1992 Subaru SVX, LSi, 4WD
It is time to find a new caretaker for our 1992 Subaru SVX, LSi. For those in the know, these are cars that epitomize the phrase, “luxury performance coupe.” The 14, 257 cars produced between 1992 and 1997 have already been recognized as affordable classics (April, 2002 issue of Sports Car Market.) Our car is now available only because it has lost its garage space to our latest acquisition, a 1997 Mercedes-Benz C36 AMG. The sweet and sour of working through one’s car wish list.
Evolving from their stellar show car, Subaru successfully created the SVX with a glass-to-glass canopy, very good aerodynamics, a wide unobstructed view and a roomy cabin. Take a look at the pictures provided here and you will see why driving this awesome car will get you, as it has us, as much attention as any other “exotic” you might own. The cars are propelled by a 3.3-liter, sequential port fuel injection, direct ignition, four overhead cam engine actuating four valves per cylinder, putting out a healthy 230 bhp at 5400 rpm and 224 lb.-ft. of torque at 4400 rpm. This engine propels a car with four-channel anti-lock brakes and active torque-split all-wheel-drive (Road & Track, September 1991, page 85). Some of the equipment on the top of the line LSi includes: A/C, Leather Seats, Anti Lock Brakes, CD Player, Power Locks, Power Windows, Cassette, Driver Air Bag, Alarm, etc.
Finding this car took longer than I had originally expected it would. Unlike many “specialty cars” that are sold, SVX’s appear not to have sold well in California, but rather best in fowl weather areas. I wanted a Silver car with Gray interior, originally sold in California. Silver was required because of the awesome look of these cars with the Black/Silver exterior (also used in ad cars) and one sold in California to ensure a rust free car. As a member of our family it went through the fanatical mechanical grooming that all of our cars seem to go through.
Looking at my records, I have receipts for over $4,000 in mechanical work. The wonderful auto/manual shifter that these cars come with has not only been rebuilt with appropriate upgrades by a knowledgeable shop, but a transmission cooler and shift kit were also installed. (Visit the SVX Links on my “Clubs and Links” page and find out that the transmission in EVERY SVX is the car’s weak link until dealt with.) Within the last 10,000 or so miles I have also replaced the front crank seal, timing belt, V-Belt, A/C belt, water pump and seal, thermostat, front struts, a rear wheel bearing (the number two weak link), and put on two new tires. In February 2004 the car received very good values while undergoing testing in our State smog test system, indicating an engine in good health at 155,348 miles. As with any of our “modern cars,” no one in the family would hesitate to get in this car and leave on a trip across country today.
