1975 1.8 Pricing question/ HelP

dezel12345 · 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

Hello Iam new to the forumand was checking to see if my pal was getting a decent deal on this car or not....
this one is a 75 1.7 fuel injected...its at 140k but my
buddy says records show it was always tuned .valvea adjusted on time. oil always changed ..and
it runs very well and all work done at the same shop for the most part....we're on the east coast so not asmany here as the West.......only problem with car is sometimes when you come to slow down it
will stall or act like it .(any ideas....????).and thats not often..other than that
no smoke...a little drip of oil underneath (may be a seal)...but it
looks really good judging the pics ....had a 3500 paint and body work (triple black-original color)
10 yearsback that still shines..no rust on outer....rockers replaced....really no rust under aswell.....guy is asing 4800 ...its all
stock...has new seats, ,,,rubber
seals...recent .brakes..suspension..clutch...was just curious about that
engine never being cracked open and its on 140k.....Is he looking for a rebuild soon down the road....engine sounds good....but lots of people say 140k is abit much for the engine cared for or not and something will give soon..... ? My pal is wondering if that price is too much....orfair.... car has allrecords, documents,books,cover...lady did a great job of keeping all the records....she took care of almost everything but never went inside the engine besides push rods...How many miles can that 1.8 take w/o problems....
Thanks guys

auh · 07-20-2003, 09:21 PM

Hmmmm, I've never heard of a 914 that doesn't drip oil

Adam

skline · skline's Garage

Well, first off, if it has a 1.7 in it, then it is not the original engine. The 75 would have a 1.8 or a 2.0 liter in it. The 1.7 was stopped in 73. I would check the number on the engine to verify.

skline · skline's Garage

Now that I have read your whole post rather than just skim over it, It will be needing some engine work soon. Yes 140k is high for a VW motor. I dont really think it will last much longer without problems. They all do leak at one point, mine has a new engine and it leaks 1 or 2 drops a day. As for the stalling, it could be any number of things. Timing, vacume hose leak, AAR or a dozen other reason. I am thinking that 4800 is asking top dollar for it and on the east coast, I would question the rust on the longs and below the battery tray. Good luck.

dezel12345 · 07-21-2003, 03:09 AM

Vehicle does have a 1.8 (sorry) and runs strrong...looks good....no surface rust nor battery....the little rust ithad was taken care of 10 years ago with the 3500 paint job..... looked front ,rear,rockers, no rust...just a small spot in the hood area...floors are clean.... its just 140k, never any engine work and the price of 4800 , 4600 or so ...whats a fair price for onein this shape ?

jamcleod · jamcleod's Garage

is this the one in the washington post about a week ago?

you can do a compression test and/or a leakdown test to get a judge on the internals. if you can't do it, a shop can. a fellow at autosportsystems group in merrifield is the local pca 914 expert, you might take it to him.

can't help on the pricing. it depends on how emotional you get when you see the car. everyone will say "it's only a 1.8L", everyone wants a 2.0L.

there is an evaluation of pricing in excellence magazine by bruce anderson. many people think the prices are optimistic but it could be a start on what you would offer and maybe the seller is basing their asking price on the numbers in the magazine.

where in md/va/dc are you?

dezel12345 · 07-22-2003, 06:54 PM

Hello jamcleod , iam in Alexandria , VA about 30-45 min from you.. iam new to the east coast from CA (should have got my 914 there) ...I was not into 914's there nor in TX but should have been ...rust buckets here on the east coast...ive found one for 4600 ...has a little oil leak and due for valve adjustment....but 2 owner really well documented, no rest, stockand very nice looking....thanks for the tips/suggestions.... iam new to 914's ..iam a retired fiero guy looking for my 1st 914 .....slim pickings here...where do i find that magazine @ ?

Va914 · 07-22-2003, 07:57 PM

Just make sure you poke around in the right places. The 914's hide rust very well.

You may get a local 914 owner, or 2, from this list to come look at the car with you.

Let us know where the car is (DC, VA, or MD) . I travel to DC on buisness and could use an excuse to look at a 914

Cheers
Kerry

jamcleod · jamcleod's Garage

excellence can be found at tower records.

dezel12345 · 07-23-2003, 06:07 PM

Thanks a lot VA914.... that would be rather nice dude....I dont know much about 914's just starting....retiring from Fieros to a better life..lol...Actually ive always wanted a 914 but thought they were $$$$ to maintain back then,,,,but 7 years out of school , a job, now they dont seem so expensive .....at least maintainable.... The vehicle in question is in Rosslyn.....if anyone is nearby are have tips/things to look for I appreciate it....I did read the inspection from Pelicans page which was informative.....
thanks

dezel12345 · 07-23-2003, 06:16 PM

Thanks jamcleod , I called those guys in Merrifield today...they seem really knowledgeble on 914's ...they have 1 for sale a 73 with a 2.5 in it....says its in decent shape....orange wheels(yikes) ...looks good but needs a little cosmetics.....they are asking 7k which is a bit more than I wanted to spend...especially still needing a little....Ive seen some mint /gems going on the bay for 5k....you know..but they dont have that 2.5 either....Do you know of any others...? Thanks for theinfo ...I will look to those guys for service when I get mines if ever...lol...tough to find a good one here... Youre not that far..keep in touch dude !

jamcleod · jamcleod's Garage

well, $4500 for the 1.8L then a rebuild might put it in the range of $6.5-7k then you have the 2.5L worth $?, and it's a 73-74 with regular bumpers not a 75-76 with the impact bumpers, some prefer the non-impact bumpers. the orange wheels and rockers aren't bright orange, bit dark orange, don't look bad, just different.

jamcleod · jamcleod's Garage

oh, and another thing which i think is bad about the car w/ the 2.5L, it has a/c

dezel12345 · 07-24-2003, 02:54 PM

SOunding ignorant here due but why would the AC be a bad thing ....?
Takes from the HP ,engine life ? or aftermarket and hard to get to certainthings ? So yousaw it .....does it look good or does it need a little help....for 7k I dont want to do nothing but drive....lol....you know what I mean....that one for 4500 may goa year or 2 without rebuild...it sounds good, no smoke or knocks, backfire....its just the 140k that has me nervous...its not a toyota engine....lol

dezel12345 · 07-24-2003, 02:57 PM

Did the 73's have the chrome bumpers ? Is this what this one has ?

mike mueller · 07-24-2003, 03:50 PM

a/c is not bad as long as it was installed correctly and taken care of.....most of the dealer installs had been hack jobs in one manner or another.

jamcleod · jamcleod's Garage

dealer installed a/c is a hack job like mentioned above. big hole in the front trunk floor for condensor (?). cut up engine tray for compressor. holes cut in body for routing a/c lines.

the 2.5L looks excellent. definately drive, no worries. + it has that big 2.5L engine. what you would be planning for if you got the 1.8L. 1.8L is 76 HP. stock 2.0L is 33% more at 95 HP.

the 2.5L also has a console. (a/c console!)

the shop parks it out by the street: prosperity drive, if you want to swing by during the day. prosperity dr between rt 50 and rt 29

don't remember chrome bumpers, think they were black. could it be a repainted bumblebee?

jamcleod · jamcleod's Garage

drove by it today. chrome bumpers. the front one has a large dent but it would be covered by the license plate.

dezel12345 · 07-25-2003, 12:09 PM

Hey thanks Jamie....I might drive out that way tomorrow and check it out....dont know how firm they are onprice or if that engine they put inthere comes with a warranty or not....its worth a look however ...my friend finally got a 914 ...iam about to post a ? for him about the car..he bought it knowing that it stall once in a while when youcome to a stop..he's trying to figure out what to look at first....I suppose theorder of troubleshooting such a problem

jamcleod · jamcleod's Garage

i don't mean to speak for them but i doubt a warranty comes with the engine. they are primarily a body and not a mechanical shop. there are 2 excellent mechanical shops located about 10 yards and 1000 yards from the place. they usually put all their cars inside the shop on weekends so if you want to see it, call or go by during business hours. i'd be glad go to the shop with you and to chat about 914s. it's like that bumpersticker: "let me tell you about my grandchildren..."

74 1.8L L-jet under "refinement"