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  #1  
Old 08-04-2003, 06:01 PM
The Monzta's Avatar
The Monzta The Monzta is offline
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UK Members

How many UK members are there on this forum? I was wondering whether we could all post here and perhaps try and work out if any of us live near enough to each other to arrange pub meets or just swap info about our cars.

I have yet to have any professional work done on my car but its next service is due soon and I'd rather use a trusted and reliable artisan with a knowledge of the SVX and its foibles than risk it with someone who may end up knackering something up.

I've been pointed in the direction of 'Protechnical' in Bristol. Does anyone have any prior knowledge of them and their work?

Who in the south can be trusted to work on the gearboxes?

Cheers

The Monzta
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The Monzta

'96 Subaru SVX (111K) - UK spec
'85 Opel Monza GSE (71K)
'86 Opel Monza GSE (95K)
'93 Toyota Estima Lucida (37K) - JDM import


My psychiatrist says I'm suffering from paranoia........but he's always hated me!!!
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  #2  
Old 08-05-2003, 01:10 AM
TonyShaleUK
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Well, I'm here!

I'm in Leamington Spa, so a bit too far for a pint with you! However, you've probably seen the Midlands meet thread on the 16th and 17th, so why not come along and meet others to swap info with?

Can't help you on garages etc I'm afraid. As my SVX is an import, Subaru won't touch it, but there is a local specialist 15 miles from here that looks after it for me. They haven't had anything too complex to do yet, but at £90 for a regular service I'm quite happy with them to date.

Try one of the Japanese Import magazines - they usually have specialists advertising.

Good luck with it!
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  #3  
Old 08-05-2003, 01:37 AM
Phil Hill Phil Hill is offline
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Location: Lincolnshire, UK
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Hi Monsta

Our car was previously maintained by Lancaster in Reading :

Lancaster Pangbourne Subaru
Station Road
Pangbourne, Reading
Berkshire RG8 7AN
Tel: 0118 984 5555
Fax: 0118 9843323
subaru@reading.lancasterplc.com

Bell & Colville are highly recommended :

Bell & Colvill PLC
Epsom Road, West Horsley, Near Leatherhead, Surrey. KT24 6DG. England
Tel +44 (0)1483 281000 Fax +44(0)1483 281999
Email: enquiries@bell-colvill.co.uk

As Tony says, official dealers are prevented from working on grey import vehicles by the terms and conditions of their dealership. International motors will remove the franchise of any dealer it finds servicing greys............

Most Subaru dealers send auto gearboxes to a guy in Glasgow for overhaul. There is a guy in Newark Notts we used to repair a Micra CVT who said he has done EAT type auto's before (used on Nissan 200/300ZX, Mazda etc) and would be considerably less than the £1600 the guy in Glasgow charges.
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  #4  
Old 08-05-2003, 03:11 AM
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Location: Alcyone Limited, Buckinghamshire UK
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Hi Monzta,

I don't remember whether your car is an Alcyone or a run-of-the-mill UK model.

David Hendry cars might be close enough to you to be worth a visit. We haven't gone there ourselves, but the story I heard is that they were official Subaru dealers who lost their franchise for servicing imports, so now they specialise in servicing imported Subarus. http://www.dhcars.co.uk/

Our local Subaru dealer services our import on the quiet because we have another Subaru that is not an import and they don't want to lose the business. They refused to help Matt with his SVX though and refered him to us because, according to them, we know more about SVX's than they do. (Which might not be too far from the truth )

I once had a long conversation with a manager from IM and he told me the official position is that they will supply parts for imports, but won't carry out any servicing - and (off the record) they don't really care about dealers servicing imported SVX's because it's not a current model.

Most Subaru dealers are clueless about the SVX. A few dealers we have visited had never even seen one until we drove up. Do yourself a favour and get a set of service manuals. Then leave them on the passenger seat when you book the car in for service.

At one time I thought we had a diff problem (that's what two Subaru dealers told us). I went to A&A Transmissions in Slough, who seemed to know their stuff and instantly diagnosed that it was a wheel bearing and not the diff at all! That's where I would go if, heaven forbid, the gearbox failed again.

Actually, given that practically every SVX ever made has had transmission work done on it, you might find that transmission specialists know more about it than anyone else.

Phil & Belha.
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  #5  
Old 08-05-2003, 04:50 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by b3lha
Hi Monzta,


Actually, given that practically every SVX ever made has had transmission work done on it, you might find that transmission specialists know more about it than anyone else.

Phil & Belha.
Have to agree with Phil here. In fact, this is relatively good news. Very little in the way of engine problems turn up. Check the current mileage thread in the US, you will see a large number of the cars gone over 150K and 200K with little trouble.

The principal engine faults you hear of are mostly the minor kind. You get leaking seals at the front, leaking camcover gaskets and seals, occasional rough running, due from either bad MAF, O2 sensors or sometimes anti-knock sensors. That's about it. Occasionally a powersteering pump or line will fail. The aircon can lose gas. Most of your worries and cost will be related to the gearbox.

Having had more than a fair share of problems with the auto, I am beginning to listen to those who stick in a WRX 5speed when the tranny calves. However, I bought mine because I wanted an automatic. I would be more in favour of putting in an automatic either from a Skyline say, or possibly from an Audi A8.

Phil [Skuse] got theirs redone in Level 10, but the cost is atrocious. Maybe this is the way to go, I don't know. All I do know is, when I buy another automatic, I will be looking for one that can take a hammering, and come up smiling, maybe a Getrag or something. I will be avoiding Aisan like the plague.

Joe
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  #6  
Old 08-05-2003, 07:42 AM
Roly
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Hi,

I'm in Epsom, Surrey. 15 minutes max from M25 Jct7, 8 or 9.

Haven't found anywhere to service my SVX but since Cheam Motors are about 5 minutes away and I have a dealer history I'll probably stick with them. Unless someone can suggest an alternative...

Roly
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  #7  
Old 08-05-2003, 09:41 AM
P2SVX
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Another UK member to add to the list.

Based in Central London, I used Ace Acton (Acton, W.London) for the first service, but found them lacking in any enthusiasm for anything ever since they downsized and lost their franchise (shame, they used to be really good).

I now use Hunt & Keal (a name that makes an interesting spoonerism) based in Park Royal, W.London. Kind of pricey but they know their stuff. They used to be part of the Hooper empire and so you will still find a collection of custom Rolls and Bentleys in their shop... and if it's good enough for rich folk it's good enough for me!
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  #8  
Old 08-05-2003, 10:58 AM
Roly
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Ace (Kensington) did most of the servicing on my car. Did they just lose the franchise? Does that mean they're still around? If so I'd quite like to see if they kept the service documentation.

I have the stamps but being particularly anal I like to see what they did too. And how much it cost...
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  #9  
Old 08-05-2003, 04:28 PM
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The Monzta The Monzta is offline
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Tony,

Sorry, can't make the Midlands meet. The wife is a carer for the elderly and is currently working most weekends as cover to her colleagues away on their hols or on sick leave.....therefore I'll be stuck at home with the kids most weekends for the foreseeable future.



Phil H,

Thanks for the info on Lancaster Subaru and Bell & Colville. Neither are too far from me and if they offer a courtesy car that would be even better.



Phil (& Belha),

My car is a legit Brit spec car so no worries about upsetting the Subaru dealers. David Hendry Cars look promising and not too far from me down here in Wiltshire.

Can you recommend somewhere I can get a set of service manuals? Or is like everything else SVX.......costs a bomb but you can't get them anyway!!!




Joe,

You've just confirmed something I had a feeling about after four months SVX ownership and reading this forum......that engine-wise the SVX is very well engineered the only real achilles heel is in the transmission/drivetrain area. But with regular servicing and plenty of preventative maintenance even this area can give years of trouble free mileage. My SVX has got 97000 on the clock but came with a fully stamped service book. Of all the ones I looked at my one had the highest mileage but drove better and looked in better nick than any of the others......it just felt 'tight and right'. To continue its thorough servicing history I want to find someone who 'knows' these cars to do most of the oily stuff but I don't necessarily want to pay main dealer labour prices.

BTW I spoke to Len at Subaru4You at http://www.subaru4you.co.uk/menu.htm They're based in Berkshire and work on all Subaru types and use ex-main dealer personnel. I can't use them for servicing yet as they are not VAT registered which is a necessity to keep my 2-yr warranty valid but I may give them a spin on some other job soon. Len seemed very enthusiastic over the phone.

I was also recommended to use Protechnical in Bristol http://www.protech-uk.co.uk/ by a local importer as they have a good knowledge of Subaru's. This was borne out when I rang them, they seemed well clued up on the foibles of our gearboxes and recommended not only a tranny cooler but a magnetised filter to collect any metallic filings from going back into the 'box. But as soon as I said it was a '97 SVX he piped in that mine probably already had a tranny filter.......so I think they do know a fair amount about our boxes. Again, they came across as very enthusiastic and knowledgeable plus can supply a courtesy car for any overnight jobs.


Keep the contacts coming in.

Cheers

Glenn - The Monzta
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The Monzta

'96 Subaru SVX (111K) - UK spec
'85 Opel Monza GSE (71K)
'86 Opel Monza GSE (95K)
'93 Toyota Estima Lucida (37K) - JDM import


My psychiatrist says I'm suffering from paranoia........but he's always hated me!!!
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  #10  
Old 08-07-2003, 02:00 AM
P2SVX
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Roly

Ace Kensington went bust and sold their Kensington showroom to Hunt & Keal. The Acton service centre is now trading as Ace Action and has moved down the road (off Bolo Lane, near Action Town tube).

The guy who runs it is called Don, and provided you stay on his good side he is good at helping people out.

(I know all of this because before they had problems I spent a week as a driver for them. That is where I first got to see an SVX up close and where it all started for me...)
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  #11  
Old 08-07-2003, 02:13 AM
Roly
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Ashley,

Thanks - I'll give Don a ring. No reason to suspect he's ditched the service records, is there?
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  #12  
Old 08-07-2003, 05:10 AM
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b3lha b3lha is offline
Phil & Belha
 
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Hey Ashley!

When we bought our car, back in Dec 98, we heard that Ace Kensington had the last unsold UK SVX in their showroom. We never went to see it because is was way over our budget.

Did you ever see it there?

Phil & Belha.
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  #13  
Old 08-07-2003, 10:42 AM
P2SVX
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Phil

I am always very curious when I hear about last of the line SVXs... and so I am going to start a new post about my eternal question: "How near the end was my SVX?"

I worked for them for just over a week in 2001, so I may have been a little late to see the final car. (Did get to drive a couple of P1's though - damn fast!)
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