Is a 914 right for me?, 914 newbie questions Options

[MiddleMan]

Okay, so I currently have a 2008 Cayman. It’s beautiful. It’s fast. Handles great. Just a fabulous car in general; I’m sure you’ve read the reports. Trouble is, I have a really hard time hanging on to a car for more than a couple of years- regardless of how much I like it- and I can really feel that itch coming on.

My Cayman:


And having some experience with a water-cooled Porsche, it seems only reasonable to look next at an air-cooled variant. I’m thinking about the 914 for its obvious similarities to the Cayman (or vice versa, perhaps), as well as its reasonable entry price. And while the Cayman is great, I really like having a relatively light car (previously had an early Miata and MR2 Spyder), just because it feels right.

Currently my Cayman shares DD duties with my truck and bicycle, though a 914 would likely be relegated just to pleasure driving. I don’t have a ton of mechanical experience, though I did use an old British car as a DD for a while in school and managed to keep that going pretty well.

I’ve done a few AX, and would likely continue with that, though so far I haven’t been on the track.

I haven’t sat in or driven a 914 yet, though there are plenty for sale nearby (i.e., www.HighPerformanceHouse.com is just a few miles away). Is there any obvious reason as to why I should not seriously consider making a switch like this? I know the deal about buying the best example possible, rust issues, PPI, etc. I also know that this board will likely have a different perspective than a Cayman board…

Thanks for any thoughts.

[Mike Bellis]

I think you need to be a true enthusiast to enjoy a 914 long term. Most of us will never get rid of our 914's and if we do, it's to buy another. I would not recomend buying a 914 on a whim. The are old, they will need work, they are fun to drive and highly addicting. A modified 914 will be even more fun to drive. If you do not know how to work on these cars they can turn into a money pit. Most 914's have some rust issues. If you must buy one, buy the best one you can afford. You may also want to look into a 914-6 of an LE for resale value. many of us have made engine swaps to make them even faster. Mine is a V8 but there are several different engine combos available. Suspension and brake upgrades are very common. My Porsche career started with a 914, moved on to a 911 and came back to the 914. It is the most fun I've ever had driving.