About the SVX
Many people are familiar with the line of reliable, four wheel drive Subaru cars. Subaru has generally done well in the areas of the US that get some snow or other bad weather. Their claim to fame has been that they make cars that seem to run forever (200K miles is not at all uncommon), have a great full time four wheel drive system, and seem to always have some features that are totally different from what is expected in modern cars.
In the late '80s, Subaru decided that they wanted to expand from the reliable, four wheel drive "auto appliance" market and into the mainstream market as well as the booming performance segment. Their mainstream offerings have become the Legacy and the Impreza - both now available in hot Outback versions.
Subaru decided their entry into the performance market would be the best they had to offer. They would put in all their four wheel drive capability, include a bulletproof high output engine, include a performance suspension, and wrap the car in one of the most unusual body styles in the last 40 years. They also engineered lots of luxury features into the cockpit and included one of the most advanced engine and transmission computers ever put in a car.
This car, their flagship product, started shipping in 1992. The car was built in Japan in low numbers and sold around the world. Subaru planned on it being a limited production model, but two problems led to the SVX being discontinued in 1997. First, the car was expensive. Prices were upwards of $30K when shipping started and as much as $36K in '97. The competitors were the Nissan 300ZX, Lexus SC300, Dodge Stealth, Mits 3000 and RX7. Subaru thought that the addition of many luxury features not normally found on these other cars (and a back seat!) would position the car perfectly, but the price was still high compared to its competitors.
In addition, the "hot" performance coupe market started to cool and then grow ice cold almost as soon as the car shipped. This, along with the high price, limited sales of the SVX to only 14,257 during its five year run.
The car is almost universally loved by its owners, however, with several people having two of them! If you want something that is different from the typical car of the '90s, with lots of power and luxury and a great supply of windows, this is the car for you.
| Description: | 1992 Subaru SVX AWD 4EAT - Metallic Green |
| Standard Equipment: | Alloy wheels, cruise control, power windows, power locks, 4-wheel independent ABS and suspension, power steering, rear windshield wiper/washer, climate control, all-wheel drive, 4-speed electronically controlled auto transmission with manual and power modes |
| Engine: | Quad-cam 3.3litre H6 |
| Compression: | 10:1 (requires premium gas only) |
| Peak Output: | 230Hp at 5400rpm |
| Torque: | 224lb-ft at 4400rpm |
| Acceleration: | 0-60 in 6.9sec (real-world tests) - models made after 1993 were slightly slower |
| Observed efficiency: | 22mpg on average |