1985 Subaru XT Coupe and Sedan | Retro Review

[@qmto]

Love that the first thing we see is the XT driving around a lawn.

[@boyorougesauvage8584]

This man's elocution is absolutely perfect, and it's quite pleasant to understand him so easily for those who don't initially speak English like me.

[@FlorinC1984]

Very true, he's a joy to listen to. I only wish he didn't say "koop" instead of "koo-pay"...

[@Aforementioned]

@@FlorinC1984 Well then don't watch any vids about 2-door cars from N. America b/c that's the standard pronunciation here...

[@fernandorocha8459]

@@FlorinC1984 this XT coupe of Subaru is design advanced from 1985, air suspension, engine turbochrager

[@hnlpharmd]

@@Aforementioned Yep, and the people saying "koopay" aren't pronouncing it correctly either unless they're code switching into a native-level French accent when they say it, which makes their pedantry especially irritating and unwarranted. Betcha they don't use the accent mark over the "e" when they write it either, which is also incorrect. Oh no, we're ALL WRONG, the HORROR! Pfft...

[@azhurelpigeon]

Doug Demuro would freakout over the XT

[@mravocadoman2904]

Definitely lol

[@jackdough8164]

I’d love to see him do a more in-depth review of one

[@marshmower]

Shhh. Then everyone will be like smacking gum and saying "Iknowhutigotbud"!

[@sterlinsilver]

He just did!

[@dave1986R]

He did not too long ago. His first comment on it was that it’s weird.

[@tots16]

The XT is still among the most aerodynamic cars of today, with a drag coefficient of ~.29. Pretty impressive!

[@OnTheReelFishing]

The coupe is really cool. Love the shifter. Didn’t know they had air suspension.

[@dranodrano]

I still drive an XT here in Australia. It's called a Vortex here. Not many around!

[@matthewdupuis232]

A "runaway success", huh? Well, sometimes you're right.

[@adamtrombino106]

I've only seen 1 in my lifetime, and it was in a junkyard next to a Baja Brat.

[@railfanatic1416]

@@adamtrombino106 which one was it, a Baja or a brat lol

[@AllanG1914]

XT Coupe was my first car. Ah, the memories.

[@georgewilkinson1068]

The XT Coupe was legendary. They looked cool, were somewhat reliable, and I loved the pistol grip/joystick manual shifter. Wish they still made them.

[@austinsears1637]

@@georgewilkinson1068 I had the FWD XT6 and I loved it!!!

[@carwrtr1]

I want an XT. I’d want one with an automatic transmission, though...

[@wyattnyfeler7270]

carwrtr1 why take away the fun of shifting?

[@darylegranderson3332]

Mines too...

[@HotGritz910]

The ride height on all the older vehicles is hilarious. Man I love it.

[@marshmower]

Roads are not impressive now but were non-existent back then. Dirt roads were still common. Today, I'd appreciate that extra clearance for steep driveways and deep potholes. 😮

[@davidaubin3902]

3:15 John: Then the character of the new XT Coupe must come from our closet fantasies! LOL

[@captainredneck0683]

This brings back so many memories. I had a little red sedan just like this one many years ago. Mine had the 4x4 option. That car was unstoppable in our Maine winters. It's too bad I had to scrap her. The thin metal Subaru used combinded with the salt we used on the roads rusted that little car to pieces.

[@jannevaatainen]

Subaru XT looks so cool and slick!

[@aestheticcruise8807]

“Fighter jet style wrap around windshield” I’d say that digital gauge face has the appearance of an advanced third generation American jet fighter. In other words, I’d buy one as the coupe and in that colour 👀

[@hank1556]

that tach is fricken sick. air ride suspension turbo all wheel drive? is this a 2019 model?

[@jdmnsxr6820]

na it's just the human race peaked in the 90s

[@AlcyoneModschannel]

I got one hehehe

[@07imprezadude]

@@AlcyoneModschannel When I took my '07 Impreza SE to the stealership for the airbag recall, the service writer asked me if I wanted to sell it. I told her I'd trade across the board for a showroom condition '85 XT coupe. She gave me a blank stare, and walked away. This was back in '16 when the car had around 30k actual miles.

[@AlcyoneModschannel]

@@07imprezadude nobody seems to know about these fantastic cars and when you show them a picture they assume it’s something pedestrian as a Honda Accord

[@07imprezadude]

@@AlcyoneModschannel So true! Subaru pulled out all the stops to make the XT as aerodynamic as possible. Subaru of America displayed a showroom condition, fully restored XT Turbo at SEMA several years ago. I'd take that car over anything on the road today .... well aside from a mint SVX or BRAT.

[@matthew794]

Whoever is writing the description for these retro videos is awesome they are always funny and enjoyable to read. It’s good to know some people have a good sense of humor still and not afraid to be informal. Thanks

[@nezerac]

I was iffy about watching this....because I didn't want to be disappointed...but jesus was I wrong. Probably one of the most interesting and appealing episodes of motorweek I've seen.

[@MaximilianvonPinneberg]

A discrete technical tour de force.

[@asd36f]

The XT had a a single 22in windscreen wiper that receded below the bonnet line when not in use. There were also little rubber spoilers ahead of each wheelarch that channelled air smoothly past the wheels and tyres.

[@dave1986R]

The interior features of the XT remind me of what Jeremy Clarkson said, while driving a 2008 STI, that car had so many performance gadgets that you’d think you control it with a PlayStation game controller.

[@darylegranderson3332]

My 1st Car..1986 Burgundy XT Coupe Turbo...back in 1995-96 really missed those days...✊🏽💙

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

The Japanese automakers certainly did some cool stuff in the 1980s. Then (almost) everything turned into a bland beige jellybean :(

[@oliverdelgado6952]

Turned into cross overs

[@SparrowNoblePoland]

Then even more we should appreciate that Nissan makes 370Z and GTR, and Toyota makes GT86, and now also Supra. Although the last one is just a BMW, and the range is very small in comparision to the 80ies.

[@ponysoftonline4533]

@@SparrowNoblePoland Eh all the cars you just mentioned just look like ugly jelly beans with the word "fast" in front.

[@SparrowNoblePoland]

@@ponysoftonline4533 A very bold statement from someone who has a confederate flag in profile image. Most American cars always looked terrible and stupid if not disgusting. At best they were terribly grotesque an ill-proportioned. IIIrd gen Firebird, Fiero and first Mustang were just a few exceptions.

[@ponysoftonline4533]

@@SparrowNoblePoland American cars were great until like the 90s. Dude I drive a 1986 Hyudai Excel so I know what a terrible looking car is. American vehicles Pre-90s ain't that chief.

[@Jestr86]

love my XT6, the xt coupe with the Flat 6 Engine, mine was 5 speed AWD with Differential Lock.

[@gj4093]

I owned one an XT COUPE. Loved it. Super nice ride great on gas and powerful as well great in snow.

[@marshalmagooo3899]

Loved seeing these in the 80s. Video game joystick.

[@radsk8rbigollies594]

I love the XT! Had a friends whose dad had one and we would cruise it ourselves. Felt like we were in the future. Absolutely nothing else on the road looked like it.

[@HiFiInsider]

I love these retro videos. Thank you for sharing them.

[@jorgeh1680]

I owned an 85 GL sedan 4WD turbo stick shift with that weird air suspension, LCD screen, power sunroof windows doors. The seats where black leather on the sides with black & white checker plush in the center of the seats. The seatbelts were also black & white checker raceway design. It was awesome but I really loved the LCD amber and red screen console showing all the available information. 35 years ahead of its time.

[@hnlpharmd]

Sci-fi interior meets sharp cheddar exterior, truly unique.

[@carwrtr1]

Subaru is a car that has earned my respect. With no disrespect to anyone, I would buy a Subaru before a Toyota, and I have family that work for Toyota. The Camry is a car that does nothing for me. Subaru has the highest owner loyalty of any import brand, and that’s a fact, for you can’t find a low mileage Subaru for sale. If you do, you’ll pay dearly for it. I love the XT and sedan in this video.

[@Whitestorm2]

In January I bought almost this exact car. Mine has different alloys and is an '86. I paid $500 and there are almost no major problems. It only makes about 115hp but it also only weights 2500ish pounds, its pretty fun to drive! I thought the steering wheel would drive me crazy but it's actually pretty comfortable lol. Let me know if you have questions I know a fair bit! ;)

[@AlcyoneModschannel]

I got two myself they are exceptional Lil beasts are they not ?

[@Whitestorm2]

@@AlcyoneModschannel Yeah they are! My EA82T imploded on me a few months ago though haha. I have an EG33 hanging out in my garage right now that I'm gonna throw in there :)

[@AlcyoneModschannel]

@@Whitestorm2 do I know you on Instagram? I know a fellow in New York who had a turbo XT and was eagerly awaiting the inevitable end for that engine to start the swap of the eg3.3

[@Whitestorm2]

@@AlcyoneModschannel hahahaha, yeah thats me

[@MrPacMan36]

I love that Subaru logo! 1:40

[@GalenlevyPhoto]

“I guess everyone won’t mind 14.8 0-60”. 😂

[@myolox]

i love the door chimes, back in the day my brother friend had a black GL

[@MWorsa]

joe ly I wish my ‘08 Outback had the chime of my ‘86 GL wagon 😏

[@HWolfeIII]

Man, that XT coupe is epic!

[@darknessislight3689]

I’m miss those days of fun funky cars ❤❤❤❤ I always wanted an XT

[@PigEqualsBakon]

I owned a 1986 Subaru GL Coupe, Love it. great car.

[@monogoroshi1547]

That was my first car, i still have it! Amazing for sure

[@wjhandy]

I had an 86 XT Turbo in bright red. At 6 years old parts were crazy expensive. I even rebuilt my power steering pump to keep it going. The air shocks were leaking overnight too.

[@jimmyjimjims7483]

My grandma had a light blue "sedan" which by that point was called the Loyale. Some of my earliest memories are in that car with it's angular dashboard

[@spider_hoss]

When I was a kid I loved the Subaru XT. I also liked the Triumph TR7 and the Fiat X1/9. I guess I liked wedge shaped cars.

[@robsrandomness7824]

"Aerodynamic shape" of the new sedan. ROLMAO!

[@monogoroshi1547]

believe it or not it has a better drag coefficient than a Ford GT40 race car. Don't let it's boxy shape fool you.

[@jamarward8437]

The good ole days. Man they were good.

[@TheBandit7613]

A couple years later it got a 145 hp six cylinder. Not a road burner but better than 112 hp.

[@mikeyveloster7615]

The Subaru DL/GL Sedan & Wagon were the Americanized version of the Subaru Leone sold in Japan, to give the model an official name Subaru marketed the vehicle as the Loyale halfway through this generation. Even though the XT was built in Japan it was first released in the United States before it was released in the Japanese market.

[@landyachtfan79]

4:00..........John wasn't kidding!!!! Those wheels are HIDEOUS!!!!!!

[@HowardDaduk]

My OCD and that coupe's steering wheel would not get along.

[@aestheticcruise8807]

Evil Craig Singhouse get some help

[@AlcyoneModschannel]

I’m ocd as heck but somehow I have gotten over it I have two of these XT coupes and love them for their quirkiness

[@aaronbays4]

The XT coupe looks like it came straight off the set of Tron lol Also 36mpg is really good, Subaru hasn't made a car that efficient since the turn of the century at least. Even their new 2019 models aren't that good on gas.

[@AWDfreak]

Subaru has been making the most efficient vehicles they have ever made considering their current power output and weight. 36 mpg highway is about the norm for their smaller all wheel drive vehicles these days.

[@Ferraridude13]

I had totally forgotten about these things, I was looking at buying one of these coupes a while back as a rallycross car. I think it was only 300 bucks lol. Kinda wish I had, but life goes on

[@ab.3800]

I saw an XT coupe for the first time last year, I thought it was a prelude from the side then seen it said subaru on the back and was like WHAT IS THAT

[@autofox1744]

I really wish I could get my hands on an XT... they're just so hard to find these days! Sadly Motorweek's prediction for it didn't hold quite true.

[@mattdavis9601]

At around 3:01 (the acceleration test of the red sedan) you can see a puff of blue/grey smoke. Was it burning oil already?

[@dimaslopez-dejesus2371]

Classic MotorWeek '88 road tested the Subaru XT-6.

[@JoesGoldenGarage]

Dimas Lopez-de Jesus so the xt6 is on here?

[@dimaslopez-dejesus2371]

Joes Golden Garage three years later.

[@76carmel]

I think I remember an ad for that car. It was hilarious. (Hope it's somewhere on KZbin. )

[@BurtSampson]

The interior on that coupe is pretty friggin awesome.

[@alexyoungberg5232]

*"Closet fantasies"* huh John..? 😂

[@LoveMyZJ]

YES!! I've been waiting for this episode! Thanks Motorweek! :D There's a farmhouse down the road from us with a silver XT and a silver BRAT parked side by side next to their barn...both have been in the same spot for a few years now. I thought finding parts for my SVX was hard...Owning an XT now must be a dream and a nightmare at the same time. What an awesome car though :D

[@AlcyoneModschannel]

Them sharing the drivetrain with the GL makes life manageable parts unique to the XT however makes it’s quite a pain

[@johninama585]

I had a turbo XT coupe very similar to the test car. Although I liked it, I hated the air suspension, not because of how it worked, but how expensive it was to fix when it broke. One new air shock cost well over $500, and I had to replace three of them (twice on one wheel). I ended up getting rid of it once another one was starting to go. I'd have preferred the non-turbo coupe with the normal gauges and normal suspension. The trade-off of power vs. reliability would have been worth it.

[@Javelier]

The XT coupe is still my most favorite car ever!

[@zacharyparis]

i want an XT so fucking bad right now.

[@pookiedacat8364]

Wow, and I bought a DL back in the day...well, I drive a WRX now, still Subie.

[@patrickdawson3960]

My mom had the '88 XT6, which was a little more refined and less strange (just a little), and that was a pretty great, reliable AWD car then.

[@poodabran]

My mom had a Leone. It was very fun to ride in.

[@brendancarlson1678]

0-60 Q: When do we get there? A: Eventually

[@thomasluggiero3413]

XT Coupe was ahead of its time

[@redheadwolfy]

I do like the option of four wheel drive or two wheel drive in a car

[@1979irock]

I had a 1989 Subaru four-door sedan turbo and it blew up at 104,000 original miles in 1999

[@vuelvoel2011]

So ?

[@Sanpedranoazul]

Loooooooveeeeeeeed the SVX!

[@lilymae4131]

Loved this retro review, do you have one for the 1978 - 1980 Ford Fiesta?

[@pmafterdark]

I'd like that too since my dad had a new 78' but I think the show premiered in the early 80's.

[@lilymae4131]

I think you are right as I looked through their videos and none go back that far. That might be a good thing, since i loved mine and I might disappointed by a review if they didn't like it. LOL

[@Doobie1975]

the show didn't premier on a regular basis until the Fall of 1981

[@lutherdrayton6535]

In 1986 I bought a 1980 Ford fiesta best car ever on in my whole life they even had an article about it and automobile magazine back in the '80s best car I ever owned I miss her.!

[@lilymae4131]

I use to drive mine 52 miles per day round trip to and from work. It was great in the snow. A few people laughed at my car due to it's size, but driving that far I needed something reliable and thrifty. The tire store use to run great sales on tires starting at $22 till you read the fine print, then the next size up was something like $35, but that was okay because mine took the 12" dia. sale tires. Got a complete set mounted balaenced and taxes for just a couple dollars over $100. I loved the way it drove too, almost bought an 80 Stang, but liked the Fiesta much better when driving it. Use to say the Fiesta felt more like a sporst car than the Stang.

[@carwrtr1]

Love the XT!

[@squidproquo2241]

Back then digital gauge cluster was a bad thing. Today if the car does not have digital gauges it is considered lame. This Subaru was way ahead of its time.

[@klasseact6663]

I can't remember the last time I even saw an XT turbo😋

[@grantmills4184]

The xt6 really is an 80’s arcade video game on wheels

[@vinzclortho7766]

The Subaru XT, Where are they now?? The SVX too.

[@Nick-qs4re]

I had a 1987 xt turbo 4wd, traded my 1987 5.7 iroc z for it, what was i thinking lol. But i came to love this little unusual car got alot of attention at the time.

[@albear972]

4:00 LOL! Man those 1980's teenagers lovin' that cool 80's angular style. I was a teen and saw this car brand spankin' new and thought it was very wacky even for my teen ager 80's taste. I actually loved the Pontiac Fiero but a bit later I found out what a POS it was. Again, going back to the ugly 1980's alloy wheels add the Isuzu Impulse's and the Honda Civic's wheels to the list. 1980's Japanese wheel gaudiness to the max! And that was some serious tailgating at the end.

[@seand2711]

The ugliest thing and biggest POS from the 80's was the Yugo GV.

[@markpainter5863]

That "teenagers" reference caught my attention as well. :) I was 16 that year and remember thinking it seemed like an attainable sporty car. Re the Fiero a little later I bought one of the original generation versions and yes Jesus they were horrid!

[@SummonerArthur]

I gotta be honest The impulse was cool

[@marshalmagooo3899]

Impulse, Starion, and the 83-85 Supra were the bomb.

[@wyattnyfeler7270]

The fiero isn’t a pos

[@小林祐輔-x5z]

Subaru xt coupe are called “Alcyone ”in Japan. It wasn't popular in Japan because design was extraordinary futuristic and powerless engine. However, minor user are respect Alcyone is precious and delightful automobile.

[@tomwebber5094]

Great little cars that last forever. Slower than molasses in January. A friend had a 1990 with the 4-speed automatic (I believe by then they were 4-speed) and it was just ridiculous. However, it lasted her 200k+ miles. I'd rather know it's going to be there every single day than try to impress people with my 0-60 times.

[@SkitzerPoindexter]

My mother looked at an XT Coupe in '86 or '87. We liked the body lines and door handles, but not the steering wheel. It was also cool that it talked... "The door is ajar... The door is ajar." She ended up buying a Ford EXP instead, hated it, then traded it in on a Mustang.

[@TJC450]

SkitzerPoindexter The EXPs are pretty rare aren’t they?

[@SkitzerPoindexter]

@@TJC450 I suppose so, as I've only seen 2 in the last 10 years or so. There was a lot full of them back then, though... Right next to the Escort GTs.

[@georgejacob3162]

They tried selling these in the UK in shopping malls because they did not have a dealer network back then. In the UK. I have never seen one on the road because they didn't sell any!

[@NSXTypeRGTRLM]

Wow, really cool car to feature! Any reviews on the Subaru SVX?

[@JakeTerch]

Doug DeMuro really needs to review the XT Coupe!

[@Brianfightingmad]

I want one with all wheel drive!

[@AlcyoneModschannel]

XT6 would be your car then they called it full time four wheel drive but it’s their early AWD they made them as a higher model to the XT from 1988-1991

[@undefinedname1398]

I enjoyed Motorweek when the show was about normal cars, like these. Now it's all about super cars for the staff to drive. I don't think many viewers can afford a Porsche GT3.

[@alfderbabybenz7092]

xt wheels are the most sexy 80s things

[@jasonvogue4487]

had qn xt space blue xt turbo 4wd loved it i still own subarus

[@linkthehero1234]

man i want an xt so bad

[@TopSecretVid]

Always wanted an XT6...

[@grimreaper5521]

My sister first car was the Subaru sedan but blue paint with gray interior unfortunately she didn't have it long before a drunk driver crashed it thankfully nobody was in it and the car was parked cuz she was at work when it happened

[@milfordcivic6755]

These are all long rusted and scrapped here in New England....but they were everywhere when new.

[@thetreblerebel]

You can see the WRX STi DNA in the XT. I bet with the right mods, the XT could rally

[@107MainAvenue]

Subaru Leone and the SVX's ancestor

[@michaelbrennecke2209]

My first car and silver Coupé

[@ktcworks]

CD 0.29 is of 2WD model by the way.

[@RoadCone411]

14 seconds 0-60? Wow, that was slow even then! But there is no doubt this generation of Subaru sedan (Leone to the rest of the world) clearly advanced Subaru's sales and market share in the USA. It was a huge seller especially in the snow belt states, very capable in crummy weather and the conventional styling was to sure not to offend anybody. The fact that it lived on as the Loyale for several years after its product cycle should have ended showed the inherent strength of this design. The XT was a different beast. It's not a sports car or even particularly sporty, yet clearly one would have to put up with a lot of typical sports car shortcomings if you owned one. The 4WD was definitely useful though. The whole car looks like a concept car, which is to say that it is interesting, maybe even futuristic, but it really isn't all that practical and wouldn't be great to live with. Where can I still get one?? Joking aside, I cannot remember the last time I saw one.

[@TheBandit7613]

A couple years later they put in a six cylinder (about 150 hp) That helped a lot. They are still around in the western mountain states.

[@AlcyoneModschannel]

Look up the Subaru ACXII concept car it’s the literally an XT before being green lit in 1984

[@ohhgeez865]

so futuristic!

[@JuanGarcia-fv9ph]

If i could get my hands on a survivor of the XT coupe I would be happy as fuck

[@scotthalvorson1161]

wow i wonder how gm came up with the fiero and toyota the mr2

[@TexanInItaly]

I wanted this car so bad as a hard working teen. I could only afford a Fiero. 😂

[@aayonce4]

My neighbor had the new version of the coupe always thought it was quirky

[@maximusareilius2262]

OMG!!! i had this car! the sedan i mean. it was the SLOWEST car i ever drove and the throttle got stuck on me a few times. but it was reliable and good on gas. i only had it for a year. it was my 1st fully loaded car. LOL.

[@thetreblerebel]

I like the coupé. Looks like it needs wide body mods and a loud exaust!!

[@grunkohlaktionar7474]

Mitsubishi Diamante please!

[@777jones]

Grünkohlaktionär or Galant VR-4

[@grunkohlaktionar7474]

777jones that’s already uploaded

[@3611-i2v]

The Diamante was hands down one of the WORST pretend "luxury" cars ever built. No wonder why it was such a slow seller in the US

[@grunkohlaktionar7474]

@@3611-i2v nah that's definitely not true. It's actually very underrated

[@davidbaron6647]

I had one and best darn car I owned