does a/c devalue a 914?

[todd914]

I just bought a pristine 914 with little to no rust ( they all have it somewhere or I would say no rust). It even had the original battery tray. To give you an idea of the condition,I bought the car from the original owner who has the original sales receipt and every single piece of papr telling what he's done to the car. Oil changes clutch etc. It a 2.0 apearance, sway bars. 75,000 original miles.Ok to my question: I live in San Antonio and it gets hotter than hell down here. Will installing a/c devalue the car? Both floorpans are absolutely perfect and I would hate to cut the hole out of the front to put in the condenser and devalue the car. Any help here guys?

[rdvnac]

Yes, generally it will devalue the car. Besides the trunk floor you are going to have to cut or bend the engine tin, and drill some holes too.

Personally, I wouldn't do it to a pristine car. And before the heat dwellers rise up to condem me, I used to live 10 miles north of Everglades City and survived just fine with no a/c.

In August I probably drank enough Gatorade to cause a bump in its stock price, but I survived just fine. ;-)

[rich]

If the car is as nice as you stated, even I wouldn't screw it up.

[todd914]

I'm actually thinking of selling it for that reason. I don't have another car at the moment and I'm afriad that I'll rag it out. Idrive it everyday.

[Zeke]

IF it's a '73, send it to CA. Big money. If '74, still big money if FI perfect. '75 or '76, put the air in it and hope the motor can pull it.

[todd914]

Send it to California how? Do you know someone? How much should I ask for it? It's an early 74. Stock 2.0 GA case with FI. factory sway bars, center console. The only thing not stock is SS heat exchangers. Interior is pristine as well. The original owner addeda tricoat white which cost him around 3,000 bucks but is really pretty. All seals good. Original battery tray.

[4WheelDrifter]

Todd, Got pics? I may pick up your 914-4 if it's really really nice instead of a nice 6. I'm in connecticut. Shipping would be in order but it's no biggie. I would probably fly down there to see the car before purchase. E-mail me pics/info about the car if you have them to jsmith00@optonline.net . That is if you want to still sell it. Thanks!!

[flying9142_2]

c'mon guys I am in Vegas...dont get much hotter than here in the summer...( well except for AZ and maybe death valley ).....pop the top and let the sun in !

I will take the heat over the liquid sunshine or the white fluffy stuff that used to fall from the sky in the winter when I lived in Pa .

[todd914]

I've been to Vegas. I loved it but Vegas heat is the complete opposite of Texas heat. Texas heat is 110 with 70% humidity to where the heat sticks to you. Vegas is dry as a bone. Not having a/c is hard to do in Texas.

[prattrc]

Hey, rdvnac,

I assume you mean the Everglades City in Collier County, right?

What a small internet, I'm originally from Naples!

Cheers,

[unclerichy]

Wow, what a delema. The one accessory you want on a pristine car that's getting harder and harder to find anyway. Undoubtably adding AC at this point will devalue your car. So your options are to sell it or live with it.

You should have no problem selling it, but if you sell I think you would be better off trying the either the east coast or right there in Texas. The selections are still relatively good here in So Cal. You can get an idea by checking recycler.com. The problem with this option is that you now have to find another one in like condition - might be tough.

IMHO I think you should live with it as it will be hard to find all the things you are looking for.

Good Luck!
Rich
'73 1.7 with original AC
'74 2.0 w/o AC

[rdvnac]

Hi Ray:

Yup, the one and only. I started visiting there in the 1970s, lived there in the 1980s. Collier County sure has changed since then--now it's just another area crammed with strip malls and fast food, IMHO. Still get down to Marco Island for a couple of weeks most winters, but it's a whole different thing. (Don't mean to offend anybody, just my perspective.)

I was so young and foolish then that I used to drive the Tamiami Trail through the heart of the Everglades to Miami. alone, at night, first in a rusty '76 914 2.0, then--here's a real step up in reliability--an old Fiat spyder. Duh. At certain times of the year I'd have to pull over and scoop up water from the roadside ditchs to try to clean the bugs off the windshield enough to see the road.

Not many 914 experts in Collier County then, so I did learn basic DIY stuff out of necessity. A/C was an exotic luxury to me then, just stayed hydrated and kept the top on during the worst heat and I was fine. Of course, I was 22 and dressed in flip flops and shorts all day, so in fairness to the a/c-in-a-914 brigade, I might feel a bit differently about it now. ;-)

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Remember that "de-valuing" only really matters if you sell the car, or (just possibly) if you have to make an insurance claim on it.

In general, if you can ask the question "do I want A/C", then the answer is "No." You will know for certain when you actually need the A/C.

Another option is to make the 914 a "decent weather" car, rather than an "every day" car or a "warm weather only" car.

IMHO: It's your car, do what makes you happy. I wouldn't put A/C on a 914, but I dislike the 914 A/C setups and I'm not a big fan of A/C anyway. And I live in an area where it is only actually necessary a few days per year. I would probably cringe if you installed it (especially the way the dealers did!!) but that shouldn't keep you from doing what you like with your own car.

--DD

[4WheelDrifter]

Dave, you aren't helping! Exnay (whatever that means)