I was playing around the inflation calculator and was having fun with what a 914 would cost today.
In 1970, a new $4,000 914 would be $24,015 today.
In 1976. a new $7,000 914 would be $28,657 today.
I know these are ballpark figures, I think the 70 914 was under $4K and the 76 was over $7K.
Plus our teeners back then had no air conditioning (dealer option), radio (dealer option), no power steering (not needed!), no GPS! I don't think cars are sold today without air?
For a new 914 to be sold today it would have to meet more standards today: emissions, air bags, crash tests, etc which would make the 914 cost even more plus change it appearance. Not to mention that the air cooled engine would have a hard time meeting Federal Air regulations without a loss of power. I guess that is why we have the Boxster now. At least the new 914's would not rust like ours!
I love my 914 and I am very fortunate that I was alive and financially able to purchase one new in 1973. It was a definitely simpler time.
Full Version: How would the 914 fare today?
Why VW doesn't come out with the BlueSport is beyond me
The Scion FR-S & Subaru BRZ (same car) are in the $23 -27k range and would be the Target
The Scion FR-S & Subaru BRZ (same car) are in the $23 -27k range and would be the Target
Unfortunately, absolutely not. How many people, even here, actually drive their teeners on a *really* hot day? Most people don't even drive them daily.
99.5% of the general population would ever pay that much without getting at least most of the creature comforts. You can get a brand new Nissan, or Hyundai for half of what you calculated, which has A/C, electric windows, locks and mirrors and maybe even navigation. Plus a warranty that insures they'll never even have to change their own oil.
You could probably get the modern equivalent, like a Boxster, used for a similar price and have even more comfort (heated/motorized seats, etc.) Even some of the most stripped-down cars like Lotuses still have most of the modern conveniences. If there were a modern-day 914, it wouldn't do nearly as well as it did back then. It surely wouldn't be sold as a mainstream option.
We're a unique bunch (some would say
) and I like it that way. 
99.5% of the general population would ever pay that much without getting at least most of the creature comforts. You can get a brand new Nissan, or Hyundai for half of what you calculated, which has A/C, electric windows, locks and mirrors and maybe even navigation. Plus a warranty that insures they'll never even have to change their own oil.
You could probably get the modern equivalent, like a Boxster, used for a similar price and have even more comfort (heated/motorized seats, etc.) Even some of the most stripped-down cars like Lotuses still have most of the modern conveniences. If there were a modern-day 914, it wouldn't do nearly as well as it did back then. It surely wouldn't be sold as a mainstream option.
We're a unique bunch (some would say
) and I like it that way.
[quote name='ThePaintedMan' date='Jul 1 2013, 04:23 PM' post='1888220']
Unfortunately, absolutely not. How many people, even here, actually drive their teeners on a *really* hot day? Most people don't even drive them daily.
99.5% of the general population would ever pay that much without getting at least most of the creature comforts. You can get a brand new Nissan, or Hyundai for half of what you calculated, which has A/C, electric windows, locks and mirrors and maybe even navigation. Plus a warranty that insures they'll never even have to change their own oil.
___________
I live in Vegas. It's 117 out and I drove my '73 1.7 all day. Just drank a lot of water. I have a Mazda that's fully equipped, but I love to drive the 914!
Click to view attachment
Unfortunately, absolutely not. How many people, even here, actually drive their teeners on a *really* hot day? Most people don't even drive them daily.
99.5% of the general population would ever pay that much without getting at least most of the creature comforts. You can get a brand new Nissan, or Hyundai for half of what you calculated, which has A/C, electric windows, locks and mirrors and maybe even navigation. Plus a warranty that insures they'll never even have to change their own oil.
___________
I live in Vegas. It's 117 out and I drove my '73 1.7 all day. Just drank a lot of water. I have a Mazda that's fully equipped, but I love to drive the 914!
Click to view attachment
A big part of the cost was and is the worker expense. With all of the automation in modern techniques, price can be driven down with mass production.
I see cars in India with the same features of our 914's and similar power going for sub 4000. So, I would think that a modern 914 could have a lot of modern features and still fall under the 25k price tag.
I see cars in India with the same features of our 914's and similar power going for sub 4000. So, I would think that a modern 914 could have a lot of modern features and still fall under the 25k price tag.
[quote name='73cool' date='Jul 1 2013, 05:08 PM' post='1888251']
[quote name='ThePaintedMan' date='Jul 1 2013, 04:23 PM' post='1888220']
___________
I live in Vegas. It's 117 out and I drove my '73 1.7 all day. Just drank a lot of water. I have a Mazda that's fully equipped, but I love to drive the 914!
Click to view attachment
[/quote]
That candy apple red is BEAUTIFUL!!!
[quote name='ThePaintedMan' date='Jul 1 2013, 04:23 PM' post='1888220']
___________
I live in Vegas. It's 117 out and I drove my '73 1.7 all day. Just drank a lot of water. I have a Mazda that's fully equipped, but I love to drive the 914!
Click to view attachment
[/quote]
That candy apple red is BEAUTIFUL!!!
I think the real question is:
If you could buy a new version of your current 914 for $30,000, would you? A car with no history or anything in the engine compartment you'd have any interest in working on. A car that has not spent the last 40 years miraculously finding it's way into your life.
Or would you rather buy a sweet used Boxster S for the same money and keep your current Teener?
I have to say a big part of the experience for me is listening to 'TheDark Side of the Moon' while I work on my car and wondering if the first owner did the same.
If you could buy a new version of your current 914 for $30,000, would you? A car with no history or anything in the engine compartment you'd have any interest in working on. A car that has not spent the last 40 years miraculously finding it's way into your life.
Or would you rather buy a sweet used Boxster S for the same money and keep your current Teener?
I have to say a big part of the experience for me is listening to 'TheDark Side of the Moon' while I work on my car and wondering if the first owner did the same.
You could always buy a chick car, hmmmm
Like a miata
Like a miata
Porsche kept the aircooled 6 alive and powerful well into the 90s. With VW/Porsche dollars behind aircooled four development, I don't think it would be hard to meet emissions standards and increase power.
A real AC system would also be an easy addition, when you have the funds to do the engineering. Especially with todays more efficient compressors.
The 914 could be made a viable commercial enterprise, except for one issue. It looks like a classic car and wouldn't appeal to the general masses.
But if you imagine that the 914 continued production, just like the 911, you can envision what the 914 of today would be like. Bigger, heavier, more powerful, but still maintaining the essence of the original.
A real AC system would also be an easy addition, when you have the funds to do the engineering. Especially with todays more efficient compressors.
The 914 could be made a viable commercial enterprise, except for one issue. It looks like a classic car and wouldn't appeal to the general masses.
But if you imagine that the 914 continued production, just like the 911, you can envision what the 914 of today would be like. Bigger, heavier, more powerful, but still maintaining the essence of the original.
QUOTE(r_towle @ Jul 1 2013, 08:25 PM) 
You could always buy a chick car, hmmmm
Like a miata
You're not gonna let that one go, are you? 
If the masses wanted a current day 914, the car companies would make them. They're not. We are a very small group of enthusiasts.
QUOTE(mepstein @ Jul 1 2013, 06:54 PM)
If the masses wanted a current day 914, the car companies would make them. They're not. We are a very small group of enthusiasts.
I have never seen another 914 in Vegas, and I've lived in this hellhole (pun intended) for 20 years. I would buy another on the spot.Click to view attachment Click to view attachment
I know that my Steel-Top resided in Vegas for a couple of years - I bet there are a few around
I know what your calculator is telling you, but 4000$ in 1970 was alot of change.
A new beetle was 1999$, a Fiat 850 spyder 2100, a triumph spitfire 2900. I purchased a new corolla in 1973 for 2600$ Very few cars had A/C. Very few homes had A/C or color TVs for that matter. The leap from a corolla to a 914 was, another corolla. You owned a 914 you were BMOC.
Hell, You could buy a house in Northern NJ for 25,000$ in them days.
A new beetle was 1999$, a Fiat 850 spyder 2100, a triumph spitfire 2900. I purchased a new corolla in 1973 for 2600$ Very few cars had A/C. Very few homes had A/C or color TVs for that matter. The leap from a corolla to a 914 was, another corolla. You owned a 914 you were BMOC.
Hell, You could buy a house in Northern NJ for 25,000$ in them days.
QUOTE(bulitt @ Jul 2 2013, 08:16 AM)
I know what your calculator is telling you, but 4000$ in 1970 was alot of change.
A new beetle was 1999$, a Fiat 850 spyder 2100, a triumph spitfire 2900. I purchased a new corolla in 1973 for 2600$ Very few cars had A/C. Very few homes had A/C or color TVs for that matter. The leap from a corolla to a 914 was, another corolla. You owned a 914 you were BMOC.
Hell, You could buy a house in Northern NJ for 25,000$ in them days.
My Parents bought a Volvo 144GL in 1974 for $3800
My Grandparents bought a House in Clearwater for $16,000
QUOTE(73cool @ Jul 1 2013, 10:49 PM)
QUOTE(mepstein @ Jul 1 2013, 06:54 PM)
If the masses wanted a current day 914, the car companies would make them. They're not. We are a very small group of enthusiasts.
I have never seen another 914 in Vegas, and I've lived in this hellhole (pun intended) for 20 years. I would buy another on the spot.
Click to view attachment
Your car is stunning. The minilites are a perfect match for it. This needs to be a COTM nominee.
QUOTE(McMark @ Jul 2 2013, 02:34 AM)
But if you imagine that the 914 continued production, just like the 911, you can envision what the 914 of today would be like. Bigger, heavier, more powerful, but still maintaining the essence of the original.
And in one way that car has been here for a while: the Boxter.
/Lars S
Check out the VW Buggy Up. Add a targa top and I'd buy one. I drive my 914 all summer here in OK. People think I'm nuts. They're right.
http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/07/01/...uggy-style-car/
http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/07/01/...uggy-style-car/
QUOTE(carr914 @ Jul 1 2013, 04:16 PM)
Why VW doesn't come out with the BlueSport is beyond me
The Scion FR-S & Subaru BRZ (same car) are in the $23 -27k range and would be the Target
You really think the bluesport is going to be mid 20's? I think it would be north of 30, and even possibly 40k... Their Eos model is 35k base... And thats just a run of the mill convertible, not a sports car.. If porsche came out with it, it would be 10k cheaper than the boxster...
QUOTE(McMark @ Jul 1 2013, 08:34 PM)
Porsche kept the aircooled 6 alive and powerful well into the 90s. With VW/Porsche dollars behind aircooled four development, I don't think it would be hard to meet emissions standards and increase power.
A real AC system would also be an easy addition, when you have the funds to do the engineering. Especially with todays more efficient compressors.
The 914 could be made a viable commercial enterprise, except for one issue. It looks like a classic car and wouldn't appeal to the general masses.
But if you imagine that the 914 continued production, just like the 911, you can envision what the 914 of today would be like. Bigger, heavier, more powerful, but still maintaining the essence of the original.
and we kind of have that - except its not air cooled, but its called a Boxster - 
just like you said- bigger, heavier, more powerful, but updates like litronic headlights, convertible rather than targa,(same changes the 911 made), but still a boxer motor, 6 cylinder, etc etc. they gave it a new name but it is basically what the 914 would have morphed into had it not discontinued production.QUOTE(flipb @ Jul 2 2013, 06:01 AM)
Your car is stunning. The minilites are a perfect match for it. This needs to be a COTM nominee.
Those are EMPI eight spokes, not minilites.
QUOTE(McMark @ Jul 1 2013, 08:34 PM)
But if you imagine that the 914 continued production, just like the 911, you can envision what the 914 of today would be like. Bigger, heavier, more powerful, but still maintaining the essence of the original.
They do make it. They just lost the targa and changed the name to the Cayman.
Just like it's predecessor, they need to make sure it gets a small enough engine so as not to wipe the floor with the 911.....
They Cayman IS the new 914.
I think it is an apples to oranges comparison. As pointed out by other posters, the laws are different now and there are significantly more requirements for cars to meet these days, both in the category of safety and emissions. More's the pity. There are some of us who are forever anchored to the Disco years.
For me the 914 was an improvement over my predilection for British sports cars. It was quite an improvement in that it was/is incredibly reliable, does not leak fluids at the rate of the Exxon Valdez and is easy and inexpensive to maintain compared to new cars. It has those features that I love about the Brit sports cars; seats two and two only and you can take the top off.
Coincidentally I used to love (and flat track) British bikes. I replaced my aging Triumph with a different brand but still maintained that retro 60's-70's styling. Some of us are destined to be Luddites forever.
I've had my 914 for 26 years now. Sure, I have to crank the windows, the sound system is crude, it only has "armstrong" air conditioning (
), the top is not "power operated," and there is no automatic key fob. I'm doing very nicely without that stuff.
Oh, one other thing to mention although slightly off topic. Remember that when it war released the 914 generated very mixed reactions. There were a lot of people who didn't like it and for many years PCA purists poo-pooed it. I think that the overall aesthetic has weathered the years well and even Porsche purists have come to accept it...welll, most of them anyway.
For me the 914 was an improvement over my predilection for British sports cars. It was quite an improvement in that it was/is incredibly reliable, does not leak fluids at the rate of the Exxon Valdez and is easy and inexpensive to maintain compared to new cars. It has those features that I love about the Brit sports cars; seats two and two only and you can take the top off.
Coincidentally I used to love (and flat track) British bikes. I replaced my aging Triumph with a different brand but still maintained that retro 60's-70's styling. Some of us are destined to be Luddites forever.
I've had my 914 for 26 years now. Sure, I have to crank the windows, the sound system is crude, it only has "armstrong" air conditioning (
), the top is not "power operated," and there is no automatic key fob. I'm doing very nicely without that stuff.Oh, one other thing to mention although slightly off topic. Remember that when it war released the 914 generated very mixed reactions. There were a lot of people who didn't like it and for many years PCA purists poo-pooed it. I think that the overall aesthetic has weathered the years well and even Porsche purists have come to accept it...welll, most of them anyway.
QUOTE(73cool @ Jul 1 2013, 06:49 PM)
QUOTE(mepstein @ Jul 1 2013, 06:54 PM)
If the masses wanted a current day 914, the car companies would make them. They're not. We are a very small group of enthusiasts.
I have never seen another 914 in Vegas, and I've lived in this hellhole (pun intended) for 20 years. I would buy another on the spot.Click to view attachment Click to view attachment
You need to meet John Peterson (Vegas Racer) or Toast - she works at Renagade... There are 914's in Vegas. But like anything that happens in Vegas...
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