What do I need to know about the Subaru SVX?

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee) 02/15/2016 at 09:30 • Filed to: None

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Any common issues to look for? Is the transmission good for what it is? Do they rust? Are parts expensive?

Connqr > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/15/2016 at 09:34

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They are cool. That’s about all I know. Sorry.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Connqr 02/15/2016 at 09:35

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I’ll second that.

Connqr > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 02/15/2016 at 09:36

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Are you looking to buy one (or own one) or are you just curious?

Cé hé sin > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/15/2016 at 09:36

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Gearbox expires prematurely or so I’ve heard. That, and rust.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Connqr 02/15/2016 at 09:39

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I’m interested in one because it’s one of the few fast Japanese cars to have been left untouched by the ricer crowd and it's associated image. It’s safe for me, a 22yo guy, to drive without looking like a Fast & Furious wannabe.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Cé hé sin 02/15/2016 at 09:41

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But if I've found one with only 100k the transmission should still be good for a while, no?

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/15/2016 at 09:43

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I saw a handful when I lived in the Southwest. So they must be cheaply repairable, I'd guess.

Cé hé sin > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/15/2016 at 09:43

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Well, it’s your money! Ask Mr Google.

XJDano > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/15/2016 at 09:48

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RCR did a two part series on it, you may have seen it, but can start there. I have always wanted one since there was one near my parents church in the 90's.

Connqr > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/15/2016 at 09:58

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Ah, ok. Good luck trying to find one. (Not meant to be sarcasm)

crowmolly > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/15/2016 at 10:00

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Could be fine, could be a ticking time bomb about to go bang. 100k is still a lot of miles for a 90's car.

davedave1111 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/15/2016 at 10:01

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From what I understood when I looked at getting one, they’re built primarily of unobtanium, with occasional parts that make unobtanium look easy to get hold of. They’re incredibly complex, loads to go wrong, hard to fix when it does, and no-one knows anything about them. Oh, and it was an expensive car when new, so it’s never going to be cheap to run even if nothing major goes wrong.

Also, by reputation the auto boxes will only last around 60k miles before giving up.

http://www.rac.co.uk/buying-a-car/c…

http://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/subaru…

Wohnson89 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/15/2016 at 10:18

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I own an SVX, so fire away with the questions!

The main complaints on these cars are the transmissions and the rear wheel bearings. Transmissions are an issue but mainly on the earlier cars, install a transmission oil cooler and change your filter regularly and you should be able to delay the inevitable. Wheel bearings will go out and it’s a not unsubstantial sum unless your handy with a wrench. You can fairly easily swap all kinds of manual transmissions from other Subaru’s if you don’t like the automatic, there many people who have heavily documents this swap.

Rust isn’t really an issue unless you live where all cars have rust issues. If it doesn’t have rust in the quarter panel behind the rear wheel, the rest of the car should be clean.

MAKE SURE YOU GET ONE WITH A UNBROKEN WINDSHIELD!! Windshields on these cars cost upwards of $1500 (new) and come without any of the rubber gaskets.

The cost of new parts (high) caused many of these to be parted out so there is a plethora of good used parts on ebay, and they sell cheap.

Since its likely that the 20+ year old suspension is worn out, you can either swap in wrx sti coilovers with a few modifications, or you can buy either AWR or Cekia coilovers that are a direct fit.

Buy one and never regret your decision, I know I don’t.

LeadfootYT > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/15/2016 at 10:18

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Gearboxes were notoriously weak. Unless you’re planning to swap it for a manual, plan on the transmission exploding.

Boxer_4 > Wohnson89 02/15/2016 at 10:39

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As someone who has been looking at these for a while, and is probably within a year or two of buying one, I couldn’t have said it better myself.

I’d add timing belt and radiator (I’ve heard the plastic end tanks tend to fail after a while) to the list of things to watch for, and you’re set.

Boxer_4 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/15/2016 at 10:46

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What year? The later model SVXs (94.5+) had a revised 4EAT which reduced the failures significantly, but they still occur.

This is a good site talking about the transmission issues. (It’s a little old, so prices are probably wrong)

Round headlight enthusiast > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/15/2016 at 10:51

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No, they typically blow around 80k. I almost bought one of these cars. They’re HORRIBLE transmissions.

Wohnson89 > Boxer_4 02/15/2016 at 11:20

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Very true. Timing belt was around $1700 when I had it done on my car (along with valve cover gaskets). Have yet to experience the tank failure (it’s not anymore common than any car with plastic tanks) but there is a good supplier of fully aluminum radiators for this car, I just forget the name.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Boxer_4 02/15/2016 at 11:54

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The one I’m looking at is a 94. Is there an easy way to differentiate early year from late year without needing the VIN?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Connqr 02/15/2016 at 12:01

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Already found one, trying to decide if it's worth the 3hr drive to go see it

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Wohnson89 02/15/2016 at 12:04

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What do you make of this?: https://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/5374323449…

vicali > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/15/2016 at 12:16

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It’s a funky Subaru with the H6.. pretty rare, although you still see a few on the roads if you are watching for them.

I would say you don’t commonly find them modded because a) there are almost no aftermarket parts, b) they are grand tourers - two doors and comfy - but not very tossable, and c) they were expensive when they were sold - they were $10k more than any other Subie and nobody knew anything about them..

Fortunately there is a pretty good community;

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/

Wohnson89 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/15/2016 at 12:18

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Aside from the color (my least favorite svx color), that is a solid deal. A clean engine bay is a good sign of a well maintained vehicle. Leather is also prone to deterioration on these cars and that car looks pretty nice. find out when the last timing belt was done as it is probably due ~10 years or 60k miles. Also 1994 was the cross over year when these cars became OBDII so codes are much easier to run. Transmission was better in these years also (don’t quote me on that, I’m more versed in OBDI cars like mine). You also get a nice passenger side airbag to save your passengers lives!

But seriously, If that were closer to me and in a different color I’d snatch it up in a heartbeat.

Boxer_4 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/15/2016 at 15:21

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The very early ‘94s did not have the dual airbags. The rest of the model year, all SVXs had dual airbags except for the base model (Identified by no sunroof and Front Wheel Drive).

The VIN won’t easily tell when in the model year it was built, only what model year it is (R for 1994). There were 1,666 SVXs built for the US market in 1994, but I’m not sure what the production distribution was. Your best bet would be to look at the transmission serial number tag.

The serial number will be a 6-digit all-numerical code. From what I can tell, the major improvements to the transmission were made starting with ID # 463969

The tag is a white sticker on the side or top of the bell-housing of the transmission. I believe it’s on the driver’s side on ‘90s Subarus. Sometime in the ‘00s, they were moved to the passenger’s side.

Boxer_4 > Wohnson89 02/15/2016 at 15:28

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That could be; maybe it seems like it’s major complaint since there isn’t too much to complain about! (transmission and rear wheel bearing issues aside).

I think PWR is the company you’re thinking of.

Connqr > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/15/2016 at 18:03

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If it’s worth driving, it’s worth driving 3 hours to see

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Boxer_4 02/15/2016 at 19:13

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That is defs a passenger airbag pictured.

Boxer_4 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/15/2016 at 20:43

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I believe the transition happened sometime in the first month of ‘94 production (which I am lead to believe is 10/93). I believe that each model year had a production run of 6 months. That would put ‘94.5 around 01/94.

Personally, I would try to get the information off the transmission ID. Maybe try to get the seller to send you a photo?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Boxer_4 02/15/2016 at 20:51

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I’m still a week and a half out from having the time to go see it so I’ve got plenty of time to deliberate.

My research says the transmission issues can be pretty much averted with an upgraded trans cooler and regular fluid filter changes.

Boxer_4 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/15/2016 at 21:18

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Yes, upgrading the trans cooler and regular fluid and filter changes will go a long way to keeping the transmission happy.