If not a 914 then what?

[JWest]

I am stealing a topic from the 911 board. I was curious if the response would look similar or different to the responses they get for 911 substitutes.

Let's assume that you are not allowed to have a 914 for some reason (or it never existed) what would you have instead?

[Bruce Allert]

I'd have the new Subaru WRX lowered 2", 17" wheels wearing 235/45's all around... or the Honda S
bruce

[Serge914]

When I was shopping for my 914. I was also looking for a Lotus Europa, a Fiat X19, or a 911. The 911 were too expensives for me at that time. Then I found PP and I have to admit that it biased my decision.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Reality--Honda CRX.

Wishful thinking--Lotus Europa. Ginetta 2-seater (forget the name). Any one of a dozen or more funky British two-seaters. Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider. (Drooooool!) Porsche GT-2.

I figured I'd throw the last one in there because there is some distant part of me that actually likes power, comfort, and thinks that weight isn't the absolute worst thing in a car... But notice how the rest are small, lightweight, fun-to-drive two seaters.

And most are British or Italian. I must be a masochist at heart!!

--DD

[JWest]

Europas sure are popular. I restored one for a friend who also had 914s and DDS bought one and two votes here for them. Not hard to see why!

British sports cars, yeah. I have a Jag E-type roadster.

[jabb]

I would have to go with the ScorpionIII

http://www.grinnallcars.com/scorpion.html

[Mockmaw]

Cars I looked at in my extensive research to find the perfect DYI, learn-on, reliable, small, etc. type of car: (Besides, needed to be inexpensive to both purchase and work on.)

Datsun Z-car or 510 (father used to race these.)
Toyota MR2 (Wayy too ricey for the likes of me. Still, one of the few affordable mid-engines produced in the last 30 years.)
65-68 Ford Mustang (Ehh.. just fell out of favor with them.)
Early-series RX-7 (Probably not a great car to learn on.)
Early Toyota Celica (Don't know why I didn't research them more.)

Although, looking at things now, if I were to have a different car than the teener.. I'd take a 924S in a heartbeat. (Well, I'd have to give a good hem-haw to a 928 before realizing I'd rather have the 24S.) If a non-P-car, I'd say a Z.

[Conrad W Peden]

Lotus Esprit either Turbo or V8

Maybe a 930 that doesnt leak

How about the last generation of Toyota Supra Turbo inline 6?

The list goes on......

[anthony]

My practical daily drivers are a '94 Jetta (full suspension mods and chip) and a '94 Toyota truck. The jetta has at most 2-3 years left of service for me. When I replace it, at the top of my list right now is a Passat GLX 4-motion. For $10K less the Passat with the 170hp 1.8T (or 200+ hp chipped) is a very attractive option.

As far as fun inexpensive classic cars go if the 914 wasn't available I'd be interested in older 911s, BMW 2002s, a mid 80s BMW 325is,

[URY914]

When I was deciding on what to buy for a car, it was 1979 and I was two years outta high school. I needed something cool, something I could modify, something reliable and semi-cheap. It came down to a '72-'75 BMW 2002 or a '73-75 914. I still have the same 914 and I am sure I made the right decision.

If my 914 was to roll off the trailer while I'm on my way to the next autocross, I would look for a '73 or earlier 911. But I would still come over to this board to visit with you guys.

[Rog914]

ERA GT40 is way out of my price range, but would be nice. Would like to see a Ginetta G4 close up (www.goginetta.com). British car, small company that builds them for street or track. Plus some other weird looking cars.

[bludden]

Well since I already have my "normal" car (well as normal as a New Beetle Turbo S is) I'd have to pick another aircooled, like a Karmann Ghia, an old notchback, or a Beetle (which would have to be in really great shape).

[rich]

What else? 550 spyder or the next generation 914, the Boxster.

[DrEBerg]

how bout this, my first love was actually an italian motorscooter the 1969 Vespa 90. The shift knob was on the right handle bar grip, twist up the first and down for higher gears.

[David McLaughlin]

I want a dream garage filled with dream cars. Ain't gonna happen in this life, but I can come close. I have realized that while I can't have the latest and greatest super cars, I can have their predicessors. www.hemmings.com

My NEW list of (realistic) cars to own:
Early 930
356A
70s Lotus Esprit
Ferrari 308 gt4
Triumph GT6 (I learned to drive on a TR6)
Lotus Super 7 (kit)
BMW 2002TII
Alfa Romeo GTV
early Alpha Romeo spyder
Audi Quartro Coupe (in rally trim)
Datson 240Z
Delorean
Lancia Scorpion (small Ferrari Boxer look-a-like)
MG BGT
Original mini

Plus more I can't think of now. The catch is that I want to own all at once! Hey, a guy can dream; right?

[unclerichy]

DeTomaso Pantera would be my first choice.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Eeek, I know someone with a Pantera. I hope to never stand next to a bigger automotive POS than that particular example. I has evidently run a total of about three months in the last 15 years. (My 914 is making about that much progress, but has a loooooong way to go before it gets that bad!!)

But I must say I'm ashamed of myself for forgetting the 550A Spyder!! I would give significant parts of my anatomy to own and drive (a real) one of those cars...

--DD

[David McLaughlin]

I recently worked with a gentleman who is a true Ford guy. He has a 55 t-bird that he's doing a frame off restoration, a Mustang Cobra, Mustang GT500, 88 T-bird turbo coupe and a '72 Pantera that he's own for some 25 years (at least that's when he did the restoration). When his company car was in an accident, hi needed to drive one of his own. The only car that started was the Pantera. That car is cool! I parked my 914 next ti it, and my car looked like a full 4" higher than this red beast. He says that he never had a problem. I assume like all other cars, the owners descide what condition their cars are kept in, some running, some not.

[Kevin Powers]

67 dasun roadster.SRL 311 w/ the solex setup. 150 hp(sae) a little over 2000 lbs. or a kelmark gt w/ a 455 mounted midengine.

kevin

[Will98D]

A lot of the choices here don't seem to have financial constraints, so I'll go that route, too: I'd like the 1966 Ferrari 275GTB that was parked in front of my house last Sunday. {My neighbor's '63 Corvette split-window coupe was coming back from a show in LA, and the Ferrari was behind it on the truck}. That car had to be one of the most pristine examples of a beautiful car that I've ever seen. And the sound of that V-12, even just off idle going back onto the carrier....