I have a 16 year old that I know who expressed interest in buying the SVX that I have just resurrected.

 

It’s a 1992 w/200k on the clock. I put in a 10k motor. I do not know the condition of the tranny, but there was an aftermarket cooler and the fluid looked red and did not smell burnt.

 

Bought it from someone who lives in Lake Arrowhead in CA. The previous owner said that it was in good shape and made it up the mountain everyday. The elevation change was 5000 feet.

 

Price I am asking is 2k. This is sort of a friend price. I know him b/c he is in the church teen youth group that my wife and I lead.

 

Interior is shot, exterior needs a coat of wax to make it look OK.

 

I told him that SVXi are not the best first car to own b/c of the scarcity of parts. I would be committed to helping him with any problems that might come along but I also don’t want him to be discouraged with what might be a lemon.

 

The original plan in buying it was to part it out amongst three local SVX owners but they all had stuff happen and I ended up with the car.

 

The money would be more helpful than another SVX, but do you think a kid can handle the power and the responsibility of maintain this car?

 

Here is a copy of the info I am going to send him about SVXi.

 

SVX non-interchangeable parts

Engine

AC compressor

Front and rear Axles

Struts

Rear hubs

Brakes

Body panels (fenders, front clip, bumpers hood)

 

Possible interchange

Front hubs with 2005+STi or Tribeca

 

Interchangeable or aftermarket parts

Transmission – 5 speed from any model, automatic would require

wiring

Wheels – 2005+STi, Lexus, Tribeca, any 5X114 wheel w/45mm offset.

Seats – Legacy

Rear differential – all

Front lights (smallcar.com)

 

Problem areas and solutions

Transmissions – repair or swap in transmission from another Subaru

5 speed swap is pretty direct, automatic swap requires extensive wiring.

Brake rotors warping – aftermarket rotors (Ebay)

Windows – no real solution except hoard spare parts,

windshield $700, upper side window $250, lower side window $250

Automatic Seat Belts wearing down – retrofit static belts or replace

 

Pros of SVX ownership

People thinking that car is some exotic European sports car

230 HP AWD

Owning “rare potentially collectable” car only 16,000 sold in US from 1992 to 1997

 

Cons of SVX ownership

Maintenance is expensive (parts are hard to find)

Full coverage to pay for glass damage

Transmission failure is not a question of if, it’s a questions of “WHEN”

Heavy car over 3600 lbs

 

__________

does that about cover everything?

 

Thoughts, concerns, comments?

 

BW

Edited January 6, 200917 yr by s'ko

I would say no. The car is powerful, and a bit exotic. Parts are expensive (even for adults).

 

Part of me says go ahead and sell it to him as he will never have the money to keep it running and on the road for any length of time, the other part worries about when he does get it on the raod.

 

 

Here on Long Island we loose way too many 16-17-18 yo's to cars that are way beyond their means and ability of self control. Telephone poles and trees are unforgiving.

 

nipper

i also say no. too much pricey car to maintain even the basics for that age driver. no way.. no way noway

I vote no as well on the SVX. I would tell him to buy a first gen, AWD, 5-speed Impreza coupe. I personally, would be a lot happier with one of them than an auto SVX.

He's going to do stupid things no matter what he drives. My first vehicle was an underpowered '62 Ford F-100. I still found ways to to go fast. And when I got my hands on my father's '64 pontiac with a 389 4 speed.....don't ask. It's better to be lucky than smart.

 

However, learning to maintain a SVX might be a good thing for him.

I still don't trust myself today in my dad's 330xi and Im 22. My first car was an automatic 155HP Legacy GT. Given that the SVX does put out 230 HP stock, its quickness is limited due to its 4 spd auto. Thus, there could be worse choices for a teenager to drive. Still, Im with these guys, this car will be expensive to run.

another one - one of the most common SVX problems, the wheel bearings. properly torque the wheels and install an afermarket trans cooler right away.

 

if he's willing to put in the effort for parts, then cool. but he probably doesn't really know much about that. he'll probably just nod like "okay, right i can handle that".

 

if he's going to have to pay to have this thing worked on (like he'll be in college next year and you're not around), then it's going to be a gamble for him cost wise. but if he/his parents have lots of money then it doesn't much matter.

 

you can probably find my post from 3 years ago looking for an SVX TPS for a guy at church. never got anything here and i couldn't find one anywhere at a reasonable cost and he couldn't afford it. never got it fixed that i know of.

 

the SVX is a really nice car. it might be hard to imagine, but there are responsible teenagers out there with good heads on their shoulders. not many, but a few and i even know some. they are perfectly capable of having an SVX and maybe this joker is too.

To be honest I would be sure to get him a auto car. Less things for him to concentrate on. All he needs to concentrate on is throttle brakes and steering, vs throttle, brakes, clutch, gear, steering....

 

First gen N/A legacy is my suggestion, cheap insurance, very safe, reliable, fast enough.

You want him to be able to afford parts and make progress on the car, instead of being discouraged and never making any ground (at his age i had a Lancia and that was not fun).

 

nipper

To be honest I would be sure to get him a auto car. Less things for him to concentrate on. All he needs to concentrate on is throttle brakes and steering, vs throttle, brakes, clutch, gear, steering....

 

First gen N/A legacy is my suggestion, cheap insurance, very safe, reliable, fast enough.

 

Autos are good for new drivers as they have less to worry about. But that also creates drivers who are less aware of whats going on around them. They don't have to be as focused. Furthermore, many of these drivers never learn how to drive a stick, which I think everyone should be able to drive since one, even with the advances of auto transmissions, many manual transmissionns are still more efficient and two, you never know when you might need to drive one.

 

 

You want him to be able to afford parts and make progress on the car, instead of being discouraged and never making any ground (at his age i had a Lancia and that was not fun).

 

nipper

Yes, I feel like everytime I get something fixed, something else brakes. It was no surprise that I needed a new ignition coil today as well as new spark plug wires, afterall the car is 10 years old. But, I just did the timing belt and it doesnt help that my dad snapped my antenna off loading his car.

i agree everyone should know how to drive a stick, as human beings we are mnore then capable of driving the. It gives someone who fiddles with cars a better idea as to how everything intereacts, shift points, the idea of what lugging is etc.

 

However modern computer controlled automatics are just as effecient as manuals.

 

nipper

I vote no as well..

 

I don't even trust myself with one... and I'm 25..... I passed up a good one the other day for $200- had a newer tranny and everything... just tapped in the rear... and the guy wanted it gone.

I vote no as well, but for other reasons. First, this kid sounds like he is kind of a freind to you. And you never sell a freind, that lives close, anything, cars, houses, etc. Secondly, if he lives close enuf to you, and you know what SVX's are like, than you know he is going to be coming to you for help. And althou you may like working on cars, knowing what you know about these cars, are you sure you want to commit that kinda time into fixing it for him.

 

My suggestion, put it up on CRaigslist, or ebay, but dont sell it to this kid. Not until he is ready for the investment of time and Money that these SVX's require.