SVX a Classic?

[1994SubaruSVX]

and under subaru you see the brat and a legacy. of course the impreza and even some of the early subies. never i mean never do they list the svx.

i think that in itself makes us exclusive if not classic. i have considered selling mine a hundred times but i just cant......love the car too much.

[huck369]

I believe that my insurance company said in Kentucky, you can get Classic car insurance on a car that is 20 Years old OR out of production for 10 years.....So if Subaru dosen't re-introduce a new SVX it's only five years till that mark.

[wawazat??]

Originally posted by svxistentialist
In the UK, the term classic is used very loosely to describe mass market older cars that we males may have had our first sexual experience in.

Joe,
I don't know how many people caught this, but I LOVE that definition!

[Beav]

"A. Belonging to the highest rank or class." '59 Cadillacs weren't the first cars with tail fins, but they achieved classic status because they were the best example of the style.

"B. Serving as the established model or standard." 'Often imitated, never duplicated' is the phrase that comes to my mind. Ford Mustang easily fits here. Even newer Mustangs can't exactly copy the spirit of the original.

"C. Having lasting significance or worth; enduring." Can you say 'Duesenberg'? Duesies are the epitome of that phrase, no other make even comes close.

Now consider the SVX. Japan's answer to the original T-Birds and Rivieras. Personal luxury with a sporty flair. Not really an original idea, but the execution was damned original. Pretty typical of Subaru in that respect. Compact station wagon? Not original. Add AWD - now that's original.

An ultra-smooth, high-powered six cylinder boxer engine with a computer-controlled four-speed OD transmission, four channel ABS, electronic speed-sensitive steering, projector type headlamps, etc., etc. all in one highly stylized, comfortable, original design PLUS AWD? Porsche has one. The 959. You gotta be Bill Gates (or his right-hand man) or one of the family to own one. (just a little under a mil) Under $30,000? Talon and Eclipse aren't anywhere near being in the same league. They were fun to drive (AWD turbos), but I wouldn't want to drive one every day. Stealth/3000GT? Twin turbos, electric wings and electronic mufflers. I can't put my finger on it but those cars were lacking something, something that the SVX has in spades. Panache, style, flair. Smoothness, understated strength. Once inside a Stealth you felt like it was just another car. I guarantee you'll never feel that way while driving an SVX. Maybe that's the true test of what determines a classic car, it is for me.

Beav

[Ron Mummert]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Beav
[B]"A. Belonging to the highest rank or class."
"B. Serving as the established model or standard." 'Often imitated, never duplicated'
"C. Having lasting significance or worth; enduring."

Panache, style, flair. Smoothness, understated strength.

Thanks, Beav. You took the words, at least 'da good woids like "panache", right from my lips. I do think some of us confuse "classic" with "antique". In most states you can get an "antique" plates on a car older than XXXX years. Yes! Your '71 Pinto is an "Antique". Is it a "Classic"? HaHaHaHa!!!

Using Beav's stable of adjectives above, I'd say the SVX qualifies in all categories except the "often imitated" one. I'd add another sub-category that, perhaps, falls under the "milestone" lable, but any limited edition, especially that of any massed produced vehicle, could add to its worth. '57 Ford Fairlane Coupe - nice antique.
'57 Ford Coupe with retractable hardtop - "milestone".

PS - Yes, Joe, all 60's Chevy vans are now declared classics.

Bon Vivant, Ron.

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by Beav
"A. Belonging to the highest rank or class." '59 Cadillacs weren't the first cars with tail fins, but they achieved classic status because they were the best example of the style.

"B. Serving as the established model or standard." 'Often imitated, never duplicated' is the phrase that comes to my mind. Ford Mustang easily fits here. Even newer Mustangs can't exactly copy the spirit of the original.

"C. Having lasting significance or worth; enduring." Can you say 'Duesenberg'? Duesies are the epitome of that phrase, no other make even comes close.

Now consider the SVX. Japan's answer to the original T-Birds and Rivieras. Personal luxury with a sporty flair. Not really an original idea, but the execution was damned original. Pretty typical of Subaru in that respect. Compact station wagon? Not original. Add AWD - now that's original.

An ultra-smooth, high-powered six cylinder boxer engine with a computer-controlled four-speed OD transmission, four channel ABS, electronic speed-sensitive steering, projector type headlamps, etc., etc. all in one highly stylized, comfortable, original design PLUS AWD? Porsche has one. The 959. You gotta be Bill Gates (or his right-hand man) or one of the family to own one. (just a little under a mil) Under $30,000? Talon and Eclipse aren't anywhere near being in the same league. They were fun to drive (AWD turbos), but I wouldn't want to drive one every day. Stealth/3000GT? Twin turbos, electric wings and electronic mufflers. I can't put my finger on it but those cars were lacking something, something that the SVX has in spades. Panache, style, flair. Smoothness, understated strength. Once inside a Stealth you felt like it was just another car. I guarantee you'll never feel that way while driving an SVX. Maybe that's the true test of what determines a classic car, it is for me.

Beav

Yes, and . . . uh . . . well, I think . . . uhm, I believe . . . oh hell, it just can't be said any better than that. Way to go, Beav!

I never think of "classic" cars in terms of age, anyway. To me, a "classic" car is one that means something, even if it doesn't mean a thing to everyone, it means something to SOMEONE.

An '85 Escort Wagon will never be a classic, because for the most part it was only intended for transportaion. Who ever looked at an Escort and said "Wow! Look at that!", or "What kind of car is that?". No one asks what kind of car an Escort is because everyone knows already, the darn things are everywhere. I think I went camping the other weekend and had to shake a few out of my shoes before I could put them back on. When the world is flooded with a car, who cares about it? Especially when the car in question is a gerbil-powered econobox.

The SVX, on the other hand....well, that's a different story. No one seems to know what they are. Almost no one. People ask me all the time what kind of car it is. Most people have a difficult time even believing it's a Subaru. I have never met anyone who did not like my SVX. I haven't had it very long, so there might be someone out there who doesn't. For the most part, however,it is simply a case of people not even knowing there is such a car.

To those of us who DO know about the SVX, it definitely means something. I love my SVX(her name is Ebony, yeah, I know, I name my cars....), I think I'd rather part with a kidney than Ebony. I finally got mine, and I am keeping it, screw the blue book. I wasn't the first owner, but I'll be the last. I am not the only one who feels that way about their SVX, either.

The fact that there are people like me, as evidenced by web sites like this one, are proof enough for me that my car is already a classic, and as far as I am concerned, it was a classic when it rolled off the line back in September of 1991.

Monkeyfeet

'92 SVX (Ebony) 165K
'92 Legacy Wagon (Scooby) 173K
Both still going strong.

[svxistentialist]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ron Mummert
[B]

Originally posted by Beav
"
PS - Yes, Joe, all 60's Chevy vans are now declared classics.

Bon Vivant, Ron.

Ron, we would'na had such luxury over here!!

You still remember the sixties??

Joe

[Ron Mummert]

Originally posted by svxistentialist


Ron, we would'na had such luxury over here!!

You still remember the sixties??

Joe

I remember the '50s & '60s a lot better than the '90s.
Musta' been the mind expanding substances that were in vogue at the time.
Ron.

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by Ron Mummert


I remember the '50s & '60s a lot better than the '90s.
Musta' been the mind expanding substances that were in vogue at the time.
Ron.

According to Jerry Garcia, "If you remember the 60's, you wasn't there."

[svxistentialist]

Originally posted by Aredubjay


According to Jerry Garcia, "If you remember the 60's, you wasn't there."

Most of us wasn't there. Elsewhere was a very full place at the time.

Joe

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by svxistentialist


Most of us wasn't there. Elsewhere was a very full place at the time.

Joe

I was a mere "babe" in the 60's (65, I was 10 yrs old). But, I spent a lot of time in Elsewhere in the 70's.

[montypython]

Originally posted by Aredubjay


I was a mere "babe" in the 60's (65, I was 10 yrs old). But, I spent a lot of time in Elsewhere in the 70's.

In '65 I was 17. Imagine how cool that was
In '65 a seventeen year old male growing up a stones (or is that stoned) throw from Liverpool. I wouldna trade that boat load of memories for a fleet of SVX's.

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by montypython


In '65 I was 17. Imagine how cool that was
In '65 a seventeen year old male growing up a stones (or is that stoned) throw from Liverpool. I wouldna trade that boat load of memories for a fleet of SVX's.

Careful. Your first sentence borders on copyright infringement (Jackson Brown's "Runnin' on Empty" ).

Yep, I'd love to have spent some time at the Cavern. I'm envious.

[svxistentialist]

Originally posted by Aredubjay


Careful. Your first sentence borders on copyright infringement (Jackson Brown's "Runnin' on Empty" ).

Yep, I'd love to have spent some time at the Cavern. I'm envious.

I am not going there with the Cavern joke that springs to mind.

In 65 I was 15, Colin, and the hallucinogenics must have been better over here because I do remember a very colourful time. Liverpool would have been a good place to be. I too am envious, ya lucky git.

Joe

The Beatles Forever.