looking at a svx in brissy

[berger]

Hey guys, first post!!
here is the story...

was walking home from work(yarram, south gippsland) and notice a coupe on the other side of the road, and thought "might have a look on the way back) an hour later, went back to wqork and the car was gone, and i got kinda pissed off... not knowing the mystery car...

Anyways, after work i walk home and as i enter the front door of work, it was parked there, right there! so i finally had a look at it, found out what it was... then went home and done my research...
anyways, iv allready decided to buy one, found this one in brisbane...
(edit: link did not work, but its for sale on the carsales website www.carsales.com.au its a 3tone 1993 model...)sorry

if anyone knows of this, or seen it/inspected it, etc.. could you help me...

im planning a trip to brisbane in a week or so... maybe if i could get an SVX owner to come inspect it with me, that would be so great...

i rang up & the transmission has been fixed(the heating issue iv read about i think... )
but the milage is pretty high, is that ok?
how much should i pay for it also?

any help would be so awesome
regards, Rob

[Jamsvx]

Hi there

If you can get the VIN, then that has (in the past with situations such as yours) led to a wealth of info being uncovered as the cars frequently move interstate through wholesalers - there have also been occassions where the odometer has, mysteriously, run backwards!!

As for price......that is like trying to catch a cloud - it depends on so many things (whether seller is desperate, how many on the market at that time, the condition etc etc).

You have already found that the big ticket item has been done but the SVX's, at that age, also begin to:

-their visors begin to droop (ask JDW-SVX how much he paid for them as he bought mine before I left for London although mine weren't drooping - NO RUDE COMMENTS ON THAT STATEMENT!!!!;)
-the climate control computer will begin to play up - you can make a price adjustment on that - there are some self test codes you can run on it
-transmission mounts and bearings (especially bearings) can begin to act up

Also, check that all window switches function (quite expensive for what they are to buy from Subaru) and if the windshield has any cracks or damage, figure for between $1500 and $2000 depending on what dealer/glass supplier you go to (it is ex-Japan)

I would also check if it had a towbar fitted; whether there is water leakage into the boot (have seen a few with this - don't mistake this with condensation in the rear lights as that is normal)

For what its worth, it took just under 2 years for me to find one that I was happy with and if I had my time back again, I would still have bought that car - only sold it since my wife and I are in Europe for a working holiday for a while and was not practical or cost effective to ship the car here and I could not leave it sitting for that long.

In short, if its a good example (full books, low k's, body and interior in good order) prepare to pay a fair amount - as k's climb, condition declines etc, then the price drops - same as any other car.

Good luck with it - they are an incredible car and I am seriously considering buying one while I am over here.

James

[JDW-SVX]

Everything that James said is absolutely correct, but I would like to add that due to the SVXs substantial weight, the brake discs can warp very easily.

In fact, I found that ALL FOUR brake discs were warped on my SVX when I bought it! Rather than machining them, I decided to replace all four discs, and fit a new set of semi-metallic heavy-duty brake pads.

As well, James mentioned the fact that the sun visors are prone to droop (ask moshols vx about that;)), but something that occurs even more often is that the wiring for the illuminated vanity mirror inside the sun visor will split (and sometimes short out) where it passes through the hinge.

That was the main reason that I bought two new visors (at around :mad:$350:mad: each!), because the wiring on both visors had broken.

Finally, it is crucial that any SVX you are considering has a FULL SERVICE HISTORY! I believe this is important for any used car, but for an SVX, it is essential!

Jason.

[JDW-SVX]

I have looked at the ad from carsales.com.au, and I find it very odd that the photo of the engine bay does NOT correspond to the car being sold!

Have a close look at that photo, and you will see that the brake fluid tank and master cylinder is on the wrong side of the car!

That photo was obviously of a USDM LHD model!

I have no idea why the seller put that photo in - as all of the other photos seem to be accurate!

:confused:

Jason.

[berger]

they have replied to me about the engine phote the other day, and sent me one of the actual item...

the windscreen is fine, but FS*K me, thats a fair bit to replace

i had a littrle chuckle at the sun visor thread, but damned exspensive

also the brakes have been upgraded also

they dont have a full service history, log books on a few of the services its had, but thats it, hes had it for about a year and kept record of eveything hes done since then

[grnSVX96]

Rob
If your looking in Brisbane then perhaps have a look at this I have for sale
http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/grnSVX96/20652.JPG

See my add in Drive.com.au, then if you want give me call on the contact number, the car you referred to @ carsales doesn't appear to be there when i looked just now but I think i know of the car [ie seen the ad for it, and if it was also cheaper than mine]..but any way if you want a look or have a chat about SVX more than happy help out

David in Bris

[berger]

i dont know where the add has gone :(
still for sale, owners will have it up again soon, sorry :S

[berger]

dave : little pricey buddy.. kinda wanna stay under 15-17K
v-nice car though

[Reece]

Originally posted by berger
dave : little pricey buddy.. kinda wanna stay under 15-17K
v-nice car though

berger,

don' know if this one is still for sale but Mulgrave is a lot closer to Yarrum than Brisbane



Reece

[pylon500]

for sale in Mulgrave
G'Day Berger,
Just want to try and beat the crowd in pointing out;
THE WHEELS ARE ON BACKWARDS!! :rolleyes: :p :D
Hey in all honesty it probably makes bugger-all difference, but the purists just love to point this out!
Actually I've had described the 'fan' effect of the rims buy a mate whom I was cashing down a long hill with the setting sun behind us.
As I closed on the rear of his WRX, I had to use some pretty heavy braking and as he was watching his mirrors, he said he could see these large heat plumes eminating from each wheel arch. :eek:
Been thinking I must arrange to go back to that hill with a crew and try to photograph this. :cool:
Arthur.

[grnSVX96]

try aurotrader.com.au, there 2 in bris that are in your price bracket, one I've seen around the traps up here its a bit of a 'roughy' around the edges with high ks...there was another one up here that was tri colour grey early model high ks [on drive.com.au I think] and the ad said it had expensive sports exhaust fitted ..they were asking reasonable money for that ..it seems that there are plenty of 92s and 93s around [with high ks] in the lower price bracket your shooting for...
david

[grnSVX96]

Hey try this one this would appear to be great value
SUBARU, SVX, Luxury COUPE $15,000



This car ad has been sourced from News Limited newspapers. Please see ad description for details on contacting the seller.
Price $15,000
Year
Make SUBARU
Model SVX
Badge Luxury
Series
Body COUPE
Transmission
Engine
Kilometres
Colour
Registration
VIN
Stock # 2014705V2
Description
SUBARU SVX SUBARU SVX BARGAIN 1995 Luxury Coupe Green $15,000 Sunroof, cruise control leather, alarm, power steering, air etc etc 104,000kms Ph: 9743-3103 ZLD908
Source The Daily Telegraph Published: 17-SEP-04

[So a dealer selling, really good Ks [log books ?], newer year =dual airbags etc, check my locker if you want for the colour green it should be, and probably offerring a national warranty..the price is right..very right
this is where i found it, I just copied the link
http://search.carsguide.news.com.au/news/display_used.jsp?aff_range=&back=&body_id=&detail=&distance=30&dlr_id=&index=0&keywords=&make_id=SUBARU&model_id=SVX&notify_id=&order_by=A&page=1&pagesize=15&postcode=&price_from=&price_point=&price_to=&region_id=&search_type=2&site_id=&stock_no=&trans_id=&year_from=&year_to=&thispage=search_used_xt.jsp&backpage=search_used_xt.jsp&veh_sel_list=&removal_list=&mg_vehicles=&mg_action=&mast=news&showsel=off

Good Luck
David

[berger]

you guys have been great, giving me a few cars to choose from...

the green $15000 one posted above me sounds awesome... might have to check it out, call the number tomorow maybe, i'll see if i have time :D

thanks heaps

[Jamsvx]

Is that green one based in Sydney??

Anyone going to check it out?? There were not many SVX's in that colour and year and the price seems a bit out of whack - would be interesting to know the history and condition of it and we can add it to the list.

A wee bit impractical for me to have a look (12,500km trip each way!!) - I like SVX's but not that much

:D

[oab_au]

Originally posted by berger
you guys have been great, giving me a few cars to choose from...

the green $15000 one posted above me sounds awesome... might have to check it out, call the number tomorow maybe, i'll see if i have time :D

thanks heaps

Yes mate that one looks good. 95 models have all the gear box problems fixed. Same model and mileage as my own. I would go fo that one.

Harvey.;)

[svxistentialist]

Hey Harvey

When you say the 95 ons have all the tranny bugs fixed, do they still have the 4EAT with brake band?

Reason I ask is my transmission guy says newer Subarus [he is now the authorised agent] don't have the brake band in the tranny, and this is a much better transmission.

I am collecting a '97 Legacy GT from the docks in the next couple of days. It has 4EAT as I prefer autos, but I don't know if the tranny is the newer type with all clutch packs. Hope it is:rolleyes:

Joe:)

[svxistentialist]

Hey!, Just noticed, you have a Liberty/Legacy 97 auto. Snap!;)

What's the transmission like Harvey, and do you know if it's the newer type?

What's a GX, is it 2.5 n/a ?

Joe:)

[oab_au]

Originally posted by svxistentialist
Hey!, Just noticed, you have a Liberty/Legacy 97 auto. Snap!;)

What's the transmission like Harvey, and do you know if it's the newer type?

What's a GX, is it 2.5 n/a ?

Joe:)

Hi Joe, no the trans is the same as the US type, brake band, transfer clutch, ect. The newer trans started about 2000 I think.

Driving the two different types is like chalk and cheese. VTD compared to FWD+rear assist.:rolleyes:

The GX is the option packed version of the std model. 2.2 lt

Harvey.;)

[berger]

Originally posted by grnSVX96
Hey try this one this would appear to be great value
SUBARU, SVX, Luxury COUPE $15,000



This car ad has been sourced from News Limited newspapers. Please see ad description for details on contacting the seller.
Price $15,000

Stock # 2014705V2
Description
SUBARU SVX SUBARU SVX BARGAIN 1995 Luxury Coupe Green $15,000 Sunroof, cruise control leather, alarm, power steering, air etc etc 104,000kms Ph: 9743-3103 ZLD908
Source The Daily Telegraph Published: 17-SEP-04

]

Good Luck
David


I gave him a call... said he was gunna give me a few pictures of it, its private sale, he sold it because he bough an SLK :drool:

so, if things work out, i might call him again and arrange a time to look at it..

[svxistentialist]

Originally posted by oab_au


Hi Joe, no the trans is the same as the US type, brake band, transfer clutch, ect. The newer trans started about 2000 I think.

Driving the two different types is like chalk and cheese. VTD compared to FWD+rear assist.:rolleyes:

The GX is the option packed version of the std model. 2.2 lt

Harvey.;)

Thanks for the info Harvey

I have a [New Zealand sourced] owners manual translated from the Japanese.

It describes the features[for driving] of the trannies. The turbo models get the full-time awd with full traction, it is a ringer for the SVX tranny, so that is what I am expecting. Just wondering if this model year still had the brake band, and you're suggesting it does.

Back to the drawing board. Will have to see if it comes with an additional cooler and so on, like we all had to do with the SVX.

Collecting it today or tomorrow, so we will know a bit more when I get to drive it, and check it over.

Cheers

Joe

[oab_au]

Hi Joe. Idid not think that they use the Varied Torque Diff, that was released in the SVX in 92, on any other model till the B4 Liberty, came out. It is used in a few other models now, including a few GM models.

Harvey. ;)

[svxistentialist]

Originally posted by oab_au
Hi Joe. Idid not think that they use the Varied Torque Diff, that was released in the SVX in 92, on any other model till the B4 Liberty, came out. It is used in a few other models now, including a few GM models.

Harvey. ;)

You could be right for the Oz market Harvey, but as I understand it Fuji never brought in the Twin-Turbo Legacy/Liberty to Australia.

This is what the manual says:

"The Subaru Legacy range has 3 types of AWD systems available to its customers.
The 3 systems are:

1) Viscas LSD fitted Centre Differential system, Full Time AWD

2) Active Torque Split AWD

3) VTD-AWD system "

System 1) is for AWD Manual type vehicles

System 2) is described as "Mechanism for Automatic Vehicles not equipped with the Turbo option"

System 3) is "AWD Mechanism for Turbo equipped Automatic Vehicles"

This last one which I presume is on mine is described as:

"This Self Adjusting Electronic Random Distribution AWD System electronically adjusts itself to the driving conditions, i.e. snow, ice or mud covered roads to randomly distribute the power to the wheels separately as needed to give the driver a more comfortable even drive. There is no special operation for this system as it is totally automatic"

This sounds a lot like the SVX 4EAT to me. Would prefer if the brake bands were done away with, but I will have to wait and see. Maybe some of the Legacy Turbo sites might know when the gearboxes were upgraded to the all-clutch model.

Joe:)

[oab_au]

Yes Joe that sounds like the VTD system. You got to love the description. Reminds of the early Jap Workshop manuals " thank you for buying this 4 wheel car " :D

We did get some twin turbo models, down here. around 92/94 I think.

Harvey.;)

[svxistentialist]

You are right Harvey. Some of the descriptions, some of the illustrations are priceless. Worth buying the manual even if you did not own a Legacy, just for a laugh.

In their defense, I know if I tried to translate English into Japanese, I'm pretty sure my attempt would also be idiomatically bizzarre. At least!:D

After much delay with customs clearance documents, I am collecting the car tomorrow. Tell you tomorrow night what first driving impressions are like.

Joe;)

[Jamsvx]

Just throwing my 2 cents/euros/pence in (what country am I in again???)

Aus got the single turbo Liberty in the early to mid 90's before the WRX, then moved to the twin turbo Liberty B4 and now has the new single turbo (GT) - the only mid 90's twin turbo's were private imports (I think that because they were the same shape as the Liberty's on sale new, then they could not be brought in by 'grey import' dealers but had to be a personal car from either Japan or New Zealand.

Joe, www.drive.com.au and www.carsales.com.au will allow you to call up photo's of the above so you can see what they look like (given they were called different things in different places)

Cheers

James

[svxistentialist]

Thanks James

Collected the car today from the docks, and I am very disappointed. It drives like a pig. It may be something simple like a bust pipe or a bad maf, but I strongly suspect a bad primary turbo. Not really sure yet how to troubleshoot and see what the problem is.

Considering the [supposedly] low mileage of 51000kms, I am quite disappointed the car is not going better.

If you have an email contact for your brother in Oz who had a troublesome one, I would appreciate if you could PM me with it. These things are so rare, it's hard to know where to go to fix it.:(

Joe

[berger]

the svx i saw liv es in Port albert(coastal town 10mins from me)
never seen it before, and aint seen it since the first sighting

was talkin to a subaru dealer and he told me about it
so this week i think i might have to door knock everyone down there (pop. 1000ish :( ) untill i find it!

hopefully they want to sell

[berger]

BUMP*

well, its been a while since i was last here (You last visited: 12-30-2004 at 12:59 PM)

i have just become an SVX owner, pick my ride up Friday!!!!!

Its the original SVX i saw.. the owner came in the other day to work, and said "im selling it" and i said 'sure, i'll buy it'
then the problem arose... i did not have $12000 on me :(. and he needed an answer withing 2 days, he was buying a '03 merc CLK coupe thing and needed cash asp

after talking to Aussie(we'll save you) they gave me some cash, racv gave my insurance, and now things are sweet

The car is a 1993 silver/grey/black stock standard, 170k on the clock, immacuate condition...!

worked out great, because he lives 10minutes from me, but there are no other svx's for about 200km radius :(

i have a picture here
http://www.supload.com/012005/subarusvx.JPG

im so excited! im now one of you.. i guess i'll have to come to a meet now!!!

[svxistentialist]

Great to hear the news Berger. :D

Enjoy your car, and I wish you many happy trouble-free miles in it.

Can't connect to your gif. It says stuff like unauthorised hotlink.

You can [and should!] post some pics in your locker so we can all sneak in and drool over the motor.

:rolleyes: :)

Joe

[svxistentialist]

You sure revived an old thread here. Since this one started, I have imported another Legacy twin-turbo.

Except that this one goes! Goes well, actually.

Great you got your car, worth the wait.

Joe :)

[berger]

i added 2 pictures to my locker :S


http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/berger/27072.jpg
http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/berger/27071.JPG

[KennEls]

Looks good Berger, I hope you have many hours of enjoyment from it.



Kenn :)