Reviewing & Buying the SVX
 

So I came across two SVX. One is a 92 with 140K miles the other is a
95 with 137K miles. The 92 is that blue green color that changes and
the 95 is red.

The 92 looks in good condition with so far the only imperfection being
the passenger door's bottom on the outside is dented like it hit something
and kept pressing it for about a foot and half. Maybe a tree limb that's
about 3 inches wide.

The 95 looks great. I haven't had time yet to really check these two out.
I arranged a test drive for the red one and when I was about to go and
do it the seller told me earlier in the day he was letting someone else test
drive it and the car had a transmission line leak and it needed to be fixed.
So he said wait till tomorrow so he can get it repaired. Any thoughts on
that?

I would rather take the 95. The car looks fine and like I said I haven't had
a chance yet to really look at them or hear and smell them I should say.

The asking price for the 92 is 2,300 USD and the 95 asking price is 3,400
USD. I am not sure yet as to what MODEL VERSION they are.

Can I have some thoughts, plus I will get back to everyone after I check
them out. Although any added comments before I go will help me out.

Thanks !!

-Michael

Welcome to the family, neither one of those prices sound out of line.

Dan

The 1992 had two models, the LS (base model) and the LS-L (top-of-the line). The color you described is Dark Teal.

The LS-L had the Touring Package, which included gray leather seats, steering wheel, shift lever, parking brake handle, 8-way power drivers's seat, sunroof, 6 speaker, AM/FM/Cassette/CD and heated outside mirrors. The spoiler was an option in 1992.


The 1995 had 3 different models; the L, LS and LSi.

The L and LS were front wheel drive, while the LSi was all wheel drive. The LSi (top of the line) also had the Touring Package (beige leather) and the spoiler was now standard. The color you mentioned is Brilliant Red.

Welcome to the family , Michael.

/

Thanks for your comments !!

So in your opinions what was the biggest factor that the SVX was reduced
over 20K in the past 11 Years. That's two point five thousand dollars a year.
I know mileage plays in, but I can't ignore that there's a lot of enthusiasts
for this car.

Let me know if this is completely correct.. The faults are: Transmission filter,
brake pads, and rear bearing grease. In which they cause other problems. The
weight I believe causes problems only if you are hotroding it. If I left out
something let me know.

If the car is ready to test drive I may be on my way in a few hours.

-Michael

Hi Michael, welcome to the network.

The SVX was expensive when new. It was a well sorted and well built car, with a lot of complicated electronics.

On account of that, the running cost to keep the car right is high. Cars with high running costs tend to drop fast in value after 8-10 years old. People who buy them as bargains tend not to give them the expensive regular servicing they need, then expensive things break, vicious circle.

I'm not trying to put you off, you will know when you drive a good one why they were expensive in the first place. You are buying Mercedes and Porsche quality for buttons, but when things go wrong, you will be paying high prices to fix things.

So buy a car based on condition and service records. That will save you money.

Joe:)

Well I checked the 95 out and drove it for about 5 mins. The car is AWD
so it must be a LSi. No sunroof, I guess that was optional and left out.
It has a tape and cd player in it from stock. The air conditioning works
fine. Doors have good electric locks. The rest like windows I didn't try.
The seller explained everything works. I was pressed for time while there
so not much testing done. I am at this point only concerned with the
engine. No strange noises noticed yet. I wish one of you was here helping
since you all know about this car.

The imperfections to it so far was a small indention only noticeable if you
were at the right angle on the passenger side and a small rip in the driver
seat. All that is nothing un repairable.

The bad thing is it stalled a few times when I was turning and I had to
manually put it in 1st, then 2nd, and 3rd. I have some thoughts and if it
shifted well manually than there shouldn't be anything wrong with the
transmission. Plus there is a button for manual or automatic shifting on the
handle so possibly it was pushed in by mistake and I didn't know. I mean
I did shift it and it worked I am not sure if it would have shifted without
the button pressed. I droven many cars that can shift to first and second
without any button pressed, but this was the sellers reason for it happening.
It ran very well and picked up good at times so maybe that was it.

I need more time to drive it and somewhere not in the city. The owner also
said it might be the transmission line wasn't corrected properly and would
have his mechanic look at it in the mourning. Smoke came from the engine
after parked, but he said it was just where the fluid dropped on it while in
the shop.

I am not sure about it yet. Doesn't this thing require premium gas as
opposed to regular or can I use either? I am going to check it out again
tomorrow after I get off from work.

What does LSi mean?

-Michael

Whoops!
 

Sounds not quite right. Lsi means top range model, AWD in 1995, as explained above.

5 minutes is not long enough a test drive.

If the car will not shift up gears by itself, it has nothing to do with that Manual button. The manual button locks out 1st range, and works the 2 and 3 range in Normal gearbox mode. While Manual is on, the gearbox can not access Power mode, a sort of sport mode that will rev the gears out longer before changing up. Manual is designed to help the car pull out of low traction situations like a mucky field or snow. It utilises high torque and low revs.

Sounds like the car has a gearbox problem. Fixing the gearbox might cost about what he is asking for the car.

Forget the red car. Look at the green car. Drive it 15 minutes to half an hour, in different conditions, city, highway, twisty roads, bumpy roads. Make sure the car is good before you shell out money.

OK?

Joe

That is if he still has the 92. Repair to the door is
needed. I think it has a sunroof and it doesn't work.
It's got to be without the touring package, it seems.

Thanks for the helping hand !!

-Michael

From the sound of it, I would definately walk away from a car that stalls and smokes, as metioned above.

As far as buying an SVX needing body work, I would hold out for one without any major damage. Take it from me, I recently bought a pretty clean 1992 with a 6" dent in the rear passenger corner. At the time it didn't bother me too much, the car was still a good deal. Now the fact that the car's body is not pristine is getting on my nerves to the point where I may break down and get it repaired.

Happy hunting!

I have never seen a 95 AWD LSi without a sunroof. The LSi and the LS model for that year had a sunroof as standard equipment.

I think it may be an "L" model with the Active safety Group (which includes AWD and ABS brakes) Wawazat!! here on the boards has a 1995 L Model with AWD and no sunroof:( pictures in his locker)

Easy ways to tell if what you have is an "L" model:

VIN: If the first 7 digits are JF1CX33 it is an "L" model (The LSi digits are JF1CX35

If the dashboard trim is matte gray and your seats are grey cloth and your dashpad and armrests are not ecsaine (suede), you have an "L".

If your back seat is a one-piece fold down, you have an "L'

Check this attachment for the complete 1995 specs by model.
.

The sunroof was only available as part of the Touring Package, which also included the leather seats, etc., so the 92 had to be an LS-L.

He ran late at a church event and couldn't get the two SVX's to
the meeting spot so I test drove some of his others. I will have
another meeting on Friday, two days from now.

96 Chevrolet Monte Carlo black with leather seats 158K miles 2,500 USD.
Bad: Has a knock that I assumed was low oil and air conditioning
doesn't seem to work. I exclude a rod/piston because it would be
louder. The air he said was it needed the coolant liquid. The light
meters for things are on: check engine and etc. He said they were
stuck like that and needed a reset.

93 Mitsubishi 3000GT (Manual) green 125K miles 3,800 USD.
Bad: Just some spots like the left of the driver seat having a
small rip [much like the 95 SVX], eh seat covers do the trick.
Needs a paint job and window wipers. Missing the rubber seal
shifting handle base. I slightly heard the brakes making the
sound when the rotors are being hit, it's cheap to replace
rotors and the brake pads, depending on who you get them
from and putting them on myself, 20 to 30 dollars !! Paint job
would be what 500? Black is what I'd choose.

Never mind about the superficial imperfections they can be fixed later.

If the SVX's don't work out I may choose the 3000GT. The GT
was fun to drive and no problems noticed yet other than stated.
It is a manual and where as I would rather have an automatic,
manual's are fun. I like the Subaru SVX though. If nothing works
out I guess savings will stay just that.

-Michael

Hey you know the SVX has no head room. I had to really shrink
down to fit in the car. I couldn't sit straight up. It's definitely
made for shorter people. I am around 6FT perhaps people who
are 5FT 7 inch and lower would be a good fit.

-Michael

You're kidding? I'm 6'-4" and still could wear a 10 gallon hat. Also, I've never seen a Mitsubishi that didn't have engine problems, especially at that age.
Gene

I'm barely 6 ft. tall and can press the top of my noggin firmly against the headliner if I sit-up really straight. The seat's all the way back and (I think) as low as it'll go.

Maybe I have a tall torso...?

dcb