Potential New 914 Owner, needs some assistance

BillySpaceman · 12-23-2002, 02:50 PM

Hi all,
My name is Billy. I have wanted to buy a 914 since a friend of mine had a beautiful orange one back in high school. In January or Febuary I will have a little extra cash so i am planning on FINALLY getting my wish.
I have been, over the last several months, doing research on everything from sourcing parts to the differences in the door beams in a 1973 914. I feel I am getting to know the car pretty well, but there is always much to learn.
Getting to my question, I need a little help. I was hoping that one of you might be able to refer me to a quality mechanic in the Riverside area who might take a look at a car I am interested in buying. I would like to say I know enough to simply look at the car myself, but I know I am not as familiar with the car as the mechanic might be. I am up here in the Thousand Oaks area, and I dont want to drag the mechanic 2 hours to the Riverside area.
Any help would be greatly appriciated.
Thanks in advance,
Billy

bowlsby · 12-23-2002, 07:11 PM

Billman,

The 914 guy closest to you that hangs out here, that I know of (forgive me, I am from San Jose) is Mike Zois in Santa Barbara.

Do a search for mikez under the members button above and send him a private email. He may know of the best place to send you for a PPI.

He also is always on the lookout for 914s...he knows the cars extremely well and will often know about a car FS before anyone else. Find him. As a seasoned 914 afficianado I would trust a PPI from him without question.

Good luck and welcome.

unclerichy · 12-23-2002, 07:12 PM

Look at a lot of them. This will give you the information you need. I own two and looked for months before I bought. Don't settle for the first thing you see or one that you have any concerns about.

Curvie Roadlover · 12-23-2002, 07:39 PM

Wise words from unclerichy. Many of us, I know, for our first car, bought the first passable one we came across, only to realise later that it costs MUCH more to get it "just right" than it would have cost to buy one already just right, if we'd just have been more patient. A wise man once said, "Never be in a hurry to buy (or sell) a Porsche".

Ron Meier · 12-23-2002, 07:56 PM

Glenn Sager ( a914luvr@earthlink.net ) lives in Riverside. He restores 914s. He can evaluate the rust or lack of it.

Precision Motion is in Riverside.

CarCraft in Riverside.

The latter two are shops that deal in VW or Porsche.

BillySpaceman · 12-24-2002, 08:45 AM

Thanks for all of the info guys. After all the research I have done the one thing I am definately going to do is take my time. I want this car, but I want it to last. Thanks again for welcoming another newbie to the fold!

campbellcj · 12-24-2002, 09:59 AM

Billy,

I'm not too far from you (Agoura) and would be glad to help check out any cars you find in this area. In Riverside, Glenn Sager or one of the other San Berdu locals would be your best bet.

Are you looking for a particular flavor of 914? Regular street driver, garage queen / weekend cruiser, autox, or race car? Stock or modified?

First thing you want to do is decide what you want to "do" with the car. Second thing -- don't buy a rustbucket! On these cars, body and paint work can be far more expensive and time-consuming than basic mechanical stuff. Even if you need an engine or trans, good used ones are easily found and swapped-in.

Third thing - Stick to the 74 and older cars, unless you are a masochist re. dealing with smog crap. Your hands will be tied on any power-related mods if you buy a 75-76 car (not to mention they have less power to begin with).

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Ge the best one you can afford.....the 75-76 ers are still needing to be smogged....plus they have thos UGLEE bumpers..

BillySpaceman · 12-26-2002, 11:26 AM

WOW....I might take you up on that Chris! Thanx for the tips.
I am planning on looking into either a 73 or 74 model. It will be a daily driver intially, but eventually it will become a weekend/fun type. I own a 2000 Jetta now, and my girl needs a car. My plan is to let her use the car, but ofcourse, we WILL be trading periodically (well...maybe more than periodically!!!!!). I am not a purist so I'm not looking to turn the clock back to 1973, but I dont want it to look like a high schooler's porsche either. Not sure if I want to drop the cash on a 6 cyl right now, so in the meantime I plan on leaving the engine stock, throwing a decent exhaust and just making sure it runs pretty. I am planning on getting the GT fenders and some wider tires/rims (ATK turbo wheels are my Holy Grail). I also wanted to throw a RS leather wraped wheel in and a new cd and speakers. Obviously, I hoping for a rust free car, but I know that would be a rarity with 914s.
My idea behind the comestic side of the car is the missing link between the 914 and the boxter. I might get some heat from purists, but that's the car I have seen in my head. Ever since I saw the car in the attachment.
Just thought I would let you guys know what I'm looking for in my dream car! Thanks again!

Andyrew · Andyrew's Garage

I really dont think there are anyone on this BB that is sickend when they see a 914 with slight modification.. But hey ive been wrong many times before. unless that modification is 13 in gold wheels with thin tires, and hydrolics, lol.

Welcome to the board..

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Nothing wrong with that car......looks like my old /6 except I had 16x7 and 8 Fuchs.....

norustscott · norustscott's Garage

OMG...is that a spoiler and a roll bar...hey, if you like the modification...what else counts...I personally draw the line somewhere between hood scoops and anything neon....

BillySpaceman · 12-27-2002, 12:02 PM

Ya, I noticed that too....not a fan of the spolier and rollbar. But the everything else is pretty nice IMO. I'm not quite looking for a race car (this car contains a 318.9HP Jerry Woods Built (6/02), 3.8L based on 1995 993...whooooooooooaaaaaaaa!) so I would skip the rollbar, seat belts, and spolier (eeewwwwwww...did someone say HONDA???). Strip those off the car and this is one nice 914.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Big diff.....on that car it is functional. On a Honda the roll bar is usually PVC plastic pipe and the spoiler rattles in the wind over 10mph.....

Andyrew · Andyrew's Garage

Personally I would just put some hoosers on and go cream some 911's on the track. Thats what it looks like its made for. LoL a hood scoop on a 914, thats funnny.

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

I'm with Andyrew on this one. Belt up, put on the fire suit and helmet, and get out on the track!! Wheeeeeee!!!!!

With a car like that, you need a roll bar... The spoiler don't do nothin' for me, but it's not that offensive.

--DD

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Just about every 914 out there has been modified in some form...

-Wayne