Out-handling the 914 Options

[bongo monkey]

The 914 has a reputation for being one of the best handling sports car in the world. I find it hard to believe that 30 year old entry-level techonology can out handle modern sports cars that are focused on handling. What production street cars do you think can out-handle the 914? I've heard about Lotus cars handling extremely well, but also being quite expensive. How does the 914 compare to modern entry-level sports cars, such as a Honda S2000?

[anthony]

Autocross though is not a pure test of handling. First it favors cars that can execute sharp turns and second horsepower does come into play. A stock 914 with 80-95hp will lose ground to a 140hp MR2 Spyder that does 0-60 in 6.9 seconds.

What would be fun to see would be some car magazine type tests (0-60, braking, slalom, skip pad) using several "normally" modified 914s. By normally I'd say we'd need:

Stock 1.7L/1.8L

Stock 73/74 2L with factory sway bars

914/4, 19mm front bar, 140lb rear springs

914/4, 5-lug carrera suspension, 19mm front bar, 140lb rear springs

914/6, 19mm front bar, 140lb rear springs

914/6-3.2L, carrera suspension, 21mm torsion bars, 19mm sway bar, 180lb rear springs

Same as above in GT clone trim, flares, 7" and 8" rims

All of the above cars would have the best possible modern tires. The one thing that I've always hated about car magazine tests is that they have to test the car in stock trim even if it comes with non-sticky OEM tires - like the 165SR15s the 914 shipped with.

This would make a nice 914club event someday. We all show up, do autocross, braking, acceleration, and other tests. We would have a great upgrade database after that and a fun event.