914 shifters rock if you get it just the way it was on that sunny day when Hans wiped the first spilled fuel off of the PS fender..
I have owned some of both, the 911 has MORE quirks than a 914, the shifter as you said being an easy target.
914s have a REAL shift pattern, at least, not to mention a
911 is not the best handling car in the world, and the 914 can be.
Let me have an amen!
Oh, and BTW, 90% of people think my black car is a Fiat.
M