hey everyone im new to this website i usually post on tamparacing and tampa.dsm i used to own a 1g DSM FWD turbo, but i sold it and i was looking at a Subaru SVX... ive heard about tranny problems with these cars... can someone tell me a little info on how relaible and strongly built these cars are... how much IF the tranny did go out would it cost for a new one? it only has 60k miles and the timing belt was just changed... thanx for the info everyone... -Chris

 

its a cool car, but then transmission problems i have seen would be enough to steer me clear of the car. its one expensive tranny to replace. i know that has had his car in the garage i work, and he has had 3 rebuilts put in, and one of them rebuilt again. i think the new one runs about 3k. cool car to look at, wouldn't want to own it, or drive it everyday.

-PJ

 

but are they unreliable cars if their stock? i just needed a daily driver, not something i was gonna mod and race... i like the way they look... kinda rare too so thats a plus... but if its got major tranny problems then forget it, ill get something else but i dunno what yet im kinda strapped for cash...

 

I have two of them so I think I might be able to help a little. The car has 3 major bugs tranny, rear wheel bearings, and Rotors, there is a few other things that come up occasionaly but not as common as the other 3.

All the problems relate to the fact thatthe car weighs 3580lbs and thos componants just weren't strong enough. Now the tranny problem being the most exspensive was taken care of by model year 94. the other 2 aren't really all that uncommon on any Subie.

To fix the tranny you can do a couple of things like getting a aftermarket cooler and running full synthetic tranny fluid that helps. There is also a place www.smallcar.com who sell a manual swap using slightly modified wrx tranny, and they are working on further "bullet proofing" the auto. I've ordered my manual swap

You can find aftermarket slotted/drilled rotors wich will take care of the rotor problem.
The wheel bearing problem..just replace them both and you'll be good for a while.

As far as the daily driver thing goes...well that depends on what you buy in the first place. If you buy one that has been beaten then no not untill you dump some cash into fixing it. Also realize that this car recomends you feed it 92 octane. Don't be fooled this isn't a civic. Have the car checked out by a mechanic that knows subarus they'll know what to look for. The thing is the people with the good ones aren't in a rush to get rid of them.

With all that I think the SVX is a great car its beutiful, rare, and timeless. You won't see 10 of them on your drive to work. Out of the two i have one will end up a parts car most likely, the other one will get all the attention.

 

I've always liked their styling.. and that flat 6 motor.. but the auto trannies turned me off from the beginning (before I heard of the troubles with them). A manual tranny swap sounds like a promising idea.

 

i just went and test drove it today, the car ran very very smooth, very powerful also... it could probably use an oil change and plugs & wires but other then that the car was very nice, the windows didnt seem to go up/down all that fast so window motors might be an upcoming problem... and i was reading a previous post by someone where they said to feel if the rims are really hot (cause of the berings) and they were pretty much cool except the slight warmth from breaking... it was a very odd experience driving this car seeing i wasnt used to the windows like they are and u sit so damn low and the front end is so long... but i really really liked the car and i would definatly have it checked out before i bought it... does anyone know a good mechanic who could check it out around the Clearwater FL area? Thanx for all ur help guys if theres anything else i should know please feel more than free to let me know so i dont buy a lemon.. AIM screen name= I REP FLORIDA -Chris

 

I just thought of a few other things.
As far as the tranny goes, it is a real good idea to drive the car in "3" as opposed to "D" when maintaining speeds lower than say 55-60. otherwise the tranny will sonstantly sawp from 3-4 trying to find the best spot causing of course more tranny wear.

If your going to keep the automatic spend 80$ and get a tranny cooler and spend another 50$ to put in synthetic atf.

Go to www.subaru-svx.net its a really good site. lots of good info.

Good luck.

 

hmm thanx for the intel on that one ill remember it

 

i have been driving an svx for three years now i drive it every day to school and back and to other places to. its on it 3rd tranny and this ones been rebuilt twice! bubt it has not cost a penny more then the insurance for it, got the tranny fully insured. as far as the other too problems no problem with the bearings and minor warping with the rotors. i also have a leak with the power stearing but that can happen to any car with 136k miles on it. im also pretty rough with it altough lately calmed down. i love it and it gets you around in anythin snow, rain, ice. the funny part about that is when your driv ing in the middle of a snowstorm and people in suvs look at you all pissed off as you pass them while there in a ditch.
oh yea if you get it spend the extra money to get mobil 1 full syn. to keep the engine sealed up nicely. mine would spew smoke out the tial pipe when started every now and then, and the oil level would drop over time but then i made the switch to mobil 1 and that has stoped all and all i love my svx