The Subaru SVX World Network   SVX Network Forums
Live Chat!
SVX or Subaru Links
Old Lockers
Photo Post
How-To Documents
Message Archive
SVX Shop Search
IRC users:

Go Back   The Subaru SVX World Network > Regional SVX Forum & Clubs > European Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-08-2002, 07:30 PM
Bill
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
New to the Network

Hi All.
This is my first post, just registered (came up as a "junior member? Since I've just turned 50 I'll take it as a compliment. Or did I hit the wrong key?)
For some strange reason I have this urge to be an SVX owner. I need your (unbiased?) help to register a sanity check!
I use a car for work and pleasure, covering 25k to 30k miles a year, but I'm looking to buy at around £9,000, if I can find one in the UK.
Is this the car for me? I'll also need to find a good garage because I don't have time for any d-i-y maintenance.

So, am I mad, or have I discovered one of the most unique cars on the road?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-08-2002, 07:51 PM
oab_au oab_au is offline
Registered User
Subaru Gold Contributor
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Coffs Harb, Australia.
Posts: 5,032
Significant Technical Input Registered SVX
Re: New to the Network

Quote:
Originally posted by Bill
Hi All.
So, am I mad, or have I discovered one of the most unique cars on the road?
Right on both counts
Come and join the rest of us nutters, Bill
Harvey.
__________________
One Arm Bloke.
Tell it like it is!

95 Lsi. Bordeaux Pearl, Aust. RHD.149,000Kls Subaru BBS wheels.
97 Liberty GX Auto sedan. 320,000Kls.
04 Liberty 30R Auto Premium. 92.000kls.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-08-2002, 08:04 PM
Bill
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Thanks Harvey,
Insomnia is also a prerequisite it seems?

..............."time for bed", said Zebedee
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-08-2002, 08:37 PM
Aredubjay's Avatar
Aredubjay Aredubjay is offline
Rat Fink Member ~:o)
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Owensboro, KY
Posts: 11,672
Send a message via ICQ to Aredubjay Send a message via AIM to Aredubjay Send a message via Yahoo to Aredubjay
Registered SVX
A thousand welcomes, Bill. Yes, Harvey has it sussed -- We're mad, we have a unique auto (I have two -- do I have it bad, or what?) and we, ourselves are somewhat unique.

Welcome aboard!!
__________________
Randy Johnson
3rd Registered Member 02-21-2001
First Member to Reach 10,000 Posts
First to arrive at the very first Reading Meet
Subaru Ambassador

1992 SVX PPG Pace Car Replica 110+k
1993 White Impreza L 240+K miles
2001 Legacy Outback Limited Sedan 250+K miles
2013 Deep Indigo Pearl Legacy 3.6R 49+K miles

"Reading is my favorite Holiday"
Mike Davis -- at Reading VI
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-09-2002, 01:40 AM
TonyShaleUK
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Free straight jacket with every car

Welcome to the madhouse!

I too do the sort of mileage that you talk about. Had my SVX 13 months and have covered 23k miles with no breakdowns. Mines a 92 model year. Thing you have to watch is the cost of servicing every 7.5k miles. I use a local franchise at £20 an hour, so normal service is under a £100. Main service from Subaru in the order of £450!

Terriffic fun car to travel distances (one of my offices is 100 miles each way, so frequently travelling for 1.5 hours plus). Great, relaxing car. Comfy too - find it as good seat-wise as my previous Volvo.

Go for it!!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-09-2002, 01:06 PM
svxistentialist's Avatar
svxistentialist svxistentialist is offline
Jersey Girl
Alcyone Gold Contributor
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Ireland
Posts: 8,270
Send a message via Skype™ to svxistentialist
Registered SVX
Go, buy one

You know you want one.

Like Tony, I do 17K+ annually in mine. It is well built and reliable. Up to a point.

Seriously, though, I have had gearbox trouble, and also a growling rear bearing. But aside from that, it is faultless.

It's a really nice car to drive, good sound system, comfortable, and of course unique.

You could buy more sensible cars, but at this money, you could not buy better.

Joe
__________________
Black Betty [Bam a Lam!] '93 UK spec, still languishing Betty
Jersey Girl Silver '92 UK [Channel Isles] 40K Jersey Girl @ Mersea
Candy Purple Honda Blackbird Plum Dangerous
White X2 RVR Mitsubishi 1800GDI. Vantastic

40,000 miles Jersey Girl
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-12-2002, 05:30 PM
Bill
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
What do you suggest I look out for when buying a second hand car, apart from a full service history?
I'd heard the gearbox is a problem, but is this just on early models up to '93 or so? Will a car with a re-conditioned gearbox be a bonus, or a sign of more problems to come?
As for wheel bearings, is there any way to tell the noise from general tyre rumble (bearing in mind I haven't driven one before).
Any other pointers would be appreciated.
One last point for UK members. I'm looking for a UK car, not a Japanese "grey" import, because I've been told Subaru dealers wont touch an import. Any experience of this?
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 08-12-2002, 06:23 PM
svxistentialist's Avatar
svxistentialist svxistentialist is offline
Jersey Girl
Alcyone Gold Contributor
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Ireland
Posts: 8,270
Send a message via Skype™ to svxistentialist
Registered SVX
???

Quote:
Originally posted by Bill
What do you suggest I look out for when buying a second hand car, apart from a full service history?
I'd heard the gearbox is a problem, but is this just on early models up to '93 or so? Will a car with a re-conditioned gearbox be a bonus, or a sign of more problems to come?
As for wheel bearings, is there any way to tell the noise from general tyre rumble (bearing in mind I haven't driven one before).
Any other pointers would be appreciated.
One last point for UK members. I'm looking for a UK car, not a Japanese "grey" import, because I've been told Subaru dealers wont touch an import. Any experience of this?
Bill,

You ask good, but big questions.

"What do you suggest I look out for when buying a second hand car, apart from a full service history?"

Normal rules apply. The less owners, the better. Buy from elderly gents who no longer can fold up gracefully enough to get into the driver's seat.
Avoid[like the plague] younger owners who will discover by trial & error if you treat it like an Impreza or a motorbike, it will end up worth much less than either.

"I'd heard the gearbox is a problem, but is this just on early models up to '93 or so? Will a car with a re-conditioned gearbox be a bonus, or a sign of more problems to come?"

The gearbox suffers from heat. Later models cope better, but after '95. A recon box will[normally] indicate an earlier car. The [defective] oil cooler is in the rad. Beware a recon early[pre-'95] car, if the transmission specialists did not know enough to fit an extra transmission cooler as part of the remedy. They may well be[probably are!] experts, but are not sufficiently well informed about this particular problem.

"As for wheel bearings, is there any way to tell the noise from general tyre rumble (bearing in mind I haven't driven one before).
Any other pointers would be appreciated."


Yes.
Normal tyre roar is constant. In pitch. You will hear it, even while cruising through 30 mph zones, and is noisier when you open a window.
Bearing noise is more of a low growl, that changes directly in proportion to road speed. If you need to be certain, have someone else drive the car, fold down the rear seats from the back seat, you will be able to tell which wheel it is by sticking your head in the boot.

"One last point for UK members. I'm looking for a UK car, not a Japanese "grey" import, because I've been told Subaru dealers wont touch an import. Any experience of this?"

Tony??

Phil??

Best of luck with your search.
[My advice, you find a good Japanese spec car, do not be biased, think of your pocket. Servicing will cost the same, nothing will be unobtainable.]

Joe
__________________
Black Betty [Bam a Lam!] '93 UK spec, still languishing Betty
Jersey Girl Silver '92 UK [Channel Isles] 40K Jersey Girl @ Mersea
Candy Purple Honda Blackbird Plum Dangerous
White X2 RVR Mitsubishi 1800GDI. Vantastic

40,000 miles Jersey Girl
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 08-13-2002, 12:52 AM
Andy's Avatar
Andy Andy is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Guernsey, Channel Islands
Posts: 2,606
Send a message via Skype™ to Andy
I cannot add a lot to Joe's comments, except that UK spec cars are MUCH MUCH better

My car is a 93 (92 model) and runs perfectly in every way. I have driven many different motors and this is definitely my favourite.

Just make sure that you aren't buying a dog, as with most cars, mechanical abuse always shows.


Welcome on board.


Andy
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 08-13-2002, 02:12 PM
TonyShaleUK
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Grey import

You are right about gey imports - Subaru won't touch them. And unless you borrow someone's UK chassis number, they won't order parts either! Bell & Colvill will help if you give them a part number.

I use a local specialist to look after mine, altho' apart from changing the steering rack and pcv valve (couldn't be bothered for the latter!), this has only been normal servicing - but then it's much cheaper than Subaru!

Good luck
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 08-13-2002, 04:34 PM
svxistentialist's Avatar
svxistentialist svxistentialist is offline
Jersey Girl
Alcyone Gold Contributor
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Ireland
Posts: 8,270
Send a message via Skype™ to svxistentialist
Registered SVX
Same here, more so.

Subaru main dealers do not want to touch my car. Knowing how much they don't know, I don't want them near it either, so it's mutual.

I need something done, I go to a specialist. With a lot of parts, it is cheaper to order them from the States, pay the carriage and duty, than to buy from locals. I order the parts from svxparts.com. The website is good, if time-consuming, and you can get Subie part numbers from it. I have done this, gone to a main dealer, and said, get me filter ao639.....whatever, and they get it no questions asked. If their price is multiples of the US price, I ship from the States, and wait for delivery.

The world is too small a place now to let car dealers keep screwing us. I don't think there is a Halford's in Dublin, but I may be wrong. Anybody getting parts from Halfords or other chains, please post up the part numbers and prices, so all the members will benefit.

Joe
__________________
Black Betty [Bam a Lam!] '93 UK spec, still languishing Betty
Jersey Girl Silver '92 UK [Channel Isles] 40K Jersey Girl @ Mersea
Candy Purple Honda Blackbird Plum Dangerous
White X2 RVR Mitsubishi 1800GDI. Vantastic

40,000 miles Jersey Girl
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:03 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
© 2001-2015 SVX World Network
(208)-906-1122