SVX crash bumper rating-8KM/Hour?
 

Hello All,

I'm new here. I am looking to buy an SVX. I live in Canada and it seems that most of the selection is in the US. I prefer a later model like 96 or 97 with low miles. This would also mean that it would not be exempt from the Canadian federal auto laws being less than 15 years old. One such law is that the bumpers must be rated at 8KM/hour on a crash. Would any one here know if a 1996 or 1997 SVX has its bumpers rated at that?

I have my eye on that 29K miles currently on eBay.

Thanks in advance

Max

The rear bumper will likely crack at that speed but the front should hold up quite well.
I don't know the rating, but I would hazard a guess and say they exceed that limit.

--
One correction, my bumper cracked because it was -10F out when I backed into something hard. I've bumped into things when it was wam out with only scratches. These bumpers are QUITE sturdy.

I would say its rated at it or exceeds it. The impact from my accident was about 20-25 mph. The bumper held its shape pretty well after hitting a pole. And for the record, I was not driving...

http://www.timeng.net/photos/svxfixed/before.jpg

The exterior part of the bumper is a very flexible plastic. When svxfiles sent me the outside he folded the edges together flat, and when i unwrapped it and pushed it back out, there were no creases in the bumper and it held its original shape.

Underneath it lies its bumper support that is very solid. Mine creased in the center after the accident but the rest of the bumper still held its shape.

Here you can see where mine cracked and a chunk fell out, and the very obvious damage to everything else was from a collision from a Chevy S10.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...f/DSC07975.jpg
In normal weather the bumpers deform quite well rather than just bursting.

I've never heard of that one. When they say the bumbper must be rated, do they mean the plastic bumper cover, or the big beefy metal bumper beam underneath? Many new cars require thousands in bodywork after a 5 KPH colision with a pole, so obviously the plastic withstanding the impact is not important. The metal bumper of an SVX is quite substantial. I would have no worries about it.

Plus, the SVX that was sold in Canada was the exact same as the SVX sold in the US (except heated seats in 94+ I think), so I would think that it has already passed the test.

not the plastic shell
 

Hello

I am not sure what exactly they mean but it needs to be rated at 8KMs. I don't think they mean or care of the cosmetic damage after a collision thus I assume they mean whats behind the plastic. On a note cars may look the same but often US spec imports or even American cars are different than Canada spec ones. An example of this is all Canadian cars have daytime running lights and have had them since the lates 80's or early 90's while US spec'd cars of the same model do not. I would have to have that modified on the SVX, and the switch it currently has is not accepted. It must be unbale to be turned off. Another example is the Nissan 300ZX, the 1994-96 models require the bumper shells removed and the inners replaced then the shells can be put back. Lots of the info is on a site called www.riv.ca
This is a list and I QUOTE"
ü Recall clearance letter
ü The vehicle must bear a manufacturer's valid U.S. statement of compliance label at the time of importation.
ü The Registrar of Imported Vehicles will mail a Canadian statement of compliance label to you after passing the federal inspection.
ü Valid alpha-numeric 17-digit VIN
ü Metric speedometer and odometer labels (provided by inspection centre)
ü Daytime running lights
ü Infant restraint kit
ü Child tether anchorage (refer to Admissibility List)
ü 8 km/hour bumpers (refer to Admissibility List)
ü French supplementary restraint system label for airbags that require periodic maintenance
END QUOTE"

Regards

Max

I doubt anything traveling slower than 10km/h will be able to reach the steel beam, whatever it's called behind the bumper.

Structurally, I believe all SVX are identical.

Bah, my Taurus doesn't have daytime running lights and I've never had a problem with it. It was built in Chicago but has lived it's entire life in Ontario. :lol:

I know that people have imported SVXii to Canada without issue though (in past years when they did not yet qualify for the 15 year exemption), so you should be fine.

Know people
 

Hello

Great, glad to know that you know people who have. If they were able to register them and not had been required to modify anything than that must mean the SVX is already rated at 8KM/hour or higher.

I am this mouch closer at bidding on the one on ebay.

Regards

Max

To the best of my knowledge, all you'll have to do is have the dash converted to KPH, and depending on who inspects the car, figure out some way to give it daytime lights. The standard SVX running light setup is to have the fog lights going when not using the headlights. You may be able to strike a bargain with the inspecting machanic and decide something between you that doesn't involve spending money though.

I'm not sure if you know, so I'll just post this link, but the owner of that car you wish to bid on has posted a thread about the auction.

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=41692

That standard is also a common advertising trend here in the us. The SVX and every other car i have ever heard of with the bumper cover/styrofoam/reinforced beam setup is set up for the 5mph no damage deal. They used to advertise it, but not so much anymore. I know i read it in one of my SVX books that it is this way.

8 kph/hour
 

Hi everyone, I beleave 8kph is the same as 5mph. Just in metric. This has to do with damage to safety systems like lights, steering, brakes and things like that Take care, BOBB

i wasn't paying attention and rear ended my sisters 96 svx in my 92 this morning going 5ish mph, and no damage that i could see...
thank god

IIRC this is mentioned in the Road and Track guide. Something about the regulations said 5mph bumpers so they designed them for 10mph. Not that you can believe everything in that guide. They are plenty strong enough and will easily meet the 8km/h regulation.