[Dave Bell]

Darn...you are out east... this advice probably applies to both coasts but more so out here on the left coast where there are more cars to choose from.

Apart from some of the great advice on the Pelican FAQ list.... (pay special attention to anything they say about where to look for rust), the best education you can get is going out and looking at lots of 914's, especially those for sale. It is very hard to tell from ads or even web photos' what the condition of a 914 is that is up for sale. After you have looked at 5 - 10 of the cars you see in ads, you will start to get a good idea of what you can get for your money and you will be able to better recognize a good deal when you see it. Sure it takes time, but so does any type of education.... there is no dollar value in being a dumb consumer of anything.... especially used cars.

My first car was a steal of sorts, it was advertised for $600 with no title from a VW dealer. I went and offered them $500 for it, put a new battery in it and drove it up to 5000 ft in the mountains. It needed some rust resto in the passenger cabin and still needs some minor body work... but was a deal for the price. A few visits to DMV and I had a clear title in my name.

When I went looking for a 2nd 914, I hunted around and spent a lot of time looking at junk and more junk... I finally found a 73, with some 911 suspension, brakes and 5-bolt wheel upgrades already done to it. Body very good and 1.7 engine running O.K. Picked it up for $2400 and was happy with the deal considering what I got.

I have also during my education phases, passed up some deals I wish I would have scooped up. I let go a "junker" 73, full of leaves and debris from sitting, that had a 2.0 engine in it and 4 spoke Fuch alloys... the guy wanted $300 if I would haul it away for him.... I don't like to think about that one... but that was part of my education... It would have been a fantastic parts car. I could have made the money back on selling the wheels and a few other items and then had a 2.0 engine.

Most recently I had someone that occasionaly posts to this list, give me a roller because they had to get rid of it. It was an education to take it apart... (I am big on picking up an education about things).

In lieu of the time consuming education, take someone with you who is already a 914 expert and willing to "waste" some time with you. Or alternatively have some one like Mike Zois, MikeZ on this list I believe, look for a car for you. Mike has probably spent as much time with tikering and buying/selling VW and Porsche type cars and parts as anyone on this list and can be an invaluable source of information and direction in finding a car. He has done this as a side business for a while. I picked his brain and he put up with my stinky little $ budget as he pointed me to cars he thought would fit my requirements. I believe that Pelican also has a service of finding cars for people. If I did not want to spend the time becoming an expert at this, I would go to one of the experts for help... Well I guess in my case I have tried to do both... Again there is no dollar savings in being stupid.

You are going to learn alot about 914's anyway when you have one. Why not start early and get as much expertise going before you buy a car.

My 2 cents.