AWD SVX Wanted

[1986nate]

Originally Posted by Conn SVX

From what I understand the 92 has no filter. Adding a cooler and external filter would be a good idea. Here you go spending more on it then you did to buy it .

Just about any auto trans has an internal filter including all Jatco Subaru transmissions.

[SubaruJawn]

got some pictures of the black svx from the owner.

here they are:










must be an LSL ?

[LetItSnow]

How do engines get that filthy? I understand that mine gets a perpetual washing but I've never had that happen.

[Sean486]

Do you know if the body is rust free? It is hard to tell from the pictures. It looks pretty nice though!

[SubaruJawn]

said it has a few dents and rust spots.

if nothing major i can repair the rust spots and dents.

[Conn SVX]

Is it possible to go see it without money . Pictures can lie . I would not get hopes up until I sat in it. I looked at a lot of cars over the years that looked mint in pictures ( not only SVX. ) One in particular was a red SVX not far from here . It should have been a parts car. And even then not many usable ones. How far is it ? $20.00 worth of gas will make or break the deal . Do it.

[SubaruJawn]

Originally Posted by Conn SVX

Is it possible to go see it without money . Pictures can lie . I would not get hopes up until I sat in it. I looked at a lot of cars over the years that looked mint in pictures ( not only SVX. ) One in particular was a red SVX not far from here . It should have been a parts car. And even then not many usable ones. How far is it ? $20.00 worth of gas will make or break the deal . Do it.

will run me $50 in gas there and back just to look at it.

i do not want to spend any i have now.

but yes i see your point

[Lookin4SVX]

Please go look at the car before you get your heart set on it.
I don't think you should buy a used car on the first trip anymore than you should from a dealer.
Take a bunch pics while your there, look for flaws, use them to help negotiate the price down over the phone later.

Them camera phone pics you posted don't show anything.

Some the interior pics you posted look ok, but they are of the wrong things.
Pics of the backseats.. no one uses the back seats, so they are usually all mint looking. How about a pic of the driver seat instead?
Pic of the window controller... how about a pic of interior doors handles alcantara instead, you know like were it might get worn and dirty from 19 years of use.

Pic of shifter area, um, all those lines should line up and the sides should not be pulled out like that.

It should be more like this:


That engine bay pic is kinda scary. The only 2 clean spots I see are the oil dipstick and the oil fill.
Makes me wonder if it has oil leak, then again maybe he just changed the oil recently.

You cant really tell what the paint is like from a pic...
Let me show you, here is a pic of my car:


Ok, now here is a pic of what the paint looks like up close:


So he said it has some rust and dents.
Fixing a small rust spot on my rear wheel well on my impreza cost $700.
Not sure what body shops charge in PA, but a little rust is not necessarily cheap to fix..
If it has rust on the paint, what might the underside looks like?

125,000 on stock tranny is not a good thing, I agree bank up your money for the 4.44 swap that will be in your near future.
My 92 had its tranny done at 75,000 (receipts from previous owner). It is now at 198,000 and its starting to flair in 2nd sometimes at low rpm.

I am not trying to discourage you from buying an SVX, I just want you to go into know that this will not be a cheap car, specially if you buy a cheap one.
I knew going into it that I was going to kill this tranny when I bought the car, so I have my 4.44 money in an envelope.
I have spent over 1k on replacing brake calipers, new ball joints, new tierod ends, and a set valve cover gaskets.
I still have do the struts and mounts, but OEM struts are rumored to be shot from sitting on the shelf for 18 years.
So I decided to go with the custom koni inserts and new springs, which are not exactly cheap and I'm still saving for...

All in all I expect it to run me about $4,500 total in mechanical.
I already spent $1,000 on the wheels and tires..
And I want to spend like another $4,000 for new paint.
So its lookin like my $2,500 svx will in the cost me $12,000 in total.

$12k might seem like a lot, but I would rather be driving a 1992 SVX that cost me $12k, than a 2011 kia rio or ford fiesta that cost 12k.

[SubaruJawn]

if its in worse shape than i think. i wont buy it.

$700 for dent repair ?!
less than $50 and i do it my self.

all repairs will be done by me and my father. I'm not like most pansies and go to a shop every time it needs fixed. i have never taken any of my Subaru to a garage to have it repaired. exception for frame straightening i have to take my XT6 to a repair shop for that.

i have done trans changes, never a swap from auto to man but that's a hole new chapter I'm willing to get into and I'm waiting for a car really worth converting to 5 speed, BINGO! the SVX.

I've been told a million times already about the trans issue, i know i know i know. what more i need to say ?

till that can be done i'll take it easy on the trans.

when it comes to pictures i'm not that stupid. i have bought many subarus threw pictures and always end up worse than they look in the picture.

[SubaruJawn]

i have decided to wait, maybe i can get a good one on tax return next year.

i have decided to spend what i got on my XT6. a whopping $575