is this really a good idea? Options

[rustyknife]

i've restored an 80 vw westy and a 68 vw single cab truck. i'm looking for a new project. i've lost a ton of $$$ on these projects but it keeps me sane. i like the look and history of the 914 and it seems that project-status cars are around for a decent price. does my previously-dented wallet prepare me for what's ahead if i go this route, or are we talking a completely different ball game?

i "restore" vehicles to make them safe and fun and usable, not showroom or anything like that.

what should a guy look for in a project car?

[ericread]

The truth is that you can spend as much or as little as you want on your 914. No I don't have all the latest high-performance stuff, but for a daily driver, my cost per mile (including all upgrades, maintenance gas, insurance, tires,etc) is about the same for my 914 as it is my Hyundai Tucson.

This only works if you decide to turn your own wrenches, look for the best pricing on parts and budget your expenses. Yeah, I would love to have a show car like many of the cars your see on this board, and I plan to have as nice a car as any of them in the future. The difference is that I have a set budget I can spend on my teener each month, so I have spread the upgrades out over two years. In the meanwhile, my bad paint discourages anyone from stealing my ride (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

As a daily driver, I put about 15,000 miles on my 914 last year. This included M-F going to-from work and weekends goofin around SoCal. I don't track or AX my 914, as I believe it would overstress some of my older parts (which are shceduled to be replaced later this year.).

Anyway, driving the 914 is a blast. But you have to get used to people coming up to you to tralk about your car. On weekends, I have a minimum of two people a day who either want to tell me a story about a 914 they once rode in or ask me "What the hell is that???". The 914 is the most cost effective "exotic" car you will probably ever own. Good luck with your decision... And if at all possible, take them up on the ride. But I'll warn you, some of these cars (and their drivers (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif) ) are animals.