Sticking up for ALL 914's...1.7 and 1.8's included, RANT follows ;) Options

[Mueller]

This is a qoute from another topic here today:

if it's a 1.8, offer less (edit). L-jet is not looked on favorably by most 914ers even though the factory manual states "it is the more modern FI system".

With the 914s getting older and less of them on the road due to rust, accidents, being converted to full out race cars and the worse sin of all...bad owners/mechanics the supply is dwindling fast.

IMHO, what adds to the remaining 914's demise is the shitty additude many 914 owners (and some NON-914 owners*) have towards the lower end 914's such as the 1.7's, the 1.8's and even the funky colored 914's getting knocked around and neglected...oh yea, i forgot to add the smog (here in CA) cars that have the big rubber bumpers.

No matter what option or color 914 it is, we need to quit generalizing that if it's got the small motor or "different" color it should be sold or bought at a dirt cheap price thousands of dollars lower than the holy grail 914....you know, the '73 2.0

I'm sick and tired of people diss'n the 1.8 cars especilaly those that have never owned one.....sure the FI is different, but if you can read, know how to use a basic volt meter and know what end of the screwdriver to hold, it can be mastered in a few hours. Most people that critize the 1.8 never had one or even knew someone that had one..."well, I heard it from a guy down the street" ... idiots I say !!!!

And yes, the 1.7 is the smallest engine put into a 914, but does that make it crap as well??? I don't think so !!!!! Not all cars have the big(LOL) motors....deal with it and get off your high horse 'cause you own a 2.0 (which could be a few miles away from dripping a valve from you not tuning it up correctly)

*these people really piss me off, never owned or driven in a 914, yet they can have an opinion about something that they are totally clueless about...the only thing that'll make them smarter is a good swift kick in the nuts (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

If you got this far thru this ramble, what I'm trying to say is that all of the 914's need to be loved and we need to keep the prices up on them or otherwise we will all suffer down the road...yes, I used to be guiltly of considering the 914 as a disposable car and sadly, it's somewhat true in this area, hell, I don't have the space and no one wanted the cars so I ended up cutting a few of them up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Look at the 356....the prices are way up..had more of them survived the prices would be lower, a good thing if you own one or want to own on......

flame away (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ar15.gif)

[echocanyons]

well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif) said

[mikester]

right on brother

'cept for the orange ones...

[Aaron Cox]

amen brother!

( ive driven a 1.7, and it was smoothre than my carbed 2.0.... but it was FI)

[Brad Roberts]

Actually thinking about buying a 1974 1.8 myself.. SO I CAN SLAM A 3.2 IN IT.

LOL


Oh.. we have a lonely 1975 1.8 for sale right now at the shop (2500$) shameless plug.


B

[Gint]

Even Sepia Brown? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) JK Mike. I agree with you.

[jonwatts]

Spoken like a guy who just bought a 1.8 (j/k brother)

I know where you're coming from. Personally I'm guilty of buying a car whose original color was not to my liking. For that reason alone I probably shouldn't have bought it. Instead I've spent countless hours and dollars trying to erase that "mistake". Oh well, live and learn.

Though you have to admit this problem is bigger than just with 914s. I'd like to have a Boxster to start toying around with but all I can justify right now is an early 2.5 car whereas what I really want is newer model with at least the 2.7 and a glass rear window.

[SirAndy]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

[ArtechnikA]

i had a '72 1,7 tailshifter and it was fine. fun, economical.
reliable it was not, and we drove it home on 2 cylinders from its PO for $2000 cash (this was in 1982 or so) after he'd put about the same amount into it with local shops getting it to run that well. new trigger points fixed that issue, but after running into one half-assed fix after another inflicted on the car by PO's prior mechanics (several of which resulted in spouse being stranded at night) i ripped out the FI and put on some nice little Dellortos. 40's, i think, with 34mm venturiis. ran great like that for many years after.

(this was 1982. there was no Internet. there was no email. there was no international support group for D-Jet resuscitation. now, the resources to fix that car's problems right exist. we didn't have as many choices then, and simple & reliable was the order of the day.)

i remember reading a column by Smokey Yunick maybe 40 years ago. he said "if you want to drive around like you're in a race all the time, buy an American car with a wild-animal name." very damned few entry-level Porsches have carried 'S' in their name. (that Holy Grail '73 2,0 - first known - briefly - as the 914S was one, and the 924S was another). the entry-level Porsche has never been about world-dominating performance. it has been about sporty fun and efficiency. i think that's a fine niche.

[Bruce Allert]

'cept for the orange ones...

Punkin's Punkin cuz of dat colour AND... it's a 1.7 (a blown up 1.7 but none the less) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) and yes, a 2.0 is going into it as soon as I git rid of theis EF'N COLD (IMG:style_emoticons/default/fighting19.gif)

.........b (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

[Qarl]

I've only ever owned 1.8s and I love them.

[JeffBowlsby]

I'm there with you Mike. The 1.8L cars are perfectly fine if you accept them as they are, for what they are...something most 914 owners are not comfortable with. L-Jet is a modernized FI system and frankly better than the D-Jet on many levels. Fewer sensors, better electrical connectivity and very easy to work on.

I'd buy a clean 1.8L 914 in a second, over a hacked D-Jet car of any displacement. 1.8L cars are currently a great buy for value.

The value and quality of the remaining 914s should be defined more in terms of condition, than horsepower *cough* rating.

[jim912928]

I love my 75 1.8! The FI was easy to diagnose and get running (bought it non-running) and now runs as smooth as a baby's bottom!

[fiid]

Yeah! Orange and yellow 1.7s KICK ASS!

[tat2dphreak]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

I agree!! we're all 914 brethren... can't we all just get along?!?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Chris H.]

I love my 75 1.8!  

Me too! Mine's been a great runner.

Mine is a California Emissions car AND it's Laguna Blue. I think I get extra points for being lowest HP AND funky color. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif)

[fiid]

I speak in jest, but I have to say I have been very surpised at exactly how fast a 1.7 can be when it is set up (mine still isn't set up completely) and driven hard.

The main problem my car has is the tranny....

Chasing Randy down the road to petaluma was truly an education as well.

[TheCabinetmaker]

I spent 25 years in a 1.7 FI before I drove my first 2.0 with carb. The 1.7 was just as much fun. It now has over1/2 mil miles on it. We use it as a "loaner" motor.

A 914 is a 914 no matter what motor it has.

[boxstr]

I have owned and still own a fair share of 914s. I have never even owned a 73 2.0, they have been 1.7 or a 1.8, I think a couple of 75 2.0s were in there somewhere.
When someone calls about a 914 I might have for sale the invariable say"well my buddy said I should wait and get a 73 or 74 2.0" my reply"go right ahead".
I look for a 914 that is in good condition structurally and then mechanically and then I look at the price, paint and interior condition enter in also.
1.7 or 1.8 BFD, 75 or 75 give me all you can, big black bumpers, I have enough chrome bumpers I can backdate everyone I buy.
I heard the same thing when I was searching for a Boxster to buy, " oh you must have a 2.7 or a Boxster S, "
I have a 99 Boxster that I purchased 1.5 years ago for what some of the 2002 Boxsters are trying to sell for today and I got a "brand new factory motor out of the deal".
So keep looking for the "holy grail" I hope you find it. I will be happy to stock my garage with a 1.7 or 1.8, make it a 75 or 76 and Sepia Brown is just fine with me.
CCLIN9146ANDV8

[red914]

I truly enjoy reading the posts from people who like this little car as much as I am growing to. As a kid I was taken with the lines of most all Porsches, but especially the 911 and the 914. Now I actually get to drive my very own 914 (a 1972 1.7, repainted Guards Red), to say nothing of tinker with it, read about it, learn about it, and hopefully maintain it for years to come. I have found that I don't even need to drive it fast to marvel at how well it handles, how it feels in corners, how it sounds (not as nice as it probably can, but I am learning), etc., etc., etc. It is great hearing that others, considerably more knowledgable than myself, feel the much same way.