How did you first meet a 914 in person - any tips for someone who never has Options

[914lover17]

Hey Ya'll. Recently fell in love with this car, total obsession. I've never been a car guy, and have only learned manual for a summer job over 7 years ago. I'm very serious about getting one myself. I'm lucky because my dad has "enough knowledge to be dangerous" and is more than willing to help me on my journey. The "problem" I'm having is that I've never actually seen one in person, let alone ridden or driven one. I was prepared to re-learn manual after purchase, relying on a test ride along, or letting my dad test drive it. However, there's so little available (I think 3-4 in canada) and most of them are on the coasts. I've reached out to a few ads nearby and they prefer not to indulge much in terms of driving/seeing the car in action unless a deal is in place (Which is totally reasonable)...

As much as I can youtube and research this car online all day long, I guess I was just wondering how all of you fell for the 914, maybe the first time you met one in person, how you got to drive one, and if you had any tips for someone like me to experience one in a low commitment way that's fair for all parties? (I wouldn't even be looking to drive it myself) I would really like to experience the old school feeling of real driving car though!

I personally found the 914 when I was autotrader'ing for fun, searched porsches and thought it was a nicer 911 LOL!

[Marv's3.6six]

It was the summer of 1971 I was fresh out of high school and had moved to my first apartment in Hermosa Beach on the street named First Place. Vasek Polak Porsche dealership was on Pacific Coast Highway literally right around the corner from my apartment. I used to walk by the dealership on a regular basis. It was not uncommon for Vasek to place his race cars on the showroom floor right next to the new for sale cars. One day I popped in to ogle and spotted a 908 race car sitting next to a new silver 914-6. The two cars side by side was something to behold, I was amazed to say the least. As I looked and looked I could see the the similarities, both cars were about the same size, both cars were mid engined, both cars had the wheels way out on the the corners, very much alike. I will never forget that moment of realization that lineage of the two cars were so close, the 914-6 being a race car for the street. I fell in love then.

Secondary impression of that day was that when I saw the 914-6 window sticker with a price of $5999 I knew these cars were unattainable and well beyond what an 18 year old that drove a $300 VW Squareback and was probably earning under $2.00 an hour. BTW gasoline was about $.36 a gallon then.

[windforfun]

It was the summer of 1971 I was fresh out of high school and had moved to my first apartment in Hermosa Beach on the street named First Place. Vasek Polak Porsche dealership was on Pacific Coast Highway literally right around the corner from my apartment. I used to walk by the dealership on a regular basis. It was not uncommon for Vasek to place his race cars on the showroom floor right next to the new for sale cars. One day I popped in to ogle and spotted a 908 race car sitting next to a new silver 914-6. The two cars side by side was something to behold, I was amazed to say the least. As I looked and looked I could see the the similarities, both cars were about the same size, both cars were mid engined, both cars had the wheels way out on the the corners, very much alike. I will never forget that moment of realization that lineage of the two cars were so close, the 914-6 being a race car for the street. I fell in love then.

Secondary impression of that day was that when I saw the 914-6 window sticker with a price of $5999 I knew these cars were unattainable and well beyond what an 18 year old that drove a $300 VW Squareback and was probably earning under $2.00 an hour. BTW gasoline was about $.36 a gallon then.

I remember when it was 25 cents a gallon. Remember the Sunoco pumps when you could choose the octane level?