Is the SVX worth selling?

thumper_svx · #1 04-02-2007, 08:31 AM

You know, now is actually the third time I've attempted to sell my car. This is also the third time I've received little or no serious interest. I suppose I'm opening myself up to people low-balling me on my attempt to sell the car, but is the market for the SVX really that flat?

My 1996 LSi is in decent shape... good shape mechanically but with some cosmetic problems... and some work needed to get her "roadable". Each time I've tried to sell her I've received little or no serious interest from this club site... and even less when trying to sell through other means. Hell, it got listed on eBay once... I got two a high bidder who never came through and a "second chance" bidder who never responded to emails. This seems to be a common complaint with people selling cars through eBay.

At this time, I'm honestly wondering if a market for our cars even exists. The question is; is the SVX even worth SELLING at this point?

I know there's a risk someone will read this here and try to low-ball me, but I wouldn't be posting unless I was really starting to have doubts about this. I am starting to wonder if I should just put the time and money into repairing the car and driving her until the wheels fall off... but then it becomes hard to justify owning either my Volvo or my motorbike... something will probably have to go.

I open this up for serious discussion. It appears that people who own an SVX today may well be stuck with them even if they want to get rid of them. Are we really so resigned to our fates?

Be aware... I wouldn't even be having this discussion if there wasn't a chance I was going to keep the car. Just trying to make some decisions about the future here

dcarrb · #2 04-02-2007, 10:00 AM

I've always figured I'd have trouble giving away my cars here because nobody knows what they are. Subaru isn't a popular brand in the southeast, anyway. Best bet would be geting a generous trade on a new (overpriced) car , or lucking into somebody willing to pay book value for something rare and unusual which might... that's MIGHT... appreciate as a collectible in years to come. You're not going to get anything here or on eBay, except as parts.

I paid $1800 for one on eBay last August; saw it was nearby and just phoned the guy and asked what he needed out of the deal. When he told me, I laughed. (Yeah, stupid, but I was that surprised.) Needs work, but still, all I've really done thusfar is change the fluids and filters, and drive. Sad thing is, guys here have paid half that.

dcb

ensteele · #3 04-02-2007, 10:16 AM

I would guess that you are better off keeping it unless you want to "just get rid of it".

I see sales and it depends where your are. Some areas seem to have more interest than others. You may be in that area where there are few interested, or nobody wants to drive or fly that far. It is an interesting car and the following is just as interesting.

I understand what you are going through and I wish you good luck. I think that is why there are so many being parted out. So of these non interested buyers see a chance to make a buck, buy it for little and then part it out for $$.

RSVX · #4 04-02-2007, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcarrb

Subaru isn't a popular brand in the southeast

Subaru is very well known in the Mountains/Foothills of the Carolinas...

dcarrb · #5 04-02-2007, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSVX

Subaru is very well known in the Mountains/Foothills of the Carolinas...

Yeah, there actually used to be a little Subaru dealership near Hayesville, NC, but it closed sometime in the mid-to-late 90s. Subys are gaining in popularity here as more folks move to this area from elsewhere, but relative to New England and the northeast, or Colorado, or the Pacific northwest, there just aren't very many around.

Now Vermont, man... seems every other car on the road there is a Subaru.

dcb

Mr. Pockets · #6 04-02-2007, 11:01 AM

No kidding. I lived in Vermont for a few years - that's where I bought my SVX. Of course, most people up there still didn't know what one was.

I've thought about selling my SVX several times. I've even talked to people about selling it to them. So far, it hasn't been worth it to me. I don't owe anything on the car, I've finally got affordable insurance on it and I drive it less than a thousand miles a year. I could sell it for, what, a few thousand? Great - I couldn't even buy a 15-year-old Civic for that.

It doesn't make sense to keep, but it also doesn't make sense to sell.

thumper_svx · #7 04-02-2007, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Pockets

It doesn't make sense to keep, but it also doesn't make sense to sell.

LOL, hence my quandry! I'm in roughly the same boat; I own the car outright, and insurance is relatively cheap since I can't justify comprehensive coverage (if it's damaged in just about any way, it'll be totalled by the virtue of how little it's worth on the open market). I haven't driven my car in over a year since I've just not had time or inclination... then life just got busy... then... well, you've heard this song before, I'm sure

Thing is, I own two other perfectly serviceable cars (a 2001 Volvo and a 2001 Chevy Venture) and a motorbike! As a result, my "fun" transport is spoken for, my wife's transport is spoken for... and the Volvo is an awesome daily driver that's comfortable, speedy and practical. There's little room in my "harem" for another fun vehicle, and I can't really drive it every day and let the Volvo languish... but I've got payments on the Volvo and can't get rid of THAT for what I owe. It's a rough place to be.

I guess realistically, I could justify the SVX if I use it to keep miles down on the Volvo... if I can get three more years out of the SVX then the Volvo's paid for and has relatively low mileage. Also, if the Chevy dies between now and then (it's over 100K miles... so quite likely in other words), my wife can start driving the Volvo and everyone's happy... at least until the SVX blows up

GAAAAHHH!!! This isn't helping, chaps!

It seems to me the only way I'm going to get rid of it if I decide to is to list it on eBay... and even then there's the problem of non-paying bidders I've had before. I'm sort of burned on that whole thing... plus I really want my SVX living with someone who'll care for her. Maybe that will be me, after all.

Here in Missouri, people wondered what the hell the car was while the Subaru dealers were still selling it. It was never a big seller here... hell, to get my 96 I had to go all the way up to New York and back... with Halistan in the passenger seat

etz bseder · #8 04-02-2007, 11:20 AM

You also might want to try selling it in the Mid-West. A subaru is a MUST for a near fuel efficient car that will work in the winter in colorado, whyoming. The only other option is a big truck or an SUV. i always see more subarus on the road in the winter months as compared to the summer months, but this is a car that works well year round, especially if you have the sunroof.

thumper_svx · #9 04-02-2007, 11:22 AM

Hey Etz... I live in the Eastern part of the Midwest... so I know what you mean. Maybe I should do a road-trip to Wisconsin or Colorad

I loved how you said "near fuel efficient"... that's the best description of the SVX's fuel mileage I've ever seen

etz bseder · #10 04-02-2007, 12:21 PM

Yeah, i drive it like i stole it, so i only get about 17 city with some highway, but luckily when i drive solely highway, i get about 22. I do have to replace my plugs and o2 sensors some time, and maybe clean out my air filter.

yeah, i don't see any svxs but i see a TON of outbacks and legacy wagons. there are probably a ton of wrxs and all the other sedans, but they aren't as noticable to me.

Subie59 · #11 04-02-2007, 01:00 PM

I just bought a Subaru SVX. I overpaid for it. Don't really care I love the car and I don't know why other people have not discovered the car. I plan to baby mine and drive it for many many years. Now all that could change but I don't see any reason why it should.
If I were you I'd just keep the car and enjoy it. It's unique, fun and worth a heck of a lot more than you can get for it. What would you have to pay in a new car to get the equivalent power and feel of one of these? In Canada you would be way over $50,000. You can pick them up for between $2,000 and $5000. That's a deal...

svxxx26 · #12 04-02-2007, 02:07 PM

Thumper - hard to pinpoint any main reasons that the SVX is so hard to sell. If I had the budget for multiple SVXi, I'd be on yours in a heartbeat along with a few others I've seen on here. Unfortunately, I'm out of garage space and probably a good thing! I plan on keeping mine forever. If I sold it I know I would never find as nice a SVX unless I parted with some serious money. The car - despite some wildly optimistic speculation - is never going to be an "investment" that fetches mega-thousands at a classic car auction, at least not in my lifetime. I keep it because I love it and I can't think of anything out there that I would replace it with. I can think of a lot of cars I'd like in addition to it, but not one I'd replace it with.
So...to answer your question, I don't think you will ever get out of it what it's worth, unless you find a buyer like me that is in love with the car and can appreciate the condtion it's in.

bwb3 · #13 04-02-2007, 02:27 PM

Thumper - I bought my SVX to be a weekend driver, or when the mood hits me. The daily driver is Volvo #8 in my life. When I look at what's out there for the price they are selling at, there is no comparison in style, performance and quality. An added bonus is when one of the family cars goes in for servicing or more serious work, she's there waiting to fill in.
Gene

dcarrb · #14 04-02-2007, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwb3

When I look at what's out there for the price they are selling at, there is no comparison in style, performance and quality.Gene

That's my perspective, too. Besides, what I've spent on two SVXs over 3-1/2 years, including upkeep, is probably comparable to what most folks lose when they drive a new car off the lot. When I had the rear wheel bearings in the teal replaced a couple of months back, I thought to myself, hey, it's just a car payment. One. I don't even want to consider paying that tab every single month for 4 or 5 years.

dcb

lhopp77 · #15 04-02-2007, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcarrb

I've always figured I'd have trouble giving away my cars here because nobody knows what they are. Subaru isn't a popular brand in the southeast, anyway........
dcb

I fully agree with this statement and is precisely the reason for me buying my first Subaru and actually several after that. I bought my first Subaru (81 GLF) at an auction on Stewart Avenue in Atlanta. Over the years I bought Subies at that auction and one in Conyers and one near Newnan. All were very cheap because most people did not know what they were. Of course several of them were FWD which were more popular in the SE than the AWDs.

I bought my first SVX in Atlanta (actually a Marietta dealership) also. The SVXs did not sell well there at all, so were around for several years and heavily discounted.

Lee