About to buy an SVX, need opinions.
 

First a foremost, I really need an unbiased opinion on this. While I appreciate the "BUY AN SVX WOOOOO" fanclub, it's not the type of advice i'm looking for. I used to own a 91 Audi Quatro, so I am right there with you when it comes to the love of rare cars. So here is the nitty gritty of the car.

92 LS-L (with all the options)
105k miles
Some kind of weird ass dark purple lol <--I'm a male, I don't do "fancy" color terms.
Aftermarket Rims (with another set of aftermarket and a car cover with the purchase)

The lady that owns it bought it used with 1,200 miles on it. Apparently the original owners didn't like the car or the windows. At one point it was taken to a mechanic for an undisclosed issue and the Fan Clutch (it seems) was jury rigged to a switch beside the Gear Column. Basically you flip the switch, then hit the auto button on the AC and it turns on, very weird. The plug from the fan originally was unplugged, I plugged it in and flipped the switch on the column, all the sudden I get smoke from burning wires. I flip the switch back and get ready to put out a fire with my hands. I got lucky lol. No fire, but that system needs replaced without a doubt. Battery was dead both times I showed up, but it had been sitting once for 6 months and then for 2 weeks with only being ran for 5 minutes. No big, new battery ./shrug

I took it to Goodyear and went over the car with them. It needs rear wheel bearings, cam seals, crank seals, and the power steering seems to be leaking from an undisclosed location. They guessed the power steering gear (a term i've never come across). Left rear tire was dry rotting (been sitting for 6 months) so it needs replaced. A timing belt and possible water pump was recommend since the engine was already being pulled. I agreed, total rough quote was 1200$ parts and labor.

I also slammed it once or twice to feel for transmission slipage or flat spots in the power curve. I couldn't feel a damn thing except my head getting pushed back. It pulls to redline in 2nd gear, so I'm guessing a very agressive ECU settings stock or someone has hooked it up and changed it.

She wants 3000$ for the car, 1200$ to get it up to speed, 4200$ worth it?

Re: About to buy an SVX, need opinions.
 

To fix all the stuff mentioned, $1,200.00 sounds very low. To me $3,000.00 is a bit much for a car with so many issues, you'll undoubtedly find more problems in the near future.

Gonna be way more than that unless you plan to do some of the labor yourself, or have some sweet competent mechanic friends to hook you up.

$1700-5600 <- somewhere in there.

Re: About to buy an SVX, need opinions.
 

You are thinking along the lines I was. The 1200$ quote had me raise my eyebrows as well. Apparently they are just going to pull the engine and do it all at once, simple destruction/reconstruction. I won't argue with it though, cheap work is hard to find.

In relation to the 3000$ for the car, I need to evaluate a better offer to give her. Any suggestions for bargaining?

As to problems in the near future; My only major concern is a transmission blowing. I happen to have a 4.44 outback tranny laying around as of 2 weeks ago. Some kind of weird massive amounts of luck.

It's a shame its going to cost so much to fix, it really looked like a nice find.


EDIT: I'm going tomorrow to get a general quote for the parts alone. Maybe if I buy them seperately I might save some cash if it isn't stupidly expensive and I decide not to buy it.

Re: About to buy an SVX, need opinions.
 

Wish it wasn't so, but I think the asking price is high.

Does the seller have maintenance/repair receipts dating back to when she acquired the car @ 1200 miles? Has the transmission been replaced? The radiator? Engine oil and ATF changed regularly?

I think the jury-rigged, smoldering wire fan business would concern me more than the transmission.

Good luck,
dcb

Re: About to buy an SVX, need opinions.
 

Ditto. Weird wiring says the owner didn't know what they were doing, but thought they did. Who knows what else they messed with on the car.

Re: About to buy an SVX, need opinions.
 

Got ahold of the mechanic who did the wiring. Apparently something in the wiring harness had rubbed through, and shorted. She wanted it fixed for cheap so he bypassed the plug instead of tracing it like he should have.

The woman knows jack about cars, I told her what the manual button did, she blinked and said "Is that good?" ./sigh

I'm going to have to let this one go, if anyone wants to take a swing at it for a parts car ect give me a holler.

The engine bay is the cleanest i've ever seen, there is no doubt the car is in awesome condition, its just 16 years old.

Re: About to buy an SVX, need opinions.