Road & Track Insults 914! Options

[relentless]

I hope this isn't a duplicate, but it ticked me off to see R&T put the 914 in as a "Black Sheep" in an article titled: "12 of the most embarassing cars ever built by otherwise- excellent automakers."

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/g6...ilies/?slide=13

How dare they!

[iwanta914-6]

The 914 should be insulted more!

(just so the prices come down again allowing me to buy one, lol)

This has made it around facebook on C&D's page and then shared on the 914 group page, but I don't think anyone has mentioned it here yet. Doesn't bother me at all if they want to insult the 914...

[mepstein]

My kids call it a girly car.

[Cal]

The actual article isn't bad......

Porsche 914

Plenty of myths swirl around the 914, the most persistent of which is that the car was a repurposing of a concept penned by industrial designer Hans Gugelot. But the truth is Porsche's Heinrich Klie, designer of the iconic five-lug Fuchs wheel, did the majority of the aesthetic work on the machine. The rear suspension isn't shared with any other car, while the front is pulled from the 911. The five-speed transmission, though it may have VW emblems stamped on the case, is the same unit used in 1960s and early '70s 911s. Did we mention that Ferdinand Piëch was in charge of the 914 program, at the same time he was spearheading the development of the vaunted 917?

In fact, aside from a corporate steering column used on the four-cylinder cars, some underdash wiring bits and pieces, and the Type 4 engine (which was reworked by none other than Hans Mezger in 2.0-liter guise), the 914 was much more Porsche than Volkswagen. It's certainly more Porsche than a Macan or a Cayenne, and at least as much a Porsche as a Panamera. And if you argue that it was built at Karmann, might we remind you that the Boxster and Cayman were constructed at Valmet in Finland? Is the 914 a black sheep? Yes. Have a gander at the thing. It is kind a weird-looking. Is it a Porsche? Also yes. Very much so. —Davey G. Johnson

[Chris H.]

That's funny because Doug Kott, former writer/editor/driver extraordinaire at R&T is a member here (mittelmotor). He LOVES 914s and wrote a couple of nice pieces on them.

The commentary on this one is actually pretty accurate. Make sure you scroll down and read all of it.

[boxsterfan]

I guess I am cancelling the subscription to R&T that I don't have.

[SKL1]

Not surprising- when I got mine in winter of 1970-71 and promptly joined PCA, I found out many in the club didn't even want it there. I remember writing a letter to Pano saying I'd rather have a new 914 than an old 356 for the same amount of $$...
And it was even sweeter when I'd beat most of the 911's in autocrosses at the time both in PCA and SCCA.
Nothing changes...

[bandjoey]

Here's my reply...common and let's add some more comments.

I see the Porsche 914 listed in the group, and in the '80's and '90's yes it was NARP. Not A Real Porsche. However before adding it to your list today...just look at the current status. Some years back the 356 skyrocked to $$$$ after being discovered by collectors. Then the early 911's hit the $$$$market. Now it's the 914's time. The number of drivable cars are dwendling due to rust and abuse throughout the years, and with the few left, they have been named ARP. A Real Porsche. Amelia Island Concours d'Elegnace just celebrated thie 914 as the featured car. Hemmings is recording sales between $45k - $110k. Yes you can pick up a good driver in the $10-25k range needing a lot of restoration cost, but that (unfortunately for enthusiasts) looks short lived the way collectors are hitting on them. Oh, By The Way, the 914 was a featured cover car on R & T. It won 6th Overall at the 24 hours d'LeMans. It has a winning race history, and at the national Porsche events, it still beats 911's in toe to toe racing. Drive one, and it'll be on the cover of R & T once again.

[pete000]

Ha ! all the reason to love the unloved 914 !

[hot_shoe914]

My kids call it a girly car.

That's because you drive it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

[jimkelly]

i had a car with a 1.7 a 1.8 a 2.0 but all were worn out motors, so i never owned a strong stock engine myself, but my buddy has a 1.7 in his that runs like a top and when a passenger in it, i can easily feel how nice a good type 4 engine can move a 914 around. makes me want a 914 with a good running stock motor. maybe for my 3rd 914, one day.

[76-914]

Currently, the best thing about 914's are the owners.

[EdwardBlume]

Forget those clowns. They love Miatas and Chevys.

Instead of Road and Track, it should be called Manufacterers, advertisers, and doofuses. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

[Maltese Falcon]

"Fourteener" magazine is currently doing a chronological history of the 914.
First part just started in the current issue. Good reading there, I'll read the R+T article at the news stand and compare notes.
The big auto magazines get on my nerves with their constant mailers/specials /reminders; lots of landfill material there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

[snakemain]

Nobody calls mine girly. Everybody in the neighborhood knows when I fire it up, and it sounds like fire should be shooting from the tail pipe.

[boxsterfan]

Another dig at the 914 here?

http://thegarage.jalopnik.com/how-much-por...da-m-1737916255

They are talking about the Cayman:

"It’s Porsche’s hidden gem that will appreciate once the market really understands that these cars aren’t throwaway coupes with van engines (like some other entry level Porsches of old), but proper sports cars for enthusiastic drivers."

[jeffdon]

Currently, the best thing about 914's are the owners.

Can I get an "AMEN" to this brother and sisters?

[euro911]

Geeeez ... they make it sound like the Karmann Coach company built shitty cars or something (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) ... At least one of my 912s came out of the Karmann factory (I'll have to double check the other one).

There's a lot of VW-badged cars, along with the 914, that have entered the collectible car arena and the increasing prices are indicative of that fact, not to mention the ARPs. For those of us that already have some decent specimens, hang on for the ride. For those of you that don't have one (or more) yet ... get crackin' before it's too late (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[StratPlayer]

I don't give a crap what they say about the 914. I was on my way to the dentist yesterday on the freeway. On my way there I got 4 thumbs up on my 914 from different drivers. So eat crap RT

Let them spew all the crap they want.

[mgp4591]

Currently, the best thing about 914's are the owners.

Can I get an "AMEN" to this brother and sisters?

I'll give ya and AMEN and a HELL YEAH!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)