Why do the Europians get all the toys???

NapaBavarian · #1 02-09-2004, 09:56 AM

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/Sonar/14598.jpg

It's just not fair!

b3lha · #2 02-09-2004, 10:39 AM

The toys take our minds away from the cost of the petrol we are burning.

NapaBavarian · #3 02-09-2004, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by b3lha
The toys take our minds away from the cost of the petrol we are burning.

And I thought 2 hours pay was a lot to fill my truck up, probably a weeks wage for ya

#4 02-09-2004, 11:43 AM

The SVX was considered very costly by Subaru's usually "frugal" customers (remember Subaru's old motto: Inexpensive and built to stay that way). The last thing Subaru needed to do was add more options and drive the cost up even further. Maybe it was just easier to get away with it in Europe with the currency exchange rate or what not.

Dave

Andy · #5 02-09-2004, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NapaBavarian
http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/Sonar/14598.jpg

It's just not fair!

We had the good tranny too

drivemusicnow · #6 02-09-2004, 07:55 PM

i REALLY want a right hand drive SVX someday... with the 4ws and such... would be amazing, and even more rare than just an SVX... to bad shipping costs would double the price of the car

NapaBavarian · #7 02-10-2004, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Andy

We had the good tranny too

Is it a better 4EAT or something all together different?

BTW, I used to think it was called a 4EAT because it drove all 4 wheels and SVXs seem to eat them

Andy · #8 02-10-2004, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NapaBavarian

Is it a better 4EAT or something all together different?

BTW, I used to think it was called a 4EAT because it drove all 4 wheels and SVXs seem to eat them

We have a gear driven centre diff with rear wheel bias. (covered in detail elsewhere)

b3lha · #9 02-10-2004, 02:01 AM

But it still gets EATen just the same.

Jamsvx · #10 02-10-2004, 03:57 AM

svxistentialist · #11 02-10-2004, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NapaBavarian
http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/Sonar/14598.jpg

It's just not fair!

The biggest market in Europe is the UK market. New prestige cars selling into the UK generally come with all the toys and all the bells and whistles, or else they will not sell against the Mercs Beemers and Audis. That's the why.

In fact, there are a few toys they never get in Europe and reserved for the Japanese home market. Among these would be the active four-wheel-steer feature on the top cars. Also, Europe has never had the POWER switch option, which will put the tranny in sport mode permanently. Less economical, but more fun.

Another feature Europe did not get is electric closing mirrors. Heated, yes, but motorised closing, no. Correct me if I am wrong, or this was available as an option.

There are probably others I am not aware of, but the cars are generally well "loaded" as the trade put it.

Joe

#12 02-10-2004, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by svxistentialist

Another feature Europe did not get is electric closing mirrors. Heated, yes, but motorised closing, no. Correct me if I am wrong, or this was available as an option.

There are probably others I am not aware of, but the cars are generally well "loaded" as the trade put it.

We didn't get front fog lights either

or a rear spoiler

Jason
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svxistentialist · #13 02-10-2004, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by crow_road75

We didn't get front fog lights either or a rear spoiler

Jason
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I actually think the car is more suave and less "ricey" without the spoiler. Having said that, the one on Phil & Belha's car looks cool.

Regarding the front fogs, I tend to use them often on wet dark nights. They illuminate a lot of the road under the nose of the car, and give me a chance to avoid some of the dreadful potholes we have here. Dips on their own are dreadful. But because they are not below the bumper, and in line with the dips, many oncoming cars flash main beams because the driver sees two sets of lights. This notwithstanding the fact that all six lights would not dazzle your average rabbit.

UK cars also have the rear bootlid brake light debulbed and painted over. Not sure about the continental ones, maybe Tone or SuperSonic could illuminate us on this one.

Joe

b3lha · #14 02-10-2004, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by svxistentialist

Having said that, the one on Phil & Belha's car looks cool.

You're very diplomatic Joe.

I have seen a UK SVX with a spoiler - I think it may have been an option on later models. It is very similar to the JDM spoiler, but about a inch lower and it sits on top of the bootlid like the US spoiler, rather than wrapping over the sides like ours.

Quote:

Regarding the front fogs, I tend to use them often on wet dark nights. They illuminate a lot of the road under the nose of the car, and give me a chance to avoid some of the dreadful potholes we have here.

Of course, UK cars have glass headlights which don't turn opaque, so they don't need to use the fog lights to see where they are going.

Phil.

#15 02-10-2004, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by b3lha
Of course, UK cars have glass headlights which don't turn opaque, so they don't need to use the fog lights to see where they are going.

What I've never understood is the fact that we have the reflector in the headlight assembly just no bulb... It seems a bit daft, as we've got a switch blank next to the "cruise" button on the dash.

I have thought about retrofitting some front fogs to replace the "torch" lights that are fitted as standard.

Even with the glass lenses I still think that the lighting on the SVX is woeful (compared to my Legacy and Impreza).

Oh, and my "auto" drivers window doens't work, it's only automatic if you hold the switch down

! Is that a UK "feature" too?

Jason
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