot of repairs with my uncle when his was only a few years old. Sounds like these have been troublesome direct from the factory.

There are several on ebay each week. I hear "side shifter" worked better than the cable. What year and engine combination did that appear on? I've been told that 73 side shifter with 2.0 engine was probably the best of the 4 cycliners. The sixes are out of my price range. I'd like to spend around 3k.

Any thoughts...Thanks Doug

[Ferg]

My advice for someone on a 3k budget is simply the nicest car you can find, in any year. Myself I would go for rather have a 1.7 or 1.8 car in really nice all around shape, vs. a 2.0 with issues, and with a 3k range you are gonna be hard pressed for a nice 2.0.
Ferg

[fuch toy]

Bump up your budget to 4200 and I have a 2.0 for (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mueba.gif) sale.....

[SirAndy]

There are several on ebay each week. I hear "side shifter" worked better than the cable.

there was no cable shifter model. tail-shifter or side-shifter.
yes, the 73 2.0 with side-shifter is the one everyone wants (besides a original /6). but your $3k won't buy you a nice one unless you're really really lucky.
as said above, take your $3k and look for the best you can get, regardless of year or engine. that way you can enjoy driving it while you start saving money for all the "upgrades" you WILL want to do to the car eventually.
or, bump your budget.

one thing about those cars: they are addictive!
plus, you'll drive with a BIG smile on your face.

Andy << who has about $12k in his car so far and counting ...

[Mark Henry]

'74's are the best of course! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[redshift]

I like mid-year cars.

I paid $2,500 for my '74 as a roller, no motor, no transaxle, no bumpers.


M

[GWN7]

I like the 70, 71, 72, 73, & 74 cars and will probably like the 75 & 76 when I add them to the stable at the farm. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Buy the best rust free car you can for the $$ you have. As noted you can pick up 1.7 & 1.8 cars for reasonable $$ and their just as fun to drive. (just a tad slower) Rust is the most important thing to look for when you go shoping, because it is the most expensive thing to fix on a car. If you see a car you like, ask here if there is someone close by that could look at it for you.

Good luck on the hunt.

And welcome to the board (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mueba.gif)

[anthony]

that I wounder if it is insane to buy a 30 year old 914. I remember doing a lot of repairs with my uncle when his was only a few years old.

Buying a 30 year old car is buying into a hobby. I wouldn't recommend any 30 year old car for a daily driver. Sure, some guys have 914s as their daily drivers but for most people it's not a very practical choice.

[Tony]

I don't what the smog laws are in your area, but pre 74 or is it 73 don't have to smog here in Cal. So you can modifly the engine with the state looking over your shoulder about smog.
I have a 71 with better looking bumpers.

[Queenie]

Buying a 30 year old car is buying into a hobby. I wouldn't recommend any 30 year old car for a daily driver. Sure, some guys have 914s as their daily drivers but for most people it's not a very practical choice.

Some girls do too.

My 914 is my daily driver.

[onrails]

as is mine!{in the summer} love 2 drive it!
by the way,sirandy was correct.

i have an old "european car" mag, it gives a
run down on why everyone wants the 73'
and explains the differences between all of the years.
good luck & have fun!

[AZ914]

Welcome!

I happen to have a '75, and while I love the thing, it does have emmission equipment installed (75-76 models). This can be a PITA. Depending on your local laws, this can be no big deal, or become a problem. A lot of 'late' model owners convert their exhaust sustem, take off the cat/air pump/air distribution pipes etc.

The 'late' model cars also have the larger black, shock absorbant bumpers. Most people do not care for these, though I think they look fine with certain colors. Its personal preference. However these bumpers do add some extra weight.

I'd agree with the other members, find the nicest one you can for the money because, you will be putting a lot more into it.

Good Luck! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

[nebreitling]

Buying a 30 year old car is buying into a hobby. I wouldn't recommend any 30 year old car for a daily driver. Sure, some guys have 914s as their daily drivers but for most people it's not a very practical choice.

yup. the 914 is my only car. almost daily driven. always a work in progress. can be a pain in the ass. definitely not practical.

and i couldn't recommend it more.

in fact, it's never left me stranded -- but i imagine that my experience is unique?

re. late model: those bumpers have saved me more than once from uppity palo alto luxury SUV fanatics too busy talking on their cells to make full stops at lights. i'm a believer. smog equipment can be removed, if you're willing to live on the edge... so, in short, buy what you can.

[Drums66]

Yeah, I drive it every day I can. I'm a fan of the late cars also 75' 76' Just about all the flaws were corrected by then,and yes those bumper's have saved me also- only drag is Cali smog laws. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pissoff.gif)

[Chris H.]

I personally like the '70-'76 models. They are a lot of fun. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

For 3k you will get a pretty good 1.7/1.8L. Feel free to ask someone from the board to help you with a PPI (pre-purchase inspection). Many will do it for free, but even if it costs you it's money well spent, especially if you don't quite know what to look for.

A lot of us have owned a car that was thought to be in good shape and turned out to be rusty or bondoed together.

[EdwardBlume]

Take your time and learn as much about the cars as you can before you jump in and buy one. Also take into account some amount of disposable income in your future to maintain / modify your car. No one here has regrets about owning a 914, but everyone has felt the pinch of repairs and maintenance.

My only regret about any of my Porsches is that I didn't get into them sooner.... I started up seriously with 914s when I was 28.

[Uncle Richy]

I drive mine every day.

I've had both a '73 and a '74 and only noticed very minor differences- rear bumper guards and the shape of the interior air vents.

[Queenie]

No one here has regrets about owning a 914, but everyone has felt the pinch of repairs and maintenance.

This is particularly true if your 914 is a daily driver. When they're properly set up and maintained they can be very reliable, but regular maintenance isn't cheap unless you're prepared to do all the labor yourself. And even then you end up paying, maybe not in cash but in time and effort and skinned knuckles and sometimes a whole hell of a lot of frustration.

But all things considered? I'd own three of them if I could.

[Curvie Roadlover]

re. late model: those bumpers have saved me more than once from uppity palo alto luxury SUV fanatics too busy talking on their cells to make full stops at lights.

Me too. Those bumpers changed what would have been a costly repair to a mere verbal thrashing of the careless idiot that hit my car.

[Curvie Roadlover]

My only regret about any of my Porsches is that I didn't get into them sooner.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)