914 Square? Response to previous drag ?'s

[7391417]

I don't know what's wrong with all the people who interpret 914's as square, anyone looked at a Volvo lately now that's square. I personally am hard pressed to find a single flat, straight line anywhere on my 914 save for the trunk lines and the rockers. Besides when I have one of my friends drive my 914 past me down the street it looks and sounds like more of a race car than anything else I've seen on the street and its just an almost stock 73 1.7 accept for some minor apperance stuff. Anybody else care to share their thoughts on this?

[JP Noonan]

When I first saw my freinds 914 about 6 years ago I though it was a Fiat, then after getting closer I thought it was a TR-7. To be honest I never liked the 914's looks until I started to drive the car and work on them. Now it's kinda grown on me, I am starting to appreaciate the design concept. I also like the fact that it is SOOOOO different then all those &#$@)! eggs, eggs with spoilers, eggs with luggage racks, and Yuppie SUV's (don't start me on the idiot 16 year olds that go to the high school down the block from me, driving Daddy's 15 ton weeble wooble 60 mph with drum brakes, but I digress).

I like my 914, all three of them (even if only one works at any given point in time).

[Gordster]

It may be considered somewhat more "square" compared to the 911s of the same time period. However, it is considerably better designed in many respects, and is, in my opinion, one of the nicest automotive designs on the road, even today. Mine never fails to get gawked at. The main drawback of driving a 914 is that you do not get to see it going by.

Gord Luy

CDN914er

[Alex Ganum]

I have always wondered why so many people think the 914 is ugly. I think it looks great. In the January 1999 issue of Automobile there is a short article on the 914/6 and the author comments, "...striking if not universally admired styling." My 914 gets looks and compliments all the time. There aren't many in the Detroit area. It's not just fun to drive, it's a great looking car too.

[paulhagedorn]

Well,
I figured I would chime in on this one. I, too, like the looks of the 914. The first time I saw one when I was 14, I knew that I had to have one. I now one, and a very messed up parts car, but that is another story. I am waiting to get mine back from the paint shop. I just recently restored mine, from ground up. LONG LONG LONG. Oh well, it was worth it. The only thing that I think that looks somewhat like the 914 is the Honda Del Sol. I think it is a rip-off of the 914. Has anyone else noticed the similarities? Besides the fact that it is front-engined, it has a removeable hard top. The one thing that I would like on mine that the Honda has is the roll down rear window. It would be very useful. Anyways, sorry to ramble on, but it was fun.

Paul

[Alpine]

I really like the way the 914 looks from every angle except maybe the rear 3/4 view.

Alpine

[JP Noonan]

I thought the roll down/removable Lexan window was a cool idea until I tried it. I took the rear window out to fix a bad seal. It was winter in Miami so I left it out for awhile. GOOD GOD MAN IT WAS LOUD!!!! I still have ringing in my ears. Granted it was the worst of the worst combo, 1.7L, 50 series tires, no rain tray, no soundproofing, no back window, and to top things off...Anza 4 pipe exhaust. The rain tray helped alot, as did the sound pad, I guess a good muffler would help, but still a conversation above 3000 RPM was difficult. Some place (Renegade maybe) makes a convertable 914 that does away with the roolbar. I can't image they sell many.

I realize this is off the topic, but I thought before anyone else tries it.

[John Nguyen]

I first saw a 914 in a VW junkyard, it was behind a garage in its own parking space. The owner kept really good care of it, i got in and fell in love. Several years later i picked up a orange 73' 1.7L. Today, I have a yellow 73' 2.0L and still in love. I think several makers *copied* the 914 style, like the MR2, Fiero,
and del sol. But that's cool we have the orginal...
-john-

[ChrisG]

The 914 is a car which really has to grow on you.
Unlike some cars which come across as square (EG the Mark 1 Golf/Rabbit) or cars which hit you right between the eyes (TVR Cerbra) the 914 is so subtle it kind of passes you over.

My wife's first opinion of ours was - I don't like it.
Then after a week it was - I think I like it
Now, it is "I love my Porsche"

And hey - as mentioned above everyone else has cloned the 914 in one way or another. The 914 and Lotus Elan are both originals which everyone had to follow.

Nice car - Great lines - great driving.

[rich]

The first time my wife saw my black,flared, 914 she called it a pick-up car. She said, "all that car is good for is picking up chicks!!!" I think we go out together more now. I never had any misguided intentions when I bought the car,I just liked it.

[Rouser]

The 914's looks? Come on; you can easily carve a replica of one in the shower on a fresh bar of soap. The car is an acquired taste; some bother, others don't.

This is a true story: I was buzzing along on my way home in my red '73 2.0 when some kid in a Honmitstoyzuki Look-a-like XYZ was flashing his lights in my mirror and waving me over. We crawled up to a traffic light and he pulled alongside yelling, "Yo, what IS that anyway?" I told him and all kinds of praise got flung my way. Words like "massive-phat" and "evil-fresh" are stuff I hear my kids toss about, but the driver had to admit in Plain English if HE were driving one, he DEFINTELY wouldn't be passing himself on the road so often.

[macman]

When i turned 16 (last year) i just wanted the cheapest car i could find so, i bought a datsun 210(79) and drove it around for about 6 months, than i bought my dream car (since i was 5, my uncle races his) and now it is ubelieveable how many looks you get just driveing down the street! Perhaps it's the sprty look and the bright orange color but, i would argue that the 914 is not an accuired taste. No other car looks close to what it looks like and no other car handles quite like it, the 914 is the most different car on the road, and i have loved all 2 months that i have had it despite all the problems! Of corse the reason it has so many problems is because I got it in terrible shape for $250, running!