and it starts....

midlifecrisis · 12-09-2002, 06:45 PM

the 40th birthday present shows up next week. 1973 2.0 with a new motor, trans, interior, and bare metal repaint. the wife (who doesn't have to work!) encourages the idea and supports the new toy. i don't have the car in the garage yet but i feel the obsession beginning already. how many nights in a row will i be sitting in or staring at the car while it is 20F outside? will the neighbors stare? will i care? i can hardly wait!

todd914 · 12-09-2002, 06:57 PM

40!!?? I was obsessed by the time I was 18!! What the hell took you so long??

Bruce Allert · 12-09-2002, 07:03 PM

Geeze! wish I was 40 again!!! although, if I were I wouldn't be able to afford a 914, unless I were 40 now! YA, I like that scenario, 40 NOW!
Welcome to the wonderous world of teeners...... enjoy
bruce

Loan Dog · Loan Dog's Garage

Countless nights, and some occational afternoons and mornings. Close the garage door - what the neighbors don't see won't drive 'em nuts. Be glad you're in Maryland, here in Wis. I sit in mine even when it's on jackstands when it's -20F and I'm almost 51!
It takes a special type of lunatic to own one of these puppies - ask anyone here! Welcome to the brotherhood fellow lunatic.

Don

campbellcj · 12-09-2002, 08:42 PM

Congrats and welcome...

I had a fairly significant...er, expensive...early mid-life crisis on my 30th birthday. I can only imagine what might happen when the big four-oh comes around, or worse yet, number five-oh.

Bleyseng · Bleyseng's Garage

Welcome!!! 40 is a good time to buy a toy and cheaper than a affair!
I turned 50 this year and took a month off work to go to South America to play! Now that was cheaper than another 914.....two is enough.
I hope when I get JP's age I don't do the crazy stuff he does!
OK, now its time to post some pics of the car (or when it arrives).
Don't worry, you won't have time to just sit in the car while its in the garage. You will be too busy installing the new Konis, the bigger front sway bar, and best of all - fixing the DPO's hidden fixes!
Geoff

Andyrew · Andyrew's Garage

heck my dad started, um, lets see 46 minus 2 cary the other month, hmmm mid 40's but thats with 944's, me haha.. boy, june 19'th was my purchase. boy 6 months and i was 15 then. man time fly's. Well good luck on your project, when can we get some pics?

korijo · 12-09-2002, 10:18 PM

I got my first bug at 16. Started restoring it, and totaled in the middle, while sitting on a milk crate. Second one at 21 (see my projects below).
I have always liked the 914, but thought they were $$$ because of being a Porsche. I also didnt even know they were made by VW until a few years ago (24).
Am I a "Late Bloomer" on account of ignorance?

Brad Roberts · 12-09-2002, 10:52 PM

Cool. A new 914 owner. Welcome to the wacky world of 914 ownership.

I bought my first one at age 15. I just turned 32 and have not gone a year since age 15 where I didnt own at least one 914. Between my wife and I, we own 4 now and have a total of 6 cars.

Age 40 and 50 scare me. What will I own then and how many will I have ??

I see Boxsters in my near future.

B

bernbomb914 · bernbomb914's Garage

Hell i am 70 and just bought my second 914 I must be in my 2nd childhood. Iam to stiff to get inand out of it but I love it. Just about finished the yellow beauty then am going to start on a conversion with the other as it is in rough shape and needs the help.

Brad Roberts · 12-10-2002, 01:33 AM

Your 70 ?? I had NO idea. You appear in your late 50's. Your the guy that stopped by SSI correct ??

B

J P Stein · 12-10-2002, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bleyseng
I hope when I get JP's age I don't do the crazy stuff he does!
Geoff

When?????
*IF* would be more appropraite. If you are LUCKY, you get to do crazy stuff, rather than just sit there drooling oatmeal all down the front of yourself. I wuz 54 before I ran my first autocross....talk about a repressed childhood.....I coulda' been a contender.

I did have some fun in the 60's, tho....near as I can remember.
My uncle recently reminded me of my West Seattle nickname......Stein09, he,he....I think there wuz a 62 Chebbie involved.

Jim Smolka · 12-10-2002, 02:18 AM

Welcome and congrats on your 914

40?!?!, you missed at least 22 years of 914 ownership

. First one I picked up when I was 19, now I am 39 and very broke, but I had bunch of fun with these cars.

Curvie Roadlover · 12-10-2002, 04:01 AM

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who sits in my car while it's on jack stands and the temp is in the 20's - just to be sitting in it! And JP, I once heard a saying: "If you remember the 60's, you weren't there".
Only 4 months to go and I can drive it again.

Loan Dog · Loan Dog's Garage

Curvie Roadover: Yes, I admit it, I do sit in it while it's on the stands. But I said when the temp is MINUS 20. Being from Mich., I know you can appreciate that! I should be putting the engine back in in a few weeks, then I can sit in it, on the stands, while it's running! Gotta' envy those West Coasters who can drive year round.
Don

ruddyboys · 12-10-2002, 05:14 AM

I'm not as strange as my wife says I am. Got home from work early yesterday, pushed the snow off, sat inside with the motor running for about 20min. Cant wait for the warm weather and take my teener of its jack stands.

DuckRyder · 12-10-2002, 05:33 AM

Welcome to the 914 world, I guess the 914 was Dad's midlife crisis, now I'm trying to bring it back to its former glory.

I think this must be mine:

Or was it this?

Loan Dog · Loan Dog's Garage

Nice toys! I like the ski boat, but that other thing looks like it's missing a couple wheels? Is it safe?

JmuRiz · JmuRiz's Garage

Loan Dog: It's about as safe as a 914 in the world of the SUV driven by soccer moms, haha

midlifecrisis: Hope you make it to some PCA Potomac events, it'd be great to see more 914s out there!!!

I'm getting a jump on my crisis...or else this means my crisis is going to break my bank bigtime. I'm mid 20's and have the 914, A4 and now a Suzuki Bandit 400

I need to slow down before I'm broke (money) or broke (bones). Eh, you only live once, money is for spending, chicks dig scars and bones heal...now if I can only scrounge enough $$$ for that 2563 big 4!

Nathan

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Bleyseng
...I turned 50 this year ...
I hope when I get JP's age I don't do the crazy stuff he does!

Geoff, by the time you get to JP's age they won't be making gasoline any more. We'll all have fusion-powered anti-grav aircars. Heck, JP remembers back to his high school days when he and some of his buddies invented dirt!!

Nathan, be careful on that Bandit. I can't find the page ATM, but a buddy of mine was the subject of a nice web page entitled "Brad Biffs the Bandit". He had a spiffy new Bandit, and on a group ride one day he proceded to drive it into a guard-rail. Now he's the Bionic Man, and can't walk through metal detectors without setting them off. He also scraped a hole in one of the covers down on the crankcase of the motor, which as you can imagine ain't too good for it either....

But at least he has a really cool helmet.

--DD