914 as kids first car? :(, nervous about this one. Options

[Brian Mifsud]

Hi All,

Hypocrite that I am, I'm nervous about my kids desire to own a 914 as his first car. I bought and drove one as a "Step Up" from my hot-rodded '69 Beetle when I was 19. I just feel though that there are a hell of a lot more people on the road driving earth-moving Suburban/lifted 4x4s etc than when I was young (early 80's) and that the likelihood of getting run over/punted in a 914 these days is much higher.

Now, this has no basis on fact, just my hunch, and probably my protective instinct so...

Do you think that a 914 with these mods might be enough to ease my fears?

- Fully caged including door bars to slow down side impact incursions

- Safety harness?

- Added bright LED Brake Light bars

- Fuel Cell to minimize the gasoline-in-the lap fun of VW's and Porsches

- automatic Fire supression system

- Use a '75 or '76 model year for the honking big 5MPH bumper added safety margin

- Better than stock tires and brakes

- Driving school - (Learn to handle the car on wet curvy roads, no ABS, etc)


Okay, clearly I'm a paranoid guy... I really would have preferred that my son drive something forgiving in a crash like a mid/late -90's Mustang

Opinions?

Thanks

Brian

[Andyrew]

If its bone stock and reliable Or has a reliable engine conversion then OK, but I tried it. (My 914 was my first car..) Ended up just driving my dads stock 944 turbo around as my daily.

I bought mine for 1k which now would be about 2k worth of car. Drove it home and just proceeded to do everything to it as I was a kid.. Didnt work out well and I got frustrated with doing valve jobs and not having a reliable engine and did an engine swap. Still dont have a reliable cooling setup for the car so it really doesnt get driven much.


I would opt for a more disposable car like mentioned above.. Honda, Kia, Hyundai, Saturn (My preference is Saturn... All the hondas in a beginner price range have had the snot beat out of them. Saturns not so much. 2k can get you a very nice ABS air bag lightweight plastic reliable 4 door.)

Then get them a project car that they have to spend a year working on to respect cars and put their disposable income in (Instead of a POS beginner car). By the time they have crashed their first car, and got the "project" drivable then they have more caution and respect for the car and driving.