Which 914?

I'd like to get some feedback on the 914. I've done some research and it looks like a 73+ models with the improved transmission are preferred. Is there much of a difference among the 1.7, 1.8, 2.0 engines in terms of gas mileage, durability & performance? There's a really nice 74 914 2.0 I'll be looking at locally. I won't be going to the track or shows and I usually drive in the slow lane so whiplash speed is not at the top of the list. I just want a nice, fun, economical daily driver. I've been far too practical for far too long so now it's time to enjoy my mid-life crisis as I attempt to relive my childhood.

Reply to
solarsell
Loading thread data ...

I've owned several 914's, including a '71 & '74 914-4; and 2 '70, 914-6's. A '74 2.0 is a good choice, but remember, that '74 car is now 32 years old. Depending upon how many miles are on it, and what kind of maintenance it's received, there are still questions about whether it's going to make a reliable "everyday driver". A good "garage queen" or weekend toy...sure.

A good everyday driver would be a 2000-2003 Boxster or Boxster-S. Sure, they're going to cost more $$...but you can find some very good buys out there with surprisingly low mileage. They're fun to drive, and have creature comforts that 914's could only dream of.

No matter what...have a knowledgeable Porsche shop inspect any used car prior to purchase, unless you happen upon a Porsche Certified used Boxster from a dealer. They have 2 year, 100,000 mi warranties.

Good hunting!

Reply to
Guru

The 914 is the worst car, including the SUV, that Porsche ever built.

Reply to
Bliss

Because?

Reply to
solarsell

Reply to
robrjt

So I shouldn't buy a Lexus because Toyota builds them?

Reply to
solarsell

No, you shouldn't buy a Lexus because you aren't status driven. Or because if you want a sports car, you would buy a sports car, not the poseurs Lexus presents. On the less satirical side of this discussion. Any older porsche absent "quality" mainternance is going to become an expensive proposition. Parts are expensive! If you don't do your own work, Labor is expensive. Why are you sold on a 914? Versus a 944 or maybe early

911? You will probably find a direct corollation between initial cost, and long term maintenance costs. Meaning the less you pay up front, the more it will tend to cost you in the long run. Of course there are exceptions. Most of us look for those at least weekly. But it is a good rule of thumb. I concur that irregardless of your choice a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified shop is the single best investment you can make in a car you aren't intimately familiar with. don
Reply to
windz1

I'm not. Neither am I power, speed or gadgets driven. I like the minimalist approach. I like going slow so I can enjoy the ride and (hopefully) some nice scenery. The 914 seems like a fun car that's cheap ($3-5k), economical and with 2 trunks almost practical. If I can do a lot of my own maintenance so much the better. I assume that's the case with a 914 since it has an air cooled engine and it's 35 y/o technology. (On my Saab 9000 all I can do is change the spark plugs and oil.) Also it's a good candidate for electric conversion

formatting link
An option that might come in handy down the road when oil's $150./bbl.

The car I'm looking at is low rust, relatively low miles, good appearance. I do intend to take it to a mechanic to check the major components before buying. Thanks.

Reply to
solarsell

A 914 is a fun car when it's working. I've still got a one-owner I bought back in 1974. I took it off the road for restoration with about

190,000 on it. It was still drivable, but I figured I'd want to fix it up.

A 914 is a specialty car these days, I would think. There aren't many of them around, and mechanics who have ever seen one are few and far between. Also some of the parts are getting hard to find, too.

Check *very* carefully for rust in the engine compartment, under the battery area. If there is any, try to find someone who knows about the

914 to evaluate that for you.

If the doors sag, and are hard to close, the chassis is probably rusted behind the rocker panels, which is big $$.

Brakes can be a problem. The rear calipers have problems with the parking brake mechanism sticking. There are no new ones available, but there are some rebuilds. Not sure about the quality of those.

Pay some attention to, better yet, replace *all* the fuel hoses all the way back to the tank. With the age on the car, leaks are likely, and with 35psi on the lines a minor leak can become a big deal in a hurry.

If the transmission doesn't shift well, or grinds going into gear, get the synchros replaced before you do damage to the gears themselves. It isn't cheap, but pales in comparison to replacing gears in the trans.

The engines are divided into 3 classes: 6-cylinders, identifiable by the 15-20K price tag on the car, 2.0 liter 4-cyl, and 1.7/1.8 4-cyl.

The 2.0 is regarded as most desirable, it having stronger Porsche- engineered components (rods, crank, etc) in it. It's more expensive because of that.

The 1.7/1.8 are almost VW engines, there are perhaps some differences in the minutiae. The 1.8 started in 1974, and the fuel injection system on that car is unique to that year, shared only with the 1974 912E. Since there aren't many of them, some parts are harder to get. The wiring harness, for example, has been produced aftermarket for the 1.7 & 2.0, but not for the 1.8. How do I know this? Note the year of my car, above... :(

If you Google around a bit, you'll find some of these people, who can supply parts & such:

Automobile Atlanta German Parts and Restoration Pelican Parts Stoddard (a official Porsche dealer)

Good luck if you go for it - they can be fun cars.

Henry Bibb

Reply to
Henry Q. Bibb

If you are looking for a fun inexpensive car, I would also suggest looking at a 924, years 1979-1982, with the 2.0L engine. They are fun cars and relatively easy to work on. They were originally designed for VW to build although they didn't, so parts are easy to come by. At 110HP for the US version and 125HP for the Euro version, it puts out slightly more than most

914s and handles really well. For more horsepower, look for 924 Turbo, 170HP, same years. Its got the looks without the price tag. A decent 924 can be had for $1,300 like the one I purchased and a good one can definitely be had for under $5k.

I am used to working on old VWs, bugs and ghias, so this was a natural choice when looking at something reliable & inexpensive from Porsche. Some might argue that the 924 is not a Porsche. I don't care what they think because I don't have to pay a mechanic to fix mine. Also, my parts are not prohibitively expensive and readily available. Some might say they are not reliable because of fuel system issues, but this not true. Any 25+ year old car can have these issues. These cars utilize a high pressure fuel injection system subject to blockage from a corroded or slug clogged fuel tank. I am rebuilding the fuel tank in mine utilizing a rust reactor and then a sealer from POR. I have ordered new fuel pumps and at $200 for both it was a deal compared to the $400 retail price for both typically advertised.

Like some of the others have mentioned, 914s are becoming rare and in my opinion overpriced for what they have to offer. The 1.7 & 2.0L engines are a "type 4" VW engine. The 2.0L T4 engine basically puts 90-100HP into a much lighter car so the handling is more like a go-cart.

H> >

maintenance

Reply to
Funkie

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.