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So I want to buy an SVX but...
I need a wee bit of help in order to do it right'n tight. I've searched the forum quite a lot and found lots of great info (including the buyer's guide) but, I'm a bit overloaded, not very mech savvy (yet) and just need some things spelled out for me.
I hope you don't mind doing some spelling The situation: Daily commute is over the fjord by boat, I can spend my monies on a performance touring car for longer hauls. The SVX is the obvious choice to pursue for a _wide_ array of reasons. There are no local units for sale, by today's exchange rate I have to pay 17-18k of your dollars in import tax. That tax is progressive with engine displacement, curb weight and first registration year so a 5 year old car that's even remotely related to a GT would easily be $50-80k just in import tax, save the actual cost and VAT. That leaves we with around $15k to spend on the actual car and around here, Europe, they're about EUR 5-15k which is like 7-20k dollars or so. Which again means I must choose very wisely before I travel somewhere to actual test drive the unit. Some questions: 1) What is better in terms of performance and finance? A car with low mileage (like ~50k/km) but no major service or a car with higher mileage (like ~150k/km) but with complete service history including major services? Given that everything else is equal, should there be a big price difference between these units? 2) I've centered on 94/95 as they are chippable yet have airbags on the passanger side. However, most cars I see in the classifieds from these years don't have that airbag anywhere visible. Are the Euro/German specs different from the US specs? 3) A Lot of them are advertised at 220HP. Again, some particular euro spec? 4) If I can't find a suitable one with passanger airbag, can such an airbag be easily retrofitted on an earlier model? 5) Really haven't seen that many rust complaints, may I conclude this is not a big problem on the SVX? 6) Just in case the family wants to hit the slopes, is it possible and feasable to mount roof racks without ruining the car or risk leaks? 7) Will a small chip-tune like ECUTune actually notably improve performance or is it just one out of many things that must be done? Yea, I think that's just about round one. Feel free to add any anectode, opinion, projection...anything that can aid me in selecting the units to test drive. Cheers |
#2
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Re: So I want to buy an SVX but...
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3. All SVXes came with the same engine, the EG33, which makes about 230hp. 4. Yes you can retrofit the passenger side airbag onto a single airbag car, and it has been done. I know you need the airbag module, the dash, and the actual airbag itself, and probably some wiring as well. 5. Rust is an issue with these cars in many areas of the US, but it's not bad enough to start taking them off the road yet. The main problem area seems to be the wheel wells above the tires, so watch out for that. Cars in the southern US seem to be doing really well. 6. Some people have roof racks. At one time there was an Australian company that made them, but have since stopped. 7. The ECUTune chip will make a slight improvement. Big power with these cars is possible, but would require a lot more than that, both in terms of cost and effort.
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'94 Laguna Blue LSi ~159k.......JDM ultra short-geared 3.900 STi Version 7 6-speed w/ Cobb shortshifter, ECUtune 244,8.1mm/256,9.1mm i/e cams, group N motor mounts, '97 grille, JDM clear corners, Momo JDM Legacy GT steering wheel, apkarian's LED tails, silver STi BBS wheels, PWR radiator, redstuff pads f/r, drilled/slotted rotors, bontragerworks rsb #18, Koni/GC 450f/375r coilovers, Megan Racing adjustable lateral links, KMac c/c plates, Stebro exhaust, ECUtune 1v5, Optima battery in the trunk where it belongs. Turbo project '97 Ebony LSi ~137k #036.......Power mode mod, JDM clear corners, BBS wheels. AUX/pocket mod Now a mod "over there" ............Photo album |
#3
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Re: So I want to buy an SVX but...
I'm really not qualified to address most of your questions, but wanted to offer greetings and wish you well on your search.
1) My personal preference would be a well-maintained, high-mileage car. 5) Neither of my cars exhibits any sign of rust perforation. Seams, fasteners, and sheet metal inside the doors and quarter panels are spotless. (That said, the rear strut mounts in one came out looking like marine salvage.) In this regard, road salt is the kiss of death. If your prospective car comes from an area where salt is used on icy roadways, beware. 6) I've lowered the back seat and hauled 8-foot lumber with the trunk closed, so I imagine you could carry skis if your outing were limited to two passengers. dcb |
#4
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Re: So I want to buy an SVX but...
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Thank you both so far for your responses. I hope more people will chip in. As for real performance gain I realize it is not cheap and must be done by properly skilled people. I was just wondering if replacing the ECU and transmission computer made any noticable difference at all. And there's already a third passenger and probably a fourth in a few years, hence the skibox Last edited by jetboy; 11-09-2011 at 07:37 AM. Reason: Temporary Dyklesika |
#5
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Re: So I want to buy an SVX but...
It will make a noticeable, but slight, improvement.
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'94 Laguna Blue LSi ~159k.......JDM ultra short-geared 3.900 STi Version 7 6-speed w/ Cobb shortshifter, ECUtune 244,8.1mm/256,9.1mm i/e cams, group N motor mounts, '97 grille, JDM clear corners, Momo JDM Legacy GT steering wheel, apkarian's LED tails, silver STi BBS wheels, PWR radiator, redstuff pads f/r, drilled/slotted rotors, bontragerworks rsb #18, Koni/GC 450f/375r coilovers, Megan Racing adjustable lateral links, KMac c/c plates, Stebro exhaust, ECUtune 1v5, Optima battery in the trunk where it belongs. Turbo project '97 Ebony LSi ~137k #036.......Power mode mod, JDM clear corners, BBS wheels. AUX/pocket mod Now a mod "over there" ............Photo album |
#6
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Re: So I want to buy an SVX but...
I agree, I did the stage1 and tcu in feb 2011 and it feels better I would also suggest a rear antisway bar by nevin. That makes the car feel completely different and much better.
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#7
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Re: So I want to buy an SVX but...
I can't be much help with Euro specs, only know the RHD cars really, but will offer some buying advice which you may find useful.
You are very welcome to the community! Spelling it out below in green: Quote:
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Black Betty [Bam a Lam!] '93 UK spec, still languishing Betty Jersey Girl Silver '92 UK [Channel Isles] 40K Jersey Girl @ Mersea Candy Purple Honda Blackbird Plum Dangerous White X2 RVR Mitsubishi 1800GDI. Vantastic 40,000 miles Jersey Girl |
#8
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Re: So I want to buy an SVX but...
I forgot one thing, one important thing jetboy.
If the car you are considering buying has a black roof, it is of the older phase one variety, no matter what the year of first registration may say. As you mention, sometimes they were in showrooms a long time before first registration. If you purchase a car that is all one colour then that car is a phase two car. Phase two cars will have the different [EOBD?] diagnostic plugs and may not lend themselves to chip tuning, but remember what I said about the 4.444 grearbox. That is the cheapest way of quickening up the car so you will notice the difference in performance. Joe
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Black Betty [Bam a Lam!] '93 UK spec, still languishing Betty Jersey Girl Silver '92 UK [Channel Isles] 40K Jersey Girl @ Mersea Candy Purple Honda Blackbird Plum Dangerous White X2 RVR Mitsubishi 1800GDI. Vantastic 40,000 miles Jersey Girl |
#9
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Re: So I want to buy an SVX but...
Quote:
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#10
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Re: So I want to buy an SVX but...
Yes, a manual box is a good upgrade, but more to be done and more costly. Agreed.
Joe
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Black Betty [Bam a Lam!] '93 UK spec, still languishing Betty Jersey Girl Silver '92 UK [Channel Isles] 40K Jersey Girl @ Mersea Candy Purple Honda Blackbird Plum Dangerous White X2 RVR Mitsubishi 1800GDI. Vantastic 40,000 miles Jersey Girl |
#11
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Re: So I want to buy an SVX but...
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Icing, apparently they came with designations like CXW etc.. which supposedly says what's fitted. It seems to me that most sellers, or at least adverts, are not really stating everything about the specs. However, I'll call Subaru and hear them out how to ID the unit (we probably have some VIN equivalent here) and check what it is actually. Just keep it coming folks and thanks so far. |
#12
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Re: So I want to buy an SVX but...
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When it comes to passing people on the highway, it does its job very well. Quote:
I thought it be faster...why does it seem to be 3 secs slower than my stock tranny? It shifts out of second @ redline at 67mph?? So you never see 2nd gear on a 65mph highway in a 4.44??? I really enjoy that drop to second in my svx when passing people on the highway.. Can someone with a 4.44 clear up my confusion. Is 3rd really that slow to pull or does the guy in the video have slow svx?? Last edited by Lookin4SVX; 05-19-2012 at 10:22 PM. |
#13
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Re: So I want to buy an SVX but...
Let's return to retrofitting passenger side airbag. There is all of a sudden a fairly OK deal locally! It's been at it for 208.000km and if it's really well kept (all exterior and interior looked nice) it might be worth it. But of course, it's 1992 and no passanger side airbag.
Do you know anyone who did it, are there any links or can you imagine straight away what has to be done? Is it "just" a matter of sacrificing glove compartment room? Yes, I know you warned me but was that a technical or financial warning? Last edited by jetboy; 11-11-2011 at 08:29 AM. |
#14
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Re: So I want to buy an SVX but...
Ok, no love for retrofitting
How about this part from Wikipedia: "he first system, called ACT-4 (active torque split) by Subaru, was the same setup commonly found on other Subaru models of the period, and used a variable clutch pack center differential using a 90/10 power split ratio front to rear, which could transfer up to a 50/50 power split ratio for maximum traction if the front wheels started to slip. This AWD system was offered throughout the entire production run, and was used in vehicles manufactured for sale in the US, Canada, Germany, France and Switzerland. A sportier continuous traction delivery system, called VTD (variable torque distribution) by Subaru, was used in vehicles for sale in Japan, the UK, the Benelux region, Sweden, Australia, Spain, Austria and Brazil. The VTD AWD system is a permanent AWD due to its 36/64 split.[7]" Since I'm in Europe I can probably shop around for desirables. Any thoughts about pros and cons on the AWD-subsystem? Apparently VTD sounds better but I only think that because it's "sportier". I understand this system has a rear wheel drive bias? Any thoughts about what provides better traction? |
#15
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Re: So I want to buy an SVX but...
The VTD type are better. The only advantage the ACT-4 system would have is gas mileage.
__________________
'94 Laguna Blue LSi ~159k.......JDM ultra short-geared 3.900 STi Version 7 6-speed w/ Cobb shortshifter, ECUtune 244,8.1mm/256,9.1mm i/e cams, group N motor mounts, '97 grille, JDM clear corners, Momo JDM Legacy GT steering wheel, apkarian's LED tails, silver STi BBS wheels, PWR radiator, redstuff pads f/r, drilled/slotted rotors, bontragerworks rsb #18, Koni/GC 450f/375r coilovers, Megan Racing adjustable lateral links, KMac c/c plates, Stebro exhaust, ECUtune 1v5, Optima battery in the trunk where it belongs. Turbo project '97 Ebony LSi ~137k #036.......Power mode mod, JDM clear corners, BBS wheels. AUX/pocket mod Now a mod "over there" ............Photo album |
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