Should I keep my SVX???
 

I've had my SVX about 2 months now, put about 2000 miles on it. Just spent about $1300 at the dealership for new valve seals, oil pan, (it was dented from previous owner) rear trunk lifts, oil pan, short in climate control system. It runs great, love the car, but since I drive 80 miles roundtrip to/from work everyday its starting to worry me! The bearings were replaced at 50,000, and the dealer says it will need new ones soon.

Also my transmission has been replaced once. Although it doesn't slip, it takes awhile when you shift from reverse to drive and vice versa. Does that mean the transmission is going??

Any comments and suggestions would be appreciated. :)

Jeremy

You should have done a little more research on the SVX before getting it first. :)

Although they are reliable most of the time, YMMV with your SVX depending on the abuse the previous owner put through the car. I have posted my stories before. My first SVX lasted a year with me. Within a year, I spent about 10k on the car and the car was in the shop for a good 5-6 months easy. When it was all said and done, engine started to leak real bad before I sold it. Total lost on the car include the initial cost: About 18k. Not a bad way to buy a 5k car right? And I put in about 30k miles.

The other two I had since had been real great. I sold one of them to a member here and I still own the one in my signature.

Since you spent 1300 in the past two months I can say most of your big troubles are over unless your tranny fails as well. Most trannies will fail at about 60-80k range and another 70k or so after a good rebuilt. However, my second SVX had an original tranny and it has over 120k when I sold her.

To keep or not to keep is the issue here and it is the question that you have to ask yourself. The first issue is: Can I afford the car? It's more complicated than "Can I afford gas and insurance?" Can I afford the upkeep of the SVX. If maintained well, the car will last you forever. If you abuse it, it will die pretty quickly, If you are having second thoughts on the car after 1300 of service and two months of driving, it may not be right for you. Please do not take it as an offence. SVXes in my experience needs more $$$ and much more TLC than most cars on the road and if you are having doubts about the car, you might want to think it through before you hate the car that you'd rather beat it up than fix it anymore. I went through that phase. If you still want to fix it after all the troubles, you know you and the car will get along pretty well.

I hope this helps.

Lwin

thanks for the feedback...actually I have all the original maintenance records and the previous owner spent over $10,000 in repairs (all new struts, brakes, rotors, transmission, bearings etc at around 75k) so the car was pretty well taken care of. I just want re-assurance that it will last me at least two more years. (I have 110k now and will probably put 20k a year in the next 2 years.) If not I'll be buying my Dad's old 91 bmw 525i in mint condition. :P

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'92 black LS-L, 110K
'02 BMW 325i 19K

If the previous owner had spent that much, just keep her. There is not much more that can go wrong.

Seems like you got a decent deal.

push come to shove, you can always buy a beater to drive to work daily...keep the svx, or you will always refer to it as "the one that got away" if you don't.....

that reminds me...i miss mine :(

Kelli

THe only problem is my SVX was supposed to be my "beater" to drive to work...(my other car is an '02 bmw 325i) Now I'm in love with my SVX!

Looks like the BMW 325i is now the beater! :D

I have a comment about the 3 series but I am going to keep my mouth shut for now... :D

Anyways, put it this way though, IF you are going to sell the SVX to get another used car, you may be adding more problems to your cause. Why? At least you know what's wrong/ what could be wrong with your current SVX, with another used car, you have don't know what's wrong with it.

L

buy another beater too, make sure it is a nasty POS so you won't fall in love with it! or quit your job and get a closer one ;)

Kelli