Your Personal 914 History, When did you get the bug and how bad? Options

[Qarl]

1. How were you first introduced to 914s? (Relative, first car, always wondered what it was, AX event, etc.)

2. How old were you when you first drove a 914?

3. How many 914s have you owned, including now? (Year, displacement, color)

4. How would you describe your 914 bug?

a. Ehhh... Anyone want to buy my 914?
b. Casual interest - I'm still learning
c. Interested/Enthused - these cars are the best
d. Severely infected - I'm contagious. Admit me to the E/R now
e. Lost Cause - I will probably give up the ghost while driving in my beloved teener!

[airsix]

1) 1982 Age ~11, already a Porsche nut. Walked past a parked 914. Skinny tires, steel wheels, nose-high . Saw "PORSCHE" on the engine grill. Thought "No way! That ugly turd? A Porsche? Funniest looking car I've ever seen."
1a) 1984 Age 14, sitting in drivers-ed class watching video about driving slow to conserve fuel. (yawn) Zambezi Green 914 with Fuchs breifly featured as "The agressive driver who will arive at his destination later than the slow car because he will have to refuel." Car was low, shiny, and looked great. I thought "Wow. That's the little Porsche I saw before. This one looks much nicer."
1b) 1988 Age 17, Neighbor of my friend owns a machine shop. Nice guy, always calling us over to see his latest project. One day shows us the '73 2.0 he is putting back together (just back from paint shop). everything is painted, polished, or plated. The car is stunning. Shock and Awe. A few weeks later car is assembled and seen on the street across from the theatre while waiting for a movie. Parked alone across the street like on display. Most beautifu black paint I've ever seen. Lowered and on mirror pollished fuchs. The car is a litteral show-stopper. EVERYONE stops and stares. Pedestrians, cars, eveyone. It looks spectacular and I tell my best friend "I'm going to own one of those."
2) 1992 Back from 2 years of missionary work in the Philippines. Moved to Washington, got a job, started scoping for 914's. Knocked on a few doors..."Wanna sell your 914?" Got a bite on the second try. First drive. Wrote a contract on notebook paper, gave $100 earnest money, and rode a bicycle to work for the next 6 weeks saving every dime. Drove home my new 914. ('72 1.7 yellow) Had 210,000 miles on it. I put on another 40k getting through college. Sold to buy pickup to move my new bride and me in '95.
3) 2000 - Been out of school for a few years. Have good job and house. Been longing for my 914 for 5 years. Start looking and find a '73 Olympic Blue 1.7 that's been in storage on a farm for 15 years. Good deal, I bring it home. 5-years of pain begins to fade. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)
4) Bug? You mean my mental illness? Don't mistake it for loyalty - I'm interested in any mid-engined 2,000lb sports car with excellent handling and power potential. The 914 fits the bill nicely, but I wouldn't kick a Radical or an Elise out of the garage if it followed me home either. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

-Ben M.