Looking for general info about 1972 914 Porsche?

Question

how are they ranked to Porsche enthusiasts, common problems etc.

Answer 1

The 914 was produced in a joint production between Porsche and VW.  Butzi (son of Ferry who is son of founder Ferdinand) designed the car. Originally it was to either be labeled a VW Porsche. In the end Porsche put the fully trimmed shell from VW together. It was mid engined, so it was different compared to the regular rear engined 911, 912, and 356. It is growing in popularity, especially the 914/6 which has a flat six from the first 911 engine.

Rust through the rocker panels is a common problem. There were three different engines: the 1.7 liter VW flat four, 2.0 liter flat four, and a 2.0 liter Porsche flat six. The fact that the engine is in the middle makes it hard to maintain.

Answer 2

It's a really fun car. Most of the examples I have seen are beat up or modded for autocross, so try and find a nice example. The 914/6 is the hot ticket, followed by the 2.0, then the 1.8. What's wrong with VW anyway, they own Bugatti and designed the Veyron. Not too bad.  

Answer 3

It was built by and sold under the VW label in Germany.  They called it a Porsche in America, hoping we wouldn't know any better. That should give you a good idea about how they rank to Porsche enthusiasts.

The 914-6, on the other hand, was built by Porsche and is a desirable car, but they are rare.

That said, I don't hate the car.  Heck, I've even owned VWs. Just be very careful in buying one.  Rust was a terrible problem with this model.  The engine is very hard to access for even the most routine service.  The rear deck lid hinge/spring usually breaks and is a bear to fix.  The list goes on and on.

Spend a lot of time educating yourself about this model and its problems before you spend money on one.  If you're still interested after learning about it, then get one. It's a fun little car, and handles quite well.  Just don't fool yourself into thinking you're getting a real Porsche.