[Manarius]

While you may not choose SVX for it's problems (as far as I know the only two that it's most prone to are Wheel Bearings and Transmissions), I would still stay with a Subaru. My Legacy has just over 140k miles and looks and drives like it's brand new. All subarus I see in the paper and online almost always have over 100k miles and while they may not look quite like brand new, they still drive like it. Subarus are well known for their reliability and their easyness to maintain and keep like new. In the time we've had my Legacy, it has never let us sit anywhere. It even sat in an airport parking lot for 2 weeks and started up the very first time when we got back.

My '91, minus the rust around the wheelwells and dulled out hood and bumpers, is clean and shiny everywhere else (then again, I am a car freak). The SVX's can be kept just as well. You can even get away without replacing the tranny as long as you don't drive like a maniac. However, I'm in agreement with most people here: It takes money to maintain a car. However, if kept properly from the start, or even mid-life, the car can last forever and the costs are very little.

Just FYI, the only thing that's ever been replaced on my car is a rear-passenger side bearing and the exhaust system. Otherwise, all the major parts are stock.