Old Top Gear - Subaru SVX Review

[WestCoastSVX]

Originally Posted by Crazy_pilot

Well that's interesting - I didn't realize Euro-spec cars have a different center console. The USDM extends all the way to the rear seats but you can see at 5:55 that the Euro model stops short. No rear seat ashtray.

I have an Australian market brochure quite cleverly titled "The Joy of SVX" (while going with that semi-risque theme throughout the pages).

A big two-page picture shows an overhead view of the interior and you can clearly see the short center console and THIRD SEATBELT in the back seat!

I always assumed that several, if not all, of the RHD non-US markets shared this "5 seater" configuration, and it was just never a topic that really came up on here.

[Sean486]

Originally Posted by WestCoastSVX

I have an Australian market brochure quite cleverly titled "The Joy of SVX" (while going with that semi-risque theme throughout the pages).

A big two-page picture shows an overhead view of the interior and you can clearly see the short center console and THIRD SEATBELT in the back seat!

I always assumed that several, if not all, of the RHD non-US markets shared this "5 seater" configuration, and it was just never a topic that really came up on here.

I'd be interested in seeing that pic.

[WestCoastSVX]

Originally Posted by Sean486

I'd be interested in seeing that pic.

Unfortunately most of my stuff is in storage and I have no idea which box my brochures are in. There are a couple of easy places I can try to look so I'll try.

Really though, there are enough European and even Australian members here we could probably find out. Is this a big difference in the US cars that just has never come up much because both sides just assumed all SVXes were configured the same when it came to seating capacity?

[dbarnblatt]

Originally Posted by WestCoastSVX

Unfortunately most of my stuff is in storage and I have no idea which box my brochures are in. There are a couple of easy places I can try to look so I'll try.

Really though, there are enough European and even Australian members here we could probably find out. Is this a big difference in the US cars that just has never come up much because both sides just assumed all SVXes were configured the same when it came to seating capacity?

The main reason for the extended center console for the US market initially was to house the passive restraint belts on the early models. Thus not allowing for the 5 place seating arrangement found on SVX's outside the US.

When the passive restraint went away, I think the US cars maintained the extended console and kept the car a 4 seater was because of safety testing. They would have had to retest the car as a 5 seater possibly, but I am just guessing here.

[Crazy_pilot]

A 5 seat SVX? Man, I feel bad enough for the 4th person to get in my car. I'd really take pitty on the fifth.

Tiny ladies in the back seat only please

[WestCoastSVX]

The safety testing theory is a good one, although at the same point the seatbelts changed, a passenger airbag was added so wouldn't they prefer to have the car retested anyway? Who knows?

I always went with the theory that they never even bothered trying to pretend that 3 on-average "largest" people worldwide Americans could fit back there, 2 is bad enough!

[jetboy]

Mine is a 4 seater. Nordic domestic market. Never ever heard of a five seater but good luck with that.

[Green1995SVX]

Here's a good pic of the console from a 5 passenger SVX.

[bwb3]

Wouldn't mind having one of those for the extra space. Who needs an ashtray back there anyway?
Gene

[jetboy]

Originally Posted by Green1995SVX

Here's a good pic of the console from a 5 passenger SVX.

Uhm... what does the other one look like?

[oab_au]

Originally Posted by WestCoastSVX

Unfortunately most of my stuff is in storage and I have no idea which box my brochures are in. There are a couple of easy places I can try to look so I'll try.

Really though, there are enough European and even Australian members here we could probably find out. Is this a big difference in the US cars that just has never come up much because both sides just assumed all SVXes were configured the same when it came to seating capacity?

All the Aust models were the same, they were all 4 seat capacity. Only year model changes happened.
This is the front and rear seats in my 95 model.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

Harvey.

[icingdeath88]

Black interior. So jealous.

[oab_au]

Originally Posted by icingdeath88

Black interior. So jealous.

May look black but it is a dark gray.
You can see the mat colour.

Harvey.

[icingdeath88]

Originally Posted by oab_au

May look black but it is a dark gray.
You can see the mat colour.

Harvey.

Still a lot darker looking than the grey that we got. Very nice car, looks to be in really good shape by the way.

[Sean486]

Originally Posted by icingdeath88

Still a lot darker looking than the grey that we got. Very nice car, looks to be in really good shape by the way.

Either that or it's just a badly lit picture. The door panels look quite a bit darker. Is that red button under the ebrake handle stock?