SVX newbie, would like your input

Hey, at my work today I put a CD player in a '92 SVX and from the second I saw it I was hooked. I need one as my winter car. When the guy returned to pick the car up I talked to him and he said he would let the car go for $2500. Here's the deal:
runs and drives well, I might have heard wheel bearings but am not sure (but who driving an SVX hasn't, is the general consensus), 188,000 miles. Dirty but seemed in decent condition. Radio wiring hacked as well as speaker wiring hacked (I hardwired the radio - we didn't even have a harness for this car). Engine bay looked clean, nothing I could see wrong. Power locks don't work, but I can fix them I'm sure. Power windows make weird noises but then again it's -5 outside.
Now, I wasn't looking at spending this much on a winter car, but I think that if it's going to be at least somewhat reliable then it's worth it. Another plus: he has a parts car with a good motor and tranny, 88k, that is included with the car. What do you guys think?

[Rd96SVX]

so 2500 for two SVXi. . is that what you're saying? one with 188k and a parts car with 88k w/ good motor and trans?? THAT WOULD BE A GREAT DEAL in my honest opinion ...what year and color is the "good" one?


*edit* just noticed your fiero in the sig.. holy cow.. that thing must be a freaking rocket. fiberglass body lil two seater with 230hp and 300+tq... kewl

Yeah, $2500 for two SVX, one was in an accident with 88k on the motor (believe it's a '92) and tranny, and the "working" one with 188k on the clock (also a '92), but still runs and drives fine as far as I know. A great deal huh? I'm a sucker for a great deal. I may have to cancel my order on the Getrag for the Fiero in order to pick this car up. I'm getting excited.. I've always wanted an AWD Subaru, and before today I didn't even know these cars EXISTED (which is really rare..)

Haha yeah the Fiero sure is quick, it's still hard to drive after almost a year. Never thought an automatic would be challenging. If you're in a hurry it's hard not to spin the tires in a 4.9 Cadillac, so just think about that with some goodies (intake, exhaust, ignition, ECM) in a tiny little car and that's precisely the reason I don't drive it in the winter. That and the underbody's almost completely rust free and I don't wanna change that. Oh yeah, and I can't ease the throttle enough to stay in a straight line. :P

Excited!
Adam

Edit: holy crap, blue book for the car is over $3300. Anyone in the midwest interested in buying a parts car? AFAIK it runs and drives but is crunched. This is all tentative in me buying the car, though. As of tonight I want to buy it for sure, unless there's something majorly wrong with the car that I didn't see from driving it 30 feet into and out of the installation bay today.

[Rd96SVX]

and AFAIK and can tell from what you've described.. it isn't in terrible condition, but it isn't great shape either. but for two "working" engines and transmissions.. I think it'd be worth the 2500, but getting two drivable svxi out of it.. even better. just don't rush these things either. have it inspected if possible.. or try to get somebody here to run a carfax or something. Also, let the 'day crew' get a crack at this thread later today and see what they have to say

[ensteele]

That would be a good buy. Good luck on the sale.

[Rd96SVX]

hmmm, nvm, Earl was the 'day crew' I was thinking of.. go ahead, you have teh master's approval

Yeah I haven't Carfaxed it yet, and I haven't "really" driven it yet. The Blue Book is $3300 on it, so it sounds like a good deal so far. The power locks I'm not worried about in the least, I install remote starts and interface lock circuits every day so I'm pretty sure I can get 'em working one way or another :P and AFAIK everything else that I tried works. Man, I'm excited. I can't wait to put a sound system in this bad boy

[Pure_Insanity8]

This is a little odd. I haven't seen another SVX down here in Mankato in the last 2 and a half years... and now I've seen two in the last couple weeks... and this may be a third in town.

I don't have any room for a parts car... but I do need a working tranny.

P.S. Where do you work?

[92SVXLS-LDC]

hey, i'm in elk river... i'll see if my parents will store a parts car, or maybe i'll just buy some stuff off of it... i'll keep in touch with you

Holy.. people near Mankato? Ridiculous, I didn't know other people lived in this tiny ass town.. I work at Best Buy as a mobile installer. SVXs are too rare.. my name's Adam, did you talk to anyone at Best Buy today about selling your SVX?

I need to find out why this guy is keeping a parts car first, hopefully the transmission isn't on the way out so you could possibly buy it off me. I'll probably swap over broken parts and whatnot, and leave the rest to be parted out (or sold as a parts car..).

P.S. glad I have the master's approval

[Electrophil]

He may have a parts car the same reason a lot of us do. Something happened to his first one, and he bought another.....keeping the first.

Sounds like an outstanding deal to me.

welcome to tha site!!

[Tcat55371]

How ya been? Glad to see another Pennocks Fiero person or Minn Fiero Forever switched to the better side. I miss my small block Fiero but I'm having a blast with the XT and the SVX. Oh by the way, don't mention installing a North* in a SVX. Kinda upsets some of them.

Nice to see you on the board. Sold my lifted wagon to another Fiero driver. Looks like a few are comverting.

TCAT holy hell! What a coincidence. Haha I'm not "converting", but I now have two loves.. it makes sense though, once a niche car lover always a niche car lover, right? My coworkers think I'm crazy.. but they don't know how it feels to have a complete stranger walk up to them and say "Hey, you put that Caddy motor in a Fiero, right?"

I'll be calling the guy today to see if he still wants to take $2500 for those cars, and if both of them run and drive OK I'll do it for sure. Can't wait!

[Mr. Pockets]

I'd like to offer up a little advice on the SVX you've been offered for sale.

I love my SVX. It's a fantastic car and I hope to have it for a long, long, long time. But they're not getting any younger and a 13-year-old car with 188k miles on the clock is going to need some care. The SVX is a complicated, rare car. That means parts are expensive and occasionally difficult to find.

I don't mean to discourage you. I love my SVX, but it's not my daily driver any more. I probably put less than a thousand miles on mine this year.

[ensteele]

Mr. Pockets has a very good point. I would also agree with why he would have a parts car. That is not the only SVX out there, and with a little searching, you may find a better one with less mileage on it. It still would be a good buy on that one. Just a few thoughts to ponder.