914 Current Market Conditions & Summary 4's & 6's, Help for the Newby's coming on board Options

[TJB/914]

Hi All,

I felt it was time to help all the newby's coming into the 914 market. What to buy and what to look at. Of course everything depends on how much money you can afford. Like Bruce Anderson says "buy the best quality and year you can afford".

I looked at an ebay 75 yellow car in MI this week that sold for their asking price of $15K to a CA buyer. It was low milage car and someone got a car that could have brought $20K to the new astute buyer. I see market conditions of supply & demand working. Money collectors are coming into the market & looking at quality. They have the money & our 914's are bargins. I believe in the next (5) years we will see our 914's double in price. I'll mark my calander in 2013 to see if Iam right. We need to help our newby's because there are so many people selling cars with untrue facts. Buyer's beware, your need more 914 education.

My opinion in preference with the exception of special models & rarity.

*** All 6-cyl. cars with the vin #914....

** All 2.0 liter cars expecially the 73-74 chrome bumper cars including 75-76 2.0 liter cars.

* All the others 70-72, 75-76 with 1.7 & 1.8 liter engines.

There will always be rarity & special interest cars that have premium prices, but this is my basic list. Color, wheels, etc will always be a guide to higher prices.
Note: Especially rear fog lamps. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) right Eric & Pat. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)

Looking for input & suggestions for our newby's.

Tom

[Pat Garvey]

Hi All,

I felt it was time to help all the newby's coming into the 914 market. What to buy and what to look at. Of course everything depends on how much money you can afford. Like Bruce Anderson says "buy the best quality and year you can afford".

I looked at an ebay 75 yellow car in MI this week that sold for their asking price of $15K to a CA buyer. It was low milage car and someone got a car that could have brought $20K to the new astute buyer. I see market conditions of supply & demand working. Money collectors are coming into the market & looking at quality. They have the money & our 914's are bargins. I believe in the next (5) years we will see our 914's double in price. I'll mark my calander in 2013 to see if Iam right. We need to help our newby's because there are so many people selling cars with untrue facts. Buyer's beware, your need more 914 education.

My opinion in preference with the exception of special models & rarity.

*** All 6-cyl. cars with the vin #914....

** All 2.0 liter cars expecially the 73-74 chrome bumper cars including 75-76 2.0 liter cars.

* All the others 70-72, 75-76 with 1.7 & 1.8 liter engines.

There will always be rarity & special interest cars that have premium prices, but this is my basic list. Color, wheels, etc will always be a guide to higher prices.
Note: Especially rear fog lamps. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) right Eric & Pat. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)

Looking for input & suggestions for our newby's.

Tom

Yeah, yeah - note taken on the rear "thingy"!

So, here is what I would offer to the newby (and I hate that expression).

No words of new wisdom here, though. Just my major points:

1.)Buy more than you afford, but only slightly, because the prices ARE on the rise.

2.)Make certain it's a righteous buy - there are plenty of us here to help with that. Do NOT allow someone to sell you a sows ear for a silk purse price. Ask for help here - you'll get it! Unfortunately, there are slimebags out there that want to take you & some of them are very good at it. Repeat - come here for help.

3.) Decide what you want to do with the car. Daily driver, garage queen investment, conversion vehicle (shudder!!!, but that's just me)? If you pick a good 914 to start with, and have even minor mechanical capabilities (or are ready to learn), it will be a fun daily driver. These are very simple cars, when left in the factory state. For those younger drivers - don't expect A/C (rare), TCS or any of the contemporary crap. You'll need to learn how to drive a 914 at speed. It's actually very easy.

4.) Take extreme care of your purchase. Washing & detailing are the easy/fun things. You need to realize that these are "vintage" cars. They require valve adjustments, plugs, points, condensors on a regular basis (like every 3-5K miles!). The parts are cheap & easy to replace. Valve adjustment is a pain, but easy & requires zero parts (except tools). Also recognize that rubber parts on these cars are usually very old & need to be replaced - especially FI rubber parts. Once again, it won't break the bank, but it's the nature of the beast. Be religous about caring for your purchase & it will reward you with many years of grins.

5.) This is where I expect to flamed to death! If your looking at a 914 as an investment, and there are worse, keep it as close to stock as possible. And, keep it roadworthy. Adding a contemporary stereo system won't destroy its value, but putting a Suby or V8 or any non-Porsche engine in it is the kiss of death. You'll NEVER recoup your investment. But, if you want an investment with positive returns - keep it stock. Look, they made so few of these things, and most have been restored (at least partially), it only makes reasonable sense from an investment stanpoint. Stock 914's will increase in value. Customs are the dream of the customizer, with no regard to investment return.

That's my humble opinion on the basics.

I would urge anyone who's never owned one, and is contemplating a 914 to use THIS site as a means of help. Many of us have owned these beasts from new. Many are even better educated in these cars than those who've owned them since new. Ask for help. If you find one you're interested in, ask someone here to inspect it for you. Except in rare circumstances, we'll usually do this for nothing, or maybe a burger. We're here to help you, the "914 challenged", as well as to promote the marque. We mean this!

Pat