Spoiled by SVX

Conn SVX · #1 05-18-2012, 07:08 PM

Wife wrecked her Acura TL on Sat (last week ) car was totaled . We got a rental
Chevy Malibu LT
Brakes feel like I am using a stick to stop it
They must have used it to set speed limits, you always feel like you are going over the speed limit.
They should use it to find pot holes and ruff roads. You can feel every mark in the road. Maybe they have 100 lb in the tires.
Has a good radio good thing something has to drown out the wind and road noise
The seats and driving position makes you feel like you are sitting on a 5# bag of potatoes.
Maybe I am just Japanese spoiled.

Sean486 · #2 05-18-2012, 07:40 PM

Yup. The SVX and the TL set a pretty high standard though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conn SVX

Wife wrecked her Acura TL on Sat (last week ) car was totaled . We got a rental
Chevy Malibu LT
Brakes feel like I am using a stick to stop it
They must have used it to set speed limits, you always feel like you are going over the speed limit.
They should use it to find pot holes and ruff roads. You can feel every mark in the road. Maybe they have 100 lb in the tires.
Has a good radio good thing something has to drown out the wind and road noise
The seats and driving position makes you feel like you are sitting on a 5# bag of potatoes.
Maybe I am just Japanese spoiled.

subeman90 · #3 05-18-2012, 08:06 PM

My cousin wiped out his TL this week on the pa tpk. Bad week for acuras I guess.

Green1995SVX · #4 05-20-2012, 12:15 PM

I am the same way, but I think it's the opposite. Both of my daily cars are Audis, and when I go to the SVX it feels like I'm driving a tin can. It's not as bad as other Japanese cars, though. You can tell Subaru was really trying to achieve a high level of build quality with the SVX.

dbarnblatt · #5 05-20-2012, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green1995SVX

I am the same way, but I think it's the opposite. Both of my daily cars are Audis, and when I go to the SVX it feels like I'm driving a tin can. It's not as bad as other Japanese cars, though. You can tell Subaru was really trying to achieve a high level of build quality with the SVX.

Well it makes sense... you are comparing an Audi that costs $80K in 2001... a full ten years after the SVX was designed and built. Of coarse it is going to make anything feel like a tin can.

It would be interesting to compare the SVX to a 1991 Audi Quattro coupe...

Sean486 · #6 05-20-2012, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green1995SVX

I am the same way, but I think it's the opposite. Both of my daily cars are Audis, and when I go to the SVX it feels like I'm driving a tin can. It's not as bad as other Japanese cars, though. You can tell Subaru was really trying to achieve a high level of build quality with the SVX.

The 18s on the SVX probably don't help.

Green1995SVX · #7 05-20-2012, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean486

The 18s on the SVX probably don't help.

What does that have to do with anything? The only thing I could see that they'd negatively affect would be ride quality, and there's certainly nothing wrong with that.

I didn't mean to upset anyone. I was just posting my observations in comparison to my other cars. The SVX is a great car for what it is, and if compared to cars of the same time period and price point is a great vehicle. That, among other reasons, is why I own one!

Edit: My S8 has 18s too. They all did.

icingdeath88 · #8 05-20-2012, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green1995SVX

Edit: My S8 has 18s too. They all did.

To be fair, they probably still have meatier tires, right?

I think the SVX to the newer Audis makes for an interesting comparison actually, and that you did it very fairly. I don't have much experience with newer luxury cars at all, so I found your comments interesting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbarnblatt

It would be interesting to compare the SVX to a 1991 Audi Quattro coupe...

That would be pretty interesting.

Conn SVX · #9 05-21-2012, 04:32 AM

I was comparing a 2012 car with a 1994. And yes I would like you to compare it to a 1990's Audi. Repair wise they would be in the same ball park. The SVX might even be more reliable.

Sean486 · #10 05-21-2012, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green1995SVX

What does that have to do with anything? The only thing I could see that they'd negatively affect would be ride quality, and there's certainly nothing wrong with that.

I didn't mean to upset anyone. I was just posting my observations in comparison to my other cars. The SVX is a great car for what it is, and if compared to cars of the same time period and price point is a great vehicle. That, among other reasons, is why I own one!

Edit: My S8 has 18s too. They all did.

No, lol nobody is upset here. I thought in general the 18's made the ride a little rougher and figured it tied in to the tin can comment.

Landshark · #11 05-21-2012, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbarnblatt

Well it makes sense... you are comparing an Audi that costs $80K in 2001... a full ten years after the SVX was designed and built. Of coarse it is going to make anything feel like a tin can.

It would be interesting to compare the SVX to a 1991 Audi Quattro coupe...

I was coming from a 1987 928S4 to a 1997 SVX, and yes, tin can. The paint was better on the 10 year older Porsche, and the brakes were so much better that i nearly rear-ended some cars due to not being used to the SVX brakes.

....but it really shined in the snow, which is why i bought it.

im ruined now by AWD!

dcarrb · #12 05-21-2012, 10:28 AM

It's all a matter of expectations, and to what one is accustomed. In terms of overall comfort, performance and appearance, anything I can afford to own in the years to come will surely be a letdown compared to the SVX. Not much of a surprise that someone transitioning from a premium nameplate might feel differently.

dcb

dbarnblatt · #13 05-21-2012, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landshark

I was coming from a 1987 928S4 to a 1997 SVX, and yes, tin can. The paint was better on the 10 year older Porsche, and the brakes were so much better that i nearly rear-ended some cars due to not being used to the SVX brakes.

....but it really shined in the snow, which is why i bought it.

im ruined now by AWD!

It's a Porsche... And a Porsche that costs just shy of $75K... in 1987! So the comparison is good but not great. The 928 S4 was, in it's day, a viable supercar, it was hand made, had an all aluminum body, super high tech, and clocks in at 5.5 seconds 0-60 and tops out at 170mph.

Cars that it compared with were Ferrari and Aston Martin. It was a car that was considered and actually was more high end than any BMW or Mercedes.

Landshark · #14 05-21-2012, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbarnblatt

It's a Porsche... And a Porsche that costs just shy of $75K... in 1987! So the comparison is good but not great. The 928 S4 was, in it's day, a viable supercar, it was hand made, had an all aluminum body, super high tech, and clocks in at 5.5 seconds 0-60 and tops out at 170mph.

Cars that it compared with were Ferrari and Aston Martin. It was a car that was considered and actually was more high end than any BMW or Mercedes.

i just brought it up because the comparison could be made to the SVX with a 10 year older "high-end" marque.

the transition to the SVX with over 100 less hp was tough, but the AWD set it apart and got me through some vicious snowstorms. that's why i was so disappointed in the BRZ, not so much in the power dept, but the lack of AWD. i'm sure they'll jack the power up in later model years of the BRZ, but pretty sure AWD won't be added.

jetboy · #15 05-21-2012, 01:12 PM

There's another thing... the culture thing.

Audis and BMWs, granted not S8s and M3s, are very common here in..uhh. europe. Along with Mercs. Porsches are not so common but the older ones don't really have that much of a "great" reputation. After all, they were prone to falling apart, rusting and killing people for a while. And they're German. Which for some reason translates to something lesser than Italian.. here in Europe

If you want to compare SVX to a BMW, try a lower spec 8-series. If you want to compare it to an Audi.. an RS2 maybe? Or first gen TT. Obviously, SVX lacks a bit in the engine department compared to RS or 8-series but please go compare milages, prices, realiability, performance, cabin quality, NA vs blown etc... and you will find that not only can the overall package of SVX compete with these cars, it wipes the floor as soon as "money" is mentioned. Truly.

To me, and most people here, the German premium brands are really nice.. but just that. No mysticism, not taht much prestige.. yeah... just a tad more expensive than Skodas, Volkswagens and Minis. Due to our insane tax system any car with "STI" on it costs twice a standard 3-series/A4.