[dcarrb]

Well put, Tom. Should be required reading for any potential SVX owner.

Awhile back I posted about averaging costs for my two; I've forgotten the exact numbers but it worked-out to something like $170 per month for the teal and $190 for the silver. This for the initial purchase and everything except gas and insurance. I've put over 50,000 miles on the teal and 16,000 on the silver, and currently drive each about 5,000 miles per year. Real-world driving, no flogging but no pampering. So far, no major repairs. The teal's got a date with the paint booth; both need it.

ANYONE buying one of these cars should expect to spend at least as much; probably way more.

As to the transmissions: The teal could still be on the original, depending upon whether or not the salesman was telling the truth about that undocumented "recent overhaul." Bone stock except for an auxiliary cooler in series and a "campaign" filter. The silver's got 100,000 miles on it's second tranny, no aux cooler, no filter, nothing. Just regular fluid changes for both. Not bad, in my book.

dcb