[LarryP]

It is sort of interesting that the thread meandered into the merits (vice?) of a 914 vs. the merits (vice?) of an SUV. That is really off-point folks, and using it as basis for saying that if you drive a dirty (which it plainly is, it is at best 1970s technology) 914 you have no footing to argue is disingenuous. The comparison is not a Suburban vs. a 914, it is not even an Explorer (the Suburban is just a straw man since it is so over-the-top) vs. a 914. The comparison is properly an Explorer vs. a Taurus wagon. And there is no comparison there. Aside from an extraordinarily miniscule portion of society, there is no place, need or defense for driving, owning or considering to drive an Explorer.

And that assessment is based on waste in production as well as fuel consumption. Not so much on pollution though, although it is (finally) starting to be recognized after so many years that the previously-considered "green" CO2 is anything but; and the SUV loses badly there too. If you want to fold 914s into a comparison, then we should be looking at Miatas (or MR2s and Minis, etc.) vs. 914s. There we likely lose on waste in production (since we have nearly all re-produced ours at home) and in pollutiopn as well. We do, however have the simple fact to roll into the equation that our 914s are a hobby, which is not likely of a new Miata.