Does Anybody Make a Modern Subaru SVX?

[Doug&Julie]

Was going through some old car magazines the other day and came across an advert for a Subaru SVX. It really got me thinking, as I've gone through a lot of cars in the past ten years, what would be my ideal daily driver? If Subaru made this car (or a modern version of it), I'd probably have it. But they don't. (The BRZ is very interesting to me, but it's not AWD.) So that got me thinking if anybody made a modern version / equivalent.

Here's my criteria:

Sports Coupe (think "GT" more than "Sports Car"...but not a sedan)
Reliable
Manu-matic transmission
AWD
Affordable (ish)
Efficient
Reasonably powerful (0-60 in the 6-7 second range is fine)
Good "luxury"
Great handling, but also a comfortable tourer (see "GT" comment above)

Any ideas on what might be out there? Would love to hear your thoughts!

[exc911ence]

Audi TT?

[kaisen]

Only new cars? Or "new-er" cars?

Infiniti G37x Coupe
BMW 3 series X-Drive Coupe
Mercedes C350 Coupe 4Matic
Audi S5 Quattro
Audi TT Quattro
Cadillac CTS Coupe AWD
Volkswagen R32 or Golf R


I think your best bet is the Audi TT or VW Golf R32 as far as affordability
Next best bet Infiniti G37x
Then 3 series Coupe AWD

[Z-man]

I'd say the Infinity G37X is probably the closest modern version of the Subaru SVX - but it is lacking the unique styling of the SVX.

My wife had an SVX LSL for a time. It was a fantastic grand touring car, and very, very sure-footed. And even today, it has a very modern look to it.

-Z-man.

[Doug&Julie]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Only new cars? Or "new-er" cars?

Preferably "new", but that eliminates a lot of options based on my "affordable-ish" criteria. So I'll include "new-er" as long as they're reliable.

Lot's of options to look at...thanks guys!

[kaisen]

Since most of the cars on the lists are entry-level luxury cars, they depreciate pretty rapidly. Best to buy one 2-4 years old, or lease one new. IMHO.

You can buy a 2010 BMW 328XI Coupe with pretty low miles for well under $30K

A similar year/miles Audi TT would be significantly more

[Doug&Julie]

Yeah, when I look at all these cars, nothing really excites me. A TT coupe kinda does, and there's one just a few years old for $26k not far. Still....

I wonder how much it would be to "refresh" an actual SVX? There are a couple for sale within 150 miles for $4-6k. Surely I could make it a darn nice car for under $10k. Hmm...

Z-man...how was your car in terms of reliability?

[kach22i]

2013 Subaru BRZ Prototype
2013 Subaru BRZ Prototype First Drive - Motor Trend

Every so often in this business, you drive a car that lets you know in the first hundred yards or so that it's special -- that it's somehow greater than the sum of the numbers on its spec chart. The new Subaru BRZ is one of those cars. It's not the fastest, the most powerful, nor even the sexiest two-door coupe in the business. But if you love driving, you're going to love this Subaru.

............................Toyota did the planning and design. Subaru did the engineering, and will build both versions at its Gunma plant in Japan.

[Doug&Julie]

Originally Posted by kach22i

[B]

Oh yes....very interested in this car. And may well be selling the CS and Legacy 3.6R for one. It's not AWD, which makes it a great sports car, but not sure about winters. I've driven Boxsters in winters, but there's a difference when you have a motor on top of your drive wheels. Still, with good winter tires and stability control, it may be "good enough".

The "problem" with this car is I'm reading that Subaru will only produce 3000 this year (..or maybe it's just a run of 3000 at first to gauge interest) and the likelyhood of me getting one before Fall (possibly late Fall) is slim. Especially since I want to drive one with the manumatic first before committing to selling my beloved Cayman S.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by Doug&Julie

Z-man...how was your car in terms of reliability?

The weak point of that car is the transmission -- there isn't sufficient cooling. Most folks upgrade their cars with an auxiliary transmission cooler

I believe the steering rack is also a weak point -- the nose of that car is pretty heavy, and if the SVX is driven hard, it gives the rack a workout.

we did have transmission trouble with our SVX, and eventually replaced the unit.

There was an active SVX forum on the web a few years back -- you may want to check it out and see if they're still around...
-Z

[RWebb]

I guess a C4 is too old & too spendy?

[teenerted1]

Subaru Impreza WRX | The New 2012 Impreza WRX Sports Cars

[speedracing944]

There was a guy in Milwaukee who swapped a Forester manual transmission in his SVX and reported a 1 secomd reduction in 0 to 60.

[Doug&Julie]

Originally Posted by Z-man

The weak point of that car is the transmission -- there isn't sufficient cooling. Most folks upgrade their cars with an auxiliary transmission cooler

I believe the steering rack is also a weak point -- the nose of that car is pretty heavy, and if the SVX is driven hard, it gives the rack a workout.

we did have transmission trouble with our SVX, and eventually replaced the unit.

There was an active SVX forum on the web a few years back -- you may want to check it out and see if they're still around...
-Z

I've heard about the trans issues, but not the steering rack. I'll have to do some more research...could be interesting. Thanks!

Originally Posted by RWebb

I guess a C4 is too old & too spendy?

I've done a 964 and got dizzy from the cash register $$$$ adding up so fast. 993 is a bit out of reach. Neither come with a Tip anyway, right?

996 C4 has always been on my list, but whenever I've been in serious shopping for one, I could never find one with the right options. I know it's silly, but I hate how the 996 interiors (and the 986, for that matter) look with all those empty switch place holders. Weird, I know..

Originally Posted by teenerted1

Subaru Impreza WRX | The New 2012 Impreza WRX Sports Cars

Great car! No manu-matic. (My '02 WRX had fairly rubbery shifting. Not sure if they've gotten better?)

Looks like I'm just going to have to wait and see what the BRZ is like and live w/o AWD. Could be worse.

[obrut]

Probably a little long in the tooth, but:

Mitsubishi 3000GT?

[Doug&Julie]

Originally Posted by obrut

Probably a little long in the tooth, but:

Mitsubishi 3000GT?

Wow....there's a blast from the past! There was a time when I wanted on of those badly. Now...not so much.

[kaisen]

Yeah, the transmissions were the achilles heel of the SVX. So much so that it is pretty easy to find a decent example being sold for peanuts with a blown trans.

*IF* you stumbled across a deal like that, I wonder how tough it would be to swap in a complete modern Subie drivetrain.......

Maybe the H6 from later-model Outback? Or even the newest Tribecas?
Or, of course, a turbocharged H4 from a WRX or 'XT' model Legacy or Forester?

You can buy complete drivetrains from wrecked cars pretty cheap, including wiring harnesses, computers, mounts, etc.

It would be neat to see a SVX done this way.

[Damian in NJ]

No one wants to make a car as ugly as the SVX.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by Damian in NJ

No one wants to make a car as ugly as the SVX.

Mrs. Z-man's SVC got more (positive) looks than my Toyota MR2 or my 944. Dare I say it's better looking than your 968?!?


-Z

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by Damian in NJ

No one wants to make a car as ugly as the SVX.

Really?