Used Car Duel - Subaru SVX vs. 996 Carrera 4

"Margin Of Error" (marginoferror) 03/18/2015 at 13:00 • Filed to: DUEL

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The Subaru SVX was known as the poor man's Carrera 4 because of its technical similitudes. Both cars were 2+2 AWD GT with boxer engines.

Back in the mid 90's, the SVX was the obvious choice because It was half the price of the Porsche and just as good, with even a better interior. Ironically (or is it karma) the SVX became a classic, if not a cult car, and appreciated rapidly while the aesthetically-challenged 996 Carrera 4 became the most hated Porsche ever as it angered enthusiasts even more than the Panameria. The good thing for us enthusiasts is that this hatred had a very negative effect on the resale value, so 996's can be had for close to nothing.

This leads to a very important question : Is the 996 Carrera4 became the poor man's Subaru SVX ? Join the discussion in kinja below

Image Credits : Marvin Eubanks

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Margin Of Error 03/18/2015 at 13:04

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I'd rather an SVX with a manual swap.

Margin Of Error > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 03/18/2015 at 13:05

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That's a no brainer

KillerRaccoon - Group J's Sébastien Loeb > Margin Of Error 03/18/2015 at 13:05

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996 if you do the IMS bearing fix. Then again, I have REALLY wanted to do a restomod SVX where I give it a Bentley-level interior with high quality switchgear, etc, and give it a solid engine build.

http://carbuying.jalopnik.com/how-to-own-a-r…

Margin Of Error > KillerRaccoon - Group J's Sébastien Loeb 03/18/2015 at 13:07

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So much potential in that car

For Sweden > Margin Of Error 03/18/2015 at 13:08

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Actually putting a manual transmission in an SVX is a difficult job requiring much brainpower.

DailyTurismo > Margin Of Error 03/18/2015 at 13:09

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the SVX became a classic, if not a cult car, and appreciated rapidly.

Okay, I'll bite, in what market has the SVX "appreciated"? They have the resale value of a used Kleenex. Original MSRP in the $40k range, today values around $3-5k.

http://www.dailyturismo.com/search?q=+suba…

FromCanadaWithLove > Margin Of Error 03/18/2015 at 13:10

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Reliability aside, I think the 996 is going to age well (but obviously the 997 and 993 are more desirable).

Flat Six > Margin Of Error 03/18/2015 at 13:10

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I like 996's, and would consider getting one. It's an amazing value today. I don't know anything about SVX's though. When you say that it is just as good, do you mean it has equivalent performance?

BTW, I think your picture might actually be a 996 Turbo.

Boxer_4 > DailyTurismo 03/18/2015 at 13:13

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I was going to say... they certainly haven't appreciated. It's still possible to find one for $1,000 or less, if you are willing to throw in a new transmission and do a bit of reconditioning, too.

For Sweden > DailyTurismo 03/18/2015 at 13:13

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Any calculations include a Margin Of Error

Margin Of Error > For Sweden 03/18/2015 at 13:14

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Yea, verily.

Margin Of Error > DailyTurismo 03/18/2015 at 13:16

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I know someone that had to resort to ebay motors and paid nearly 10K without test driving it, so there's that.

Margin Of Error > FromCanadaWithLove 03/18/2015 at 13:27

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This will not age well

Schaefft > Margin Of Error 03/18/2015 at 13:35

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Love the SVX and the 996. Never had an issue with the pre-facelift headlights of the Carrera. I wouldn't say the 996 911s are the poor man's SVX since they are still significantly more expensive and I'd probably prefer them over an auto SVX, but both are great cars.

Margin Of Error > Schaefft 03/18/2015 at 13:39

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I see where you're going to, I don't necessarily agree but we are all entitled to our opinions.

Thanks for chiming in !

FromCanadaWithLove > Margin Of Error 03/18/2015 at 13:49

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Fair point.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Margin Of Error 03/18/2015 at 14:00

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I have owned a 92 SVX LS-L.

I badly want a 996 Carrera 4 6-speed.

Edge to the Porsche, despite how much I love the SVX.

1: Parts. SVX was a 5 year run, and cancelled in 1997, with a small number of cars sold. Spare parts are in short supply, the expensive and unique glass is rare to find, if not impossible, and it uses a one-model-only engine, with an under-delivered transaxle that was intended for lower powered engines. Spare parts and parts cars are rare, and only getting HARDER to find on the Subaru. There are many more 996s, parts shared with 986, and maybe upgradeable with 987/997 parts, and shared items like replacement glass, and Porsche-specific breakers that cater to providing Porsche spare parts.

2: Auto-only. Manual swaps are possible, but not official. They fit directly, but require some fabrication for the shift linkage, and the chassis brace to hold up the gearbox under the car. The Porsche came stock with a properly engineered gearbox.

3: Weight, and weight transfer. Neither car is a flyweight, but the Porsche is lighter. It also has the weight balance similar to a mid-engined car, rather than a heavily front-engined car. Acceleration weight transfer, weight bias, and steering loading favors the primarily-driven rear wheels with front assist, rather than the SVX loading and preferring the front wheels, with rear-assist, and the understeer physics of a front-engined car.

Other than those differences, I LOVE both of these cars so much, it is like this Used Car Duel is written for me.

As much as I would love a Spec.B 6MT swapped Laguna blue 94 SVX LS-L in pristine condition...

A Cobalt blue (or classic german Arctic Silver over Boxster Red leather interior) Carrera 4 6-speed with a little bit of body-kit tweaking, and a nice interior, and an oil-cooler-fed intermediate shaft bearing cap, and an preventative rear main seal upgrade replacement, sport exhaust system, and automatic torque-biasing limited slip differential, would be even better.

The modest whale tail spoiler on that 997 is made by Fiberwerks, and there is a slight variant that fits the 996 engine lid, and I think that is the most handsome option, as 996/997 options go, even compared to the Porsche aerokit accessory fixed wing.

Newsboy > Margin Of Error 03/18/2015 at 14:02

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Porsche wins, hands down.

I've owned an SVX. It has horrendous resale value, parts are expensive and hard to find. Mechanics who are familiar with it are impossible to find. Wheel bearings last 10-30k miles, and require a specialized set of press adapters to replace. The automatic transmission is overstressed and typically lasts 30-50k before grenading. The brakes are undersized and wear out hilariously fast.

At least with the 996 you'll have a nationwide dealer network that can get parts and is familiar with the car.

Margin Of Error > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 03/18/2015 at 14:07

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You Sir are well informed, that's what I like about Oppositelock, so many knowledgeable enthusiasts !

BrtStlnd > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 03/18/2015 at 14:08

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This guy! I remember you!

Margin Of Error > Flat Six 03/18/2015 at 14:08

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The SVX is quite the performer

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Margin Of Error 03/18/2015 at 14:09

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There are thankfully very FEW mint-green 996 interiors, let alone those festooned with fake plastic wood.

Basic black, or stone grey, or tan are good. Even a bit more bold, with Boxster Red is not bad.

You can even get a replica piece to delete the middle of the center console, like a GT3, (pictured in the black interior) if you want to, although it loses cubby space if you put the climate control and a single DIN audio head unit in the main dash DIN slots.

Steve in Manhattan > Margin Of Error 03/19/2015 at 16:31

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996 Carerra 4 - is that the last of the air-cooled 911s?

Margin Of Error > Steve in Manhattan 03/19/2015 at 16:46

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Nope, that would be the 993

996 are the watercoolers

Steve in Manhattan > Margin Of Error 03/19/2015 at 16:51

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Someone somewhere said the air-cooled cars are increasing in value? True? Does it make sense?

Margin Of Error > Steve in Manhattan 03/19/2015 at 16:52

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Sure, the 993's are pretty expensive, let me share this to oppo, some users will be able to shed some light on why

Steve in Manhattan > Margin Of Error 03/19/2015 at 16:54

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And I should answer the question - the Porsche is water-cooled, so I'd probably go for that given that the handling would be improved by the AWD.

BelegUS > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 04/01/2015 at 04:02

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Just for the record - here in EU we have SVX with VTD gearbox, which means 55% rear bias. That is a little better than Your US market 90/10 ACT-4 tranny :)