914 Value Options

[RonnieJ]

I was reading Excellence magazine the other day with the 914 value chart and they value our cars at from 12K to 18K. Why do we sale our cars so cheap and place such low value on them when Excellence themselves think our cars are worth more. The value and price of these cars would rise to the level they should be if everyone stuck to their guns and when selling a 914. When I insured mine it was for an agreed value which I put at 12K, I had to provide pictures and when I submitted evrything the insurance company had no problem with the value I put on the car. I think just as much of my Porsche 914 as a 911 owner and I believe that is how most of us feel. Apologies for the long rant but I see guys on here asking what they should ask for their cars when they sale them and all I here is 4K to 6K and ocasionally I see someone asking what the true value should be.

[Rav914]

I love discussions on value. It’s similar to the back and forth of carbs vs. FI, or “should I keep the /4 or put in a /6?”.

Here’s my biased .02

The design is stunning. The proportions are beautiful. Plus the driving experience exceeds the car’s looks. It’s an amazing package. Eventually the design will come back in vogue and appeal to a broader audience. Right now, we’re ahead of the curve. We love the car. Once the appeal begins to come around, more people are going to want one. That’s demand.

As long as people continue to give away rollers and/or sell cars for chump change, and we continue to part out cars for the crusher, value won’t rise. That is until, there’s no more to give away, no more hulks for the crusher, no more parts cars. The supply becomes tighter as demand goes up.

Then when a beater 914 costs $10K all of us will say “I remember when…”. Right now it’s fun. Sure, it costs real money but a basket case won’t cost me $20K like the 356 market. I drove a stock 356B recently. It was a nice, clean, well-made car, but my 914 could literally drive circles around it. Hold ‘em if you can. As long as we can get out of the ‘depression’ they should go up in value.

[DBCooper]

Eventually the design will come back in vogue and appeal to a broader audience. Right now, we’re ahead of the curve. We love the car. Once the appeal begins to come around, more people are going to want one. That’s demand.

Yeah, I suspect that there are lots of people with closets full of those wide-lapel Armani suits from thirty yeas ago, too. Patiently waiting for their time. And you remember growing up, driving in the country and seeing that oddball with like six Edsels in his yard? Hope never dies.

I think the fundamental problem with the investment logic is thinking that the general public will eventually wake up and want these cars. Why? Where you see the big jumps in value are with the cars that the now rich pre-retirement and just retired guys lusted for but couldn't afford when they were young. Thirty years ago it was 30's and 40's classics. Last 15-20 years it was '50's hot rods. That group of guys is older and finished buying toys, so with the current group it's '60s muscle cars and 356's. This isn't news, you knew that already. So in that context there's a sad note: no one ever lusted for a 914 when they were young. You lusted for the 911, you could afford the 914. Or a few years later the 924. So now that I'm older with some disposable income I'm going to finally get that 914? Sorry, but I don't believe the 914 will ever have legs like the 356 and early 911's.

You know how much it costs to buy a thrill at Disneyland? Drive your car. The thrills come much cheaper and they're real and guaranteed. Driving it is the car's real value, so stick with reality. Don't think about investment values, those are just hopes and dreams.

Oh yeah, and carbs suck. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif)


EDIT: TC, interesting overlap, you posted as I was writing. Yeah, lots of folks remember someone who owned a 914, but they all lusted after a 356 or 911 themselves. Big difference. I doubt the 914 will ever catch the 911, but I suppose we'll eventually find out.

[mepstein]

Eventually the design will come back in vogue and appeal to a broader audience. Right now, we’re ahead of the curve. We love the car. Once the appeal begins to come around, more people are going to want one. That’s demand.

Yeah, I suspect that there are lots of people with closets full of those wide-lapel Armani suits from thirty yeas ago, too. Patiently waiting for their time. And you remember growing up, driving in the country and seeing that oddball with like six Edsels in his yard? Hope never dies.

I think the fundamental problem with the investment logic is thinking that the general public will eventually wake up and want these cars. Why? Where you see the big jumps in value are with the cars that the now rich pre-retirement and just retired guys lusted for but couldn't afford when they were young. Thirty years ago it was 30's and 40's classics. Last 15-20 years it was '50's hot rods. That group of guys is older and finished buying toys, so with the current group it's '60s muscle cars and 356's. This isn't news, you knew that already. So in that context there's a sad note: no one ever lusted for a 914 when they were young. You lusted for the 911, you could afford the 914. Or a few years later the 924. So now that I'm older with some disposable income I'm going to finally get that 914? Sorry, but I don't believe the 914 will ever have legs like the 356 and early 911's.

You know how much it costs to buy a thrill at Disneyland? Drive your car. The thrills come much cheaper and they're real and guaranteed. Driving it is the car's real value, so stick with reality. Don't think about investment values, those are just hopes and dreams.

Oh yeah, and carbs suck. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif)


EDIT: TC, interesting overlap, you posted as I was writing. Yeah, lots of folks remember someone who owned a 914, but they all lusted after a 356 or 911 themselves. Big difference. I doubt the 914 will ever catch the 911, but I suppose we'll eventually find out.

Another thing is that 914's don't make very good daily drivers for most people. 2 seats, finicky, tiring to drive distance, won't fit a family, no a/c and melt when they get wet. Most 914 owners I know have a dd other than the 'teener. My wife's Honda minivan with 115,000 miles on it would sell for more than the average 'teener. Why? Because of the demand. I could sell it in a week end. The buyers are there. Many of the other model Porsches are driven by Doctors, Lawyers, ect. every day. How many of us would keep the 914 if it was our only car. I used mine as a dd for years but now couldn't make it work if it was my only car.