Having a weak moment, Looking into the possibility of selling... Options

[eric9144]

Ethan...everything they said...

I know the amount of work you've put into your car and how attached to it you are...and that's something you need to take into consideration. I was also in my 914 as my DD in college and ran into the same conundrum...

The best advice I can give you is only what's already been said. Find a cheap reliable Toyota or Honda beater that you know will be mechanically reliable and KEEP THE 914!

I sold mine back in the day and I regretted it every day until I finally stumbled across my current 914 in '96 (I was only without a 914 for about 1.5 yrs)...

[worn]

What you don't know is that back in the day, cars were not as reliable as they are now. They certainly required more scheduled maintenance. Now that the car is pushing 40, there are hundreds of failure-prone aging parts. I think that you can drive it daily. I use my porsche in summer as a daily driver. BUT I had to go through it regularly tracing possible faults and fixing stuff that looks suspicious. That is a lot of time to spend. A lot of time.

On the other hand I still have my purchased new 1994 Ford escort wagon that I drive in winter. It ran 90,000 miles on the factory spark plugs and has never failed me. On the other hand the brake lines, lower suspension and exhaust system literally fell off due to salt rust from the roads. But that wouldn't have happened in California. SO the beater idea has some merit.

If you have time though sorting out the 914 is more fun. If you have a 4 I suspect you would be far better off in terms of reliability with the factory fuel injection. But then again it needs sorting too.

[Tom_T]

So is that you with the OC CL "feeler" WTT for an E46 wagon?
.... pic looks like yours!

Get a econobox or motorcycle to DD drive & insure cheap on gas/insur., & leave the 914 in your parent's Vista garage & use it weekends & for fun! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

When you make it down for Porsches & Doughnuts, I'll do my best to talk you out of it - (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
.... but if you really must move on to get through college.....well that's the most important priority right now. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

['73-914kid]

Yeah, that's my feeler ad. That's the goal at this point if I was to sell my car.

Thanks for all the input guys. I'm definitly leaning towards keeping the car at this point, but it still is going to take some serious thought and consideration.

At this point, a motorcycle is completely out of the question, simply becasue when I head home, I take a bunch of stuff with me, hence the want for a wagon. I also would like to be able to transport my mountain bike to and from school, and head out riding, something difficult to accomplish in my car.

So I guess it just will take some more thought. More opinions are definetly welcomed though
-Ethan

[Randal]

Yeah, that's my feeler ad. That's the goal at this point if I was to sell my car.

Thanks for all the input guys. I'm definitly leaning towards keeping the car at this point, but it still is going to take some serious thought and consideration.

At this point, a motorcycle is completely out of the question, simply becasue when I head home, I take a bunch of stuff with me, hence the want for a wagon. I also would like to be able to transport my mountain bike to and from school, and head out riding, something difficult to accomplish in my car.

So I guess it just will take some more thought. More opinions are definetly welcomed though
-Ethan

I would have thought a mountain bike frame, i.e, without the wheels, would fit nicely into the rear trunk of a teener?

[gil914]

All of my friends and I went thru college with aircooled cars. The joy of installing a replacement GEX engine in a bus, with your friends, in the street, downhill. Covered in gas after crawling underneath to replace the fuel pump outside the impound lot of the Jersey Turnpike. Good times! We still occasioanlly reminisce about the 'glory days'.

OTOH we didn't commute so down time could be worked around or someone would give you a ride when needed.

The last daily driver aircooled was retired when my friend's Squareback broke down on the way to a job interview. He showed up an hour late and greasy after stopping to change the points which had cracked. Yes, he had spares and tools and yes, he got the job.

We all sold our air cooled cars and bought "better" transportation. We all regret selling our cars, 1 Bus, 1 411, 1 bug vert, 1 hot rod 59 ragtop.

I can't tell you what to do, only you can know that. I can promise: You will regret it, You will always want it back.

Good luck...

['73-914kid]

Luckily I suppose, i am not a commuter. I live about an hour and a half from home, but my mom likes it when i come home, so lately ive been coming home just about every weekend. Unfortunately, these weekends have mostly been taken up by fixing the 914, instead of relaxing and hanging out, as i would like to. Realistically, i could probably just stay on campus every weekend, but its hard to turn down your mom when she says she wants to see you and youre only an hour and a half away....


I believe you guys have convinced me to keep the 914 and somehow work around finding a different car, and hopefully a bimmer wagon...

[carr914]

An E46 can be as much to keep running as a 914

[eric9144]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Go Toyota or Honda, save your $ for your teener and having a life while you're in College...

['73-914kid]

Unless you get any e46 parts for free. Hence the draw to an e46....

[PeeGreen 914]

Unless you get any e46 parts for free. Hence the draw to an e46....

I like the sound of that (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Tom_T]

I also would like to be able to transport my mountain bike to and from school, and head out riding, something difficult to accomplish in my car.

Bike Ethan!!?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

They did make bike racks for 914s, like this one I got back in the mid-70's - (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)



Maybe you can find one used around & solve part of your "logistics problem" with your 914 as a DD? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Also, if you have a quick release hub on the front, you can actually put 1 bike & F wheel in the rear trunk & secure the latch with it slightly open. I used to use a shoe lace or small rope/cord between the upper & lower latch assy. before I got the above rack or when too lazy to use it for 1 bike, which the rack can also carry just one bike by securing the straps to the unused side's plate for the seat in the pix above.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

[76-914]

Ethan, there is one avenue which no one has suggested. Walk around the UCLA or Stanford campus until you hook up with a rich girl. The only down side to this is that you will earn every damned penny of it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) On a more serious note, you know I'm about 1/2 between you and your home. If you ever need a hand or to borrow a car (I'm down to 5 now) call me. kent

[mrholland2]

Hey Ethan,

Can you keep it going until the end of the semester? If you don't take summer school, you can spend some time this summer working out bugs. I saw Kent lives near you and might be a great resource. As a college teacher type, I see what my students drive and I don't think a "beater" Honda or Toyota would be a significant improvement AND you wouldn't have the network of "fix it" folks that you do with the 914.

Sean

[76-914]

Thx for the compliment but I don't think I could teach Ethan a damned thing. I could be considered an enroute service spot, however! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) It would be modeled after the Pony Express having a fresh 914 every 30 miles. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

[mrholland2]

Hey, you could be a sympathetic beer resource too, ya know (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thx for the compliment but I don't think I could teach Ethan a damned thing. I could be considered an enroute service spot, however! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) It would be modeled after the Pony Express having a fresh 914 every 30 miles. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

[hot_shoe914]

Simple solution really, just find yourself a cougar sugar mama. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sheeplove.gif)

[bigkensteele]

I am still kicking myself for selling my first car, a '73 Camaro that I bought for $300 when I was 15 and fixed up for less than $2k. It was a really nice car, but then I found a '77 320i that needed work. Sold the Camaro and bought the Bimmer (which was a total turd) - worst car decision I ever made.

If there is any way in the world for you to scrape up $1000 to buy a beater, do it. 10 years from now, you will be glad you did.

I disagree with some of the others in that it is not just a car. When I turned 16, mom and pops gave me a framed poster of a Guards red 911 DP slant-nose. I was hooked. When I was 35 or so, I finally had the money and opportunity to buy a Guards red 911 slant-nose to park next to the 914. I had it for a couple of years, and it was just a car, so I sold it. However, the 914 is more than that to me for some reason. I have had some rough times over the past few years, and going out and sitting in it even though it didn't have an engine in it was cathartic for me. Polishing parts, cleaning it, and now that it is running, driving it, all stir something in my soul that no other car I have owned ever could.

I realize that I am in a different boat than you, as I don't need to rely on mine, but keep it if you can and buy that beater. If you are set on a Bimmer and want something reliable, look at E30s.

[infraredcalvin]

A little late chiming in, but in college at cal poly Pomona I got a loaner station wagon from my buddies mom for the commute from newport beach. not the coolest car, but it had over 180k miles when the block cracked the day after I finished the rebuild of my 914 which took about 8 mos while in school, poor, and working 30 hrs a week (yes i walked uphill in the snow both to and from classes...) It was right before I graduated, and was bitter sweet driving my 914 to my grad ceremony. KEEP HER, enjoy the "ride".

Btw when I got some $$$ I bought a good e30 318is, so I agree with above...

[Nozzle]

Two words...

Toyota... Corolla...

Any year you can swing. They may not get you a date for the weekend but for an inexpensive daily driver they simply can't be beat in my experience. And while driving it you can always remind yourself that back in the garage you have one of the coolest cars ever made waiting for less pressured moments in life. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif)