Overall impression and first AWD experience.
 

Decided to start a new thread now that the new purchase (Polo green 1997 Lsi - the one discussed in this thread) is home and I can check the car out thoroughly.

Let me just say this - my state of mind has gone from - "Holy $#!^, I have made a HUGE mistake" when the shift cable broke to - "Holy $#!^, I *LOVE* this car" in about four days.

Here's a COMPLETE summary of what I have discovered WRONG with the vehicle:

1) It has two noticable dents: a slight one in the hood, and a baseball-sized one in the rear bumper - both are easy fixes.
2) It will need front brake rotors within the next 15,000 miles - minor pulsing can be felt when braking at high speeds
3) It needs exhaust gaskets installed from the cat forward - these are being UPS-ed to me from the shop in Orlando - they were going to install them there, but the parts shop sent the wrong gaskets.
4) There are two tiny imperfections in the driver's seat.
5) It needs wiper blades.
6) I can't get the freakin' remote transmitter to work (yet).
7) The "D" (gear indicator) light on the dash is burned out.

That's IT.

Now...the good.

- I have every service record from 30,000 miles to 131,000 miles, and all original documentation aside from the window sticker. There was originally a gap in the records after 101,000, but we found a ton more on the way home (under the passenger seat)
- 95% of all work was done at the same Subaru dealer.
- the former and original owner did ALL recommended maintenance. He replaced the timing belt at 60k AND 120k, he's had every wheel bearing replaced, and had the entire tranny rebuilt at 90k when, as the report states, "It started banging into gears." Oh yeah...and he had the oil changed approximately every 2,000 miles. I'm not kidding.
- Everything works. Even the rear wiper washer.
- Other than the two tiny imperfections in the driver's seat, the interior is IMMACULATE.

...so...I got home from work and got to spend some time cleaning/washing/polishing/examining it. Spent about 2 hours, much of which was spent shampooing the carpets (original owner was a smoker), and then took it for a spin through the mountain roads. Naturally, since I washed it, it started *pouring*. On the roads home, I started pushing it through the turns to see how well it would handle in the wet...and I got squirrely before it did. I could *barely* make it slip in the corners. At one point, a guy in an RSX started trying to run with me, and I just dusted him. I got home, looked at my nice shiny SVX, and thought to myself, "That's the best $3,200 I've ever spent."

This car...is FUN. Thanks for helping sell me on one of these cars, guys.

You can't complain much for you paid. :rolleyes:

It looks like the previous owner really cares about the maintenance.

The money is worth it. :)

Where is the green with envy icon when u need it...

Glad you love it so much. I am sure it will bring you joy many more times too.

Ah, yes... those mood swings. Know them well :rolleyes: Every time you get behind the wheel its like falling in love again. Every time you get a repair bill, you think "divorce" :eek: But then you go out for a longer drive and remember why you got "married" in the first place :D

Enjoy!

Welcome fellow '97 SVXer. I hope your SVX gives you as much pleasure as mine does. See you at the Reading PA SVX Meet in April.


PS: Where is Long Pond, PA.

Geez Larry, don't you watch auto racing?!

Congratulations. All your base are belong to us!

Before you change those rotors, get a good torque wrench and torque all the lug nuts equally. Also flush the old brake fluid out and replace it. You might be surprised to see your "warping" gone.

Sounds like you got a steal!

I agree that you got an outstanding deal. You paid less for your '97 than I paid for my '92. (But that's okay, 'cos I love my '92.) Congrats.

dcb

Pics up - in my locker.

great deal. good car. keep dirty side down and shiny side up. oh and don't mate with sides of mountains.

your wheels
 

You may have heard this by now, but looking at your photos in your locker, I noticed that your wheels are on incorrectly. The wheels that you have on the passenger side of your SVX belong on the driver's side and, therefore, vice versa.
The people on this site are so helpful!!! John (SVXCESS) taught me that the spokes of the wheels should always curve towards the front of the car. Also, the left side rims have an "L" stamped on them, close to the valve stem (The right ones have nothing). This is important because the design of the wheel, when correctly installed, helps to extract the hot air away from the brakes.
I asked John to confirm that yours are on wrong in your pictures, and he did. He's the expert! I'm just the student. ;)

Congratulations!