New or Old cars - how do you decide?, 914 owners are in a unique position Options

[dion9146]

This question really has a couple of purposes, and I know if nothing else I'll get opinions out of you guys. After 18 years of 914 ownership across three different cars, stock, race, and highly modified street, I find myself constantly looking at other P-cars these days. Call it boredom, needing something different, whatever, I'm getting close to selling the little red beast.

But back to my question, and forgive me for maybe thinking out loud on this topic. I'm having a debate with myself, and I need other neurotic car nuts to chime in. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I consider the 914 to be one of those 'tweener' cars. Old enough to feel like an old car, but still modern enough to feel, well, modern too. I've grown up with old cars my entire life. I enjoy restoring old cars. In 1983, my first car was a 1952 Ford custom, and so it started. But....career, kids, and life in general don't allow a lot of time to work on cars these days, so I'm grateful for having a bulletproof teener that I can generally just get in and drive whenever I want. But, I still find myself looking at older cars - almost picked up a restorable 356 a few months back, I have this thing for early 912s, etc. Restoration costs aside, there is something magical about a restoration that I enjoy.

Then.....I have lots of friends with newer iron. A nice newer Boxster S or 997 would do the trick. I'd still have that reliability I enjoy, and I actually like the newer designs. A friend of mine just picked up a 2005 911 with the aero package, wheels, etc. The car is sweet, and he picked it up for a heck of a deal.

So at the risk of getting a bunch of 914-centric responses, which way do you lean - new or old? By the way, this isn't really a performance question. I know I will give up a lot by getting rid of my car, but for me that's not what it's about anymore.

Dion

OR

[dion9146]

Well, I think we are all sick or we wouldn't be playing with cars to begin with. Sometimes I actually envy my friends that aren't into the car thing. Their lives are so simple, constantly doing chores around the house and playing golf.....wait, what the hell I'm I thinking?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Ya know, the electronics thing never crossed my mind. Even though my Motronic is pretty simple, and the rest of the 914's wiring isn't very complex, the newer cars are frightening. There is something to be said for carbs, coils, and distributors. Gas fire and air - gotta be one of the above if something goes wrong.

I've always been amazed at the old guys that take their 356's or 912s across country to a show. But think about it, unless the bottom end of the engine is toast already or it throws a rod, it's pretty easy to diagnose and fix most issues on the road. Not sure I can say the same about modern FI most of the time.