One ugly engine compartment.....the 914 Options

[1970 Neun vierzehn]

There's a whole lot that I like about the 914, as evidenced by my long term ownership of the car. I like the design concept and execution, the purity and restraint used in both exterior and interior design elements, the excellent space utilization, and of course the handling, steering response and brakes (all attributible in part to its low mass and weight distribution.

But the engine compartment (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif)

Open the the engine lid and you're greeted by......... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) an eyesore of hoses, cables, and wires that seem haphazardly connected in a maze that is not at all pleasing to the eye. The engine compartment is a rat's nest of vital, but visually disturbing vacuum lines and electrical connections that seem to be installed in almost random fashion, more as an afterthouught than as a carefully engineered design.

So what to do?

Has anyone seen a stock 914 engine area where the various and sundry ancillary lines have been gathered, arranged and neatly presented so as to ellicit "ohhs and ahhhs", rather than indifferent shrugs, or worse (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif)

Yeah, I know some among you disapprove, but I certainly think that the engine compartment could be presented much better.