Do you think this butthead has ever driven a 914?

[Alfred1]

I did a search for "Porsche 914" on the autoweak web site and I found a Feb. 12, 2000 article by Dutch Mandel. He writes:

"Not even the Germans were exempt from building cars that might have spent better time as, well, iron ore: Porsche 914 and 924 come to mind, though they still have a serious following ....".

Do you think that he's just repeating what he's heard and read or do you think that he's actually driven a few 914s? I wonder what his favorite affordable sports car from that period is and if it won its class at Le mans.

[no substitute]

Cast ye not pearls before the swine. Even the 924 which really isn't a favorite of mine visually, was an outstanding racer.

[jhs914]

Well, if you need a little reaffirmation as to the 914's place in automotive history, at least in Porsche's history, check out the latest issue of Excellence.

They have an article where ten experts rank the ten best "drivers'" Porsches. Four of the experts ranked the 914 anywhere from #1 to #7. These included the 914-4 2.0, 914-6, and 914-6 GT. The 914-6 came in at #6 in the final standings, ahead of the 959/S, 996 Turbo, 911S 2.2/2.4 and the 996 Carrera 4S. The 914-4 tied with the Carrera 4S for 10th.

I suspect Mandel was trying to sell magazines, but even he admitted to the popularity of the 914. He may have been referring the propensity for 914's to quickly revert to iron ore!

[Alfred1]

Originally posted by jhs914
I suspect Mandel was trying to sell magazines, but even he admitted to the popularity of the 914. He may have been referring the propensity for 914's to quickly revert to iron ore!

The article started with the sentence "There are cars we love and cars we detest".

http://www.autoweek.com/search/search_display.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=columnists&content_code=07467098&Search_Type=STD&Search_ID=1884928&record=2

[Zeke]

"Dutch" Mandel is not anywhere near the writer his father Leon was. I consider Leon to be the father of Atuoweek before being Dutch's dad. And, I notice D has not had the column for sometime. Rich Ceppos is the editor now and I think he sees to better writing.

Anyway, I never liked D. He seems pompous and that article shows it. On TV, he's worse. His dad paid for his credetials the hard way. He got out there and covered the streets and the racing 'till his health prevented. Not so with D boy. I miss Leon.

Edit: Dutch is still the editor and assist publisher. He used to aternate with Leon weekly on the first column. He did have a column 2 or 3 issues ago, but he seems to be in a rotation of about 4 now with Farley, Thompson, McCluggage and one other on the 2nd column. What about the Brit bloke that died? He was weird but good. I digress.

[jhs914]

Alfred,

I just read the article and that was a pretty nasty slam, listing it with the likes of a Renault Dauphin and Triumph Stag.

Compare what was said about our car in the Excellence article and put that with what Milt said about Dutch in the previous post and I think that pretty much sums it up.

[Alfred1]

Yeah, when I see him on TV he comes across as being pompous and smug.