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Finally got another Subaru

Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 4:30 pm
by IggDawg
Figured I'd share the love here too. So glad to be behind the wheel of another Scooby. I picked up a red '94 SVX LSi on Ebay. just so happened that this guy was local to me, and had exactly what I'd been looking for for about 2 years now. I've been on the hunt for a local SVX in very good mechanical condition preferably with a new tranny. this one was not only in good mechanical condition, but was in spectacular condition in the interior and exterior. the guy that owned it was a ASE master technician, and he went to town on it. new brakes, suspension, transmission, and numerous interior bits. Absolutely everything works mechanically and electrically. 3 buttons have slightly dim lights, but the car's 10 years old for chrissake. can't split hairs. check out the pics:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/user.php?IggDawg|17983

So very happy with this car. It's an absolute pleasure to drive. IF any of you have a couple thou to spend on a toy car to supplement your EJ22t habit, I strongly reccommend one of these :D.

Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 5:00 pm
by mikec
Congrats on the purchase IggDawg! It looks really good.

Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 5:06 pm
by LegacyT
Congrats, awesome car man!! I've been hunting for one too, one with a blown tranny or something for cheap. Are you gonna 5-spd yours :twisted:

Mark,

Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 5:29 pm
by magicmike
DAMN! that thing is cherry. Congrats man

Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 5:50 pm
by DLC
Sweet.

Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 5:57 pm
by legacy92ej22t
Very nice! :D

Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 5:57 pm
by georryan
Supercharge it! :)

Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 6:17 pm
by THAWA
that's so awesome! Looks to be in great shape. Good find :D

Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 6:23 pm
by evolutionmovement
If I knew you were looking this gorgeous Cambodian woman I worked with was trying to unload hers over a year ago. Had a new transmission and was even red. I don't know what she wanted for it, she just kept telling me I should buy it.

Steve

Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 9:42 pm
by IggDawg
Thanks for the kind words, guys :D . I was real pleased when I saw her in person and she was as nice as the auction pics made her out ot be. those pics are from the auction... I have yet to take any of my own.

The tranny is barely 10k miles old, so I can't really justify swapping it out yet. But when she starts to slip a little, I'm sure she'll have a legacy turbo 5MT in her belly :D

EM - did she come with the car :D? I've been on the "quasi-prowl" for a while, but the thing that got me really looking for one was that I had just finished doing the input shaft bearing on my CRX, and I wanted something a little nicer. I was also sick of sweating through my pants. whenever I'm looking for me next car, SVXs are the first thing I look around for. this one happened to be available. is hers still for sale?

Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 10:06 pm
by Legacy777
yeah....those things are such cruiser cars......

Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 10:15 pm
by Brat4by4
make sure you put an external tranny cooler on it if the previous owner had not. but that will make the tranny last longer.... up to you. you might be able to sell that tranny for a pretty penny and finance the swap.

Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 10:34 pm
by evolutionmovement
I unfortunately haven't spoken to her since the plant moved to Malaysia. She lives in Lowel, I assume it's still for sale if she has it, but I don't have her number. Damn woman's married otherwise I'd be keeping her number to myself. She had a great sense of humor, too.

Oh well, looks like you've got a good one anyway. I always liked those. If they'd come with manuals I'd have bought one over the Legacy.

Steve

Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 12:28 am
by entirelyturbo
Really cool, Igg! 8) I am positive I will have an SVX someday, it will just happen...

It's great that the tranny is new, and I agree with Brat, you need an external cooler. But how are the rear wheel bearings? Any SVX owner will tell you stories of those :?

Still awesome though. Also, look at huck369's profile on here, he's probably the most famous guy to do the 5MT SVX swap.

Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 3:46 am
by THAWA
hey igg, can you keep track of about how much you spend on it in repairs? I'm thinking about getting one but wanna know for sure how much they need.

Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 9:04 am
by IggDawg
subyluvr: From Subaru-SVX.com -
How is driving a Subaru SVX like being in the Bermuda Triangle?
If you're in either of them long enough, you're going to lose your bearings.

How is driving a Subaru SVX like being chased by a lion?
In either case, you're going to hear a loud roar coming from behind you.
:D

The rear bearings in this one are perfectly silent. When I'm on the highway, all I can hear is the enigne purring and the stereo. the tires are a little loud too. but no bearing issues thankfully. In the event of failure, North Ursalia from Nabisco works at Exeter Suabru (aka www.subaruwrxparts.com) and can get the "DIY kit" for rear bearings. so I'm not terribly worried. I'm thinking strongly about autocrossing it once or twice.

brat - already got one :D . It's only a Hayden 401, but I got it small on purpose so I can add another larger one for summer and keep this one on for winter. with a big one, the tranny my SS would never get up to temperature. this car has a few more ponies, but I would still worry about running too cold.

THAWA - absolutely. but given the condition of the car, I'd call it a "best case scenario." some people get stuck fixing all kinds of stuff, especially if they get the cheaper '92s (which were a little faster anyways). I've already spent a couple hundred that I prolly didn't need to on this and that. but I get that way when I have a car I really like. I got that way with my legacy for sure :D. but yeah, I'll keep a running tab and check in in a few months.

Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 9:16 am
by THAWA
Speaking of which, do you know what allowed the 92-93 lsl's to have such a high top speed?

Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 10:09 am
by IggDawg
The 92 and 93 models were speed limited by teh CPU based on RPMs, and the later models were limited by the CPU based on vehicle speed. I guess they figured ~154mph was a little quick, and decided to cut the speed off before the rev limiter :lol: :D .

hmm... could have just quoted cars101.com :

"1994 added an electronic cut off at 136 MPH pre 94 models used RPM to limit top speed at 155 "

there you have it :D .

Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 12:00 pm
by nubs
Welcome to the SVX ranks IggDawg. I have seen your post's over on the Network. Not all SVX's are as problematic as everyone thinks. I have had my 92 for 4 years and have not done to much to it.

Image

Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 3:12 pm
by vrg3
A VSS-based speed limiter shouldn't be hard to bypass.

Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 3:32 pm
by entirelyturbo
IggDawg wrote:The rear bearings in this one are perfectly silent.
They have probably been replaced then. My understanding of the wheel bearing issue was that the originals did not have proper sealing from the outside elements, so water, dirt, etc. etc. were free to work their way in and destroy the bearings. New updated bearings were properly sealed.

Also, something that might interest you Igg. It is my understanding that the STi does not have the common Subaru lug pattern, it's 5 X 114.3 as opposed to our 5 X 100. The only other Subaru I know of with that lug pattern is the SVX :twisted: Anyone over on the SVX board attempted an STi wheel on their cars? :)

Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 4:11 pm
by THAWA
hmm awesome, so it was all 92-93's that had the high topspeed or just the lsl's?

I assume you mean the 05 sti's?

Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 5:17 pm
by LegacyT
huh? Aren't all STi's 5x100 :?

Mark,

Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 7:27 pm
by eastbaysubaru
Nope, the USDM STi's are all the 5 X 114.3 bolt pattern. Interesting that the SVX also had that pattern. You learn something new every day:D!

-Brian

Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 8:48 pm
by LegacyT
Wow thats crazy :shock: I woulda never thought. Thats good info to stuff into my brain for future reference.

Mark,