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  #91  
Old 07-23-2009, 02:18 PM
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Re: The SVX and you

Quote:
Originally Posted by brit-tic View Post
Hey Joe,

This is an intersting comment and I would like to add my view: With very few exceptions, most cars have a live cycle from new, where they are cosseted to old, where they are just a "cheap" means of transport. During the latter stage, many of them end in a scrap yard, because keeping them on the road is just too costly. This is espeacially true for cars, that were sophisticated and expensive when they were new. What we then have often seen is kind of a resurrection and this not only in the luxury or exotic car segment. Even mass produced cars like the VW Beetle are today sought after and worth a lot of money if in fine fettle. Try to find an early Spitfire outside the UK and you would wonder how much you would have to pay for. What I wanted to say is that the SVX is in the bottom of the valley. Just for how long it will stay there, I do not know. However, one thing is for sure: this car has all the ingredients to become a true classic one day. My guess is, that prices of these cars will slowly but surely rise again over the next couple of years as many more (sadly) disappear for the reasons outlined above. However, this is not relevant for the true enthusiast: I like this car because of its cool look, the outstanding Japanese technology and the Jaguar-like ride quality.
What else: well as you all know, Giorgetto Giugiraro, founder of Ital design, designed the SVX as his last act and what of famous range of predecessors:
Gordon Keeble (1961), Lotus Esprit (1976), De Lorean DMC 12 (1981) and many more of Italian exotics. What else do I need to say... well, may be this: there is only one other 4WD coupe with a flat six engine around in the world. It has the engine in the wrong place, costs 4 to 6 times the price of the SVX zqht for

Cheers,

Brit-tic
Well put, and it's interesting that you compare with the Triumph Spitfire. The founder of this Network, who does not post very much these days, he was once a Spitfire owner.

Giugiaro designed some turkeys too, style wise anyway. Witness the original Fiat Panda. Tin box ville.

I absolutely love Gordon Keebles.

Joe
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  #92  
Old 07-23-2009, 02:33 PM
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Re: The SVX and you

Agree, the Panda was one of his. Likewise the initial VW Golf desing (1974) was his too, not really a flop as the Golf outperformed the beetle in numbers produced if I remember right (?) Anyway, a great heritage.

Cheers, brit-tic
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  #93  
Old 07-23-2009, 02:38 PM
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Re: The SVX and you

Quote:
Originally Posted by brit-tic View Post
there is only one other 4WD coupe with a flat six engine around in the world. It has the engine in the wrong place, costs 4 to 6 times the price of the SVX zqht for

Cheers,

Brit-tic
lol couldn't agree more!
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  #94  
Old 07-23-2009, 02:48 PM
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Re: The SVX and you

Hmm... no need to get delusional here... that car with the engine in the wrong place outperforms our cars in any category...
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  #95  
Old 07-23-2009, 03:09 PM
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Re: The SVX and you

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sov13t View Post
Hmm... no need to get delusional here... that car with the engine in the wrong place outperforms our cars in any category...
How is that? here is a small comparison:

SVX OEM:
- Comfortable and spacious;
- H-6 24V 3.3L;
- Positively weird looking car;
- Mediocre tranny & weight;
- Average in terms of Handling.

SVX Modified:
- Comfortable and spacious;
- Supercharged/Turbocharged/High potential from engine;
- Positively weird looking car;
- 6 speed gearbox AWD. Weight is relatively good
- Handling/Stability explored to the max.


Engine in wrong place:
- Crumpy and Non-Spacious;
- 3.2~3.8L 24V H-6;
- Brand name, minimal look difference from 1960's up until now;
- 6speed gearbox AWD;
- Excellent handling and stability.

Modified engine in wrong place:
- Still Crumpy and Non-Spacious;
- 3.8L 24V H-6 RUF;
- Brand name, minimal look difference from 1960's up until now;
- 6speed gearbox AWD;
- Excellent handling and stability.

Believe me, once you experience crumpy, you want nothing to do with them. Audi TT, 350Z and engine in wrong place are NOT for us.
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  #96  
Old 07-23-2009, 03:24 PM
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Re: The SVX and you

Agree, except for ride quality and comfort and whilst power, torque and roadholding are some edges above the SVX, I still cannot see why this should be at a multiple price(well, that's my point of view). Ever tried to put skis and and mother in law in a Porsche... I mean into it, not on the roof... No prob in the SVX OK, agree depending on the mother in law she may be better on the roof but that is still not reason enough for me to go for a Porsche

Cheers, brit-tic
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  #97  
Old 07-23-2009, 04:02 PM
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Re: The SVX and you

Man, I wouldn't figure to hear porsche-hatin' here.

If any group of folk would have some common ground I would think it would be Subaru and Porsche fans...

Especially SVX and C4S fans. (I happen to love both the SVX and the 996 C4S turbo-look widebody, and as 2WD sports cars go, Cayman S seems fantastic.)

Different cars... but mostly that the bodies are 180 degrees rotated on a similar drivetrain.

As I see it, there are three other cars that come anywhere near an SVX...

G37S/x (too bad they aren't one in the same... no 6MT with AWD...)
Audi A5 (a bit bland looking, still pretty heavy)
Porsche Carrera 4S, 996 and 997 generations, not that there is anything wrong with air-cooled... but the watercoolers are a bit more modern, not only in the engine bay.

Frankly, with the fact that G37 doesn't offer both 6MT/Brembos with AWD (unsure about 4WS and AWD together...) pushes the preference to the Porsche as an AWD Grand Touring coupe. The A5 wants to compete there, but the Porsche and Infiniti are both better looking, and possibly lighter weight, especially the Porsche.
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  #98  
Old 07-23-2009, 04:45 PM
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Re: The SVX and you

Hey BoxerFananic,

May be you got me wrong or I did not express myself properly: The Porsche is a great car (I owned one). Just, if you are looking for a 4WD, luxury coupe, I think that the SVX is by far the better value for money. This is the first Japanese car I ever bought in my live and I am surprised how good it is. As I am not a youngster and have owned I do not know how many car since I got my driving license some 35 years back, I think that I have some experience to compare. As daily drivers for the last 25 years, I have never had anything else that Swedish cars (Saab, Volvo) or Germans, for the last couple of years a Mercedes E320 Stationcar 4WD. Whilst they feel and may be a touch more solid, the SVX comes very close to them.

Cheers,

brit-tic
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  #99  
Old 07-23-2009, 06:33 PM
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Re: The SVX and you

I wasn't sore at any given person... not at you. I too am pleasantly impressed with SVX, now that I have just bought one, and mine isn't even in tip-top shape, but still solid.

I was just making comments on Porsches. I like them. They are just hella-expensive to buy, and even moreso to own. But certainly unique, and very nice.

I am a boxer fanatic I like lots of cars, and even BMW bikes with boxer engines.

I've heard from mechanics that work on Porsches, don't buy one unless you can afford two.

People say the SVX is not a "cheap" car to run. That may be true, but I have a feeling Porsche has Subaru beat on that front, too.
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  #100  
Old 07-23-2009, 07:10 PM
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Re: The SVX and you

I always wanted a TT. Almost bought one at one time but didn't like the deal good enough.
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  #101  
Old 07-23-2009, 08:41 PM
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Re: The SVX and you

not sure if it was asked...but how and where can you get all the parts(other then subaru) in number 9 of toms list....i changed the belt and one cam seal....but now that its been mentioned i need to change all of those and the number one reason i say that is the fact the im leaking oil bad and belived the culporit is one of the cam seals of even the main seal:/

but very well said Tom....i agree with everything you said and being a young guy who likes fast cars who could have bought a tuner car and have kick A$$...i spent a hefty 5k to keep my baby going not to mention the 3k buying her

SVX's RULE!
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  #102  
Old 11-14-2009, 05:17 PM
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Re: The SVX and you

Hi Everybody,

Just 2 cents from a guy new to the forum, but long around cars.

I have one Volvo left. It is number 14 of the ones I had (I have owned 20). The 240 and 740 series Volvo has gone through the same thing the SVX is now going through. They got old, the price drops out, and the kids come in because they want something different.

I sold a 242Ti car to a kid that I taught fencing to (and I thought would take better care of it) because he needed a car, and it was a spare that was frankly a toy. It took him 2 weeks to rip the clutch out of it, and another 2 weeks after that to total it. So, yeah, I've seen the destruction path on cars that we love.

I am now buying an SVX because I think they are really nice cars, well built (Dad used to call Subaru the Japanese Volvo because of how safe they were) and I really like the looks and performance of it (I'm old enough now to not NEED 300 hp in a 2900 lb car, though it would be nice). I am sad and tired of all the Volvo foibles, and I want something that will look futuristic even 20 years from now... and I've always been impressed on how the SVX drove, even though I kept buying Volvos (hard not to when you have spares around)

I drove the FWD Volvos, was not impressed, and decided to go elsewhere for my "mid-life crisis" car (as my wife jokingly puts it...) and that's how I ended up where I am today... I plan on working on a car as needed, and as my dear Grandfather put it to me long ago, "Oil is cheap, engines are expensive..." and, having blown a couple of motors, he was correct...

I note one of the posts on here was someone who resurrected an SVX from salvage. Good job! As long as you do it right, and don't cut corners, it can be done and you end up with something you are more proud of than if you just plunked your money down... bought a 245 for $75 that was wrecked, bought a $400 parts car, and spent a month every evening putting it back together (including doing my own pulling on my friends frame rack) We drove that car for 5 years and put about 100k on it before selling it.

I guess what I am getting at is this... there are still people who are passionate about these cars out there, keeping them passionate and willing to put up with the foibles of getting hard to get (!) parts is the key... and getting the ricer kids who tear stuff up to understand just how wonderful these cars are and how to take care of them is up to all us who are already ignited with that passion.

I noted earlier about the kid who destroyed my playtoy. I talked with him at length about what he did, and what he needed to do regarding cars... I think he's driving a focus or something now... because he realized that just because you can drive something hard, doesn't mean you should, especially if you are not willing to do the maintenance on it, or make sure that you know what you are doing behind the wheel. He was very lucky he didn't kill himself or someone else when he totaled that car.

Thanks, Tom, for posting this. It reminded me why I still really am a gearhead at heart, and why something unusual is worth driving.

Edit: forgot something important: I was comparing a whole lot of cars when I finally got down to the SVX. The Porsche that I equate most closely to the SVX was NOT the 911 series cars, but rather the 928. And I looked at a couple of those, too... very expensive to maintain, and no all weather capability.

Last edited by Paisley Pirate; 11-14-2009 at 05:21 PM. Reason: additional thought
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  #103  
Old 11-14-2009, 08:39 PM
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Re: The SVX and you

It is too bad that he had to learn the hard way and at the expense of the car.
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  #104  
Old 11-14-2009, 09:07 PM
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Re: The SVX and you

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paisley Pirate View Post
Hi Everybody,

Just 2 cents from a guy new to the forum, but long around cars.

I have one Volvo left. It is number 14 of the ones I had (I have owned 20). The 240 and 740 series Volvo has gone through the same thing the SVX is now going through. They got old, the price drops out, and the kids come in because they want something different.

I sold a 242Ti car to a kid that I taught fencing to (and I thought would take better care of it) because he needed a car, and it was a spare that was frankly a toy. It took him 2 weeks to rip the clutch out of it, and another 2 weeks after that to total it. So, yeah, I've seen the destruction path on cars that we love.

I am now buying an SVX because I think they are really nice cars, well built (Dad used to call Subaru the Japanese Volvo because of how safe they were) and I really like the looks and performance of it (I'm old enough now to not NEED 300 hp in a 2900 lb car, though it would be nice). I am sad and tired of all the Volvo foibles, and I want something that will look futuristic even 20 years from now... and I've always been impressed on how the SVX drove, even though I kept buying Volvos (hard not to when you have spares around)

I drove the FWD Volvos, was not impressed, and decided to go elsewhere for my "mid-life crisis" car (as my wife jokingly puts it...) and that's how I ended up where I am today... I plan on working on a car as needed, and as my dear Grandfather put it to me long ago, "Oil is cheap, engines are expensive..." and, having blown a couple of motors, he was correct...

I note one of the posts on here was someone who resurrected an SVX from salvage. Good job! As long as you do it right, and don't cut corners, it can be done and you end up with something you are more proud of than if you just plunked your money down... bought a 245 for $75 that was wrecked, bought a $400 parts car, and spent a month every evening putting it back together (including doing my own pulling on my friends frame rack) We drove that car for 5 years and put about 100k on it before selling it.

I guess what I am getting at is this... there are still people who are passionate about these cars out there, keeping them passionate and willing to put up with the foibles of getting hard to get (!) parts is the key... and getting the ricer kids who tear stuff up to understand just how wonderful these cars are and how to take care of them is up to all us who are already ignited with that passion.

I noted earlier about the kid who destroyed my playtoy. I talked with him at length about what he did, and what he needed to do regarding cars... I think he's driving a focus or something now... because he realized that just because you can drive something hard, doesn't mean you should, especially if you are not willing to do the maintenance on it, or make sure that you know what you are doing behind the wheel. He was very lucky he didn't kill himself or someone else when he totaled that car.

Thanks, Tom, for posting this. It reminded me why I still really am a gearhead at heart, and why something unusual is worth driving.

Edit: forgot something important: I was comparing a whole lot of cars when I finally got down to the SVX. The Porsche that I equate most closely to the SVX was NOT the 911 series cars, but rather the 928. And I looked at a couple of those, too... very expensive to maintain, and no all weather capability.
Wow, nicely said....nicely said!
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  #105  
Old 02-24-2010, 09:59 PM
GgabrielBenitez GgabrielBenitez is offline
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Re: The SVX and you

Hey all! Finally am able to post after months of waiting for approval to do so, otherwise would have dropped a note earlier.

Any way back to the topic, I am part of the younger crowd (18 ) that owns the SVX, I love it. My 94L is my baby girl. And when buying the car I couldn't deny that the car needs A LOT of care. But that's what's especially exciting! Getting to fix up your car is something I can pride on. Although I know almost nothing the learning process is more fun than I thought it would be.

Yes, my car is currently my daily driver, but I plan on getting a truck so I can garage my SVX and restore it.

I make little money at my crap job but I work hard. Real hard. And plan on getting this beast back to it's original state. Should take me about 3 years.

TL;DR Hey all!
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