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Used 1994 Subaru SVX Consumer Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
31 reviews

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We have a limited number of reviews for the 1994 SVX, so we've included reviews for other years of the SVX since its last redesign.

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Pros
Cons
4.88 out of 5 stars

SOOOOO much FUN

bigdr1979, 07/26/2008
1994 Subaru SVX L 2dr Coupe
6 of 6 people found this review helpful

I absolutely love this car. The engine is strong, and the style is second to none. I have added an aftermarket exhaust, that does not sound like a bumble bee, instead it purrs like a porsche. This is the most fun I have had in a car in a long time. The only thing I hate is the first question out of everyones mouth "what's up with the windows?"

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4.5 out of 5 stars

Fell in love at first sight

ron193, 03/26/2011
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Take off feels like an American luxury V8, except it's awd so no tires slip. You'll get complements "what kind of car is that" question. I love the asymmetric mag wheels (L/R are different) which adds to uniqueness. It's a heavy and wide car, slalom like bends gets the car leaning like a boat, but it still grips. Great city driver if you don't mind the 6cyl mileage, great hwy cruiser. Braking is mediocre for car of this weight and pwr. Only problems were creaky dashboard (known to Subaru) and weak Tranny, which died after I traded it in. I'd taken it on fishing trip & even minor offroad (by accident) stoped when tranny temp light turned on. I'd buy this car again if possible.

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4.5 out of 5 stars

Review of 1992 Subaru SVX

Bo Bowman, 03/01/2004
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
5 of 5 people found this review helpful

My SVX has been a relatively reliable and fun-to-drive sport car. I have always been particularly impressed with the "quiet and smooth powerfulness" of the engine. It has always ridden well. I continually get questions and compliments relative to its sleek and "split window" exterior design. I believe its weakest design feature is the transmission. I have had it rebuilt one time, and I have heard that this is not unusual for this car. Also, I have found that parts are very expensive, and gas mileage is not good. I would say that it is an excellent buy right now for someone who wants a luxury style sport car at a less than $3,000 price tag.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Definitely a different drive

Xodi-SVX, 06/06/2005
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
5 of 5 people found this review helpful

I purchased my Subaru SVX back in May of '04 and have never looked back. This car is completely different from every other car on the road. Its rare to see another one, and quite honestly, owning one is like having a membership into a cult of sorts. The 3.3 liter Boxer H-6 engine definitely puts out the power to the wheels, which happens to be all wheel drive. Coupled with independent ABS on each disc (Yes, four discs, not two discs and two drums), this car will get you up to speed and back to a halt in no time flat. And if you're not sold on it yet, here is another tidbit. When you floor it, a green light on the dash displays POWER. Such a rush to drive.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Why it has grown on us!

Brigitte Javidara, 02/01/2007
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
5 of 5 people found this review helpful

It is one of the most fun-cars to drive. I traded in my 1989 Corvette for this SVX and immediately became a stable and peaceful person. The smooth and in particular the quiet drive, even at speed, is a real driving experience. It's like sitting in an air plane, smooth and quiet. There never were any technical problems. Now that I am older however, it is a little harder for me to get in and out of the car.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Best car I have owned

Don, 05/02/2005
1994 Subaru SVX L 2dr Coupe
5 of 5 people found this review helpful

I bought this car after driving the FWD as I liked the look in 1992, but until I drove the FWD is when I fell in love. I have 92,000 miles on the Laguna Blue Beauty & heads turn to try and guess what car it is. I still have the original Bridgestone tires and think I will get new ones soon. For anyone interested in these '92-'97 SVX's, if you buy one get the FWD as the ones with the AWD seem to have transmission & wheel bearing issues, which I never had even though I change the oil & filters more often than normal. Owning a car like this makes you feel different as on the highway it purrs better than any other car I've driven, so enjoy being different.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Svx....sweetest car ever made.

girlofthenorth, 09/15/2008
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
7 of 8 people found this review helpful

This car is awesome, I live in an area of over 150,000 people and never see another one! People always stare and ask what it is... haha. I love this car, it's super fast, but bad tranny:( too bad they didn't make them 5 speed. Auto tranny is poor and expensive to fix. $1400 for a tranny overhaul at around 120k miles. Engine is quiet, never burns oil. Brakes seem a little weak even after replacing things, still squeak. Rear wheel bearings seem to be a common issue on all Subarus I've heard of. AWD is sweet as hell though. Don't want to get rid of this car ever!

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4 out of 5 stars

Fast Times

speedmerchant, 10/20/2020
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
4 of 4 people found this review helpful

I've had my "92 SVX for 8 years and love its style and speed. But be aware that the engineers, maybe pushed by the bean counters, installed a weak transmission, though with improvements it was better in '94 and much better from '95 onward. Unfortunately, the majority of all the ones sold were on the road by then. The fixes for the '92-'93 are simple and effective: 1-Use full synthetic tranny fluid. 2- Install a transmission cooler. 3- Install a tranny fluid filter (ask your mechanic or look at owner websites. After that, the power is with you.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Catfish

dtrita, 12/16/2003
1994 Subaru SVX L 2dr Coupe
4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Built to last! Keep up with the maintenance and it's a dream come true. 3 sets of tires, three timing belts f/ normal maintance - beat that!

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4.25 out of 5 stars

great car except for tranny

ozzy1, 10/20/2004
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Loved to drive the car, but had to put in 4 transmissions in the 9 years I owned it (bought it new in '92) Yes 4 trannys. Two were under warantee, but the last two were my expense and at over $3K...yikes. Got rid when it went again. I did not drive it hard either. CV boots go every year as well and tough to keep in allignment. With all that said, I would still be driving it if it were not for the tranny, as this was a great car to drive.

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4.5 out of 5 stars

Great car, expensive to fix

ChrisP, 04/24/2003
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

I've had this car for almost 5 years now. Bought it with 80k. Tranny fixed under warantee, 24k later, tranny fixed again. Front rotors warped, got aftermarket 'low heat' pads when turned rotors and rotor live seems to have improved. Power steering hoses popped off twice.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

'94 Subaru SVX AWD still going strong!

The Doug, 02/10/2004
1994 Subaru SVX LSi 2dr Coupe AWD
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Best car I've ever purchased. Period. Subaru's unbelievably well-kept secret sports car. 10 years old and runs like new. The style was way ahead of its time. Still turns heads. Terrific sports car in the summer, turning into a virtual snowplow in winter with its full-time AWD. Extremely safe: heavy chassis, wide tires that grip all road surfaces, 4-channel antilock brakes, etc. It will be hard to part with it; there is nothing on the market like it today.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

What more can you ask for

vollball81, 03/05/2004
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
4 of 5 people found this review helpful

I bought this car with 180k on it and it runs perfect still. The interior is perfect. The tranny was rebuilt, and the car electronically works perfectly. This car I expect to go at least another 100k

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4.5 out of 5 stars

1994 Subaru SVX front wheel drive

R. Burrows, 06/02/2003
1994 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I bought car new as leftover 94 model in 95 at a bargain price ($7000 under sticker). The car gets used about 3000 miles per year. It has had no needed repairs in 20,000 miles. High quality fit and finish. Great Suede leather interior. High fun to drive factor with unique looks. Looks as new the day I bought it with design still looking innovative after 9 years. Great areodynamics resulting in virtually no wind noise even with windows down.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Great besides the transmission

SkubaSteevo, 07/07/2003
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
4 of 6 people found this review helpful

I bought the car last year with about 78k and have put just over 8k miles on it. The only big problem has been the transmission, which needed to be rebuilt about 1/2 yr ago. Excelent car overall.

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5 out of 5 stars

Trouble Free is Me

Jazzy Min, 08/01/2002
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Ten years and going strong. Unsurpassed all weather handling. Quality manufacturing and design, both interior and exterior. Superb reliability. If they sold it again, I would buy in a heartbeat. The WRX is great, but the SVX is incomparable.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

SVX under-rated

love subies, 10/12/2008
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I got my SVX 3 years ago with a new transmission because the original owner towed it by the front tires forgetting it is awd. The tranny was $4800 but i only paid $3200 for it! I have since put in new ignition, fuel system, harmonic balancer, head gaskets, door locks, antenna motor, spark plugs and wires, rack and pinion, and more. Talk about not cheap. One of the upper glass pieces on the doors was over $300 dollars new, but I went to a junk yard and got it for $75 but was $80 to install. What can I say I love this car, and have been looking for the chip and supercharger I want. Soon I will have my Superu

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5 out of 5 stars

12 years without a peer

dray, 02/12/2007
1994 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Owned this car for 12 years and have not found another one to replace it. Smooth driving and fun. Still get people asking what is that? And they can't believe it is a Subaru.

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5 out of 5 stars

best sport for the funds

cargamer03, 10/24/2002
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
1 of 2 people found this review helpful

very good car. great performance that pulls you in your seat but also holds like your mother when you were a kid. only prob that i have found is that there are literally no factory made modification that you can find. other than that if you just want a car this is the one that will get looks. beat all the four bangers and save you gas money. subaru made a great one this time

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5 out of 5 stars

Svxiness in San Diego

dgranet, 03/29/2003
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
1 of 2 people found this review helpful

This car was and still is ahead of its time. Worried about safety in a small car? Not in this incredibly solid vehicle. All wheel drive with excellent power and handling completes the package. And its different! Don't forget this car competed with the BMW (and for me won). With only 14000 in the US it is becoming a collector's item.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Favorite thus-far

lots-o-cars, 09/12/2008
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Great car all-around. I bought it at 114k miles, and have driven it for about 15k miles. The only thing I've replaced is the water pump. AWD so it corners amazingly. Very comfortable. more-so than my Infiniti. people try to race me every time i drive it. And i usually win. But always get a thumbs up or something. Very sturdy. This car was hit in a parking lot by an H2 hummer (and repaired) prior to me buying it. Then less than 2 weeks after I bought it, it was hit on the same corner (front right) by a big White work van. I bent the fender off of the tire and the car drove perfectly straight. I also hit a rock big enough to break my rim on the same front right tire. No real damage.

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4.63 out of 5 stars

'92 Subaru SVX AWD

PhoenixSVX, 09/29/2010
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I 'inherited' this car with 86K miles on it from a family member who had purchased it new and treated it very kindly. The transmission [the weak link in the chain] had been rebuilt at 73K miles. I immediately installed the largest external transmission cooler that could fit. The vehicle consistently gets 19-20 mpg in town and I've seen 30 mpg on the highway and is very comfortable. I found a local mechanic that loves the cars and, other than for routine maintenance, the car is never in the shop and has never let me down. It's an absolute blast to drive through curving mountain roads. It's neat to pull up to a stoplight and not see three other ones there with you like some other makes.

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4.5 out of 5 stars

'92 Subaru SVX LS 'Touring'

Roy Corley, 11/30/2010
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I 'inherited' the car in March of 2009 from my sister-in-law who bought it new in Tucson. The car had 86K miles and the transmission had been rebuilt around 75K. The car had led a very sheltered life and was in exceptional condition for its age. Within a week, it received a complement at a stoplight from a Ferrari driver. I drove the car on a 3700 mile loop through Texas and New Mexico in July. It never missed a beat and averaged 28 mpg for the trip. It's an absolute blast to drive through mountain twisties. The car has never let me down, but finding a quality mechanic is of utmost importance. Fortunately, I found one here in Scottsdale that loves the car and is honest as the day is long.

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5 out of 5 stars

owner

chuckP, 03/05/2002
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

very good

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Space Car!

ww111, 03/12/2002
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Fantastic Car! Great in Summer, Winter, and Nobody knows what it is.

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4.5 out of 5 stars

Great car, expensive to fix

Chrisp, 04/24/2003
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I've had this car for almost 5 years now. Bought it with 80k. Tranny fixed under warantee, 24k later, tranny fixed again. Front rotors warped, got aftermarket 'low heat' pads when turned rotors and rotor live seems to have improved. Power steering hoses popped off twice.

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4 out of 5 stars

Unique and wickedly quick

Alan, 05/29/2017
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Despite abundant glass sight lines are challenging. Care and attention is required to drive the car safely.

Technology
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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4 out of 5 stars

Check the Tranny

SVX Guy, 10/12/2018
updated 04/20/2020
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I bought the car in 2012 from 1st owner who maintained it very well, had only 20,000 miles on it, and now it has 41,000 miles. I have loved the design, the power, the handling, etc. The tranny is the weak point, which I knew from SVX forums, so I immediately put on a tranny filter and cooler, and have used synthetic fluid, and have had no problems with it at all. By 1994-95 Subaru had fixed the problem. If you are thinking to buy a 1992-93, check for the filter, have tranny checked by trusted mechanic. I love the car.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

love this car

SVXboy631, 08/02/2002
1993 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

the car is great...it's fun to drive and it no one even knows what it is.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

1993 SVX 25th anniversary

melissa, 08/22/2005
1993 Subaru SVX 25th Anniversary 2dr Coupe AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I love my SVX. The transmission had to be replaced at 120,000 miles, and the air conditioner also had to be fixed. Other than the weak tranny, the car is fantastic! Lots of power and lots of looks.

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4.5 out of 5 stars

experiences with 1992 SVX

jstav, 03/30/2002
1992 Subaru SVX LS 2dr Coupe AWD
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Excellent auto-bot it new and car is wonderful enough that I kept it for 10 years. Prior this car I had a new car once a year it seems, including 9 mercedes,infiniti,etc. Car needs some work and has a small dent in L front fender, but still one the most powerful and responsive cars I have ever driven.

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