Article about the SVX at The Truth About Cars

[majeskyb]

I just saw this article about a junked SVX on The Truth About Cars, and wanted to share it with you all. http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...95-subaru-svx/

[Crazy_pilot]

Poor old thing... He speaks the truth though, people think they must be worth a lot of money until you actually try to get money for it.

[Conn SVX]

SVX worth $ 2.00
Pride of ownership and driving it priceless
They compare it to any GM station wagon?

[jetboy]

Thank god China will take over as world's no 1 superpower! At least they lust for Lambo and Bentley SUVs, not Corvettes or Impalas.

First of all, the resale value of this car is probably less than what you bought it for.. even if you spent twice that amount upgrading. Truth!

Second, SVX is not a sports car and handles well measured against it's comfyness. If you regard it as a sports car, it's as great as a BMW X5 is for the environment That said, my (currently) non-refurbished car does the local bends so much better than any other modern car around. They are in front of me in the low speed zone, I pass them at the straights and never see them again unless I get blocked in the twisties by some stupid Saab or Volvo or BMW SUV.

Third, perception of a car must be attributed to car culture. For instance, Norway is quite the opposite of US. Here, cars will live for at least 15 years. And that's for a small Polo or Passat just as much as an SVX or BMW-whatever. They are generally kept well. They generally have service books. A 1999 Forester Turbo-S trades for the same amount as a fair-in-shape SVX with same mileage. A 200k+ km Nissan 300z costs over twice as much as a 130k+ SVX. Apples and potatoes but you get the drift.

SVXes are generally very unknown and the demand is virtually non-existent. This is not a car that's unwanted because of what it is, it's not wanted because it hardly exists. I can't desire something I don't know about. Resale price reflect this and I'm sure a lot of owners just stopped spending money on their cars as this was understood. Why invest when you will get nothing back? Hence, quite a few are derelict which makes "experts" claim they're bad cars.

Having spent months and months pondering cars, I decided to go for the SVX not just because I found it irresistable but also because you can't make a better deal if you consider bang for the buck (here at least).

Of course, we are zealots and protect the car from any abuse but please show me a better deal than a good shape SVX within that price class.

"As for dominating the race, the Living Waters SVX ran a total of maybe 25 laps in three races, breaking some difficult-to-fix component every hour or so (and while it was running, the ill-handling Subaru got its doors blown off by Neons and Cavaliers)."

I don't know what a Cavalier is but the day a fair shape Chrysler Neon beats a fair shape SVX in handling and speed... hahahahahahahahaha.

[bwb3]

Unfortunately, the truth about most cars these days is, unless it is in perfect shape, the price of broken, damaged and missing parts can quickly exceed the resale value. Then add the cost of a restoration paint job.
In my case, I burned the bank records.
Gene

[Chuckls]

Originally Posted by jetboy

I don't know what a Cavalier is but

Chevrolet Cavalier?

[jetboy]

bwb3, word! Except, why burn the records. I guess it varies from place to place, here it's a great deal. I laugh out loud and evilly every time I park a Quattro Allroad (but never compare boots with them!) on yaeh.. all roads!

Chuckls... geezes.. with that standard Chevy handling?

[majeskyb]

Originally Posted by jetboy

"As for dominating the race, the Living Waters SVX ran a total of maybe 25 laps in three races, breaking some difficult-to-fix component every hour or so (and while it was running, the ill-handling Subaru got its doors blown off by Neons and Cavaliers)."

The race he is referring to is called the 24 hours of lemons, a play on lemans. One of the rules are that the purchase price of the car must not exceed $500. So, it's very likely that they had used a car that was so far gone, it was days away from the crusher when they got it. There are some crazy cars that are ran at these events, many that I'm surprised can even move under their own power.

[Green1995SVX]

Originally Posted by Chuckls

Chevrolet Cavalier?

Look at that fit and finish!

[Rod.]

The article wasn't unfair, but blasphemy to someone with SVX Neurosis (a class of functional mental disorders involving distress but neither delusions nor hallucinations, whereby behavior is not outside socially acceptable norms).

My '97 is in the shop for a front brake job - which after 180,000 km should be expected. It also seems to have an as-yet diagnosed problem with the rear wheels not getting any drive. That wasn't expected and sounds expensive. But I don't plan on looking for a Cavalier or a Neon... hopefully.

[Sean486]

Oh so many good parts still on that SVX. I wish it was closer.

[Calijade11]

So much I could say about this... but really I will behave myself. I know the cost to restore my SVX has gone way beyond the resale value of her but I don't care, she is good as new (ok, better) and that's what I wanted! I wish I knew where that car was at too! I'm in Colorado and I still don't know where it's at.... I'd go get parts for others if I could!

[dcarrb]

I want to print this quote from the comments section on a business card to hand to anyone who asks about my cars:

These are the Mother Ship of all things Subarubian. They are the mythical machines with unearthly powers L. Ron Hubbard wrote about in one of his comic books.

Careful... don't stand too close.

dcb

[majeskyb]

Originally Posted by Calijade11

So much I could say about this... but really I will behave myself. I know the cost to restore my SVX has gone way beyond the resale value of her but I don't care, she is good as new (ok, better) and that's what I wanted! I wish I knew where that car was at too! I'm in Colorado and I still don't know where it's at.... I'd go get parts for others if I could!

If you go to http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/contact/, you can ask Murilee where he found it they're usually really good about replying to things like this.

[Chuckls]

Originally Posted by Green1995SVX

Look at that fit and finish!

Only reason is because I had an 03 fender on my pass side, so the light wouldn't sit correctly

My second one was cammed!