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eBay tat volume 3.

Ross_K

By Ross_K
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alcyonecorporation Rank: Renault 16

alcyonecorporation

Posted
Posted
On 11/19/2021 at 11:19 AM, MisterH said:

I have long had a crush on the SVX but have always been put off by the gearbox for 2 reasons: Firstly, I have never felt comfortable with the car changing its own gears, the lack of control makes me feel unsafe, however I reckon this could be mitigated by more experience with them (favourable experience I should add)  Secondly, I have it in my mind the SVXs are inherently untrustworthy, by that I mean that even if you keep on top of servicing, it is inevitable that something will shear, snap, or propel itself out of its housing. I would love to be proven wrong on all these counts as it has a shape and presence that makes me go weak at the knees, although I probably shouldn't be distracting myself, it would be nice to see what they are like. Am I right in thinking they only went with the Auto because they couldn't make a manual that could take the grunt?

No, they're not inherently unreliable cars - *if* the gearbox is made to behave. 

Yes, the wheel bearings are bit under specified, as they're from an Impreza, and the rear brake discs are shits to find. Most parts books say that the rear takes 260mm solids; they don't - they're 290mm vented and NO-ONE has them, unless you buy parts from rally specialists (they were reused on 2004-2005 Impreza WRX STi 'gravel' rally cars). The engines are strong, they're pretty rust resistant and, the odd electrical gremlin aside, easily fixable by tame specialists (mine hasn't troubled Carnetix in Leicestershire - yet). 

Having interviewed several senior SVX/Alycone staff, they were very patient with my terrible Japanese but all gave me more or less the same answer: the SVX ended up with the 4EAT because Subaru didn't have the staff to develop a manual strong enough (at the time) to deal with the torque. The EG33 isn't related to the EA27 in the XT6 or the EZ30/36 in the Legacy/Tribeca; it's basically an EG22 with two extra pots. Yes, it was the bubble economy era but Subaru had already chucked in to develop a unique floorpan, paid Giugiaro's undoubtedly hefty consultancy fees and developed a glass to metal bonding method that no-one had attempted before. It had no money left; instead, it upgraded the 4EAT (which was used to dealing with the EA82 in the L Series/Leone), knocked the power back and hoped for the best. They're also non-interference. 

As for autoboxes: no, they're not unsafe,  you adjust your driving style to suit. I didn't drive an auto until I was 28; on most boxes, you can lock ratios out so that they don't upshift at the wrong moment. On the SVX's Jatco I can lock second, third or top out if I want. You're in control - it simply won't shift up or down as quickly as a manual. Volvos tend to be the most infuriating in this regard - you don't have control of the very bottom ratios on most A-W boxes. 

Generally, in cars with enough torque, you don't have to move the lever out of D unless you know you can do a better job on a specific corner or you need engine braking (and if there's slippery surfaces to cope with).  In flightier, smaller capacity yokes like my 305 1.6, I drive it like a clutchless manual, because it wants to change into top at 23mph (and that tends to annoy adjacent traffic). I let the little OHC XU5 ping its tits off in third, then click it into top at 50 mph or so; it's not quick but I can at least get out of harm's way. It confused the living shite out of me upon purchase, as there was no 'D' on the detente: it simply read 1-2-3-4-P-R-N. There are other weird hybrids of the same age - many contemporaneous Japanese city cars did away with the clutch but expected you to shift the lever yourself; the G11 Welsh man self shifter (Daimatic) was such an example. 

I genuinely enjoyed adding the new techniques to my repertoire. Manuals are a pain in the arse if you're stuck in traffic - but autos aren't the gammy leg you suspect on a B road if you know how to get the best out of them. 

Another thread derailment. Soz. 

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MisterH Rank: BL Wedge

MisterH

Posted
Posted
10 hours ago, alcyonecorporation said:

No, they're not inherently unreliable cars if the gearbox is made to behave. 

Yes, the wheel bearings are bit under specified, as they're from an Impreza, and the rear brake discs are shits to find. Most parts books say that the rear takes 260mm solids; they don't - they're 290mm vented and NO-ONE has them, unless you buy parts from rally specialists (they were reused on 2004-2005 Impreza WRX STi 'gravel' rally cars). The engines are strong, they're pretty rust resistant and, the odd electrical gremlin aside, easily fixable by tame specialists (mine hasn't troubled Carnetix in Leicestershire - yet). 

Having interviewed several senior SVX/Alycone staff, they were very patient with my terrible Japanese but all gave me more or less the same answer: the SVX ended up with the 4EAT because Subaru didn't have the staff to develop a manual strong enough (at the time) to deal with the torque. The EG33 isn't related to the EA27 in the XT6 or the EZ30/36 in the Legacy/Tribeca; it's basically an EG22 with two extra pots. Yes, it was the bubble economy era but Subaru had already chucked in to develop a unique floorpan, paid Giugiaro's undoubtedly hefty consultancy fees and developed a glass to metal bonding method that no-one had attempted before. It had no money left. It upgraded the 4EAT (which was used to dealing with the EA82 in the L Series/Leone), knocked the power back and hoped for the best. 

As for autoboxes: no, they're not unsafe,  you adjust your driving style to suit. I didn't drive an auto until I was 28; on most boxes, you can lock ratios out so that it doesn't upshift at a stupid time. On the SVX's Jatco I can lock second, third or top out if I want. You're in control - it simply won't shift up/down as quickly as a manual. Volvos tend to be the most infuriating in this regard - you don't have control of the very bottom ratios on most A-W boxes. 

Generally, in cars with enough torque, you don't have to move the lever out of D unless you know you can do a better job on a specific corner or you need engine braking (and if there's slippery surfaces to cope with).  In flightier, smaller capacity yokes like my 305 1.6, I drive it like a clutchless manual, because it wants to change into top at 23mph (and that tends to piss the traffic flow off). I used to let the little OHC XU5 ping its tits off in third, then click it into top at 50 mph or so; it wasn't quick but I could at least get out of harm's way. 

I genuinely enjoyed adding the new techniques to my repertoire. Manuals are a pain in the arse if you're stuck in traffic - but autos aren't the gammy leg you suspect on a B road if you know how to get the best out of them. 

Another thread derailment. Soz. 

Thank you for such a comprehensive answer! That really is fascinating, and reassuring :) 

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Tadhg Tiogar Rank: Talbot Tagora

Tadhg Tiogar

Posted
Posted
21 minutes ago, Schaefft said:

Audi 80 (Sport?) ULEZ victim for under a grand:

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1403476?utm_campaign=saved-search&utm_source=email-alert&utm_medium=email

1994-audi-80-61982724039de.jpg

Is a B4 80, so the boot space will actually be usable.

Ask seller to knock £12.50 off the asking price, so you can afford* the one-way ticket out of Khanland.

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MisterH Rank: BL Wedge

MisterH

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, D.E said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363627604307?hash=item54a9e4e953:g:c5oAAOSwOdNhiskd 😕

s-l1600.jpg

Is this some new form of haute-shite then?

 

"Inspired by his drunk mate down the pub, Dave has served up a rustic-themed deconstructed Reliant Robin with streamlined furnishings, gently seasoned with filler and garnished with a touch of duct-tape and served with a cold blue vapour"

 

Now on the SBC: MasterShite

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garethj Rank: Lancia Gamma

garethj

Posted
Posted

An aircooled Tatra V8 diesel in this, it’s also 8x8 and amphibious too which makes a 4x4 look decidedly unprepared for things.

image.thumb.png.6e85a7229b08338057ed669ea599d063.png
 

16 grand and doesn’t go, like, so it’s not an obvious candidate for family runabout 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OT64-SKOT-Amphibious-APC-8-wheel-drive-/255236214799?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

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garethj Rank: Lancia Gamma

garethj

Posted
Posted

Here’s a “1938 Austin”, although I imagine the number of Austin parts on it might make the SVA awkward 

image.thumb.png.0d13ed03c974d59898b5258a70c968b9.png

I’m not sure what that front suspension is, but the Cortina engine and Sierra gearbox won’t help the score

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stunning-one-off-1938-Austin-Special-offered-with-transferable-cherished-plate-/165189420813?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

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MisterH Rank: BL Wedge

MisterH

Posted
Posted
18 minutes ago, garethj said:

An aircooled Tatra V8 diesel in this, it’s also 8x8 and amphibious too which makes a 4x4 look decidedly unprepared for things.

image.thumb.png.6e85a7229b08338057ed669ea599d063.png
 

16 grand and doesn’t go, like, so it’s not an obvious candidate for family runabout 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OT64-SKOT-Amphibious-APC-8-wheel-drive-/255236214799?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

ULEZ Exempt? 

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grogee Rank: Lancia Gamma

grogee

Posted
Posted
22 minutes ago, garethj said:

An aircooled Tatra V8 diesel in this, it’s also 8x8 and amphibious too which makes a 4x4 look decidedly unprepared for things.

image.thumb.png.6e85a7229b08338057ed669ea599d063.png
 

16 grand and doesn’t go, like, so it’s not an obvious candidate for family runabout 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OT64-SKOT-Amphibious-APC-8-wheel-drive-/255236214799?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

Is that the new Audi Q7?

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garethj Rank: Lancia Gamma

garethj

Posted
Posted

Mk IV Continental.  This car is so classy it's got Roman numerals in its name.

Nowadays, pimps have no imagination; they drive a black 4x4 with huge chrome wheels and tinted windows. The more adventurous will have a floor length, white fur coat and some ostentatious jewelry, but where's the flair? And where are the flares?

Back in the '70s, superfly guy was rollin' low in a 2 door Lincoln with hidden headlights, a trunk lid shaped around the spare tire and opera windows in the C pillar.

image.thumb.png.a8bc9be92e0c9aea7740487d515fe2ac.png
 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lincoln-Continental-MkIV-/203706133628?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

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