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.

[Corkus]

Okay, so I currently have a 2008 Cayman... 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...

Hi Chris, my name is Cory and I too am a serial motor vehicle abuser seeking a new high in a 914. I know I have it bad my friend, how are you doing?

Your post describes exactly my experience with motorcycles for the last 10 years. I'm about done with looking for near perfect bike after near perfect bike. I am hoping an updated version of a wonderful 914 experience I had in the 1970's will end my 2 wheel drug use.

One thing about these modern machines, the Cayman being a screaming example, is that in their near perfection something intangible is definitely missing. How many of us have enjoyed owning a modern car that is vastly superior in every way to a car we used to have, yet did not find a way to enjoy it nearly as much as the older car?

It is not about how perfect a machine can be, or you'd never consider getting rid of a Cayman. It is about having the right machine for the times and for a certain time in your life. If your car isn't ringing your bell real loud, it's not the car but the way the car is out of sync with the times. What you have here is a car-time-space continuum discontinuity. I’m sure of it .

Near perfection of modern high performance machines is highly overrated and the right machine fitting the right times in our lives are highly underrated. If you're looking for a window to jump out of, the 914 might be as good a way out as you need. I’m betting that way. Now if you’ll just step aside I’m jumping out this window.

Good luck to both of us.