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#1
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Manual Trans SVXi Imported to US?
While at Summit Point yesterday, I met one of the folks running the 24 Hr LeMons Race. I have no reason to NOT believe him - his name is Roland Han - and he told me that he "test drove" Subaru's for Subaru of America in the 90's, and as he was looking over my RED '97, he mentioned that Subaru actually "produced" some 700 SVXi with "MANUAL" transmissions. Apparently they were NOT to be titled, but were loaned to a number of dealers to "try out". As suspected, there was trouble with the manual transmissions since Subaru did not have one that would stand up to the power of the SVX's 3.3 L engine. Hence the automatic. He seemed VERY famililiar too with the auto trans problem too ...
Anyone else heard of this? This fellow had no idea what happened to all these cars ..... Harry
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newsvx 1992 SVX LSL, #1215 1997 SVX LSi, #370 "I live with fear every day. Sometimes she lets me go racing." "Getting Older and Slower" Locker: http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/user.php?newsvx |
#2
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Re: Manual Trans SVXi Imported to US?
Not true. My dealer got the first ones... I drove the first one in Conn. I asked about them making a stick . He said no. If there were 700 , that is 1/2 as many SVX as they made. I am sure one would have surfaced. I heard about mechanics doing donuts in the garage, I heard about the kid that totaled his dads SVX after he had it a week and came in and bought a new one . And I heard the one of the sales man that took out 100 guard posts with one. Stick shift . This is the 1st I heard of a stick.
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When I was in school I sucked in sports. Then I found out I can buy trophies and now I am great at everything. |
#3
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Re: Manual Trans SVXi Imported to US?
Don't know - just what the man said ....... What dealer "supposedly " got them, I have no idea and he did not either ...
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newsvx 1992 SVX LSL, #1215 1997 SVX LSi, #370 "I live with fear every day. Sometimes she lets me go racing." "Getting Older and Slower" Locker: http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/user.php?newsvx |
#4
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Re: Manual Trans SVXi Imported to US?
Yeah this seems a little tough to swallow. 1 or 4 that got sent to Cherry Hill and then vanished??? Plausible.
700? Sounds like a distorted 21 year old memory.
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Dave - 03 Baja - 92 SVX - 86 Brat - 08 OB 3.0 |
#5
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Re: Manual Trans SVXi Imported to US?
Can not say I disagree, Dave ... Just reporting what he told me ...
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newsvx 1992 SVX LSL, #1215 1997 SVX LSi, #370 "I live with fear every day. Sometimes she lets me go racing." "Getting Older and Slower" Locker: http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/user.php?newsvx |
#6
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Re: Manual Trans SVXi Imported to US?
Quote:
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SVXx2 92 SVX LS-L Silver 92 SVX LS-L Burgundy (structurally challenged with 2792 miles) 96 SVX LSi Red 92 SVX LS Pearl (Parts) 01 F150 4X4 Red (+6 with other members of the family) FREEDOM IS NOT FREE |
#7
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Re: Manual Trans SVXi Imported to US?
I stand corrected. Sorry I guess what I ment to say was 1/2 as many as they made the first year. There are almost that many now........ Still 700 are lot to get thrown under the rug...
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When I was in school I sucked in sports. Then I found out I can buy trophies and now I am great at everything. Last edited by Conn SVX; 07-07-2013 at 09:23 AM. |
#8
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Re: Manual Trans SVXi Imported to US?
If there was a stick shift available, then you would think they would mention it in the Road & Track magazine that they did specifically on the SVX in 91/92
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#9
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Re: Manual Trans SVXi Imported to US?
Agree, but apparently these were not to be sold by any dealer - stickly for testing, and the manual trans didn't hold up - as expected ..
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newsvx 1992 SVX LSL, #1215 1997 SVX LSi, #370 "I live with fear every day. Sometimes she lets me go racing." "Getting Older and Slower" Locker: http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/user.php?newsvx |
#10
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Re: Manual Trans SVXi Imported to US?
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Also, I still call BS on a trans not holding up. They built transmissions for rally and the WRX came out a year later with similar power numbers in Japan. You can't tell me an extra 10hp and 15 lb/ft of torque is going to make or break a transmission... |
#11
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Re: Manual Trans SVXi Imported to US?
700 top-of-their-line cars built for "test purposes", by a car company that was selling those cars at a loss to begin with? I'm sorry, it doesn't wash. SEVEN cars, maybe.
As for the early WRXi with manuals: they weren't exactly renowned for the reliability of the gearbox. It wasn't quite up to the task.
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1995 Caterham 7 Twincam 2002 Porsche 911 targa -- now with FSI 4.0L power! 2007 BMW 328i Cabriolet 2012 Tacoma 4wd v6 Access Cab 2013 Mercedes E350 4Matic Wagon 2005 STi - totaled after 10 great years 1994 SVX LSi 5spd - sold but not forgotten 2000 Legacy GT 5spd sedan - gone after 150K miles of bliss |
#12
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Re: Manual Trans SVXi Imported to US?
I'm sure Subaru had some sort of manual transmission that could take the forces.
I'm equally sure it was not a economically viable option for production cars. At any rate, with a huge and risky investment with US as primaty market, why burn more cash pursuing stick? It's a GT now and was a GT then, there was no real point in a manual.
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I got my girl, I got my glass, I got my car and I'm ready to f... |
#13
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Re: Manual Trans SVXi Imported to US?
My point is they went after the wrong market...sport lux. Should have gone sport performance . In 1992 Subaru was struggling to stay afloat. They have the money now , to do what they did then. They did not spend enough on adds.
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When I was in school I sucked in sports. Then I found out I can buy trophies and now I am great at everything. |
#14
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Re: Manual Trans SVXi Imported to US?
I can't possibly see why you would think this. If they couldn't stay afloat, they wouldn't have invested 3+years in development of the SVX and the EG33. They were far from struggling.
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#15
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Re: Manual Trans SVXi Imported to US?
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Keep in mind that the turbo legacy came out in 91 in the US with a stronger than the run of the mill 5 spd, which was also hydro. Granted, low hp and torque compared to the other worldly versions, but it just further proves that if they wanted the SVX to have a manual transmission, they would have made it happen. |
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