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To new or prospective SVX owners
Here I offer the maintenance and repair records on my silver SVX. I paid $1800 for this car in August of 2006, with an odometer reading of 154,273 miles. I've logged 19,500+ miles in local routine driving and occasional 250 mile road trips. Valve cover gaskets and front seals (and hopefully the timing belt) had apparently been replaced by a previous owner. Safe bet that a PO also took the hit for a radiator and rear wheel bearings. It's bone stock, tight, ultra-quiet (excepting occasional chatter from a heat shield at speed), rust-free, and strong. It exhibits less-than-artful collision repair to the nose, needs paint and a host of minor things such as dash bulbs and sun visors. All-in-all, it's probably a fairly typical example, thus this list may be of interest to those with, or considering, a car of similar age/mileage:
69,780 mi. transmission replaced (receipt came with the car) 154,301 mi. battery replaced 154,320 mi. air filter replaced 154,375 mi. oil and filter changed power steering fluid changed rear wiper blade replaced 154,445 mi. four-wheel alignment tires balanced and rotated 154,456 mi. radio antenna assembly replaced (used) 154,472 mi. transmission fluid and filter changed differential lube changed (both) 154,500 mi. rear wiper motor assembly replaced (used) 154,665 mi. front wiper blades replaced 154,739 mi. fog lamp bulb (right side) replaced 156,924 mi. oil and filter changed PCV valve replaced front wheel bearings (both) replaced front ABS tone wheels (both) replaced right-front ABS sensor replaced power steering high-pressure hose replaced 157,228 mi. window master switch replaced 158,718 mi. throttle position sensor replaced 159,600 mi. ignition switch replaced tires (4 Cooper CS4 Touring, V-rated) 160,000 mi. oil and filter changed steering rack replaced AC compressor/receiver replaced (R-134a) power steering return hose replaced 162,773 mi. front sway bar bushings replaced oil and filter changed 170,732 mi. hood support struts replaced 170,750 mi. right-front brake hose replaced oil and filter changed transmission fluid and filter changed tires balanced and rotated 170,767 mi. alternator and drive belt replaced 173,100 mi. right low-beam headlight bulb replaced 173,770 mi. rear strut mounts and spring seats replaced Bold-type items were goners; other stuff was PM/wishful thinking. I have a shift lock control unit, trunk struts, and breather hoses in the garage, waiting to be installed on some warm Saturday. Add a starter relay to the to-do list. It bothers me not knowing the age of the timing belt and I'll probably tend that in the coming year. In short, there's always something as a matter of routine. Candidly, I'm crazy about this car but lack the resources and motivation to treat it as it truly deserves. You should budget accordingly. dcb |
Re: To new or prospective SVX owners
Thanks for the detailed synopsis. After nearly 5 years of ownership, I've contemplating listing out the same, but have yet to do so. :o SVX ownership can prove to be expensive.
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Re: To new or prospective SVX owners
I'm frankly afraid to list everything. :eek: The wife might find it!!
Glenn :lol: |
Re: To new or prospective SVX owners
Owning a SVX is like owning a boat. Your happiest days are the days you bought the SVX and the day you sell the SVX.
:D |
Re: To new or prospective SVX owners
yikes! i've done very little to the ebony svx in 33 months / 61k miles of ownership, but the things i have done have been major.
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Re: To new or prospective SVX owners
It's awful that the SVX can be picked up for a fraction of its upkeep cost. These cars are going to die away as they are bought by people who aren't aware that they're probably going to pay the difference to maybe $7k-10k to keep it from becoming (or remaining) rolling (or not!) junk, and don't follow through with that expense.
It's not an $1800 car in the conventional sense! |
Re: To new or prospective SVX owners
Understand, I don't think this is a bad record for an eighteen year old, eighteen hundred dollar car. It's a real-world example. Folks should be mindful that it takes money, constant care, and more money to keep ANY old car rolling.
The more I spend on these things, the longer I figure they've got to stick around and earn their keep. dcb |
Re: To new or prospective SVX owners
1992 Claret SVX
Purchased August 2005: 149.xxx Mi http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...claret+vermont Replaced MAF with Used Unit Installed New Wipers (Bosch Triple Edge) New Exhaust System (Magnaflow/installed by SubaFreak) 151k~ Replaced Front Pads. Replace Battery Replace Alternator Replaced LR Wheel Bearing Installed Poly Front Sway Bushings Replaced RF Caliper 160k~ Installed '04 WRX Radio Replaced Radiator Replaced Front Speakers with MB Quart Discus Replaced Rear Speakers with Kicker Replaced Entire Exhaust with Stock System 168k Replaced Rear Subframe and Differential Used (Donor) Replaced All 4 Struts (Donor Car) Replaced All 4 Hubs (Donor Car) (Donor Car was a 51k Mile 97 LSi that was wrecked in the front end.) Replaced Front Rotors and Pads 162k Replace Battery Complete Repaint. Winter 2007 Alcyone Emblem HIDs Replaced Wiper with Bosch Icons (170k) Replaced door edge trims, cladding retainers Spring 2007 Replaced Both Bumper Covers Swapped Interiors Entirely Spring 2007 (Car was driven seldom for the next two years, and parked most of the time) Rebuilt Engine 171k (March 2009) Rebuilt Alternator Replaced Transmission 171k (March 2009) Installed Mazda RX8 Wheels with Toyo Proxes 4 171k (March 2009) Replaced Power Steering Pump Replaced Steering Rack Purchased Prodrive Wheels for Summer Replaced Radio with Pioneer Unit (180k) Replaced Front Differential (180k) 185,000: Removed Engine (lost compression), Transmission(Diff Failed Again), Rear Differential, etc In progress: Replacing Fuel Lines Above Tank, Install Rebuilt Shortblock, Swap to 5 speed Replace Rear Brakes Replace PS Pump Reinstall A/C and Charge Install Bullet CB Exhaust |
Re: To new or prospective SVX owners
Forgot the speakers: I replaced the blown, factory-original door speakers with some aftermarket units I found on eBay. Twenty bucks, shipped? Still using the stock CD/radio.
On the other SVX I went mod-wild and installed a cheap transmission cooler.:D dcb |
Re: To new or prospective SVX owners
That's nice... if I kept a record on my car... I would /wrists just by looking at it.
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Re: To new or prospective SVX owners
Awhile back I totaled all my SVX expenses excepting gas and insurance. Purchase price—everything—divided by months of ownership. Figured maybe I'd do better with a new car payment. Not there yet.
dcb |
Re: To new or prospective SVX owners
Oh god...
Date.............Kilometers...........Work Done/Purchase Made 08-May-07.......175744.............Brought her home. 10-May-07.......175853.................Safety Inspection 09-Jun-07.................................PWR Rad purchased 15-Jun-07........176000..................Exhaust repaired 15-Jun-07........176000..........Rear pads and rotors, front pads 05-Jul-07....................................JDM Hood Badge 13-Jul-07.........176044.................Safety Inspection 13-Aug-07........................................Insured 14-Aug-07.....................................6000K HID kit 15-Aug-07........176140.................Emmissions Test 15-Aug-07........176140.....................Registered 16-Aug-07........176300.....................Oil Change 25-Aug-07........176500..................Installed HID kit 06-Oct-07.........................JDM Clear Corners downpayment 19-Oct-07................................Rear bearings and bolts 03-Nov-07.................................15/15 Mod, 20/20 Mod 05-Nov-07.................................Winter Tires Purchased 07-Nov-07...........................JDM Clear Corners Final Payment 08-Nov-07...........................Rear lateral link arm, alignment bolt, '05 Outback endlink 10-Nov-07............................Group A Crank and Alt pulley 25-Nov-07........178900...........Left rear wheel bearing replaced 04-Dec-07........179000.............Reman alternator installed 04-Dec-07........179000 ................New alt belt installed 21-Dec-07........179935 .................Snow tires installed 10-Jan-08..................................16 quarts Amsoil 5w30 12-Jan-08.........181002.......................Oil change 21-Jan-08.........181450...............$15/15 min mod installed 21-Jan-08.........181475........Optima Red Top battery bought and installed 28-Jan-08.........181800.............Left front ball joint replaced 08-Feb-08......................................Gold Sti BBS rims 24-Mar-08........185000............Right Rear wheel bearing replaced 13-Apr-08........186112..........Oil Change, front/rear diff oil changed 13-Apr-08........186112..................Summer tires installed 16-Apr-08........186300........................Alignement 25-May-08.......191000........................Oil Change 10-Aug-08........194110 .........Oil change, reseal valve covers, cams, crank, timing belt, spark plugs, install PWR rad, coolant flush, new upper rad hose 25-Aug-08....................................Oil Pan purchased 26-Aug-08........194350 ...................Oil Pan Replaced 10-Sep-08........196592 ............Right Front Ball Joint replaced 02-Oct-08........197250................ECU Bead Crush mod 07-Oct-08........197440...............Winter Tires Installed 20-Nov-08........198000 ...........Corrosion Free undercoating 11-Apr-09.........203000...............Summer tires installed 30-Apr-09.........203503.......................Oil change 04-Jun-09.........205345.............Coolant flush and new t-stat 23-Jul-09.............................Inner/Outer tie rods purchased 25-Jul-09..........207500............New water pump installed 07-Aug-09........208000 ........New Cat-Back exhaust fabricated 28-Aug-09........208385 ........Tie Rods replaced, alignment done 04-Sep-09........208685 ...................Emmissions Test 04-Sep-09........208685 ................Renewed License Plate 14-Sep-09........210550 ..............Replaced PCV Valve 06-Dec-09........213175 ..............Winter Tires Installed That is missing a few things, including the doors I put on the car 1.5 years ago. Total spent on the car by my speadsheet: $10,795. This does not include gas or insurance, or the random crap like cleaning stuff and fluid top-ups. $4000 was the purchase price for my SVX, so I've sunk almost $7K into it since then. Important note: Very few things on my car have "broken". The alternator, rear bearings, brakes, water pump and exhaust are the only things that have ever broken and needed to be replaced. Those represent $1200 at most. Everything else has been preventative maintenance, or just done because I thought it should be. I would disagree with Seraph. I love my SVX every day I drive it. It has never let me down. I take it on a 1000 mile trip to school and back every year. There is no other car I would rather be driving. (well, I would love an EJ22 swapped Brat to pound through the winter to keep the SVX clean, but you know what I mean.) |
Re: To new or prospective SVX owners
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The asking price for my car was $6500 and I talked them down to $3200 based on the repairs I said were needed to make it "like new" and I still overpaid. I've now spent about half that sum over a year to repair/upgrade my car and it's getting close to where she needs to be. It's still cheap, it just depends on your perspective. My car's sneaking up on 200k miles quickly, but I figure a trans replacement/upgrade is on the horizon, and an engine rebuild may be in the cards as well. Once that's all done, I can justify the bodywork she needs and I can't imagine anything that'd send this car to retirement. Treated right these cars will last forever, and do it for less money than the modern equivalent (as if there is such a thing). You've just got to keep up with your "payments". |
Re: To new or prospective SVX owners
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Re: To new or prospective SVX owners
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Since then I have spent well over that price in just mechanical repairs: replaced the sparkplugs(Guy who had it before me only replaced the passenger side and he used the wrong kind), right rear brake caliper and rotor(due to caliper seizing up), Transmission(due to shearing front diff and nonworking AWD), MAF(due to stalling), timing belt(due to breaking), idlers and water pump(preventitive), Camshaft and sprocket(due to broken timing belt), coil packs(one was going bad replaced them all),driveshaft(broken front u-joint),front axles(due to vibration). Car now has over 200,000miles on it and it runs great, but it is sad knowing that the value of my car doubles when I put my bicycle on the roof rack! |
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