I have finally gotten my fairly recently aquired car running well
and am very pleasantly suprised how nice it is.

As background, had a 73 1.7, put 96mm pistons in it, webers, mild cam
SC koni struts with S brakes, then finally a 2.4 cis six in it when a lifter
collapsed in the middle of nevada in a snow storm and I had to drive it
many miles home. Neighbor told me it sounded like his briggs and stratton
when I pulled in. Drove it with the six for a couple years as daily driver before
passing it on to a friend.

Fast forward many years, same friend dies and I inherit HIS 914 with a big four.
(supposed to be 2.2, no idea)
Car had been up on stands and parked for a while, so I towed it home.
A few months later I have it sorted to the point it runs very well. A Mallory
and very carefull carb sync were final pieces.
What a great car!
I have had lots-o-cars, mostly "enthusiast" cars over the years, but except
for my 72 911, all the recent ones have had power steering and weigh at least 2500lbs.
My plan had been to convert it to a six, as I already have a sbc conversion in the
works, but now that the carbs have stayed synced for almost a week, I
am falling in love. Great chassis, and a near great motor for my uses.
Wonderful steering feel. (2.0 fuchs, 205s). So so different than my "handling
package" 01 miata I drive now. As I have gotten older I have chosen cars
looking for that magic "steering feel" and all along it may have been right
in front of my eyes.

Huh, go figure

patrick

Good story, sorry to hear about your buddy though.

just wondering....how did the 2.4six compare to the big 4??

How did that 914 handle the snow?? I just picked up a 914 and dont know if I should put a 350 V8 for HP or keep the car light with a big 4 or a 6.

I am in the same boat when it comes to "steering feel" all my BMW's dont even come close.

914s do not "turn in" like any car other than a 911. BMW has serious camber change built into the steering movement. The steering effort is more linear through the execution of the turn. The P-car feel takes a different approach. As the turn is executed, loading of the tie rods is not offset by camber, requiring increased steering effort.

Patrick: Can you try to give us some more info on the performance package on the Miata, then a bit more specific comments on the differences to the 914 --if you can catch it in words. If Hermann has any similar analysis vs. the beemers, I'd like to hear that, too (You know why men like BMWs? -Because they can spell it!) Scott's comments are interesting--thanks.

Hmm, I'll haveto think more about it, but off the top of my
head..
Miata has a much shorter wheelbase, about 6 inches. It is much twichier.
Definately a figertips car. Mine is the last verison of the first generation,
has bilstiens, 16 inch wheels and a strut bar from the factory. Turn in is
lightning quick, back end feels like it would come around, but hasn't,
less drop throttle oversteer than the earlier miatas I have driven. Might be
the bigger wheels/shorter sidewalls. Doesn't much change on high speed
stuff. On a LONG raised connector between two freeways, where at 85 I am
very aware of the back wanting to come around on my baja turbo with big
tires and swaybars, the Miata is dead steady. But I am not as confident I
know what the front is really doing.

The porsche has turbo rod ends, front bar, fresh bushings. Scott's description
sums it up. I had not considered the "why" but as he said, the steering loads
up nicely and is very confidence building. I don't race, haven't done an autox
in years. The last club racing I did was on mobikes. I live in the Sierra, on a
tiny winding road off a slightly bigger winding road that leads to miles and
miles of canyon roads. Fairly low speed stuff. My best description is telling
people about roaring along in the morning in my rx7 turbo, eating up the
road, only to look in the mirror and realize I am holding up the soccer mom
in her mini van. The older I get, the faster I was, I suppose.

I just can't FEEL what the front is doing as well in the miata vs the porche on
tight windy roads. I'd guess I could ultimately get somewhere quicker in the
miata, but the steering on the porsche is more rewarding somehow.

As to a 914-4 in the snow, with skinny tires mine was great as long as the snow
didn't get too deep.