Alternatives to the SVX?

[Knightwulf]

Well, I just spoke with the seller of the Polo Green SVX LSi I was going to purchase until it was determined that $1400 of undisclosed work was required to bring it up to being road ready.

Unfortunately, even with the work required, he's not willing to budge on the price and I simply can't afford to tack $1400 onto my initial offer.

In addition, there are simply no other SVX's for sale in my area that I've seen (Madison/Milwaukee, WI).

The main problem is this; I need a vehicle before the snow flies, so I simply can't afford to wait around until the right SVX shows up.

I know, I'm not going to run across anything nearly as unique as the SVX but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for something similar.

I'm looking for AWD, Automatic, affordable and preferrably not ugly as sin (amazing how your standards drop when you become desperate...).

As always, all advice/comments are appreciated.

--Wulf

[Knightwulf]

Also, any other suggestions for where to look for an SVX would be appreciated.

I've tried:
http://ebay.com
http://autobuyer.com
http://cars.com
http://carpoint.com
http://autotrader.com
http://usedcars.com
http://wwwheels.com
http://autobytel.com
(...and I'm sure quite a few others I can't remember at the moment...)

local online classifieds, the For Sale section of this website...

[Alycone]

There's nothing like an SVX.

[Knightwulf]

Originally posted by Alycone
There's nothing like an SVX.

I know... I know...

[Bobb]

Hi Wulf, It looked like you were going to have the best of all worlds. All wheel drive ,230hp and a great looking car. So you have to back up and take a different approach. Any number of Legacy and Impreza's have AWD and auto trans. In the meantime you can be looking for the "perfect" SVX. In looking for these cars still take the car and have it looked over to make sure you have good transportation for the upcoming winter. Take care, BOBB

[Knightwulf]

Originally posted by Bobb
Hi Wulf, It looked like you were going to have the best of all worlds. All wheel drive ,230hp and a great looking car.

Aye... Hence my dilemma... Ah well.. We have nothing if not time, I suppose.

you can do what i did and buy a legacy for cheap and get a SVX when the right time comes.

[gsodonis]

The week before I bought my SVX, I had it narrowed down to two cars:
1. The SVX that I ended up buying (with a WRX 5 sp tranny)
2. A 1993 Acura Legend Coupe, 6 speed

Both had:
- 2 doors and a back seat
- 6 cylinder engine
- manual transmission (you can find them both in manual or auto, whichever you prefer)
- Sunroof
- Leather
- 230 HP
- Great reliability record (in general)
- Minor mechanical flaws that any owner with decent mechanical skills could fix
- Sunroof
- Both cars, if properly maintained, were (are) good for 250,000 plus miles of driving enjoyment

The winner for me was the SVX because of the mods and the uniqueness. The legend I was about to buy had both 18" & 19" rims. When I asked the owner if he had a camber correction kit, he said that he didn't, because if he did, the 18's and 19's wouldn't fit without rubbing. Since I needed a daily driver, The SVX with 18's and proper alignment won. I don't regret my purchase for one second; but it could have gone either way.

I know I blaspheme on these boards when I say this, but the 1991 - 1995 Acura Legend is a great car, one that has great looks, is relatively rare, pretty quick, easy to repair and in the hands of a proper owner with proper maintenance, will easily outlive all of ots owners.

Good luck in your search.

[gsodonis]

This was my SVX's competition:

[svxxx26]

If AWD is important to you, grab up a early Legacy. They are inexpensive and if my experience with the '93 that I have is any indication of the rest of the lot - fairly bulletproof.
It's not fast, but the dang thing will cruise all day at 80-90 once you get it there!
It will go anywhere too, the only thing to stop it is ground clearance.
Given the relative age of the used SVX's on the market, I think it would pay to take your time to find a good one if that's what you really want. Good Luck!

[Yoda3000]

As always any legacy or impreza would work, although not quite as cool.

If you want something really similar to the SVX i have always said that the Mitsubishi 3000GT/Dodge Stealth was the closest thing ever made to the SVX. It has All Wheel Drive, a V6, all the luxury features of an SVX, and the same 3" ground clearence. They also come in a twin turbo , although I'm not sure you can get that with the automatic.
Overall it's a great car and one on my wishlist.

Well there's my two cents.

--Michael

[Knightwulf]

Originally posted by Yoda3000
As always any legacy or impreza would work, although not quite as cool.

If you want something really similar to the SVX i have always said that the Mitsubishi 3000GT/Dodge Stealth was the closest thing ever made to the SVX. It has All Wheel Drive, a V6, all the luxury features of an SVX, and the same 3" ground clearence. They also come in a twin turbo , although I'm not sure you can get that with the automatic.
Overall it's a great car and one on my wishlist.

Well there's my two cents.

--Michael

Aye, I was thinking one of those, but unfortunately, they're out of my pricerange.. '92's look to be going for an average of $12,000... If I had that much to spend, I'd pick up that '97 Ebony I found in Lawrence, KS.

[comp_jas]

Wulf.

If you look in my locker you'll see one alternative. Don't laugh. That's an 86 with 107K. 5 cylinder turbo with 5 speed and AWD.

Audi is the only other company that makes AWD vehicles across the whole range. Coupes, sedans, wagons and from the 80's on so $$ are low.

Good luck

[majeskyb]

You could buy a '92 in good condition for less, and use the extra money for a plane ticket to get there. I know a lot of people (at least on ebay) are willing to pick the buyer up at the airport in the car they're selling, then you can drive it home. I plan on doing that when I get home, since there aren't any in Louisiana. Good luck with whatever you go eventually buy

[Weebitob]

If you want to find a cheap, AWD vehicles you can also try looking for Toyota All-Trac models. I mean some of you might not think of Toyota's AWD system to be as good as Subaru but during the time they were sold in America (I think from 1990-96) they were doing quite well and even winning some in the WRC.

Or if you want a unique performance SUV you can always try to find a GMC Typhoon. Seriously, I heard those things kick some serious ars on the quarter mile and on track. They also come only in automatic.

Scratch that, Typhoons seem to be pretty steep for what year they are generally sold in, I generally see them all seem to be sold with low miles though so then again.