Heresy

[wildtexas]

Now this is probably a very hypothetical conversation as I have never managed to get past a "what if" thought process on this one but...

Every now and again I get to pondering on selling the 912 in order to test out other classics. Mrs WildTexas is very accommodating of my old car habits, but one at a time is a rule that tends to keep the harmony so bearing that in mind, what alternatives are not going to be a let down after life with a Porsche?

It would be late 60s or younger as I like some modernity in the driving experience. I had far too much fun than a new driver should have in my sister's MX-5 in the early 90s. I have soft spot for the aesthetics of Alfa's, Lotus, hairy chested British roadsters, and svelte 50s sports racers, but am not too keen on non existant brakes and shitty build quality. 4 seats or at least 2+2 would be good as my boys are starting to take an interest in trips out.

I should also add that I have a long held desire to build something from the ground up, in a kit car sense.

Budget would be commensurate with the proceeds from a very honest, original UK rhd, 58000 mile 912 in good driver quality survivor status.

So where does that leave me?

Answers on a forum sized response to ddk-online. Or burning at the stake if that is appropriate these days.

Matt

[914-6]

have you considered the 914?

[Lightweight_911]

... 4 seats or at least 2+2 would be good as my boys are starting to take an interest in trips out

Matt

[impmad2000]

Lancia Fulvia. And don’t be put off by a 1.3.

[914-6]

... 4 seats or at least 2+2 would be good as my boys are starting to take an interest in trips out

Matt

All right Andy, I'm old !!!

[wildtexas]

Well the younger one is only 8 and easily fits in the back of the 12, so may fit in the centre jump seat of a 914. The 11 year old has already asked, "who gets the orange car when you die?"

I do like the look of fulvias and Alfa gtv too. How do they drive in comparison to a porker?

[911hillclimber]

I, like many on here have had these thoughts, I get this question arrive in my mind about 2 times a year.
Once a 911 is gone, I think it is had to see you getting back, so this could be a one way trip.

Anything 2+2 will be useless soon with those lads growing as they do, so a car with occasional seats has a life of a couple of years.
Suddenly, the choice is very small as sports cars, so sports saloons then.

As soon as you look at the popular makes the cost is high simply because others have beaten you to it, their decisions are the same as yours.
Guess you want an 80s car for the modern take, good brakes, good ride etc and easy spares.

It now gets even harder to find an answer, and BMW and AUDI are almost the only avenue to travel.

Early M3 etc are there, but pricey.

French? Citereon DS ? The GTi was nice.
So you come back to the usual Alfa, Lancaster makes for some thrills, and this seems to be the best area to look, but, today, will not be cheap, but still rather nice, and maybe will grow in value.

I have never found an answer, and the wife wants to keep the 911 as my daughter has long flown the nest.
So, maybe you need to address the 'one only' strategy, keep the 912 and buy a nice Mercedes or BMW from the early 80s?

Good luck.

[Lightweight_911]

We need to establish a few more details before being able to offer suggestions:

Is a LHD model a possibility - or does it have to be RHD ?

What is the budget (£40k ?) ?

What is/would be your usage pattern - European trips, etc ?

etc

[100702mark]

If you weren’t hell bent on moving away from Porsche, budget wise you could do a nice 911 Sc targa. I did and it is so different to the 912 you could almost have changed brands, the flat 6 noise is soo different and the 70s plastic makes for a very different cabin experience Alternatively I’d go Opel kadette C 1.9 GTE or chevette HS, both cars from my youth with great rear wheel drive fun.

[jb]

Hard to beat a 911. Why bother?

[gridgway]

Got to be a lotus Elan surely? Or a lotus 7. Not sure id worry about getting the kids in! +2s/130 if you really feel the need.
Graham

[Ashley James]

A DS23 does sixty in about 10 seconds, it’s fast enough for modern traffic and very characterful. They’re noisier than moderns, but after a 912.... They handle superbly and are great for distance driving.

I have a Healey 3000 which is about as fast as a 2L MX 5 and has good enough brakes, but the handling is appalling after my moderns and that’s a problem with so many oldies.

I’ve always fancied one of those little Alfa coupes from the fifties.

[Lightweight_911]

A Giulietta Sprint ?

Here's mine:




They have a lot going for them - especially compared to British offerings of the time:

- small capacity all aluminium dohc engine
- extremely powerful (& fade-free) brakes (large finned aluminium drums)
- great handling/road holding


- plus excellent spares availability ...

[Ashley James]

Wonderful! Lucky man.

[911hillclimber]

Are they in the op's budget though?
My wife loves that era of Alfa, but they are all beyond my 911,s low market value.