914 as a daily driver...realistic?

[boyracer]

I live in the outskirts of Philadelphia, PA and currently drive an '83 Prelude.

I was thinking about getting a 914 as my next daily driver.

I'm fine mechanically and know that some general maintenance will be requied with cars of these ages. (check out my listed homepage...yep build one from scratch every year)

I also want something that I don't necessarly have to worry about taking on trips and actually "using" as a daily driver (rain, sleet, snow, cold winter, hot summer, bad eastern seaboard weather)

I'm still trying to decide if this is a good idea...and am looking for and advice possible. (by the way I don't have lots of cash to be replacing things all the time as I am a student, but I can fix nearly anything)

I think the reliability is the main issue??

so perplexed

[Jake Raby]

With a correctly configured and assembled engine,reliability is NOT a problem. If it is hacked and done wrong, it will break constantly.

[BigD9146gt]

They are very reliable once you know you have everything that could go wrong under wraps. I remember getting into my first 914... 1.8 fuel injected. Once i realized that paying a mechanic to diagnose first generation L-Jet technology was becoming very costly, i went with carbs. The only downfalls i had with carbs were that I needed to make sure everything was tight once a month (the throttle linkage came loose on me several times going down the freeway). I'd find random bolts that wiggled their way loose, no matter how much blue lock tight i used...

I'd stay with jap cars till you can devote time and energy to these 30+ yr old cars. Not saying it can't be done, there are plenty of cheap bastards on this board that make it year after year with their 914, scrounging for parts. If you can find someone who has done the minor restoration to get the car running, new fuel pump, lines, injectors, valves, brain, wiring harness, 20K mile rebuild on motor, grab it! But getting into a car with not much history and has been siting in someones driveway awaiting attention... RED FLAG! STAY AWAY! untill that day you can get into it.

[Ctrout]

I've had my car in my posession for roughly 5 weeks. The first two were spent going through it getting it running, rebuilding brake system, replacing fuel lines, and other things to make the car road worthy. The past three weeks have been spent driving the car and working out minor bugs that crop up now and again. At first, they occured every day or two. Now, I have only a few major repairs planned but nothing that you wouldn't expect from a car with a few miles on it. I think I am at least aware of all of the cars current flaws and no new ones have exhibited themselves in over two weeks now. Currently, I need a clutch and a new exhaust. The interior and exterior are in need of a few minor repairs and the "hell hole needs attention. The whole car needs to be de-dented and repainted. I paid $988 for the car on Ebay (sight un-seen). The car is VERY solid, has excellent tires, runs quite well and has never left me stranded. Remember, this car was not running when I bought it and it had not been run since 1997 to the best of my knowledge. I think that if you spent a bit more for a car that has been driven somewhat regularly and has at least been moderately well cared for, you would have relatively few problems. If you buy a basket case and drive it like you stole it, you'll probably spend a lot of time and money keeping it on the road. I may have gotten lucky but for what it is, I am very pleased with my car's reliability so far.

[green71]

My car is really reliable. Like Jake said, that shouldn't be an issue if the engine (and electrical) is solid.

The area where I live can get pretty hot for a few weeks in the summer & pretty cold for a few weeks in the winter. I guess I'm kind of a taffy butt but the car gets a lot more use in milder weather. It's strictly a comfort issue. During spring & fall I'll use my rig to commute 3 - 4 times a week.

[green71]

Hey Ctrout - your >$1K ebay ride looks good!

[boyracer]

thanks guys I really appreciate the feed back...mabey I will look at this car that I found down the road. It's comming from an auto body guy that restores speedsters and he said that the body is completely solid and he just put out some cash to get the engine running very well. He was very busy that day so he didn't get into specifics, but since you all think I could get away with it daily...i'm going to give him a call for a further look.

my friends dad is a classic import car mechanic and he said that he'd give it a good once over if I brought it by.

thanx again for any suggestions

[genrex]

For what it's worth:

At last report, less than half of the 914 owners (on the 914club) had running 914s. Of the number with running 914s, less than half use them as daily drivers. It's worth noting that the overwhelming majority of those using them as daily drivers live in California. These raw numbers are very revealing.

This question has been asked at least twice before, and the answer remains the same. 914s are not reliable daily drivers. If you start out with refurbished electrical and mechanical systems, then the answer is perhaps "yes".. but until that time, you will need a backup car (or motorcycle).

I'm not dissing the car; this is simply a reflection of the fact that the electricals and mechanicals are old.

[anthony]

I've put 10K problem free miles on my 914. It's all original, well maintained car, with over 100K miles. Despite that I wouldn't want it for a daily driver. On 95+ degree days, with no A/C, a 914 is no longer a fun car to drive. Shifting a 914, on a hot day, moving 10mph in bumper to bumper traffic is torture.

Despite having a good running car, I can make a list of at least 10-15 things that need some attention. On a daily driver I don't want a To Do list.

And just having a brand new engine from Jake will still not make a 914 as reliable as a newer car. My engine is original but it's not what I would be worried about.

I used to have a 20 year old daily driver - a '77 BMW 320i. It was pretty reliable and only stranded me twice in 8 years but having to work on your car all weekend because it's your only car and you have to go to work Monday morning is a bummer. With the BMW I was doing something to the car at least one day every month. It kind of sucked and I like working on cars.

[lapuwali]

IMHO, if you're not mechanically inclined, no. Nothing that's 30 years old is a good daily driver in that case, unless you've had it fully restored by someone who knows what they're doing (and spent megabucks having that done). Once the car is in near new condition (or better than new, in the case of some restorations), it's perfectly reliable in all respects.

I'd disagree that any survey asking people whether or not they use it as a daily driver indicates much of anything about reliability. Most people owning any 30 year old car don't use it as a daily driver. Sports cars of the period are generally no quicker than current grocery getters, like it or not, and the grocery getter is quiet, as working A/C, and generally can go 20-30K miles before needing even basic attention. One doesn't generally own a 914 to commute in it.

As for most of the 914s not running, besides owning one because it's different, many own it because they want the project. But, such projects take a good bit of time to complete, and a good many owners have other projects competing for their time with it. The majority of 914s sold were abused at some point in their life, and the current owners are reversing a long process.

I should also point out that a good percentage of the 914s on the 914club list are track-only cars, which disqualifies them from daily use, anyway.

[scotty914]

it amazes me in nine posts nobody said get a ppi

and i drove mine for a year and 30 k with nothing ever stranded me but once i did not fix in 5 minutes. and the one time it was fixed 5 minutes after i got home. everybody with an l jet learn how to bypass the double relay, because it was my continuing head ache. now the car is sitting half way to completion on a suby engine swap ( has been for a year ).

so back to the question at hand yes it can be done as long as you take care of it and keep a haynes manual in the car, right next to the AAA card.

back to the ppi i can help out there, i just ask gas ( 30 bucks or less ) since i am 90 miles from philly in a gas sucking jap suv

[boyracer]

ppi?

sorry i'm sorta new here...ketchin' up on the lingo quick though.

thnx

[kevinseven]

My 1975 1.8 is a daily driver. It's my third in 20 years and when I own 'em...I drive 'em. But I'm not in commuter traffic everyday like some folks.

I did learn most of my lessons on my first one though. Replace the clutch cable every 24 months or so...or keep a spare one in the trunk. Keep an eye on that silly seat belt sensor/relay under the passenger seat. When it runs like crap...replace the points. You just get to know the quirks or do what a lot of the other owners have done and upgrade/improve on the weaker points of the car. Hydraulic clutches, electronic ignitions, and Chevy V8s.

If it makes you feel better, do what I used to do and turn your front trunk into a rolling tool box and spare parts container. Now that I'm older, married, a AAA card carrier and a cell phone owner, I find myself driving around with little more than a philips head in the glove box. Probably a foolish thing to do.

I feel though that I've tempted the Fates now. I'll bet tomorrow I'll be posting about how my transmission exploded on my way to a life and death business meeting. Doh!

[schosh]

I have had air cooled relics as my daily drivers for nearly 20 years. I have a shorter commute then most folks, <7 miles , with a fairly short winter.
The 76 914 I am driving now does take more frequent attention then the 66 ghia I drove for 10 years or the 73 westy I drove before that , but not so much as to deter me from driving it.
Having said all that I think I would not reccomend daily driving a 914 on more demanding commutes or colder climates, the piss poor heat will drive you crazy.
Also , developing relationships can be a challange. Many women like to ride in a teener once in a while, but the novelty soon wears off and you'll find yourself a passenger in their pastel colured 4 door all to often.

[Clay Perrine]

I have to call BULL**** on those who say that a 914 can't be used for a daily driver. We have a 74 1.8 that is driven every day. It has about 300,000 miles on it . It has working AC and it's a pleasure to be able to zip through traffic on my way to and from work.

BTW... this car also won the Porsche parade P3 Autocross in both Ladies and Mens classes...

[Scooter311]

Mornin'
I drive my '73 as much as I can - to work, for groceries, for coff-fffeeee, and just for the heck of it. I cut my grass last night, washed the dirtbike, and then jumped in the car all dirty and stinky and went for a cruise. I think as long as you spend some quality time shaking the bugs out of it, you're good to go with little worries. You'll need another machine for wintertime, and for the JUST IN CASE factor, no doubt about it. I'm in Rochester, which is what, a little less than 6 hours north from you, and you'll not be able to drag the poor little teener out in the snow that we get around here. My DD (Daily Driver, not Dave Darling) has always been a 4x4 of some flavor, it's now a Grand Cherokee Alfredo.
I bought mine for a daily commuter, and said to heck with trying to keep it perfect looking, but made certain it was mechanically sound before I got too far from the house. I still find myself checking for loose bolts, fasteners, dangling or loose wires, things rubbin' against things they shouldnt' be rubbin' against, LEAKS (yeah, there all still there) etc.
My winded and redundant point is that NO car is completely trouble free, it's the time you take in being thorough and attentive that'll ensure it's reliability. That's for anything, any year - car, truck, motorcycle, pogo stick, whatever.
This board is an endless resource as well - these folks are unquestionably the best people to keep you going, and the stuff you learn from going though old posts, tech pages etc is invaluable. PP is friendly, and the staff will go out of their way to help too.

Oh yeah, I only carry a multiple-bit screwdriver as well, and most of the tips fell off. And I STILL don't have a cell phone.....




Cheerio
Jeff

[castlesteve]

Mine has been a daily driver (non rain) for 12 years +. And I have the "unreliable) 1.8 liter.

[seventythree]

My 73-2.0 is driven daily, 168 miles round trip, at an average speed of 80 MPH (once on the freeway, it rarely drops below 90 MPH, revving right at 4000RPM). I am getting 28.5 MPG on 87 octane California regular grade gas.

Another 4000 miles, and it will have 400K total miles on it. When I first got it from its original owner, 3 years ago, it was not very reliable. I went over it the best I could and got it to be reliable enough to be daily driven for the most part. Then I took it to a POC time trial event at Streets of Willow and drove it back home with a burnt exhaust valve.

Then came the 9 month long, full mechanical restoration at the cost of $7000 for parts and machine work alone. I did everything myself, and now it's rock solid. Had I farmed out the labor for all rebuilds (motor, tranny, brakes, suspension, ignition, fuel injection, electrical, etc) I am certain it would have cost me another $7K.

I have put ~60K miles on the car since, and would rate its daily reliability as being very good. A little short of a brand new Honda accord, but better than many late model European cars.

Now, for the finale, I have been lusting after a MR2 Spyder with a 6 speed sequential transmission lately, and for space constraints I will part with the teener first. I have full records, a detailed buildsheet for the restoration, and countless digital photos documenting the whole process. Interested listers, please PM me for more detail. This is a seriously well sorted car for a serious buyer, no RUST, no other issues. By the same token, no tire kickers please.

[BigD9146gt]

I would like to include 12:30am, car died, winding mountain roads above Santa Cruz, raining, mud, plastic trash bag as a creeper (dont forget the trash bag, small and compact, multipul uses) 20 minutes to figure out its a loose wire connection on a duel relay, 100% would do it all over agian, in a heart beat!

The smiles per mile more than make up for all the BS these cars can dish out!

[norustscott]

I have put 44K on mine in a little over 3 years. Driving to work auto crossing and to p-car events...Same points, coil, plug wires, fuel pump...hmmm original come to think of it, and spark plugs( regapped twice) two sets of tires...auto crossing! Drove it today...sweating my butt off on the black vinyl! AC would be nice.

At least 12 oil changes and 6 or so valve adjustments... set the timing once and had to replace the FI triger points. gas mileage its terrible by today's standards and it is 10 times harder on the environment than an Excursion.

Daily driver... yes. But I have a back up....12 year old acura integra!!!!!