The Porsche 914 is an underrated classic | Driving.ca

[@Qspecialman]

Well I am delighted with my 1975 914. It does everything I want from a classic sports car.

[@adamchaifetz5876]

Me too!

[@Chrylgirl]

I had a 74 and my new husband a 75. Clutch cables, rear trunk hinge, valve guides in the 74. Two years ago I got an email from a guy who tracked me down since he found my maiden name in the manual. It had been restored at a place in Atlanta but they changed the color from Zambezi Green to silver. We passed on buying it back but it would have been fun! I still have the brochures and service records.

[@jinitom]

I loved my '72 with 1.7L. They had a high pressure fuel injection system with fuel lines that deteriorated and began leaking. Many were probably lost to fires. The shift pattern was easy for me to get used to. Mine had a transmission that growled loader and loader over time, and the heat shroud rusted away. I believe the gas tank held nearly 17 gallons and you could easily go 500+ miles on a tank. I remember advertisements about that long range 'feature'.

[@iankam5980]

I owned two of these in my late teens loved them one day would love to rebuild one to perfection!!

[@ronwilson8759]

it's a driver's dream car, with superb handling with unmatched directional stability. It is better handling than many late model sports cars.

[@sprezzatura8755]

It's more fun to drive a slow car fast... than a fast car slow 😊

[@seinsmeld13]

Way back in and around 1980 I was looking at a 914. I was talked out of buying the car by the dealer however I did get to drive the car. I now have a 2020 718 Spyder. I love my Porsche.

[@georgelevin6134]

On on my fifth and nicest 76 914 80,000 original miles. One owner always stored inside damn fun car!

[@racingoptics-uk6588]

Nice review sir. They are a great little car that remains underrated, maybe that's a good thing?

[@nostickpeople]

I had a 1970 Saturn yellow one in 1984. I'm 62 now and want it back! I paid 900.00 for It! A piece of junk but so so fun to drive! And my friends could stand up and go WEEEE WEEEE

[@ClaytonSeams]

Finally some 914 content!

[@matthewaaaron7421]

I used to go to porche, look at the microfische of the parts, then go to VW and pick the part from a corresponding microfische, saving 50%. Porche said it was a VW, VW said it was a porche. Had to do the fuel injection by myself, with friends. Sweet little car for German backroads AND Autobahn. 176km top speed.

[@davedarling4316]

The scary part: The 74 (and 73) has the updated side-shift transmission linkage. So you were driving the *better* one! A 72 or earlier would be even worse...

[@christopherdouglas8471]

I’ve always had a real affection for 914’s, ever since I was in high school. Believe it or not, 2 of my (German) friends had 914’s, even in high school. I never really adjusted to the dogleg first, or the early vague linkage, but they were so unique looking, and beautifully built.

[@adamchaifetz5876]

I am on my Third 914. Currently have a 1975 1.8L. They are just so fun to drive and if you find a nice one get it!

[@howardschaefer1445]

Had a 1973 one of these for 16 years. Such an easy car to work on and modify. Added front and rear sway bars and Bilstein shocks Thoroughly changed the handling getting rid of the lift throttle oversteer. The shifting was ok until I added a short throw shifter and then it was transformed. Took it to a VW engine shop and had extensive work done including 1.8 barrels and dual 40 idf Weber carbs with velocity stacks. Working on the engine was a challenge with the narrow access but you get used to it. And except for the engine modify I was able to do everything else. Can't do that today. Sadly it rusted away and had to go.

[@ronwilson8759]

That's why my 914 does not get driven in the rain or near the ocean.

[@teddnagurski5583]

Had one in high school and it was a blast. A nightmare to work on the engine and the roof creaked like an old barn, but I loved it.

[@Charon58]

I got to drive a new one for 6 weeks in 1975. Not only was it a fun drive, it was fine for everyday driving and got good fuel economy

[@letsride2057]

Down and left or aka dog leg shift pattern. The Porsche 917 had a dog leg trans as did most race cars. Have a 70 914, 73 914 a 912e and a 73 911. The sound of the 2.4 6 is special and that is a big plus for me, more than how fast or how much power...

[@Chanyan815]

nice color on 914

[@pw4780]

A 1974 914 did not have the black rubber bumpers - these came in 1976. It should have its original chrome ones. I had a ‘76 2.0l that always had problems staring when it had recently run. Roof creaked. Rusted in rear boot. But fun to drive!

[@FrankLolkema]

This one has steel bumpers, only painted black. The chrome ones were an option and you would get vinyl covered targa sides with it.

[@kennethjones4578]

So I had a 71 1.7. The handling is awesome. The fuel injection is rubbish. So the best model is definitely the 1.8 twin carb car.

[@cytherians]

The windshield wiper position always bothered me on the 914. At rest, right in front of the driver. I wonder if anyone ever came up with a "flip" job, where the wipers would rest on the passenger side.

[@wcisean]

Throw a 650hp classic v8 and 6 speed porsche transaxle,and 993 brakes on and see how fun it is!

[@dewder74]

Wow. A stock 1.8 with dual carbs. I guess the "experts", who say that such an engine was never a option for the 914 and was just a engine swap from a VW, were wrong.

[@josephmunch724]

@dewder74 Correct, the Euro 1.8 spec were carbed, the quick glance of the cover we got was the factory unit. Very cool looking…

[@stevekovacs6250]

If you are in fact driving a 1974 1.8 liter you are driving a side shift and not a tail shift car. By 1973 all 914's were side shifters. At least you correctly pronounced "Porsche". 😉

[@nathanjmahrt]

Maybe show the car more

[@med8tor1]

It’s not underrated. The problem with those cars is rust. If would have been good if Porsche continued to make it with galvanized body.

[@bng2679]

The example you are driving is not a $20k CAD car. 😅. Stop thinking it is.

[@billyrock8305]

Unreliable and super expensive parts. Poor mans Porsche. 😳 But it’s a Porsche so it’s automatically #1 and the coolest. 😎

[@ClaytonSeams]

What's expensive about VW parts?

[@billyrock8305]

@@ClaytonSeams The amount they cost 💲 😣

[@seanabe7375]

No more unreliable than any other 50+ year old car. The parts vary from super cheap to moderately expensive, depending on the part and vendor, and no more so that most classic cars.

[@sprezzatura8755]

The most user-friendly and practical daily driver classic Porsche you can buy.

[@adamchaifetz5876]

maintenance=reliability

[@jefffch]

And you picked the 914. You clearly know nothing about cars.

[@ClaytonSeams]

As you're someone who knows more about cars, which one would you have picked?

[@seanabe7375]

Have you actually put your ass in the seat of one and driven it? Hella fun. AND POP UP HEADLIGHTS!!

[@adamchaifetz5876]

And you own.....?

[@josephmunch724]

Kudos to Clayton for making an outside the box choice. With 600 cars to pick from, he went with one that is rather obscure, and deserves credit for doing so. These cars have been overlooked for decades, mostly by those who never drove one, and have no idea what they are about. Many current Porsche owners don’t even have a clue about these are, with the newest examples being almost 50 years old. I myself couldn’t get past the styling for the longest time, until I drove one. They’re simple, reliable, and comfortable, and can be tossed around like a go kart indeed. The mid engine configuration is brilliant, and the only thing that kept them from dominating their contemporary 911’s was the lack of equal power. Driving one with a 150 hp four is absolutely exhilarating. Excellent video.👍

[@gidgettrophy]

Love my 73.More fun to drive than my 87 Carrera.