1974 Porsche 914 from North America - Comments

Needed some cleaning up and a little tuning when bought - not expensive, just a little time investment.

Broken alternator belt ~$100 in labor + $10 part.

Brake master cylinder failure. The replacement part ran about $180 and the labor was between $100 and $150.

Needed full tune-up. Approximately $300 in parts/labor for a complete, thorough job.

Oil cooler failure causing hot running (although not bad) and oil leaking. The new cooler ran $165 (a very good price when compared to other air-cooled Porsches). The labor was rather expensive, bringing the total repair bill to between $500 and $600.

The Porsche 914 is a very good entry level sports car. While it is somewhat underpowered, it's mid-engined layout allows for incredible road-handling. It can be a somewhat expensive car to repair when not properly maintained, and I would not recommend it to anyone who wants an economy ride that won't need any real maintenence or repair. If you are willing to spend a little money, I've found that the cost is worth the reward if you are a true sports car lover.

Personally, I have loved the car. There's nothing better than driving down a windy country road with the wind in your face (yes, all 914's have removable targa tops). While the cost of repairs has been a little steep, the car is now in far superior shape to when I bought it, and for the first time since I have owned it, it is trip-worthy and has no necessary repairs on the horizon.

Once the car is in generally good condition, it doesn't have to be an expensive car. If they are well cared for, 914's will run for a long time without major cost -- the key is to make the smaller investments necessary to avoid the great expenses that can arise. Additionally, the car's fuel efficiency is very good (~20mpg/town ~30mpg/highway), and insurance isn't bad either.

One very strong recommendation is to find the best Porsche shop that you can -- this is very important. Ask shops if they are experienced with 914's -- just because they service 911's doesn't mean that they see a lot of 914's. The 914 is a very difficult car to service, and in the hands of someone who doesn't have a VERY good idea what they are doing, problems can arise.

The 914 is not a sports car, It is a grand touring car. the difference is in the engine placement and emissions. GT cars are all about driving simply and enjoying it.

The Sports Car Club of America sure seemed to think the 914 was a sports car. So did the Automobile Club de L'Ouest (A.C.O), the sanctioning body of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where a 914 placed 1st in it's class and 6th overall. By then, even Porsche thought it was a sports car. :)

Wrenching a 914 is much easier that many of the British cars I've worked on, including MG's, Triumphs, and Jensen-Healeys. Reaching things through the diminutive engine lid can be uncomfortable, yes, but gets easier once you know your way around. Also, much access can be had from the bottom as well. Engine removal and rebuilding is a relatively easy affair compared to most sports cars.

Although I owned a 912E, which had the same 2L.as 914 w/L-jetronic of the 1.8L 914,I got about 40 mpg hwy.. The engine was so simple and cheap to work on, it was a pleasure. Even now after market barrels/pistons are cheap. The disadvantage is body pans, if available are as expensive as the 911 model. some say avoid '72 and earlier cars due to shift mechanism.I'm currently in the market, and there are 2 cars in my area, so maybe join in the fun w/o the hassle of waterpumps and radiators, be careful of heat exchanger leaks. But even stainless HE are not too expensive.

The person who wrote the first comment, couldn't be more wrong. The 914 like All Porsches (with the exception of the Cayenne) is a Sports`Car plain and simple.

(I absolutely love them by the way, and wished I had bought one back in the '70's.)

Someday I'll own a vintage 914!

I have a 1974 2.0/4 and I love it. For me, I use mine like a GT car (for weekend, curvy road fun), although I've raced it in autocross a few times. For sports use, I use my 1980 VW Scirocco (for autocross). I like the idea of the "grand tourer" though--that's a point to ponder.

I have owned 5 914s over the course of the last 22 years- not counting the one we raced in SCCA and PCA events. I've been without one for maybe two years over that time. The guy who claims they're not sports cars probably also thinks Stonehenge in just a pile of rocks. Underpowered? Sure. But the 2 liter is fast enough to be one of the most pleasing and fun autos ever to be driven if you're willing to forego creature comfort (don't get caught in one on a rainy summer day unless you like to perspire). Who cares? Take off the top and stuff it into a turn and see if that bothers you. They're bargains given what cars cost and you can still score critical bits. Even the rust-prone sheet is available repro through a place called Restoration Design. Buy one. I have two '74 2.0s. I love 'em. You will too.

So I absolutely fell in love with one when I first saw it. Considering my boyfriend has a 1976 Datsun 280z, I'm beginning to see the love put into older cars. I'm buying a 1973 914 with high hopes of keeping it in great condition and restoration to the fullest. I hope my experience will be as great as everyone else's.. this is going to be my first car. I'm a female just about to turn 16,, and i'm soooooo in love with cars... . This is going to be a dream...

I have owned five 914 Porsches throughout my life "so far". I have loved every one of them due to their very sporty ride and mid-engined uniqueness, which makes the road handling especially around turns feel like a "top". There is absolutely no rear engined sway as with the 911 series. The 2.0L models have enough speed at 115 mph (top stock speed) to make you feel like one is on the autobahn and yet "stuck" like road glue to the asphalt without any "lift". Now I am currently restoring a stock 1974 2.0L, having retrofitted this little "pocket rocket" with track racing equipment retaining the stock look of the car. I am especially enjoying the "journey" bringing this 914 back to life yet again. Peter - Washington, State U.S.A.

Not all Porkers are sports cars. The 914 certainly is (one of the best handling Porsches ever), as are most 911s, 912s, 944s, 968s, Boxsters and even the 924. The Cayenne certainly isn't (what is the point of a high power VW Tuareg?) and neither is the 928, which is almost the pure definition of a GT (Gran Turismo, Grand Touring) and is still a great car. All (apart from the Cayenne) are fantstic in their own way. I have owned a 944, 911 and driven many others and it has been a priviledge.