Finally impressed, drive #3

[gridgway]

I've wanted to be impressed by a 914 drive, but I reckon I'm hard to please. The first 914 I drove was a 2.0L, which in fairness the owner/seller said it needed some work to be up to scratch. It was a bit heavy to drive, a bit dull and a notchy box. Dull responses and not much oomph. All sortable though.

Then I drove the Gmund 914/6 conversion. That was very nice to drive, light, tactile, really good, but just not impressive in the go department. The 69 2.0S engine was there in body, but its spirit was just on hols. My 100bhp rover 25 is more sprightly. Could be a great car when sorted though I reckon.

Today I had a go in Moggy's "race" 914. I took it quite gently after Moggy tried to scare the shite out of me on the wet roads. He said "if it was dry, I'd really be able to scare you". I say phew, glad it was raining!!

But, there it is, kick in the back torque with kart-like handling. I love it.

Graham

[Michael Hafen]

Suppose it depends what you want-a race prepared car is going to be totally different to a road car. To be fair to the 914/6 conversion that engine needs a rebuild. It has been going since the early 90ies and came out of a wrecked car in the first place. No suprise then that it is a little tired. It is a great car though.

[moggy]

Glad you enjoyed it Graham, good to know such a long trek was worthwhile As I said you only experienced the straight line acceleration and got a taste for maybe what the handling is like. Believe me, in the dry it's a whole different ball game. Think go-kart on steroids with superglue for tyres A friend of mine once described it as being like when they used to speed up the film in Knightrider to simulate 'kit' going super fast, going round corners at speeds that were obvious unreal - only the 914 does it, for real

[gridgway]

Do you know the Gmund car then? I thought a rebuild would be on the cards, which is not going to be cheap for a 69 2.0S!

[Michael Hafen]

Yes-it's my old car. I hope someone buys it and keeps it for a while.

[gridgway]

I liked it a lot, but at 30k for the car plus the engine rebuild, it didn't make economic sense!

Did you sell it to the guy near me Molesy way who did the rally in it?