First time looking at a 914 Options

[Gunn1]

Well, after all of that, this one is not coming home with me. The last 3 or so years since it was parked have not been good to it. While it maybe was stored inside for the majority of the 31 years she owned it, it's been outside since it was parked.

Because I knew right away when I saw it that this one was not for me, I did not fully inspect it. With the flat tires and sinking into the dirt, I didn't even bother to try to get a look underneath, I have a feeling it was not good. The VIN was far too early to be a Bumblebee and she mentioned that she bought the wheels to replace the steel wheels/hubcaps that it had. It does have the center console but it seems at some point someone tried to mimic the LE style.

It was a leaking fuel line that forced her to park it. She wants someone to put the car back on the road and enjoy it, she won't let someone part it out. I feel like I should try to help her sell it, but it's not something I have experience with. She doesn't know how to post ads on Craigslist and she's nervous about random people coming to her home to look at it.

This car can be saved, but it's going to take more time and money than I have. The car didn't even have a battery but it did in fact still had the original FI. She said it ran well prior to parking it, but whoever buys it will probably have to expect the worst.

Oh well, it was at least a good experience and the seller was a really nice lady. I could tell she loved the car and it will be emotional for her to let it go when that time comes.

The biggest challenge for me will be finding one locally that is solid and within my price range.

So, the search continues...

Iwanta.....So spill the beans on contact and location....If you are sure you are not interested maybe someone else is.

[rhodyguy]

What the hell does she care about someone putting back on the road and not parting out? If it was that important she could have done that. Not Buying it may be for the best in the long run and you practiced the best rule when buying a first 914. Listen to your gut feeling and avoid the impulse, gotta have one now, buy. Your car is out there someplace and you'll find it eventually.

[Gunn1]

What the hell does she care about someone putting back on the road and not parting out? If it was that important she could have done that. Not Buying it may be for the best in the long run and you practiced the best rule when buying a first 914. Listen to your gut feeling and avoid the impulse, gotta have one now, buy. Your car is out there someplace and you'll find it eventually.

She cares, because unlike some of us she has a emotional connection to her car. Sometimes Owners have a history with their vehicle. Maybe her late husband owned it. Maybe someone she trusts told her not to part it out. There could be all sorts of reasons. I am not saying they are or are not Valid ones, but it is her car and until she sells it, it is up to her what she does with it.

[Amphicar770]

Sounds like walking away was the right decision.

While finding something in one's price range is always a challenge, remember the adage to buy the very best one you can afford. Bringing an old beater up to snuff will almost always prove far more costly than buying one already sorted out. Parts prices are rather high on the 914 and some parts are hard to find. If you then have to pay someone to do mechanical or body work it adds up really fast.

[TM_Corey]

What the hell does she care about someone putting back on the road and not parting out? If it was that important she could have done that. Not Buying it may be for the best in the long run and you practiced the best rule when buying a first 914. Listen to your gut feeling and avoid the impulse, gotta have one now, buy. Your car is out there someplace and you'll find it eventually.

She cares, because unlike some of us she has a emotional connection to her car. Sometimes Owners have a history with their vehicle. Maybe her late husband owned it. Maybe someone she trusts told her not to part it out. There could be all sorts of reasons. I am not saying they are or are not Valid ones, but it is her car and until she sells it, it is up to her what she does with it.

When I bought mine a couple weeks ago I thought the original owner was going to break out in tears. This car was after the last hurrah of his youth. The last toy that he didn't need to consider the consequences or "ask permission" to buy.

Since buying it he has gotten married, had kids and had grandkids. He went from a twenty year old hell raiser to a grandpa in it.

The first stop when I finish it will be to pick him up and take him to lunch.

[TM_Corey]

Funny story about picking my car up. When I was going through it to see what was in the glove box etc, I found a really nice vintage silk scarf. Something you just imagine a woman wearing in it in the 1970's while the top was off. I said to the owner "Here, your wife may want to keep this for old times sake " He quickly stuffed it in his pocket and laughed. His next words...."Except I don't think it's hers"

[rhodyguy]

I get that she cares. I get that she might have an emotional attachment. But not so strong as she's willing to sell it, but not so willing to save it from sinking into the ground and turning into...A PARTS CAR.

To me, if someone is selling a car, I give them money and get the title, they don't get to dictate the terms. Period. No matter what the cost. No matter what the time involved will be. Sounds as though you HAVE to give your WORD (either outright or implied) you will do what it takes to bring that car back. PERIOD! No matter the money or the time or the effort required. Unreasonable. Unrealistic.

Btw. What was the asking $?

[KELTY360]

Well, now you've set eyes on a 914 for the first time. You're one car closer to the right one.

[Gunn1]

I get that she cares. I get that she might have an emotional attachment. But not so strong as she's willing to sell it, but not so willing to save it from sinking into the ground and turning into...A PARTS CAR.

To me, if someone is selling a car, I give them money and get the title, they don't get to dictate the terms. Period. No matter what the cost. No matter what the time involved will be. Sounds as though you HAVE to give your WORD (either outright or implied) you will do what it takes to bring that car back. PERIOD! No matter the money or the time or the effort required. Unreasonable. Unrealistic.

Btw. What was the asking $?

Now that you put it in Caps, it all makes perfect sense!

[GaroldShaffer]

What the hell does she care about someone putting back on the road and not parting out? If it was that important she could have done that. Not Buying it may be for the best in the long run and you practiced the best rule when buying a first 914. Listen to your gut feeling and avoid the impulse, gotta have one now, buy. Your car is out there someplace and you'll find it eventually.

She cares, because unlike some of us she has a emotional connection to her car. Sometimes Owners have a history with their vehicle. Maybe her late husband owned it. Maybe someone she trusts told her not to part it out. There could be all sorts of reasons. I am not saying they are or are not Valid ones, but it is her car and until she sells it, it is up to her what she does with it.

When I bought mine a couple weeks ago I thought the original owner was going to break out in tears. This car was after the last hurrah of his youth. The last toy that he didn't need to consider the consequences or "ask permission" to buy.

Since buying it he has gotten married, had kids and had grandkids. He went from a twenty year old hell raiser to a grandpa in it.

The first stop when I finish it will be to pick him up and take him to lunch.

This story sound like the same as the 72 I bought a few years ago. The owner bought the 72 new and in 73 joined the Air Force and was stationed in England. He had the car shipped over and spent 73-77 there. While there it had a fender bender in the right rear that was repaired badly. Once back home he drove it until the plates expired in 82 and parked it in the out building along with a 70 that he bought in 81 to be a parts car for his 72. The cars hadn't seen the light of day until I spent over an hour helping him moved all the crap stored around it. It was so full of walnut shells and mouse crap (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon8.gif) I thought he was going to cry when I loaded it on the trailer. Felt kind of bad for him, but then again he did let it set in a outbuilding for 31yrs and never once checked on it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[iwanta914-6]

If you really need to know why she parked the car instead of fixing it, it's because she had health issues and could not fix the car. Now she has to sell the car because of her ailing health. He son's didn't want the car which I thought was sad. I felt bad for her and I hope whoever does buy the car brings it back to life for her.

[rhodyguy]

Sad story. I hope she makes out ok.

It was'nt ALL IN CAPITAL LETTERS. I'm glad you got my point. No doubt your empathy for the seller of those 2 cars lessened a bit after you got the second one home.

[Larmo63]

I'll never understand how someone can/could take a beautiful car such as an old Porsche and just let it deteriorate in storage somewhere. We've all seen 911s and Speedsters that were pulled out of storage too, hell even Gullwing Mercedes Benzes.

I just don't get it.

[GaroldShaffer]

I'll never understand how someone can/could take a beautiful car such as an old Porsche and just let it deteriorate in storage somewhere. We've all seen 911s and Speedsters that were pulled out of storage too, hell even Gullwing vMercedes Benzes.

I just don't get it.

I think for a lot of people life got in the way and they have dreams of "one day" I will fix it up and enjoy it again. I have a cousin that bought a 58 MGA project car just after high school in 78. It is now 2016 and I have helped him move it to three different homes. He is 56 now and still has dreams of "one day" restoring it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[Chris914n6]

I bought my current car with flat tires, spider webs, a broken door handle, dead battery, barely running and battery tray cancer... everything easy to fix. At 40 years old some elbow grease is expected unless you pay the $$$$$ for restored.

Something to ponder... I get $50/hr fixing cars on the side because I bought that 914 20 years ago and learned to fix it.

For future hunting think about getting a few things first.
Jump starter
12v air compressor

[iwanta914-6]

For future hunting think about getting a few things first.
Jump starter
12v air compressor

For sure!

[somd914]

I'll never understand how someone can/could take a beautiful car such as an old Porsche and just let it deteriorate in storage somewhere. We've all seen 911s and Speedsters that were pulled out of storage too, hell even Gullwing vMercedes Benzes.

I just don't get it.

I used to think the same thing. Now I look at our 31 foot sailboat riding in her slip in need of TLC and routine maintenance. Once she was extremely well maintained in respect to seaworthiness and cosmetics. She was sailed upwards of 1,000 miles a season. Our kids grew up on her both cruising and racing. Then our sons became teenagers and rekindled my car interest (and my wife's), careers became more time consuming, a dream home fell into our laps recently, etc. Time to sell her, but difficult to come to grips with that - so many great memories. Maybe life will swing back to sailing... Probably not anytime soon, time to sell...

[Gunn1]

Sad story. I hope she makes out ok.

It was'nt ALL IN CAPITAL LETTERS. I'm glad you got my point. No doubt your empathy for the seller of those 2 cars lessened a bit after you got the second one home.

Pure sarcasm with the caps thing, as all the stories fore mentioned of folks and their attachments to their cars have attested to.
Don't know what you mean by the multiple car thing.
I only have one 914 and the young guy I bought it from was sad to see it go.

Notice no caps loc needed (IMG:style_emoticons/default/type.gif)

[DCJosh]

For future hunting think about getting a few things first.
Jump starter
12v air compressor

For sure!

This is what I have:
http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-J5C09-Starte...+air+compressor

[Cairo94507]

This would have been a great car to take some photos of and pass along information about the car. There are a lot of people here looking for a car to return to the road.

I got my Six in a similar manner when the seller was not willing to negotiate on price with a member here and when our member realized they were not going to be able to put a deal together passed the info on to our members hoping one of us would buy and love the car.

I was fortunate enough to contact the owner, go see and drive the car and after about a month of negotiations, arrive at a price we were both satisfied with. I still did not believe the deal would come together until I handed him a stack of cash and it was on the flatbed headed home with me.

I feel sorry for this owner who Iwanta914-6 met and spoke with and hope somehow the word gets out and a true Porsche lover gets her car and enjoys it. No flippers please.