911 vs. 914, have you had the same experience? Options

[nebreitling]

Just got back from a couple fun runs through the hills with a friend. real nice guy. we took turns driving each other's cars -- he has a '82 911 SC and i've got my '75 2.0.

okay, granted: the 911 has some twice or more the raw power, a higher red line with a relatively wide power band, a more confident shifter with quicker throws, some seriously more macho brakes, and -- in his case -- A/C.

however, i found myself getting loose at lower speeds on turns that i normally fly through! and the 911 seems to break traction without much warning at all (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) !! yes, the acceleration grins were a blast -- but modulating thottle, brake and clutch through the twisties was a scary, concentrated lesson in giving the car super-subtle input to avoid winding up in the ditch.

then he drove mine. he never got used to the shifter (and mine is one of the better-shifting 914s i've driven), but he seemed to have a great time lightly flicking it around corners with ease.

i never appreciated what an agile porsche the 914 is until driving his 911. conclusion? i need a 3.0 in my teener.

better start saving.

[seanery]

I've driven both, but not back to back.

I agree, the acceleration of a 911 is nice and the sound ooh la la!
But, the tail happy part scares me. I damn near spun my little underpowered 356 by
lift-throttle-oversteer! So every time I get behind the wheel of a 911 I get somewhat paranoid about
spinning it.

I feel totally confident, on the other hand, about doing just about anything with a 914. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[redshift]

Yes, 911s are not the best handling sports car in the world, and the 914 is.

My first 911 was an '80 Weissach model that ended it's life by flying backwards, and spinning just enough to drive up a pole. (I wasn't driving, but I can't say the same thing wouldn't have happened to me) This was all done @ 40mph on a semi-dry road. Up a medium grade, low angle right turn, throttle off at the transition and POW! SUCK!

..throttle off in any condition causes silly oversteer, certainly not as useable as that created in the same condition in my favorite 914.

I put it all over 911s, if I can keep them out of 3rd gear, plantation driving is for me. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

We should be the ones thumbing our noses, and swilling latte'... oh hold on, I am swilling a latte'..

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/finger.gif) 911s!

heh


M

[campbellcj]

I had an early (70) 911 for over a decade including a crossover period of 2 yrs where I also had a 914. So I was switching between them all the time, which was pretty interesting.

I think the 69-73 911's are more "balanced" overall than the mid and later flavors (74-89) and probably also the very early (65-68) ones. Actually in about 12 years I only recall spinning the car twice, maybe three times. Both times I recall were in the rain and were classic dumbass-throttle-lift-while-turning scenarios. In normal very spirited driving, I didn't have the "holy shit" experiences I know many 911 drivers report...maybe the mild suspension upgrades, high-end setup/corner balance, and DOT-R tires helped in this regard.

BUT...clearly I could (and did) do "things" in the 914 that I would not dream of in the 911. You know, pitching it abruptly into 90° corners at 50mph, passing other cars on high-speed banked fwy ramps, that kind of thing. The "pucker factor" was substantially lower in transitional situations, with the 914.

Although the 911's brakes, power and overall "quality" were significantly better...I very quickly became a 914 convert and found myself having more fun in that car. After I sold that 914 I bought another one within 3 months, if that tells ya anything...

[Zeke]

And he put a 911 engine in it with the big brakes, if that tells ya anything. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[campbellcj]

And he put a 911 engine in it with the big brakes, if that tells ya anything. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

911 front suspension too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) The "best of both worlds"...nothin' wrong with that, eh? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)


Of course the 911 weenies for some reason are still whoopin' my butt in the POC events. Let's see what my super short gearbox w/ LSD, and shedding some more weight, does to narrow that gap. They have power and tire advantage, but are packing more poundage (and rear weight bias) too.

[EdwardBlume]

The 914 rocks. 911s for going to the store and back.

Just kidding.

Both are great cars, but fundamentally different. We're on this site because a 914 is great! As a mid-engine car, it gives you great handling, a low center of gravity and forgiveness in hard turns. The 911 is Porsche's sportscar platform with good power, brakes, etc....

Which is better? I can't say. It really depends on what you plan to do with it. As a 993 owner, a 914 AX car owner, and a stock 914 2.0 owner, I like them all. I enjoy 130 mph in the 993 just as much as AXs in the 914, and I can't wait to restore my Dad's 914.

Get both. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[campbellcj]

Get both.

Amen...I second that.

Apparently Milt (Zeke) is the latest to head down that road...I know quite a few guys who have had both models, either simultaneously or back-to-back.

Actually I would love to have an early "R-Gruppe" kind of street hotrod, and a comfy-cushy-reliable 993 or 996 variant, to keep the 914 company. Perhaps a well-optioned Boxster would do in place of the latter.

If a big pile of money and a 4+ car garage falls on my head, I will have to work on that...

[J P Stein]

Get both. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

BTDT....off loaded the 9elebens. Nice cars...if you're into nice.

[markb]

I've got both. Apples and oranges, if you ask me. The 911 is more "civilized", where the 914 is more of my idea of a "true" sports car. I drive the 914 much more, just because it's more fun.

[Mueller]

Spirited and aggressive driving:

914= easy, yet still fun (anyone can drive a 914 rather aggressively IMHO)

911= harder to drive, both mentally and physically....
more "rewarding" to me for some reason, maybe it's knowing that I defied the laws of physics...I like the fact that I can get the car to rotate and pitch the rear end out a few feet by either using the gas or letting go of the gas
(lift-throttle oversteer..hang on !!!! )

I do feel more connected to the road in a 914, but that could have a lot to do with my 911 having power assist steering and being heavier with more insulation.

I also feel a lot more confident in the 914, even a near stock 914 I'd take corners at speeds that I'd hesitate or slowdown a tad bit in the 911.

[TheCabinetmaker]

I've had a 914, uninteruped, since 73. Also had a 78 911 SC 3.0 for a few years. My brother has it now. There is no comparison. The 3rd gear acceleration of the 911 (60 to 110) is truly awesome. The top speed (personal experience is 158 mph with some left) of the 911 still feels stable on a road made for that kind of speed(like the interstate in arizona). The 914 would be scary at those speeds in its pure form. The 911 was made for speed. The 914 was made for handling. Neither are driver friendly cars. They require constant attention, with both feet, both hands, and both eyes. If I want to blow your doors off on the highway,911. If I want to pass you on the curvie mountain road,914

[anthony]

Doesn't putting a 200+ hp engine in a 914 change the driving handling characteristics? Right now in my stock 2L 914 I can enter pretty much any turn and slam the accelerator through the turn. You can't do that in a 911 and I'd bet you can't do it in a 914 with a 3L+ engine.

Some of you sound like you need to bash to the 911 just make yourselves feel better. I'm in the "get both" camp. I'd also love to own a 356 some day.

If I ever get a 911 it will probably be a 993 - the last of the air cooled 911s but with the newer style multilink rear suspension which helps greatly in keeping the rear wheels planted.

[TimT]

I have both a 911 and a 914

the 911 is a GT5 car, the class rules for GT5 are 2.2L, Ive managed to get about 200 hp out of my 2.2, and have got the car down to about 1850#

the 914 is a GT3 car, class rules 3.2L max. I have a warm 3.2 in this car. (its really in GT because of the engine, the chassis needs some development to be competetive) this car weighs 2050# (a pig by 914 race standards)

The 911 is a difficult car to drive at the limits. But when you get it right, WOW!!!! The 911 at the limits has much less cushion for operator error. My 911 feels like a pendulum the way it turns, I can lift and let the rear start to rotate, then back in the gas to slide the car through a turn... very cool.

The 914 is an easy car to drive, driving a 914 at the limit may be more difficult than a 911, Why, because the limits are higher!! My 914 has probably 270 hp, right foot steering is easy. The 914 feel like it rotates right behind may back when turning. i can make understeer, oversteer using brakes and throttle.

I feel fortunate to own both a 911 and 914, they both are great cars. They are also very different cars.. I have driven the 914 for about 8 months now and love it, Ive driven 911s going on 24 years.

I love driving the 911, its a test everytime you get into the car, I walk away from my 911 after a track session and check over my shoulder to see if the 911 is giving me the finger for not driving hard enough

After driving the 914 on the track, the 914 just naps and waits for the next turn

all this makes sense to me LOL (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

[G.MILLER914-6]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif) I also have gone both routes... started with 74 914 2.0, traded up??? to 70 911e, after a year went back to 914's(several - like most of us, kept running across deals) now have 73 914-6 conv. (BEST of both worlds) we teeners seem to be a LOT more tolerant of all porsche models, while the 911 croud seem to put down anything but 911's. teener folks seem for the most part to be a little less financially able to fix up our cars as the 911 group. ill put my 914 up against a 911 on a twisty backroad anyday! 914's forever!!!!!!

[Aaron Cox]

i think a 914-6 2.4 would be my choice. take an mfi engine and make it work in a teener. then you still have a good handling car but one with 911 'get up and go'!

[redshift]

I think 2-1200cc Kawasaki engines would rock! Screw LSD!

I hope I have planted a seed that drives someone mad, thank you for your time.



M

[Jeroen]

I have a '87 Carrera 3.2 myself and I still really like it.

If you can drive fast in a 911, you can drive fast in anything.
Knowing you can keep control of (I've only spun it once in the 6+ years I own it, and that was on a track, rain, shot tires, and mainly because I underestimated the corner) is a real kick.

The rear end will step out more easily, but if you know the car, it has a very big margin by which you can still get it back in line...
In a 911 you won't get away by driving crappy lines. It will punish you mercilessly.
It just won't allow you to drive like an ass (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I have a lot of friends with (fast) 944s and if you see what those cars allow them to get away with... If I only think of lines like that, the 911 will spin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Still, the 914 is a much better handling car. It's margins go much further than the 911's, but I think that once you get there, the margin to correct the car is also a lot smaller in the 914 than in the 911

All in all, they're hard to compare. 2 completely different cars. I'd have a hard time choosing one over the other, so... get both (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

cheers,

Jeroen

[tryan]

i am guilty of owning both, but i want this.........


elebenthreeo with 935 heads, euro exhaust and beckman bros suspension.

[Joe Bob]

Doesn't putting a 200+ hp engine in a 914 change the driving handling characteristics? Right now in my stock 2L 914 I can enter pretty much any turn and slam the accelerator through the turn. You can't do that in a 911 and I'd bet you can't do it in a 914 with a 3L+ engine.

Some of you sound like you need to bash to the 911 just make yourselves feel better. I'm in the "get both" camp. I'd also love to own a 356 some day.

If I ever get a 911 it will probably be a 993 - the last of the air cooled 911s but with the newer style multilink rear suspension which helps greatly in keeping the rear wheels planted.

Nope...you can't that's why I sold the Rocket.....I miss it but that thing was a bit overpowered.