'92 Teal is for sale here first

[Rodolfo]

Location of the SVX: Ann Arbor, MI

Year: 1992

Model: LS-L

VIN: JF1CX3536NH103094

Manufacture date: 7/91

Paint Color: Teal

Interior Color: Gray leather

Miles: nearly 162K mostly-highway miles

Location: Ditto

Options: Touring model. It is all stock: leather interior, climate control, single-CD player, FM/AM tuner, cassette player, 8-way power driver’s seat, power heated mirrors, fully manually-adjustable steering wheel, external temp gauge, auto headlights, folding rear-seat back, power sunroof, etc.

AWD or FWD: AWD

Modifications: None, although I use a stack of cassette cases in the console storage to buttress my coffee

Major service: I think only rear bearings about 10-20K ago. Full exhaust system was installed at about 70K and is still strong.

Engine Condition: Excellent, although the check engine light has come on periodically for many years: nearly always, and nearly exclusively, after a short stop. I don’t recall what the mechanic has said, but it’s been some kind of “don’t worry” –so I don’t. It does seem to come on more frequently nowadays, but still after short stops, and I have learned to turn it off by turning the key to accessories about 5-6 times and then starting it. The light goes off and stays off. The engine starts first time, every time, and idles smoothly always. The oil level shows at or near the top, and fairly clean, prior to each oil change, including yesterday’s change. Premium gas always and I get 27 mpg on the road.

Maintenance Records: Most available, since new. Very little repair required, fortunately. Documented 3K-mile oil & filter change at dealers or oil service shops. Sorry synth and fancy-filter fans: conventional oils and filters always used.

Transmission condition: original transmission, excellent. Never used manual, never raced, always driven fast. Smooth shifts, up and down.

Glass condition: A new Subaru-supplied windshield has just been installed. There are some vertical scratches on driver's door that can be seen in a certain light; see the close-up photo of this.

Type of tire and remaining tread: Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S, 225 50R; very good tread left. See close-up photos.

Type of wheels: original 16"; see photos for condition of all four.

Interior condition: Driver’s seat, door side is worn and there’s a 4 to 5-inch unseam or unglue or un-something at the top. The seat itself is fine. Rear ashtray cover snapped off. The passenger door speaker rattles or something in my really high volume moments. There is a one-inch loose stitch or thread hanging from a seam on the steering wheel. The original driver’s side carpet mat is worn, but all carpeting underneath -front and back- is like new. The interior is excellent otherwise and I believe everything but the backlight on the radio works as new. See photos for all of this.

Body condition: Fair. There’s some under-paint rust on hood surface only and some surface rust on a couple of hood and top chips or dings. There’s no visible rust on fenders, jambs or anywhere else. There’s also a 6-8-inch blob-shape clearcoat peel-off or something on the spoiler. It just looks like a dull teal there, but it is totally clean. See close-up photo of this. Otherwise, paint chips in front, top and passenger door in particular. Except for the hood, the car still looks very nice because the paint still shines nicely. The car was garaged for about 14 of its 18 years, including the last 6. Even during those four years, it was mostly always shaded. Only accident was about a year ago when a young lady on her phone -of course- moved into my lane on the Kennedy in Chicago. It was mostly just a paint-damage “kiss” on the rear left fender and it was promptly repaired at Ross-Beakes Collision in Ann Arbor. It looks like new, and testament to the overall paint is that the newly-painted area blended perfectly. A new chip-shield was also installed. In summary, it looks nice, but it does need a make-over and it will definitely be worth doing if I wind up keeping the Green Machine. See close-up photos.

Known defects or problems: None serious. Backlight on radio has been out forever and I can’t tell what station is tuned at night. With presets and a cassette adapter for my music player, I rarely think of it and never miss the backlight. I replaced the first bulb on this car at about 150K –a DS headlight, and a second at about 155K –a DS rear turn-signal light. The dome light just went out and I have to check what it is. I’ve also had to replace the power antenna masts 4 or 5 times, and since the last one or two, I get a click-click-click (or clack-clack-clack) when it goes on and off, but the antenna rises and retracts completely. The trunk lid shocks haven’t worked since the Age of Aquarius, and the hood ones can no longer be trusted: the hood stays up for several minutes and then slooowly, but surely, begins to drop. The trunk remote stopped working this spring or summer, so I have to use the key to open. The sunroof usually requires a nudge to open, but opens smoothly and unfailingly. One-handedly, in sequence, I hit the open button, nudge (no more) the top, and hit the button to open it. Closing is smooth and tight. I have documentation that the issue dates to 24K miles. Otherwise, all else functions pretty much as ever.

Comments about the car: It still drives like the great car that it is. You could drive it back to Fairbanks, AK or wherever you like. I’ve been a registered lurker-only for years, and I’ve learned a lot here. So, I’d like to start out by thanking all of you who have contributed over the years. I’ve always thought that when the day came, I’d post availability here first, and I will signal when I go with the next options.
I am the second owner of this SVX. I purchased it from the original owners in suburban Chicago (I still have a picture in my SVX folder of the woman owner sitting in the car when new) in 1998, with 55,800 miles. Adult, non-smoker drivers and passengers always. No pets ever, in case anyone has an alergy. The new owner will have the original, like-new “Your New Look Subaru: 1992 Owners (sic) Manual”, in its leather binder; two remote openers, although one’s battery is out; and all original keys. I have some original paperwork, including a dealer brochure of SVX road tests or reviews of the time. The original spare is in the trunk, perhaps where Fuji put it. There is documentation that the car was maintained at Ann Arbor Subaru from when I moved here in 2000, until the dealer was sold to a Toyota place. I went with a local mechanic people recommended for a year or two, and then I learned the guy I knew who ran the Subaru service department had opened his own place. The car has been maintained at his Convenience Auto Service shop on Liberty Street for about 4 or 5 years. I believe it’s the best shop in Ann Arbor, and I also take my Isuzu Trooper there. (Also for sale; and, yes, I do seem attracted to great discontinued vehicles.) Convenience Auto did my bearings work a few years ago, and the last work it needed was a Freon fill a few weeks ago. I can’t claim that the car has had outstanding maintenance, but it truly hasn't needed much. I can say that I’ve done the oil changes religiously and I take care of any problems right away at quality places with qualified expert and master mechanics. Fortunately, again, this SVX has been mostly problem-free. Except for the hood, the car still looks very nice as you can see in the photos. An Interstate MTP-24 battery, a new Subaru-issued widshield, and a new driver’s side visor were installed by Maynard Battery, Henderson Glass, and Convenience Auto, respectively, in the past year.

Anyone interested or any questions? Thanks for reading and enjoy the pics!

Asking price: $1992 or best offer (Nov 2, 2010)

Pictures: (External links are OK) see 36 pics at: http://cid-aa3387189766dea2.photos.l...0August%202010