Ben Messinger
"This is my second 914. I have owned it for 5 months, and I am doing things right this time. :) It is my daily driver and auto-x toy.
The car is so solid I can't believe it. The climate is pretty arid here on the East side of the state, and the car has always been garaged (bought from original owner's family). When I bought it it had been virtually unused since 1982. Between 1982 and 1999 it recieved an annual battery charge, oil change, and trip to town and back. Since it got such good care it looks more like a 5 year old car than a 26 year old one. Cost? $2,500. I kid you not. I searched for 5 years for the right replacement for my first teener, and boy did I find it!
This summer I started going through the car rebuilding the brake system, cleaning the gas tank, replacing fuel lines with steel, replacing all the engine seals, and doing tune-up work. I also added tight springs, bilstien's, 19mm sway-bar, new rubber, and a few other little touches here and there. It has been a very rewarding summer with some great seat time.
For year two I plan to do chassis stiffening.
Year three will be SC or Carerra front-end, and matching rear brakes, 5 lug wheels and SC or 930 flares (factory steel welded in - if you haven't ever seen this it looks spectacular! - much nicer than 916 style IMHO).
Year four - saving for and/or building a 2.7 or 3.0 six
Year five - hopefully completion of the six conversion
Well, that's the five year plan. Whether or not I can execute it is another thing all together. Wish me luck."
