And its goodbye from me....

roger · Post by **roger** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 11:49 am

Well guys - the 914 goes next weekend so I guess its goodbye as I have no plans to add a Porsche to the fleet in the forseeable future. Thank you all for your advice, help, and company.

Take care.

Kind regards

fourteener · Post by **fourteener** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 12:17 pm

So Roger, on the whole was 914 ownership a positive experience?

Ian Gunney · Post by **Ian Gunney** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:26 pm

Seeing that the Merc and the '14 have gone - what is going to fill the space in the England garage then Roger?

roger · Post by **roger** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:56 pm

In answer to Fourteener's question - the 914 has been a mixed experience - it took a long time to get the car 'right' and having done that I can honestly say that it is probably the best car to drive that I have ever had. Its handling and roadholding are exceptional, particularly when you consider the age of the car, and the engine mods I've had done make it shift along at a fair pace. It is a very civilised car too - high cruising speeds make it ideal for long distances. I've driven the 914 round the Nurgburgring, Silverstone GP circuit, and Donington, and taken it up Gurston Down Speed Hillclimb - great fun.

Unfortunately the saga of the original bad engine build took the shine off the car for the first 18 months of ownership and the hassle of getting it put right (and claiming back the costs) does still irritate. Overall, I believe that if Porsche had invested a little more in car in the 70s they would have had an unbeatable lead in the mid-engined car market. There really wasn't anything else to touch it (I'm ignoring the Europa breadvan from Lotus as it wasn't a very practical car)

In answer to Ian's question - the value of the Merc and its recent running costs had made it rather impractical as a day-to-day car, so it has been replaced by a Saab Sportwagon (turbo diesel) to chew up the motorway miles. This will sit on the drive as the garage will be home to a 1970 Triumph Vitesse which will be my runaround classic whilst I look around and see what takes my fancy.........

kevster · Post by **kevster** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 6:49 pm

good luck with the vitesse Roger, sorry to see a 14er off the boards - rare breed you know!

Your car, although I never saw it in the flesh, is an inspiration to me to get mine to that place where i its real fun to drive and plenty of power too.

stevieboy · Post by **stevieboy** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:18 pm

OOOOH a Vitesse, I leant to drive in a Vitesse then bought a 1500 Spitfire, nice straight six, shame about chassis though..

Ian Donkin · Post by **Ian Donkin** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:07 pm

My old boy had a brand new 2 litre Vitesse in the late 60's - ordered at the motor show aparently. It spent most of his 18 months owenership in the garage, but he still loved the sound of the straight six engine in it!

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:29 pm

Best wishes Roger: don't be a stranger to this virtual land though

.

Helen · Post by **Helen** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 12:48 pm

can't begin to tell you how excited i am about picking up the car on saturday..

roger if you ever fancy a drive or want to join in a ddk event then please give me a ring

Nige · Post by **Nige** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 12:54 pm

Helen, you do realise that buying Roger's car you have now made him go AWOL!!!

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:24 pm

Yeah: boooooo

Helen · Post by **Helen** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:46 pm

Nige wrote:Helen, you do realise that buying Roger's car you have now made him go AWOL!!!

ner, he'll be back

Post by **Bootsy** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:55 pm

Helen wrote:can't begin to tell you how excited i am about picking up the car on saturday..

I know the feeling, I feel like a kid in a sweet shop at the moment. Should get my new Split next Saturday (after delivering the sold one this week) and my Porsche shoul dbe ready in a about a week or so after it's re fit.

Sorry to hear you're leaving Roger, at least the car is going to a good home

Helen · Post by **Helen** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:03 pm

the home/garage is fine it the new driver he needs to worry about

wheres did you say first gear is?

middlefour1 · Post by **middlefour1** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:18 pm

Helen wrote:where did you say first gear is?

Don't worry Helen, it will be in there somewhere, that's half the 'fun', finding first!!