| Author | Message | ||
     Scott_in_nh |
Anybody ever own a Porsche 914? I'm thinking about buying one for short dollars to use as an economy car alternative to my Jeep. My work commute is very short and I do put some miles on when I have my son, but am never that far away from home. The idea being that I can stretch out the life of the Cherokee for a few more years if I only use it when I need 4x4 or to tow. The 914's are antiques and should be cheap to register and insure. They also do not have to be built and they get half way decent mileage. How green is that? How do you like my logic? ![: ]](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/clipart/proud.gif) | ||
| Ezblast |
LOL - my first ticket was getting pulled over with a 914 hot behind me. We had been racing from Wrightwood to San Bernardino where school awaited. They are great cars, and the money I had put into that bug to do that was probably three times the cost of that Porsche. While the officer was calling us in, we compared notes and he started laughing in relief to know that it wasn't a regular Bug beating him, and I laughed because my Bug was no ordinary Bug. The 914 is a great car and ultra easy to work on, and you can slip in a 6 speed, a v6 or small v8 with some ingenuity and adapter parts - Kennedy adapter plate, etc...great cars,endless possibilities. EZ (Message edited by ezblast on November 25, 2010) | ||
| Acgwolfe |
cool cars, a friend of mine had one that ran but needed some work and said that i could have it because his wife told him it had to. Rather than sell it he wanted it to go to someone that would fix it up an appreciate it. Knowing my love for British/European cars he gave it to me, I said that I would be there in two weeks to get it, she sold it with out him or I knowing about it. We both were pissed but hoped it went to a good home. A few month later he saw it setting in the weeds at the persons house thatbought it. There not worth much but it is a Porsche. Anyway I thought I would share this, sometimes passion value is more than dollar value. | ||
| 86129squids |
Ummm, do it!! My dream car one day is a Karmann Ghia 'vert body dropped over a 911 chassis/hotted motor... You're a lot closer to that than me at this writing... | ||
| Delta_one |
I'm partial to the 944 myself a little newer, still a fun car, and good fuel economy. | ||
| Ezblast |
Squids - It would be cheaper, better and easier to just buy the necessary parts for the Ghia through the aftermarket, and let somebody Restore one of Porsches coolest cars. http://www.pauter.com/Ghia.htm  I'm pretty sure Pauter's Ghia will leave that Porsche 914 - no shot at the Porsche - just trying to let you know that the VW groups of aftermarket parts is definitely there for you. Just takes a little research. That Ghia is an extreme daily driver, but it is a daily driver. EZ | ||
| Ducbsa |
Years ago, I read about a 914 racer that designed his roll cage to stiffen the body. It did such a good job that he blew the motor because of no sump baffles to keep the oil pump fed during cornering. | ||
| Capital_g |
I had one; they are really fun and I would still have mine if it hadn't caught on fire and burned.  The issue with these cars is rust; the metal is not galvanized. There are literally people that will not drive them in the rain! It is possible for the cars to rust in the middle and basically break in half. If you can weld they make replacement parts so that any rusty stuff can be replaced but some repairs can get technical on expensive. Do your research and get a car with minimal rust and you'll be thankful. Do your research first - two great placed to start are 914world.com and pelicanparts.com . Post pics if you get one! | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
I've been doing a ton of research on those sites as well as 914club.com A long time ago, at different times, I owned a 65, 66, 67 and 68 beetles and a 69 Karmann Ghia. None of them were anything special, but I loved them anyway - especially the Ghia! Ghias rust just as bad as 914's and good ones go for about the same! Pristine 914's go for good money, nice drivers are nicely priced. The one I am looking at has exceptional curb appeal in the picture that was sent to me. It is in my price range because it is the least desirable year and motor. I will be looking in and poking every nook and cranny to make sure it is solid. While Ghias are a hoot to drive I am expecting even more fun with the 914 and it is a better and safer platform to start with if you are going to throw some HP at it. I knew I'd find some stories here! Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Scott | ||
| Capital_g |
Yes, the 914 is a hoot to drive. Kids on bikes will out accelerate them from a red light.... but on a twisty back road you can have too much fun! | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
Not that I don't enjoy real HP - it is intoxicating and thrilling, but when it comes to grin factor I think it is more fun to drive something slow fast than something fast slow. If I do get one I may do some autocross next summer for the 1st time in decades! | ||
| Levi |
That yellow Ghia looks just like the one I push-started away from my house this afternoon. He had a frozen starter. Forty bucks and an hour later he had it swapped out. It's an easy little car to own. | ||
| Ezblast |
Yeah, and to modify! EZ | ||
| Rex |
Love the VW's and the Ghia models. beautiful...Ez, is that yours? we will need to have a VW night at ASBN, ahahah | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
My first car was a 1975 VW Beetle. LOVED that car. So many great parts and builders available for VWs. I'd love to do a Volksrod kit on one:  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I'd want a Bernie Bergman in it: http://www.bergmannvw.net/  | ||
| Ezblast |
Naw - that is Pauters Ghia, and his motors would be the choice for power bullet proof, with a Rhino trans with the Berg 5 speed installed. I had a Candy Blue 69 chopped 3" Bug with cloth sunroof, frame cross-braced 4 times and parallel braced twice, 16 point roll cage - a really fun car, sold it when I entered the Navy. It was sporting 78 x 92 Okrasa kit, Rhino freeway flyer trans, DelOrto carbs, Stinger exhaust, etc. - a total of 5 years worth of work - always paid off in reliability and fun! EZ | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
I'd love a Volksrod (thanks for posting the pic) - just not practical enough or cheap enough this time around. Same thing goes for a serious motor. | ||
| Moxnix |
In Europe the 914 was labeled: VW Powered by Porsche. Nice little city/country driver, good mpg, well balanced. Bit of a dog, but who cares. Good choice. Ghia invented rust, others just perfected it. | ||
| Fahren |
356 Speedster replicar, anyone? I lust after cars like that. Always loved shapely convertibles over the angular ones - I love the Fiat Spider, the 356 Speedster, the Karmann Ghia. But I'd do a 914 in a heartbeat, too. | ||
| 86129squids |
Seems I remember there were 914/6's too, somewhat rarer... My first car was a 73 Super Beetle- my best buddy's car too, which had the coolest mod of a rusted out rear floorplan... great cars for winter hooliganism, just add a truck innertube and some rope.... Ahh, memories... |
