The SVX and you

[Johnybeas]

As expensive as this car is to maintain or modify, honestly, she's worth it. I love my SVX! I've really never driven a car like it. I really think it's an awesome car! I've always liked subaru and when my parents gave me my SVX for my 17th birthday, I fell in love. The way I see it is, when something breaks, why just fix it? why not upgrade it. That's what I did with my tranny, and my rotors and all that.

[blackbolt94red]

Tom, you should rant like that more often, it was good. Yes, all very well said and very much appreciated I hope. I've seen some older members less and less here. My SVX has been a DD for almost 15 years, winter and summer and the only time it has failed to start (of late) is because it has become less of a DD and more of a once-a-weeker. (OAW?) It's a schedule thing and since the wife and I work across the street from one another thats just how it goes. But your right Tom, things wear out. I never raced or abused my car but things are starting to go, like you said the rubber gets hard, gasgets fail, hoses...hell, now that I think on it, I've got some 10 year old hoses on the car........but I did the timing belt, the bearings, and all in all, for 15 years, I've spent less on repairs than I thought I would. I remember an MG Midget I had back in the 60's, (oh God, remember carberators?) and it would start every day if I drove it every day, but let it sit for a week or ten days and it was deader than a doorknob.
I guess, in closing, I love it too much to let it go.

BTW, I wonder who's owned one the longest?

Bruce

[SUBATRONIX]

I have been a member of this forum for about a year, always reading the posts, but too bashful to reply. This I have to reply to. My first SVX was a salvage car from Copart, a company which sells repairable vehicles. This car, an ebony pearl LSL, had been smashed on the passenger's front, the headlight, bumper, hood, frame rail, fender all pushed in. I feel fortunate that my uncle has a body shop, where I put the car on his frame rack and did all the straightening on my own, learning as I go. I had a parts car, bought some new parts, doing all the body work in my spare time. This was the car I learned how to paint base coat and clear coat with, covering it with a Prizmatique red over pearl black. This was after two previous attempts with the paint gun. I bought two wrecked 98 Outbacks for the 5-speed, because I knew of the potential transmission troubles---I prefer three pedals, too. I love the car. I was raised in a family that owned nothing but Subaru, except for my dad's 64 Corvair van, and I have owned nothing else.
I grow bored with the tuner 'bolt-on' crowd, their overall lack of effort, imagination, devoid of the out-of-the-box thinking you see in old school
hot-rods. I love this car, its shape, the logic and symmetry of the engine, the engineering simplicity of everything in the car, from all the work put into it. The cost is irrelevant, in balance with the esteem I feel for this car. I know it should be a concern; you get what you pay for.

[svxistentialist]

Well Subatronix, we have not heard from you before, but it's good to hear from you now!

You're very welcome to the club, sounds a lot like you will fit in. Please post some pics for us when you can, and chime in with your knowledge any time you feel like it.

Joe

[ensteele]

Thanks for your post. If you have a chance, post your SVX info in the registration forum.

[Uncamitzi]

I haven't added my 2 cents for a while about things like this... but here goes


A rule of thumb for me is ... : after I've paid off my car I keep paying about 2/3rds of the last monthly payment into a fund for maintenance on that car. it's worked for the most part and I've had enough to keep things working on older cars.

[ensteele]

Originally Posted by Uncamitzi

I haven't added my 2 cents for a while about things like this... but here goes


A rule of thumb for me is ... : after I've paid off my car I keep paying about 2/3rds of the last monthly payment into a fund for maintenance on that car. it's worked for the most part and I've had enough to keep things working on older cars.

Great system, and you still save because it is less than a car payment.

[McTaff]

Tom, and almost everyone in this thread, are showing a down to earth approach that I 100% agree with. I bought my first SVX back in 1999. It cost me A$20k back then.
Nowadays they can be had for half that.

This is an enthusiasts car. Anyone who expects otherwise is kidding themselves. At 17 years old, you can't expect too much from the car. It's not a sports car, it's a luxury GT cruiser.

Recently, the value of my pearlie was about $9k according to the market and insurance crowds, and I've spent probably $20,000 on it so far - and it still doesn't go any faster! But I don't care... it's my hobby

[rvnmaniac]

That's right i haven't seen you with Prada shoes or a Gucchi bag,,,HMMMMM



I'd rather be buying parts for my SVX than spending my money on designer shoes or a purse. A purse is not dragging my @$$ to work everyday. [/QUOTE]

[Mike621]

I think there are so many people who still have not read this thread, and SHOULD.


Its funny to watch certain people call themselves enthusiasts, when they are just truly cheap people trying to pinch pennies. I find that when I truly have a passion for something, I give more than the bare minimum to get by. There are true enthusiasts on this site, ones who go above and beyond for these cars.

I know I am one of them.


I think to the majority, my cars and services are worth little to nothing, and even to much of this group, a discount, a break, a freebie, or invitation aren't enough to get support for an establishment specifically focused on their vehicle. But I digress.

I truly feel that support for the svx as a vehicle of value is dwindling, and I don't know what I can do about it aside from taking care of my own.

[svxistentialist]

Originally Posted by Mike621

I truly feel that support for the svx as a vehicle of value is dwindling, and I don't know what I can do about it aside from taking care of my own.

Mike

The phrase you use "a vehicle of value" is interesting.

It is most interesting in the number of interpretations that can be put on this statement, depending the type of person making the remark.

To some, a vehicle of value can mean they are getting or using a car that has net worth more than what it cost them. These will be "cheap" owners.

To others, a vehicle of value could mean a vehicle that has capability to perform the function they need. Or even beyond their needs. Like the SVX's winter driving ability for instance. These owners could be cheap owners, using up the car and disposing of it when their needs change or the car runs out of steam. Or they could be careful owners, who realise they have a special car, and take care of it because it takes care of them.

To yet more people, a vehicle of value could mean a special car that requires care and is worth preserving, because it has classic significance. These people will not be cheap, they will service and care for the car as it requires, and above and beyond that level. I think real and true enthusiasts like you are in this bracket.

I'm merely pointing this out because as the SVX gets older the type of people who buy them for their low market price will tend to have a higher percentage of "cheap" owners. That's just the way it is.

For the enthusiast owner, the SVX is a victim of its own futuristic looks. It still looks modern, and it is trapped in a time warp because collector values will not push the price of the car up until it appeals to collectors. Prices will continue to drop before they rise, I fear.

Joe

[TomsSVX]

At the current rate of crushing... I doubt we will see more than 1000 on the road after 5 more years. THAT is my fear as it becomes more apparent that their owners are looking for the cheap way out of a situation as opposed to the RIGHT way

Tom

[LarryIII]

Tom,

If your prediction comes true, Earl will have ~1.5% of the SVXes in North America. I will have 0.3% of them

[brit-tic]

Hey Joe,

This is an intersting comment and I would like to add my view: With very few exceptions, most cars have a live cycle from new, where they are cosseted to old, where they are just a "cheap" means of transport. During the latter stage, many of them end in a scrap yard, because keeping them on the road is just too costly. This is espeacially true for cars, that were sophisticated and expensive when they were new. What we then have often seen is kind of a resurrection and this not only in the luxury or exotic car segment. Even mass produced cars like the VW Beetle are today sought after and worth a lot of money if in fine fettle. Try to find an early Spitfire outside the UK and you would wonder how much you would have to pay for. What I wanted to say is that the SVX is in the bottom of the valley. Just for how long it will stay there, I do not know. However, one thing is for sure: this car has all the ingredients to become a true classic one day. My guess is, that prices of these cars will slowly but surely rise again over the next couple of years as many more (sadly) disappear for the reasons outlined above. However, this is not relevant for the true enthusiast: I like this car because of its cool look, the outstanding Japanese technology and the Jaguar-like ride quality.
What else: well as you all know, Giorgetto Giugiraro, founder of Ital design, designed the SVX as his last act and what of famous range of predecessors:
Gordon Keeble (1961), Lotus Esprit (1976), De Lorean DMC 12 (1981) and many more of Italian exotics. What else do I need to say... well, may be this: there is only one other 4WD coupe with a flat six engine around in the world. It has the engine in the wrong place, costs 4 to 6 times the price of the SVX zqht for

Cheers,

Brit-tic

[svxistentialist]

Originally Posted by LarryIII

Tom,

If your prediction comes true, Earl will have ~1.5% of the SVXes in North America. I will have 0.3% of them

Heh, heh, Larry

I already own 75% of the SVXes in Ireland.



Joe