Introduction and Questions to aid my search Options

[DrinkMan]

My wife and I are getting close to pulling the trigger to buy a Porsche 914. As you can see from my signature line, I'm not scared to buy cars from that era. We love fun to drive small "value" sports cars from the late 60's-early 70's.

I'm currently studying 3 cars. 2 are local (which I strongly prefer) and 1 is not (I'm not scared to ship, after all I imported 2 of my current fleet and others have come from Arizona and New York). The car that is not local is quite frankly over our budget and I think overpriced. However, it is a color that my wife loves deeply and if it could be negotiated down a little bit and if it really is a great car, I may be willing.

I'm going to be going to look at and drive the two local cars soon.

Is it okay Forum Etiquette to post links and solicit input? I would love to see all the comments criticizing and tearing up the cars. They don't belong to me so you won't be insulting me and if I buy one of them, at least I know how bad they are. The VIN numbers don't show up in the databases here so I assume I won't be insulting members.

Our current desire (but willing to consider others)
Excellent Condition (2, may 3+) 1973 2.0
We don't care about A/C at all. None of our old (pre 2000) cars have A/C and we don't mind driving them in Atlanta summer (both my wife & I grew up in Georgia without Air Conditioning)
Color - needs to be interesting - Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Orange, prefer not Gray-scale (but again, great condition may overcome that)
My original budget was <20k but I'm considering increasing that a little bit (again, great condition can overcome that)

I thought about posting this in the WTB Classified but since I'm soliciting discussion on specific cars, thought this would get attention. (Moderators - if you want to move to that forum, fine by me)

Thanks

[Big Len]

I agree with Tom on every matter except perhaps one and that is - I would not limit myself to '73 or '74 2L. cars. Let's face it, you don't buy one of these cars for the acceleration and no matter which stock engine is inside, you will not be impressed by it's 0-60 ET. Having driven bith 4's, there is a difference but not that significant. I mean, it's not like a 1970 Chevy Nova, one with a big block and the other with a straight six. Pit any one of them including the 6 up against my girlfriend's CR-V and you'll see nuthin' but tail lights. It's about driving dynamics and any 914 has it in spades or at least, can be made so. Would I rather have a 2.0L? Sure, but I would much rather have a 1.7L or 1.8L of any year that was physically and mechanically well taken care of and loved by it's owner than a 2.0 than was not.

[Tom_T]

I agree with Tom on every matter except perhaps one and that is - I would not limit myself to '73 or '74 2L. cars. Let's face it, you don't buy one of these cars for the acceleration and no matter which stock engine is inside, you will not be impressed by it's 0-60 ET. Having driven bith 4's, there is a difference but not that significant. I mean, it's not like a 1970 Chevy Nova, one with a big block and the other with a straight six. Pit any one of them including the 6 up against my girlfriend's CR-V and you'll see nuthin' but tail lights. It's about driving dynamics and any 914 has it in spades or at least, can be made so. Would I rather have a 2.0L? Sure, but I would much rather have a 1.7L or 1.8L of any year that was physically and mechanically well taken care of and loved by it's owner than a 2.0 than was not.

Len,

I agree with you in general, & was only pointing out to the OP that the 74 2L was the same as motor, as in the 73 he was looking at.

As for the later 75-76 MY GC motored 2.0s - they got down powered very close to the 70-72 1.7L at 80 HP - especially in the Crapalytic equipped California smogged 75-76 2.0s - IIRC it was only 82-86 or so HP in CA Cat 2.0s, & at 88 HP GC 2.0 49 state.

For 1.7s I'd say the sweet spot is 72 MY cuz they added the dash vents, movable passenger seat, tightened up the tailshifter, & a few other improvements found on the 73> 914s.

The 1.8s were only in 74-75 MY & only had 76 HP (72 HP in CA with Cat IIRC) - so less than the 1.7 in all MYs except 73 MY, which dropped to 72 HP - & only 69 HP in CA fitment, so most folks stay away from them.

The 1.8 is a choice of the heavier big bumper 75s, or chrome/steel bumper 74 - so more a matter of personal preferences. I actually like the big bumper look on black & dark color 914s, plus they offer more impact protection - which I appreciate having had a geezer roll back into my 914 front bumper & bend it in within 2 weeks of my getting it in 75!

Yes, they're all go karts on the curves, & not dragsters.

That said, when I was looking for my 914 back in 1975, I did drive all MYs & flavors - even a 6 which was out of my budget - & I could notice the differences between the 6 & the 73-74 2.0s - vs. the 1.7s, 1.8s & 75-76 2.0s - & I passed on a couple of really nice new 76 2.0s in blue over the 3 year old 45K mi 73 2L which I bought in Dec 75. It wasn't cost, cuz my monthly payments on a new 76 2.0 100% financed for 5 years was about the same as 3 years max. on my used 73 2.0 80% - so new would've been easier payments with no down.

BTW - the /4 2.0 with more TQ down low RPMs was a better street car for me as my DD too, vs. the -6 which had to be wound out to much more RPM to get into the TQ band & 110 HP - so the 73 2.0 was the better DD in OC, LA & SoCal traffic for me.

Today, I agree that you find the best 914 you can afford of any flavor, but the OP seems set on a 2.0, & seems to have found a few nice ones out there - pending PPI.

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Tom
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