For all you XR4ti, SVX and Allante owners...

[foxpaws]

So, I realize I am talking to a very small, select group

Tomorrow night (Tuesday, August 28th) on Top Gear USA they must have some weird challenge going with 3 very difficult cars. A Merkur XR4ti, a Cadillac Allante (looks like a '93 with a N* at least), and a Subaru SRV.

I bet they trash the heck out of them, they are all very picky cars, and most of them have been rode hard and put away wet. The 64 push buttons in the Allante alone will be good for some miscues and laughs.

But, should be fun for those of us who own one of the strange beasties...

[speeder]

Where was that taken?

[kaisen]

Subaru *SVX

[motion]

Originally Posted by speeder

Where was that taken?

Let me google that for you

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by speeder

Where was that taken?

In front of the Torbati building























(Which is in San Diego!)

[motion]

Haha.... always wanted to do that.

[foxpaws]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Subaru *SVX

Sorry - got it right in the headline, not in the text.

They will trash these cars - I think they are suppose to try to sell them afterwards... the one who gets the most coin wins. Close call probably then between the Caddy and the Subie. The Merkur isn't in that league.

Caddy is faster than the other 2 (that n* is good for something), but I bet the Caddy is the 'pickiest' of the 3 - the convertible top alone is a bear.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

I drove an SVX for years. The ONLY thing wrong with that car was that it wasn't available in a manual transmission. The motor was so smooth that you couldn't hear it running at idle.

Despite the rather tight accommodations I did manage to fit 5 nubile young women in there at one once. Truly a great GT!

[legion]

I always loved the look of the Allante. It was a high point for Cadillac in general IMO, even more surprising as it came at a low point for the brand.

[tedg04]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

I drove an SVX for years. The ONLY thing wrong with that car was that it wasn't available in a manual transmission. The motor was so smooth that you couldn't hear it running at idle.

Despite the rather tight accommodations I did manage to fit 5 nubile young women in there at one once. Truly a great GT!

Agreed. I loved mine once I got on the highway, but in town the auto was sluggish, power robbing, and incorrectly geared. If it had a 5spd, it would easily be over a second quicker to 60.

I would get another one as a DD now. Kinda wish I never got rid of the old one - I had already replaced the trans.

[DonDavis]

Originally Posted by motion

Haha.... always wanted to do that.

Nice! Ha!

[widebody911]

A buddy of mine put an SVX motor in a Vanagon Synchro double cab.

[jyl]

Had a XR4Ti. Fun car. 195 HP w/ intercooler, RWD, pretty good suspension, Yokohama A008 tires. Was willing to slide the tail as long as you stayed on boost. Comfortable and roomy too. Too bad it was so unreliable.

[Z-man]

Mrs Z-man's daily driver for a number of years was a '92 SVX SLS (the one without the wing on. The rear deck lid ) that car was a hoot to drive - 238hp and awd. Could keep up with vettes of that era in the dry and stay with the SUV's in the wet and snow.

Problem with that car was there wasn't sufficient transmission cooling and the transmission would go. We both loved the car but wouldn't get one now given that they are so long in the tooth. But the new BRZ is something to consider...

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by jyl

Had a XR4Ti. Fun car. 195 HP w/ intercooler, RWD, pretty good suspension, Yokohama A008 tires. Was willing to slide the tail as long as you stayed on boost. Comfortable and roomy too. Too bad it was so unreliable.

Ditto-a little tail happy though. It was a great deal for the price. Mine actually was pretty reliable, just some vacuum hose issues caused by heat.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by foxpaws

...and a Subaru SRV.

Tisket. Tasket.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by legion

I always loved the look of the Allante.

Me too.

[Jim Richards]

Yep

[foxpaws]

Me too....