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Sorry, but I don't see the 914-4 as having anywhere near the collectible value of the 986 as:
1. The 944-4 was not really a Porsche, but a VW- Porsche (and as I recall, it was sold as such in much of Europe). The 914-6, of course, is a pure Porsche and the dramatically higher prices at present show that! Like the 914-6, the 986 is all Porsche.
2. The appearance of the 914 was often derided - certainly the 'basket handle' roll bar and the bumpers have been subject to criticism both when the car was introduced and today. In addition, its appearance had no connection to other Porsche designs, past or present. The 986 is considered by most to be a very attractive and balanced design with strong ties to Porsches of the past (in particular, the 550 Spyder).
3. The 914-4 engine doesn't have an exciting or even sporty exhaust note - in fact, it sounds like what it is - a VW!
4 Like the 986, the 914 had great handling and braking; unlike the 986, its engine performance was strictly pedestrian.
5. Unlike the 986 Boxster, the 914 was not the first in a line of superb sports cars; rather, it was a one-off model that was moderately successful and was eventually replaced by another VW-Porsche, the 924.
6. Even at the time, the HVAC system in the 914 was atrocious, whereas the 986 remains state of the art.
7. The 914 was not a seminal design for Porsche, the 986 was; the 914 did not save Porsche, the 986 did; upon its introduction, the 914 did not generate the kind of excitement and desire, nor the universally solid reviews that the 986 did.
All of these suggest that the 986 should do better in the long run than the 914. And no, I don't buy into the suggestion that discontinued models or cars from failed companies are more collectible. If that were true, then the DeTomosa Pantera would now be worth more than the Ferrari Dino of the same era. Both were mid-engined sports cars that sold at comparable prices when new, but decent Dino's are now worth at least twice the price of a Pantera.
For those who suggest that the 986 Boxster will not soon become collectible, what you are in effect saying is that a 97 Boxster is akin to a 97 Corolla: neither car is going to appreciate in value, so just drive them into the ground and then take them to the junkyard. Frankly, within a couple of years of the 25th anniversary of the 986 Boxster (which occurs in 2021), I expect prices for good examples of the 986 to be about double where they are today - i.e., $20K to $30K. I also think that they will continue to go up from there. Large production numbers haven't halted the rise in price on cars of less importance (such as the Triumph TR6 and MGB) and I see no reason to believe that they will stop the 986 from becoming a collectible car with appreciating value in the near future.
Would I recommend buying a 986 Boxster as an investment? No, there are other cars that will likely appreciate more over time. However, if I am right, the rise in value over the next 10 years should make the cost of ownership (and the cost of a rigid maintenance schedule) a lot easier to bear.
Brad
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