19 ms·
A few things to know before stealing my 914 (2022)
- delgaudm 3y ago(2022)
- dang 3y agoDiscussed at the time: A few things to know before stealing my 914 - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30878489 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30878489 - April 2022 (417 comments)
- plq 3y ago... and hugged to death https://archive.li/yl7z2 https://archive.li/yl7z2
- Titan2189 3y agoClassic. Love it.
- waynecochran 3y agoI swear i read this article years ago but i cant find the history…
- Ayesh 3y agohttps://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30878489 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30878489
- dmvdoug 3y agoHonestly, I’m not a car person at all but it had me laughing all the way through. Then I read the comments here and it just made me sad. It’s a joke, fellas! Lighten up.
- ashton314 3y agoI think there are some Emacs or Vim users who could describe their setup just like this. Heck, I’m probably one of them. “A few things to know before stealing my laptop and/or using my editor config.”
- zdw 3y agoI run an ergodox split keyboard and a thumb trackball. Half the Keys have no labels, unless it's the one with the clear caps, which has no labels at all. Right shift is mapped to Escape (for vim, of course) There is no Caps-lock, only Control. Nobody messes with my stuff. :)
- astrospective 3y agoSame, few more labels and a more stock mapping but I’ve seen people give up after seconds of attempting it.
- __mharrison__ 3y ago(Cool. I've moved on from ergodox to lily58 and have a cst trackball.) This last weekend I pulled out my 12 year old Thinkpad running custom qtile window manager to transfer old DV movies to mp4s. Sadly my muscle memory was mostly gone and I had to revert to gnome... (Hanging my head in shame.)
- zoky 3y agoI'm shining a laser pointer into a fiber cable to write this comment, come at me
- fennecfoxy 3y agohttps://xkcd.com/378/ https://xkcd.com/378/
- snapplebobapple 3y agoI quantum entangled some atoms in my brain with some atoms in each of the starlink satellite's networking gear and use that to respond to comments. Don't tell elon.
- HankB99 3y agoWere Webers ever on the car from the factory? I thought they were all fuel injected. Disclaimer: Back when we were mechanics (and before we became technicians) I earned a living working on these, but I seldom had the opportunity (?) to work on one this old. They were interesting beasts - actually more Porsche then the later 924. Except for the /6 which had a real Porsche engine, the engine was the flat four adapted from the Type 2 (bus) and Type 4. Suspension, transmission, electrics and so on were all Porsche. (For better or worse.) The 924 had a lot of parts that would have been comfortable on a Rabbit/Golf.
- shever73 3y agoNo, they came factory fitted with an electronic fuel injection system from VW, but these were almost impossible to repair or diagnose.
- rozap 3y agoI actually think the reputation of early Bosch FI systems being horrible is pretty overblown. I haven't had a hard time diagnosing L-jet issues (I haven't touched D-jet). It's pretty simple and while you can't plug a scan tool in, you can use an oscilloscope to see what's going wrong. Also it's so simple, there are really only a handful of things to check. Some friends and I do endurance racing in a Fiat with the original L-jet system and it has been reliable. I can understand a shop not wanting to touch them because you'll likely lose money tracking down issues as opposed to plugging in a scan tool, but for a hobbyist it's really not that hard.
- jacquesm 3y agoIt's also a matter of who integrated it. In the Volvo's they are rock solid because of the way the wiring is routed (and the quality of the wiring), in the DS they are nothing but trouble and you're better off assuming it's all gone and completely rewiring and re-calibrating it than to try to fix it as is because that will almost always be a very temporary job.
- HankB99 3y ago
- palijer 3y agoThe tone of this article is always a bit off to me and I can never figure it out. This seems like some sort of bragging, boasting and I don't understand why that is appropriate. I'm not a car person, I don't have the same draw to then as a lot of folks, I've lived in Toronto for the past decade and don't know anyone who owns a car... With that said, I'm trying to understand why this article isn't met with a response like "it is extremely unethical to operate a vehicle in this condition. The drastically increased cognitive load, poor stopping performance, and lack of modern safety features makes this vehicle a lot more likely to hurt strangers when you hit them" I never understood old car culture, let alone old and broken car culture displayed here. Surely a vehicle operator would have reduced response time with the increased cognitive load to any divergent situation and be placing other's lives at risk by not having their equipment maintained to an expected performance standard. Not to mention the lack of braking, and lack of things like crumple zones etc, plus feeling light headed from engine fumes and poor ventilation. I understand being into old technology, I've been involved in restoring old tape machines and vinyl cutting lathes, broadcast audio consoles etc, but I don't understand ignoring the fact that you are exposing unconsenting members of the public to an increased risk of injury or death because of your interest in old technology. I don't understand accepting the freedom of that choice when it exposes unconsenting others to more risk just for your own personal interest. I can't help but harshly judge the author for their reckless decisions because the car isn't restricted to a closed course and can severely impact others lives simply because they enjoy the thrill of it.
- inconceivable 3y agoi'm a car guy and i also think it's dumb. he should fix his car.
- technothrasher 3y agoIf you're on old car guy, you'll know he's purposely exaggerating for effect and pulling many issues across the car's time and placing them all together. Many of us have faced the issues he's describing at different times with older cars and so we can relate and nod our heads. The fact that he's a professor of automotive engineering, and has pictures of the drivetrain out of the car and a welder in hand doing bodywork shows that he doesn't actually drive a neglected 914 like a foolish teenager. I've bought many an abused old car, including a 951 a couple years ago that had many similar issues. So I know what he's talking about. That doesn't mean I didn't fix the car and have it running smoothly now.
- tycho-newman 3y agoIf you hate your 914 so much, just give it to me. I’ll fix the windows at least.
- macintosh-hd 3y agoThis shouldn’t be street legal. Danger to themselves and, most importantly, others.
- Cthulhu_ 3y agoNobody claims that it is, but you're allowed to own cars that aren't street legal, you just can't drive them anywhere on public roads.
- macintosh-hd 3y agoHe very clearly drives it on public roads.
- User23 3y agoIt's just a tickle at the back of the article, but for anyone who wants a first sportscar that is fairly affordable and rewarding to drive an older Miata is a wonderful starter vehicle.
- Cthulhu_ 3y agoI'd love to have a cheap sporty car, the Miata is great, but I'd add the MX-5 as well. It doesn't even have to be that fast or anything.
- speedgoose 3y agoIn Norway, this car would be very unlikely to pass the mandatory roadworthiness test. You would be forced to fix the car, or sell it to someone who will fix it, or remove the plates and deregister it, or scrap it. If you don’t do anything the police will remove the plates. I would advice fixing the car or selling it to someone who will fix it because it has some value. https://www.vegvesen.no/en/vehicles/own-and-maintain/eu-mandatory-roadworthiness-test-eu-test/?lang=en https://www.vegvesen.no/en/vehicles/own-and-maintain/eu-mand... https://www.vegvesen.no/en/vehicles/own-and-maintain/eu-mandatory-roadworthiness-test-eu-test/failed-the-test/ https://www.vegvesen.no/en/vehicles/own-and-maintain/eu-mand...
- robmusial 3y agoThe 914 in the picture looks like a 1970 or 1971 so since it's over 50 years old it looks like it wouldn't be inspected anymore. [0] A lot of states in the US also require safety inspections (including North Carolina where the author teaches) but often make exceptions for antique cars. [0] https://www.vegvesen.no/en/vehicles/own-and-maintain/eu-mandatory-roadworthiness-test-eu-test/when-can-you-take-the-test/ https://www.vegvesen.no/en/vehicles/own-and-maintain/eu-mand...
- speedgoose 3y agoInteresting. It seems to be possible to skip the check for vehicles worthy of preservation. It requires the vehicle to not be modified (original design), which seems to be the case there, but also the safety equipment must function satisfactorily, which may be up for debate there. > are in virtually original design > Devices/equipment that are important for safety must function satisfactorily > Must only be used - on special occasions such as motor history gatherings and races - otherwise occasionally when the use does not cause undue danger or inconvenience to other traffic. So I would fix the brakes. https://lovdata.no/forskrift/1994-10-04-918/§1-9 https://lovdata.no/forskrift/1994-10-04-918/§1-9 (translated with DeepL)
- anjc 3y ago> You would be forced to fix the car, or sell it to someone who will fix it, or remove the plates and deregister it, or scrap it. If you don’t do anything the police will remove the plates. > I would advice fixing the car or selling it to someone who will fix it because it has some value. Your comments were quite confident when you weren't actually familiar with the basics of the topic. Most countries have relaxed road worthiness tests or complete exemptions for classic cars, and I think this stands to reason.
- thomashabets2 3y agoMy first car came with instructions kinda like that, by the time i sold it.
- scrame 3y agodid someone steal his car or is he just going on about his hobby? I thought car thiefs were going for kias and camrys.
- theandrewbailey 3y agoYes: > The last guy who stole my 914 used this very spot and it was rather convenient for all concerned parties.
- knekt 3y agoHave you tried turning it off and then on again to fix the issues?
- nixass 3y agoWhile talking about Hagerty.. Does anyone else find their videos obnoxiously annoying and catered for high schoolers? Boring and repeating cut scenes, slow-mo shots every few seconds..
- velosol 3y agoI haven't watched beyond Jason Cammisa's videos but they feel as though they wink back to Top Gear with the May, Clarkson, Hammond lineup: a show meant to be a little crazy, something Michael Bay would approve of and easy to take what you want out of them. In both cases though the presenting personality is key as they have interesting knowledge that they share in an engaging way; it might be childish but their excitement is infectious.
- parpfish 3y agocammisa's vids are top-notch
- hoppla 3y agoA bartender told me that he had connected the fuel pump to a switch hidden. He lived in a rough neighborhood and his car was an easy target for thieves. More than once he had found his car a hundred or so meters down the road.
- deltarholamda 3y agoAdam Carolla likes to talk about how he did this with his truck way back in the day. You could drive as far as whatever gas was in the carburetor and fuel line. He also painted his radio brown like the interior of the truck. It was so ugly nobody ever stole the one thing that had any value in the truck.
- DeathArrow 3y agoSounds like a tough job, maybe he should pay someone to steal it.
- zirgs 3y agoThat car would be illegal to operate on public roads in the EU. You can't pass the annual inspection without working brakes. The inspector will also ask you to wait outside while he checks the brakes, suspension and other stuff under the car. If he can't start the engine himself - the inspection will be over.
- Cthulhu_ 3y agoWhile you're correct about the brakes, the rest is made-up nonsense; the inspector is going to be a mechanic that knows these cars, not an ignorant clipboard warrior going down a ticklist. They'd fail it on the brakes, but starting it is a matter of asking or familiarity with the car / model. And you wouldn't take your oldtimer to any random mechanic, you'd take it to a specialist.
- zirgs 3y agoThe inspector actually is a "clipboard warrior" who is employed by the state.
- tim333 3y agoIn the UK cars are exempt from inspection if over 40 years old, which was true when we were in the EU. I think it varies by country. Couldn't do stuff like this otherwise https://rove.me/to/england/london-to-brighton-veteran-car-run https://rove.me/to/england/london-to-brighton-veteran-car-ru...
- zirgs 3y agoHere only cars that were manufactured before 1945 are exempt. Cars from the early 1980s don't feel "historic" enough.
- philipwhiuk 3y agoThey still need to be insured and have working brakes.
- helb 3y agoSite seems dead, archived link: https://archive.is/yl7z2 https://archive.is/yl7z2
- Eric_WVGG 3y agoThis was my first car, back in the 1990s! The synchros in the transmission were worn down to almost nothing, shifting truly was a dark art, like closing one’s eyes and feeling their way through a drawer of silverware. Otherwise in better condition but I guess I had twenty years less wear on it! (my current car dream is to find another 914 and do an electric conversion… not a car where it behooves one to keep the original anything)
- ant6n 3y ago[flagged]
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- KptMarchewa 3y agoPorsche sells fully electric Taycan.
- _ea1k 3y agoIt is a great EV too.
- inconceivable 3y agothey're also innovating on synthetic fuel.
- ant6n 3y agoThat’s the story the FDP is trying to sell - we should be „open“ on technology, because synthetic fuels will supposedly be just as environmentally friendly as EV cars. Never mind that well-to-wheel, they’d use 5x the energy of EVs and still have most of the other issues of ICE cars, like noise and local pollution (e.g. nox). In reality, it’s about keeping fossil fuels and ICE cars around as long as possible.
- 3y ago
- ot1138 3y agoI just got the dual webers running on my VW beetle. I'll have to try that pedal pumping routine, because it sure as hell won't start without at least one pump, even if it's 110 degrees outside.
- etothet 3y agoI wonder how many car thieves would be stopped by a manual transmissiom nowadays!
- linsomniac 3y agoI could swear I read this a decade or three ago... But every link I find in google seems to be 2022.
- tristor 3y agoI remembered the same. I am pretty sure this was originally an article in either Motor Trend or Car and Driver which was posted on their website.
- linsomniac 3y agoThat sounds about right from my memory.
- blastro 3y agoObligatory 914 comment: In high school, my friends and I managed to resuscitate a 914 that had been stowed away in a garage for over a decade. We towed it to the top of a hill with a pickup truck and attempted a clutch start after we'd picked up some speed. None of us (especially me in the driver's seat) expected this to work, but amazingly it fired right up. One of my friends managed to jog alongside and jump into the car as I tried to keep it puttering along, and we ripped a few laps around the neighborhood. Soonafter, we stopped the engine and were never able to get it started again. Thanks for bringing up this memory. Cool article.
- WillAdams 3y agoWhen I was much younger, I had a '76 MGB, which I only gassed up at a certain local gas station --- because the pumps overlooked a slope which was just tall/steep enough to start it thus if the starter wasn't cooperative --- it was all good except for the one time I didn't notice once of my shoe laces was untied. Exciting times.
- selimthegrim 3y agoWe're on tenterhooks, what happened when you noticed the shoelace?
- WillAdams 3y agoI tripped, almost lost my grip on the door, was dragged along for a few feet, managed to haul myself up, and eventually jump into my seat and managed to push the clutch in, drop it into gear, and release the clutch, and it was purring like a kitten at the bottom of the hill.
- carabiner 3y agoHN continues to track millennial life progression! We are at the mid-life crisis. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36391971 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36391971
- photonerd 3y agoIt’s been like this for a decade. It’s nothing to do with millennials, everything to do with the type of audience HN has
- punnerud 3y agoThis is the kind of guy/girl that should buy the rotating house, if he/she have the money: https://youtu.be/gisdyTBMNyQ https://youtu.be/gisdyTBMNyQ
- skot9000 3y agoDon’t worry buddy, nobody is going to try and steal it. They will just back into it with a SUV in every parking lot you dare to enter.
- specialp 3y ago[1] Reminds me of this video where a guy humorously simulates someone coming in to steal his military "Deuce and a half" 6x6. These things have no locks on them because the military doesn't want people to be locked out. But getting one moving is not easy... 1 https://youtu.be/57gBrGfboMM?t=208 https://youtu.be/57gBrGfboMM?t=208
- NotYourLawyer 3y agoMy friend had a car that would have needed a guide like this to steal. At one point someone jammed the wrong key into the ignition and messed up the mechanism. He ended up bypassing that and wiring a pushbutton switch into the circuit instead to power the starter motor.
- pengaru 3y ago> you will only find Reverse waiting there to mock you with a shriek of high-speed gear teeth machining themselves into round cylinders Am I alone in twitching at this fallacy? These have constant-mesh gearboxes. You're grinding castellated faces AKA dogs/dog-teeth/dog-clutches [0], not the gear teeth. If you're going to write something in such a condescending smarty-pants tone, at least be freaking accurate. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constant_mesh_gearbox#Dog_clutch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constant_mesh_gearbox#Dog_clut...
- jsmith45 3y agoI'm not familiar with this car, but it is not at all unusual for reverse gear to not be constant mesh, and to instead operate like an old nonsynchronous gearbox. Indeed the very same article you linked has a reverse gear section literally saying as much.
- parpfish 3y agoi'm disappointed by the amount of concern trolling in the replies here. i'm not sure whether it's people can't tell that this is humorous/exaggerated or that they are just dismissive of people with hobbies/interests different from their own.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]