This.

I drove a 1974 914 2.0 for over 20 years. It was my only car at the time so it had to do it all. I do consider my 85 911 an upgrade from the 914 but I still miss that old 914.

In my long tenure in the Porsche club I have seen some fantastic rare machines and I have seen the lowest of the lowly 924 models. One friend had a 924 that he even called the Roach. It was brown and slow but he loved it. A drunk driver crashed into it and destroyed it was parked in his driveway. He wrote a great article in the local PCA regional magazine about that car when it was totaled. I kept getting something in my eyes. That car was loved by his family.

I have seen many new members show up to meetings. I don't care if it is a fresh Ruf Yellowbird or a roached out 924. They are equal class humans.

Always funny when this question comes up. I've had a bunch of cars over the years, the majority of them with an air-cooled six behind the rear axle. Today I'm more 356 oriented, but I still love my old 911. For the "other Porsche" naysayers, I can offer the following observations.

928-simply an amazing car. If you ever need to go a great distance, in a very big hurry, and arrive in comfortable and rested, its your car. Possibly the most influential and innovative automotive design of our time. Engineering, styling, and production innovations pioneered on the 928 can be seen on almost every other car produced in the last 30 years. If I recall, Fuhrmann said it was his proudest accomplishment. He knew what he was about.

944-quick, smooth, and handle like they are on rails. Don't knock one until you drive one. A good example, not a worn out HS kids beater. Not spectacular, but just good in every way. Almost boringly good. Really hard to fault them

924-one of my favorite daily drivers was a 924. A friend of mine gave it to me. Yes, free! It barely ran. I replaced 2 burned valves and put in a VW rabbit mech. advance distributor. With a set of new tires I had maybe $500 in the car. After the repairs it ran like a swiss watch. Dead reliable. Very comfortable to drive. Handled beautifully. Not a fast car, but perfect for 80 mph commuting. Always got 30+mpg.

914-like a lot of guys, this was my first porsche (1978). Small, light, and simple. Top comes off. By the standards of the time, it was actually pretty fast. Fun, fun, fun. Maybe the most fun to drive of any Porsche (except a 356). whats not to like?

986-recently bought one for my teenage daughter to drive. Never been in one before. Really a nice little car. Just like a modern 914. I can see why they are so popular.

I don't see the drivers of any of these models as second class citizens in the Porsche world. The ones I do tend to look down on are the late model 99x things, with water radiators power everything, and special order trim insert panels that alone cost more than most of the cars I've owned. Bling, bling, and more bling in heavy cars, and you can't even see the engine. The hp numbers are impressive, but how often can regular guys put 400+ hp to the road? The handling is similarly impressive, but its blunt force handling through massive rubber and electronics, not the nimble knife-edged dance of those earlier simpler cars.

Guy who drives by my house on nice Sunday afternoons has a 914 2.0 with valves so out of adjustment you can hear them over the exhaust even when he's accelerating flat out. He has talked to some expert who told him it's good to keep them that loose. Hearing him drive by is like fingernails on a blackboard. I'd love to have a 914 to play with.

All Porsche pre the "waterpumper 911" are only going one way in value.

But believe it or not I've been snubbed by a guy in a 944. I was sitting at a red light in my SC and he pulled up next to me.
He just stared at me with a screwed up face. I really don't get why "we" do this to each other.

There are some great deals out there. Tons of nice, rust-free cars in the $4K to $6K range.

Geeze, my 968 barely get's a mention in this thread....we are just as lowly as a 924 and the VERY least, if not lower :D

I didn't buy a Porsche 944 to be seen, or to show off, or to make any kind of statement. I bought a 944 because it is an affordable DD that doesn't look like every other Prius shaped POS on the road. I had always had Datsun Z cars in the past, but got to the point where rust free cars didn't exist in NW Ohio, so I started looking at other hatchback sports cars and noticed that the 944s were generally better taken care of, and for the most part, rust free for a lot less money than the same shape Z car.

As a former 912 owner, and for all the present 912 owners, I'd like to thank you for NOT including the 912 in your list.

Aiee, the 912 must be down there with the sub-human, primate cars like the also not-mentioned 904.

914, 924, 944, 928 Owners - Are they still a lower class of humans?
 

Only to elitist aholes who think everything in life is about money or that they're somehow better than others because they've happened to luck into some.

Not directed at anyone here personally (but a few might have guilty consciences) but as a general rule I find those with the need to constantly validate themselves through the size of their wallets (or who define themselves or their values that way) tend to be the smallest and most dismissable sort of men. They're pathetic. I almost feel sorry for them. Almost.

definitely, especially the 914 guys, bunch of GD wierdos

^this

944 - being the economy + performance option in the Porsche lineup it was very tempting but ultimately still too much $$ for a kid to afford with PT jobs and school. They came off as a 924 on steroids.

924 - sure I would have killed for one of those too.

928 - I was not blown away with the overall look, hated the popup lights, but compared to most cars on the market at the time it was a stunningly well screwed together car. I was angry when Tom Cruise had such a hard time dropping Guido the killer pimp - stupid I know.

914 - a friend had very used one. I was not impressed with much of anything other than the removable top. If given the choice I would rather have a nicely setup bug.

911 - wow if only

930 - OMG

Not hate to anyone.

My unqualified "yes" was meant in jest.

This is a bit of a ridiculous notion.
I believe Motion was "poking the hornets nest" for entertainment purposes, no?

The way I see it, these cars bring younger people into the Porsche community, and, on balance, that can't be anything but good.

I can think of other communities that are really struggling to bring in younger enthusiasts.

That's what I thought as well. Some get it, some need it and some will never have it.

Yeah - but the problem for us non-911 owners is that we have all experienced the 911 snobbery at some point in the game. It is kinda hard to tell the difference between joking / poking the hornet's nest, and the snobs at times.

I sold my 944 earlier this year - sold it and my trailer because we are looking to move to another home. Our home sold in September, and we are presently looking for another home -- once we settle in, I will pursue upgrading my toy car with another Porsche.

Right now, my top choice is a Cayman S with PASM - 2009-ish. Why? I like the underdog aspect of that car on the track. I only do DE's, so there is no timing, no car classes - but when a well-set-up 911 passes me, it is expected. But when I would pass one in my lowly (944S2), out come the excuses! I suspect the same will happen if I track a Cayman S.

Although, a 996GT3 would be fun on the track as well.... :D

-Z-man.

I showed up to a meet in Houston around 2004 in my 1970 FACTORY 914-6. This is a pretty rare car. Did any one of the Gruebers understand that they are seeing a car that is more rare than a 911-S of the time period? Did they understand that the car will run rings around their cars? Nope.

"Oh. A 914. Why don't you get a real Porsche". I pointed out it was a 914-6 and they all thought it was a conversion.

I think this pretty much sums it up.

I own a basket case of a longhood right now that is becoming an eternal project but it is really cool in my book.

However, I cut my teeth wrenching on '87 944S and an '88 924S. The 44 was ridden hard and put away wet before I owned it but was fun and always reminded me of the last scene in 16 Candles.

The 924S was more fun, slightly lighter, better condition and I ended up liking the older style dash better. Yes, it was kinda homely. Okay, it was pretty ugly with those stupid reflectors on the sides but it was a blast to drive. It was also the first car I did the clutch on.

Maybe they don't have the prestige of a 911 but they all have their place IMHO. Not every car enthusiast has the means to own a 911 and the older water cooled cars, 928 aside, offer German/Porsche engineering on a budget. As for modern P-cars, I wouldn't turn down any of them. Even the sometimes polarizing Panamera.

To each there own.[/COLOR]

A cayman S will run like a raped ape. If you want underdog status get a non S. Or a 2.5L boxster.

I love my 944 S2 regardless of what anyone else thinks. It is the car that I essentially entirely rebuilt with my father and I have learned all about wrenching from. It handles like it is on rails and I look forward to doing some DE events at Limerock soon.



Just as an aside, the S2s came out in 1989 and were a 3.0L 16V 4 cyl with 951 brakes and suspension. Maybe you drove an S? I've driven both and I would say they are pretty different.