next car
 

I think that after I get the pearlie fixed up and shipped back to LA, I'm going to part ways with it. It's been a fun car, but it's just not practical, and I'm fed up with all the mechanical work the car's needed. It's basically destroyed my entire bank account, so I'm going to get as much as I can for it.

If I can find a job and get some cash together, I think I'm going to go after a Volvo 850 T5R sedan, I drove one for a day over spring break and was instantly hooked on it. It was amazingly quick, yet it blended in well with traffic despite the lowering springs, black wheels, and bright yellow paint. That particular car belongs to the owner of the shop that services my mom's v70T5.

So, what do you all think? Is that a logical step from the SVX?

(btw, anyone in the LA/Long Beach area, keep an eye out for my 92 appearing on craigslist around May)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IazLThkWNQo :drool:

Re: next car
 

As far as I have tried, and a car that we own (my mother's), I cannot think of a better one than the 2004 Mercedes E320. That is if you want a 4 door car.
It is just an awesome car in every way. Fuel consumption is excellent, very comfy and luxurious, well equipped... The one that we have was imported from the US. It has around 35K miles on it ODO, blk/blk, electrical seats, leather, NAV, Sunroof.... loaded. Make sure you try a similar car if you can afford it.
The C320 and CLK320 are totally different btw. Not even close to the E series.

Re: next car
 

I have a friend who used to be an SVX'er (though wasn't a member here). His got totaled a long time ago and after a lot of searching he picked up an Infiniti G35x sedan. Having driven it myself I can say that it drives and handles a LOT like the SVX, but with four doors. It has more power, too and is quite comfortable.

If you're comfortable with NEW cars including their payments, then I have to say that I've found few that drive like the SVX, but my head is often turned by the new 2011 WRX STi. Hatchback, of course... not a big fan of the sedan as even with that wing it looks a little... "chopped". The fact that it's only available as a 6MT is in fact a positive to me.

I currently drive a 2004 BMW 545i sedan 6MT as my daily driver except when the weather's crap. Quite a different beast than the SVX... ridiculous power, a great manual transmission and actually gets better gas mileage than my SVX. You also can't beat it on a long road-trip; I've done 1000 mile road trips in a long weekend in that car and felt no fatigue whatsoever. Of course, I also drove the SVX about 800 miles the weekend I purchased it (in two roughly 400 mile chunks) and it was also a good experience except for the crap tires :)

My eyes are always on "the next car", but I think I'm keeping my SVX now. I might replace my Bimmer, but I can't replace the SVX except with another SVX as I've discovered several times now.

Re: next car
 

I'm planning on keeping my SVX for as long as humanly possible but if I had to get another car, it would be an STi of course. That's me being realistic. I'd rather have a porsche 911 gt 2.

Re: next car
 

Don't get me wrong, the SVX is a great car, and has been one of my dream cars for a long time. But the car I've owned hasn't exactly been a dream car. Kinda wish I'd never crashed my RL. I like the idea of a merc, but don't have the money, plus the service bills and replacement parts are very expensive.
this one looks good:
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...321651051.html

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...6/PICT1391.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...6/Zi6_2775.jpg

Re: next car
 

Keep the SVX and get a daily beater. That way you can spend time taking care of it the right way and not rush through repairs because you need the car.

I went the Volvo route also and bought a 1991 Bertone Coupe for $3400. Built like a tank, fast enough, gets reasonable mileage.

I don't do a ton of driving, but bombing through the streets of LA, I can't think of a better type of car. LA can beat the crap out of a car, like any city. I can't even imagine the hell a car goes through in the Northeast.

And it's a Bertone, so the Italian style and details keep my interest and the fit and finish is top notch... it is a handmade car after all, made by Bertone in Turin, Italy... with only 8000 made over the run of 6 years.

[IMG]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5223/...97378d7f_b.jpg 1991 Volvo Bertone Coupe by dbarnblatt, on Flickr[/IMG]

Re: next car
 

The garage at home is already full, plus I have another project car sitting at my grandparents garage (73 opel GT). I don't have the space for another car, and I can't insure more than one at a time. besides, I'm going to be busy getting my sister's Ghia going again...

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...6/PICT1734.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...6/PIC-0169.jpg

sweet looking bertone btw

Re: next car
 

My next car will probably be a -














wait for it -









SVX! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: next car
 

The T5R is a great car. I'm a bit of a volvo expert, having owned nearly 50 volvos in the last year alone! If you have any specific questions, let me know.

Mike

Re: next car
 

I love those Ghias.

Re: next car
 

that pic really doesn't do the car's true condition justice. The clutch went out and it's jammed in first gear, it was also an ex-race car, it's got undercarriage damage..but it's a cool little car for sure..

Re: next car
 

I do love that Bertone.:) Sorry I never got back to you.

Between Subarus I briefly drove a '79 242GT back in college. That and the SVX are the best handling cars I've ever owned. Slower than snot, but it would keep momentum through turns forever so I hardly ever had to use the gigantic disk brakes that would stop it on a dime. It died a Viking death getting crushed by monster trucks at the Ventura County Fair after the engine blew and it sat roadside for 6 months. I was a stupid college kid. My fiancé has a love for brick Volvos so I may end up with another someday.

I've been fantasizing about station wagons lately. The more miles I pack on the SVX the more issues pop up, and I'd love to relegate it to weekend duty. Hopefully by June I'll have some pesos saved up for a Craigslist special. I'd love to find one of the '96 Outback 5 speeds with the EJ22. That's the only year and configuration that got the trusty 2.2L so they're tough to come by. I ran across this RX last night, but after owning an XT and a GL-10 sedan previously I doubt that another old 1.8T is a good idea for me. Always wanted a 3 door RX though and that's gotta be the coolest transmission Subaru ever made.

Re: next car
 

Depending on what I find for a job this summer I'll be looking into a proper daily driver this fall. I'm kind of bored of beaters and want something that I can enjoy every day not just because it's the damn cheapest thing I could find. I'm currently thinking about a 2008/2009 Legacy GT or even Spec B if I can find one.

Re: next car
 

this is an svx forum. that's my answer :)

get a 1st gen audi s4/s6

Re: next car
 

Anyone who has one of those is awesome.