To new or prospective SVX owners

[TomsSVX]

i could make my list for all my cars...

it would make me cry deeply considering I cannot sell my silver for an 1/8th of what I have in it in parts alone....

Long story short... only a n00b would own one

Tom

[K_Dub]

Originally Posted by Bohler

Car now has over 200,000miles on it and it runs great, but it is sad knowing that the value of my car doubles when I put my bicycle on the roof rack!

I think that a lot of owners on here are original owners, or have owned their car for many years, and may be upset about this car's depreciation. I get that. But let's face the facts; the cars aren't worth nearly what we tend to think they are, and that opens the door to a lot of new owners with much smaller budgets. I think this has lead to a lot of animosity here, and that shouldn't be the case.

My car is worthless to anyone but me. I bought my car to own it, not as an investment. Much like many of the SVXs being sold today, mine has reached it's final owner. Resale doesn't matter a bit to me, so as long as I can keep it on the road for a reasonable price it will live on.

My message to old or original SVX owners is:
Don't worry that somebody with less money is getting into your exclusive club. Own you car and enjoy it. You'll never recoup all of the money you've put into it, but in reality that shouldn't matter as it's still cheaper than buying a new car. Someday these cars might end up on Barrett Jackson as a big ticket item, but until then if somebody wants to pony up for a cheap used car and it croaks on them such is life. That doesn't devalue your experience, so don't let it get to you. Attrition is a fact of life, and it is not the fault of people buying into the market that these cars are dying off. They just aren't worth what they used to be.

[Bohler]

Originally Posted by Bohler

Car now has over 200,000miles on it and it runs great, but it is sad knowing that the value of my car doubles when I put my bicycle on the roof rack!

Originally Posted by K_Dub

My car is worthless to anyone but me. I bought my car to own it, not as an investment. Much like many of the SVXs being sold today, mine has reached it's final owner. Resale doesn't matter a bit to me, so as long as I can keep it on the road for a reasonable price it will live on.

I wrote that because I thought it was amusing,but true. I honestly don't care what my car is worth. Like all my cars I am and will be their last owner. I have a 1966 Ford Falcon that was in great shape with 65000 original miles until I was rear ended about 9 months ago. To the insurance company and most other people the car is not worth fixing, but I am definitely going to have that car back on the road... eventually. The cash value of the car will never reach the amount of money I am going to have to put into it, but it will still be worth it to me.

[Cam]

I was all set to get mine for 1500 bucks, and when I showed up to the old owners house, it was running out front with a broken front diff. After looking over the car, I told him I was extremely interested.

This is when I asked him to start it up one more time, since by this time it had been shut off. The battery had actually died. (alternator has never been a problem). He took 300 bucks off and REPLACED the battery on top of it. HAHA. my good fortune. Now, about 3,000 dollars later to keep it on the road, I am about 5,000 dollars into my engine build and have a little more to throw at it before I am all done.

I can't wait. I would not trade my car for anything. And one day she will be like new

[SVXyGirl]

I was a 19 year old poor college student when I picked up my first SVX (the 92 claret). Honestly, I did not know what I was getting into at the time. I wouldn't dare calculate what I've put into that car. (I'm sure other people here have dropped more money into their cars than I have.) Even though I was broke, I worked hard to keep the car running. Thankfully the people on this network (and on the other forum) and my car nut family have helped along the way. I have people ask me almost everyday why I insist keeping these cars. Somedays I wonder why I don't trade them in for a newer car. Today I was reminded why I still own this particular SVX (and the other one). I have been away for about 4 days. Driving about 1,100 miles round trip in a Nissan Frontier. When I got into the SVX, I just felt "right". I know this sounds cheesy but it's truly how I feel. I guess what I am trying to say is that there are many people who buy these cars because they are cheap. They expect a cheap first car/beater/commuter, but realize they aren't when parts start breaking. But, there are still some people (like me) that buy these cars and turn into enthusiasts.

[SoCal LS-L]

Yikes!!

At the risk of sounding like im bragging.... I "won" mine from a charity auction for $1126.... with little defects aside from the sunburnt finish, and 135,000 on the odometer.

Since then, May '08, I have spent roughly $400 on repair (not counting body parts from my recent crash). My biggest problem was my waterpump going out.... but I did the labor myself so perhaps my figures are partially skewed. Im also not counting my EGR code, as it doesnt affect drivability or smog.

Im now at 146,000 miles.... so besides gas and routine maintenance not added to the $400......

11,000 miles divided by $400 repairs, equals just under 4 cents per mile in repair costs. Not having a car payment and the required full coverage means my car is almost paying me to drive it.

Maybe im just lucky?

Its a real shame that the car is ultimately going to be done in by lack of parts availability.... its such a pleasure to drive and I have never enjoyed a car on the freeway and long trips as I have my SVX.

[Cam]

original cost for SVX - $1126-$5000
maintenance/mods - $15-$10,000
the look on somebodies face when you pass them on the freeway - priceless

[Crazy_pilot]

Originally Posted by SVXyGirl

Today I was reminded why I still own this particular SVX (and the other one). I have been away for about 4 days. Driving about 1,100 miles round trip in a Nissan Frontier. When I got into the SVX, I just felt "right". I know this sounds cheesy but it's truly how I feel.

I feel exactly the same about my car. When I was home for Christmas I drove my parents two Foresters the whole time. When I got back out here and dug the SVX out of the snow I took it for a nighttime highway boot. I've sat in hundreds of cars, and none fits like my old Subie. If you've seen that "Perfect Moment" car commercial, where the guy is driving on the highway and everything slows down...I get that on a pretty regular basis. Minus the slow motion bit, fast is much more fun.

[Elliott]

Seeing this makes me not want to even drive mine after I finish it. Hell, it makes me think about just parting it out before I finish it, not like it will ever be worth anything, it is a salvage title car that has been customized.

[Wikedjuggalo]

Hmm a tally you want? I think I'll pass it would get depressing but I can assure it approaching the 10k mark I have spent on these cars.

Probably about 7k, if not more, on the emerald and so far about 4k or so on the Barcelona.

[1986nate]

Wow, I had it all typed out how much I've spent not only on the car but also what this "enthusiasm" for this car has cost me for things like my expenses for going to Reading but I think people would get p****d at me for how little i've spent in the 17 months of ownership, even including what it will cost me to put in 4.44's this spring.
There was a couple points early on I actually thought of selling it but quickly slapped myself in the face. I don't think I will ever sell the one I have now and am planning on buying another relatively soon.

[RojoRocket]

Well, as I sit here in the dark waiting to begin a day of SVX Brotherhood, I have to reflect on my ownership of 2 precious SVXi. Rojo, my '93 was a semi-gift from my dear Sis-in-Law, who wanted to keep her in the family, selling her to me for $2K with 112K on the odo, after approx 5 years of ownership. I proceeded to put another almost 50K on her, Konis, PWR rad, rebuilt heads and recent reseal, and numerous rebuilds, stainless lines, etc, etc. I was preparing for a trans rebuild when she was torn from me with airbag deployed in a single moment of CRASH

Forward to today, after cannibalizing what I could over those grief-stricken weeks following the wreck, purchasing a replacement , and transplanting the best of the parts into my "new" '97, Blackberry, I'm waiting for my 3 SVX friends to awake for a day of Konifying David's '97. With he, myself, Ron and Paul all doing our part, we hope to have some time to sit and enjoy the warmth of seeing this little project come to fruition. Also looking to video the process. Then an alignment and a cruise!! More later!!

Apologies for the highjack, but the joy of SVX ownership strikes me every time I slip into her familiar seat, fire that wonderful mill to life, and pull out to face whatever weather and mankind may throw at us. I know she'll take care of me.

Glenn

[Ownbot]

I believe that I now have a bad head gasket. All the usual signs. White smoke out the tailpipes, overheating, coolant disappears into the abyss. I can't even enjoy my car anymore. I don't think I could even make it to Budfreaks to get it fixed. Not sure if I even want to fix it at this point. It just don't seem worth it. These cars are a real pain in the ass to own. I have only put about 1200 miles on it since I got it in Dec. 07. That includes one trip from Pittsburgh to OTs house and back. Its really just not fun having this car anymore

[LetItSnow]

Originally Posted by K_Dub

My message to old or original SVX owners is:
Don't worry that somebody with less money is getting into your exclusive club. Own you car and enjoy it. ...if somebody wants to pony up for a cheap used car and it croaks on them such is life. That doesn't devalue your experience, so don't let it get to you. ...and it is not the fault of people buying into the market that these cars are dying off.

This thread is hardly related to an "exclusive club". Any concerns regarding the car here might (as a stretch) be comparable to owning a dog. The price of entry isn't a big deal, but the cost of the vet for regular visits, much less the random illness or a broken leg, even, can be quite a punch if nobody tol'ja.

For either one, to see someone else's waste away in the yard is disappointing, no matter how much you enjoy your own.

Subaru shoves more Imprezas off the assembly line in a month these days than it did SVXi during their entire production run. Imprezas are easy to replace, parts are plentiful, and their arrival to dealerships has no end in sight. While great cars, those are one-less-is-no-biggie-mobiles - not the SVX.

[ensteele]

Originally Posted by Seraph

Owning a SVX is like owning a boat. Your happiest days are the days you bought the SVX and the day you sell the SVX.

I fixed it for you Lwin:

"Owning a SVX is like owning a boat. Your happiest days are the days you bought the SVX and the day you sell the Boat."