1986 Subaru 3-Door | Retro Review

The Subaru 3-Door offered everything you could ever dream of. With just a pinch more refinement they would have attracted as much respect as Honda and Toyota.
Show 517 | Originally Taped 03-11-1986
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[@Lord_Sneetus]

Limited slip differential, 4WD, 4-wheel disk brakes, and turbo... that's a lot premium features for that era

[@5610winston]

I got a new six-speed Crosstrek in April. I find myself commenting, "I really like this little car" three or four times every day. Highway mileage is running up to 43 MPG, around 28 to 32 in town.

[@SubieandFriends]

@@5610winstonyou got an awesome amazing fun to drive really put well together dependable vehicle….i test drove one for 6 months and I was in love with it! What amazed me the most was its amazing off-road capabilities! I took it Offroading as much as I could which was a lot!!! I had it from October 2022- April 2023, so I had it for the whole winter season!!! I was able to drive it in deep snow and deep mud and deep sand and everything in between and it never got stranded! Even my daughters learned how to drive on it and they also learned how to offroad in it too! And whenever they got it stuck offroad like in sand(because they were too scared to step on it) I would just take over the driving and like nothing I was able to get it unstuck! Just an amazing overall vehicle and it’s also very versatile! Like a mini Outback but with better approach and departure angles… also cool was that mine was a 2023 base model(2023 was also the last model year for that generation) but even as a base model it had everything a new car has or in other words it had everything you could need, apple car play, android auto, auto ac, Subarus amazing eyesight system and so much more….check out my channel I have many offroad videos of it and got so many more to post

[@CrapeCraft]

This actually seems like an amazing car by 1986 standards. Reasonably priced, 28 mpg, 4wd, spacious, decently powerful and well equipped. Far better than what the domestic competitors were offering in similar price ranges.

[@100percentSNAFU]

They were great in terms of features and performance, but Subarus of that era in the Northeast rusted to pieces within a few years, unfortunately, so didn't see many where I lived that weren't rust buckets even if they were only a few years old.

[@samholdsworth420]

Decently?! Ya, no....

[@arieljones4595]

@@samholdsworth420 I think Footballer meant, for the time. Big V8 muscle cars in 86 weren't making a lot more power than this was.

[@brianbarr9085]

My first and only new car, bought in ‘86 and had until it died in 2001. I still miss it 😢

[@CrapeCraft]

@@brianbarr9085 rip to your car :(

[@tuowl0564]

My friend had one of these in high school in Northeast PA (good amount of snow). He was the go to ride in the winter since the Subaru was by far the best in snow relative to most everyone else's car....

[@LearnAboutFlow]

Ah the good ole days when Mercedes cared about quality so ranked highest in reliability. I remember in New England at the time the cliche was your family had a Subaru, then had a Saab if they had some money, and ultimately a Mercedes if they had a lot of money.

[@nlpnt]

And if they were "Buy American" types (which still existed in big numbers) they had an Aries/Reliant or Ford Escort, then an FWD Oldsmobuick of some sort if they had some money and if they had a lot of money it was a Jeep Grand Wagoneer.

[@LearnAboutFlow]

@@nlpnt Yup. i distinctly remember a Ford pickup with a bumper sticker that said, "Hungry? Eat your Toyota"

[@PimpDaddyDisco]

Mercedes thought biodegradable wiring insulation was the way to go for environmental protection in the 90s

[@dm5374]

@@PimpDaddyDisco Own a R129 by any chance? :-)

[@666gnarlsbad]

Hungry eat your Toyota🤣

[@metaljew4456]

LOOK HOW NICE and clear those Big analog gauges are! 1986 is a special year for me. I just sold my 1986 Mustang GT which looks better in 2021 than it did almost 36 years ago when i purchased her new for $14,400.00. Damn this AWD Subaru cost $12K in 86’ amazing. John, I have been watching you do these vireos for my entire life! Keep on trucking…

[@The_Opinion_of_Matt]

Just sold your 1986 Mustang GT that you bought new. I'm not sure what prompted the sale, but I'm sorry for whatever it was. I'm not even a Mustang fan, but to keep a car that long that you bought new surely means you loved it.

[@TheOzthewiz]

@@The_Opinion_of_MattIt didn't have 4-WD! lol

[@Trance88]

My parents were fans of Subaru back in the 80's and 90's, so I got to ride in several subarus in my early childhood. They rusted pretty quickly, though.

[@myname9252]

Sounds like my marriage.

[@hankj.b]

Average Subaru unreliability.

[@silverwolfmonastery]

I had a 1980 hatchback I bought in 1991. It had been parked outside in the Michigan weather. Loved it, but one day after coming home I noticed one of the back wheels was bent inward. The entire structure in the back was rusted out. The engine was still perfect, but the car was a rusted deathtrap. I still miss that adorable little car.

[@Jay-bw3fl]

Some things never change

[@chuckhpnwx]

It's kind of funny that cars designed to be good in snow had some of the worst rust proofing.

[@redplanetindustries5281]

Wow! I owned this exact same model / year / color GL back in the 90s. What a stellar car it was. Had for it years with very little trouble. It wasn't intercooled so the manual stated that after driving let the engine idle for a bit to let the oil cool. If you did that it would run forever. I drove it all over the Pacific Northwest in all types of weather and it never let me down. Although I do remember the bump-steer taking a bit to learn to predict. I didn't realize how much I missed that car until I watched this review.

[@theyweredeadwhenigotthere1391]

Activate nostalgia time machine! Enter escapism!

[@paulcarlsen4088]

I found a 1992 loyale at a thrift store for $500. I put about another 300 into it, and it runs like a top.

[@Sbailey294]

I really enjoyed my Loyal. It was free to me about 15 years ago- inherited with only 40k 28 years old! I had several high end sports cars at the time and the loyal was a great errand and snow car that was trouble free and super super comfortable. I actually miss it a lot 😂

[@Mr-Clark]

I had the exact same car minus the turbo. Now I learned it only had 82hp. LOL! No wonder it was dog slow. 1st gear was super low. It felt like I was driving a diesel truck. The back seats were roomy. Cargo hatch had a ton of space. I was a part time DJ in college and it hauled my gear just fine. With the back seats folded, blankets and sleeping bags in the back I was able to go on camping sleep overs by the beach after a dinner date :) 4WD was awesome. After a hard storm there was a sizable dirt/mud slide that blocked off the only road in our culdesac. I shifted to 4WD and I was able to get over the mound. A little slipping but made it over. After finishing college I was able to get a good job and bought my first new car. Being a young person back then, I didn't mind getting rid of it. Now looking back at all the cars I owned, that was one of my favorites.

[@ziginox]

I OWN ONE OF THESE CARS! Mine's the lovely metallic teal. Not currently running, but it was my first car, and had over 200k on it before giving up. Absolutely loved driving it, the thing was amazing in the winter. Also loved the liftback, I could fit a bike in with no trouble. Way more room in the back than my current '15 Impreza. Those seats are also some of the best I've ever sat in. Loved the styling, too, with the huge glass. And he's not kidding about the turning radius, that thing would turn on a dime.

[@cutroc350]

Mine is a light blue 86 3 door turbo. (Always wanted the RX version of this) Saved it from the scrap yard in the late 90s. It's engine was gone but everything else was nice. I happened to have a rusty 84 Brat that would not die so the engine got donated and lives on in my 86 till this day. A Webber carb swap is the only thing done to it to keep it running. Subaru from the 80s till the end of the ej22 (90s) were great do anything cars.

[@ziginox]

@@cutroc350 Probably for the best you got it without the engine, the turbo/MPFI heads liked to crack. Mine had the third generation ones, which (supposedly) fixed the issue, thankfully.

[@oliverdelgado6952]

Must be fun trying to find parts

[@ziginox]

@@oliverdelgado6952 It honestly wasn't terrible. Most maintenance items were available from the auto parts store, and most of the engine parts were common with the SPFI and carbed 1.8 engines. Nothing like the '89 Impulse.

[@FLAWEDLOS]

hello im thinking about buying this as my first car i have some questions. first is it good on gas, reliable, and worth it?

[@ericmatthews3024]

two years and a day before i was born. When this was tapped!

[@supafrancis]

man... if only I could go back in time! THIS is a lot of car for the money... Limited slip. 4wd. turbo, great interior. All for just over $12 grand... what a steal!

[@Theogenerang]

Big lever operated AWD shifter, simple controls, hand operated park brake and no iPad glued to the dash. Id rather buy this than a modern car.

[@orbitalgolem91]

Got my license in '86, made mistake of '82 Buick Skyhawk as first car. An '89 Isuzu I-Mark RS got me on the right path. Never thought then I'd ever have Subaru, but now two WRX's later...

[@tannerin]

how ironic that it’s shown in the environment that would ultimately rust old subarus to nonexistence in the north

[@Kaito_Falcon]

I never knew this car existed until now but I kind of want one, it's cool! Also I love how creative Subaru was with car names.

[@jimmyjimjims7483]

My grandma had the 1990 Loyale model, had those funky turbine hubcaps and it was baby blue. I do miss her and that car

[@theyweredeadwhenigotthere1391]

From one human to another I understand how you feel completely.. I also cherish my grandmother.

[@reallyrandomrides1296]

I loved this era of Subarus. Even with the easy access to the rear seats, people today would never see this as a family car. Still, quite an underrated car for the time. In the mid 1990s, I briefly had a 1985 Subaru GL-10 sedan, funky looking and fun to drive!

[@mrtyreus0]

Sedans like this have been mostly replaced by car based SUVs, with European (Audi for example) cars presenting a higher cost alternative.

[@al28854]

before the internet, the wireless/digital age, and the wretched CVT transmission in the car market, the only car reviews anyone can find on TV was Motor Week once a week a half hour episode on your local public service channel. I remember the the majority of the test cars were mostly with manual transmissions because you got the best performance and best fuel efficiency than the auto transmission option.

[@chriscornelius2518]

I remember Road Test Weekly on TNN with Big Daddy Don Garlitz

[@TheOzthewiz]

I would get information (more accurate), from "Consumer Reports" magazine (yes we actually read magazines back in those DARK days). Motor Week (John Davis) tends to "hype" vehicles reading from manufacturers "blurb" sheets. Also, you have to remember that the vehicles are supplied by the manufacturers for the automotive press. So, naturally these vehicles are going to be "cherry picked" for build quality, unlike CR who BUYS these vehicles off the dealer's lot, just like YOU and I would, without the SPECIAL prepping of the "Press" vehicles! As an Example, when MotorWeek got a hold of a Chevy Citation, all they found was "slight" rear brake lockup, but otherwise a fine automobile. When CR tested the Citation, they cautioned buyers to hold off for the first year until all (many) bugs were worked out. I STILL enjoy MotorWeek for the "entertainment" value!

[@seikocitizenwatches]

I love cars of the good old days, shift it, drive it yourself 😂

[@cutroc350]

You know what's really funny? People that can't survive on their own because everything is done for them 🤣

[@TheOzthewiz]

@@cutroc350 Is THIS comment aimed at us "Lib-Tards"? Well, you are RIGHT and believe me I AM enjoying it! This will probably all change when YOUR favorite President (The Chosen One), takes control AGAIN in '25!

[@fernandorocha-dx1wv]

@@cutroc350 I love cars 1980s, 1985-1988 is my favorites

[@GeeEm1313]

I loved these as a kid. The best looking of the lot.

[@trent.vs.robots]

I actually love the dash design in this car.

[@dohc1067]

Tilt steering with memory? Lol 😆 I simply say tilt steering wheel. I love these retro videos. John Davis always makes videos interesting 🤔 👀 .

[@brkbtjunkie]

Only 110hp with a turbo 1.8L? That’s crazy, we can now easily achieve 225-250hp out of the same displacement without aftermarket hardware.

[@lkporter1989]

Compuuuuterrrrrsssss

[@johnnymason2460]

Remember, this was the 1980s! Power was severely choked at that time! This Subaru didn't get a name until 1990 when it became the Loyale!

[@Ty4ons]

Computers to control timing and stuff, but turbos were a lot worse too so if you optimized it for more power there would be horrendous lag. Improvements and new tech like variable geometry really changed the game.

[@YourMom-vl2sp]

Kids these days 😂🤣😂 I would expected more with almost 40 years of technological advancement. You can only get 100hp in 40 years? 🤣😂🤣😂

[@Dankcatvacs]

Or you could have a 3.0 v6 Oldsmobile with 110 hp 0 to 60 in 16

[@mendodsoregonbackroads6632]

I owned one of these. It was my first Subaru and despite some mechanical trouble I had with it, namely the “Hill Holder” valve on the brakes, I was impressed with the way it was built, especially after owning several GM Cars up to that point. A couple of decades later I’ve circled back to Subaru, this time with the Crosstrek. The build quality and design have only improved over the years.

[@TheOzthewiz]

In '94, I leased a Subaru Legacy "L" Wagon. It was a SUPER reliable, smooth riding car that handled like a sports car. The ONLY problem I had was , it had almost ZERO traction on slippery roads. The reason was: it was TWO-WHEEL DRIVE (no joke). The "L" model for that year was a special "price leader" edition. I bought it in early Summer, but did not realize what a NIGHTMARE it was going to be in Winter. Since ALL Subarus are designed for 4-WD and 50/50 weight distribution, you can imagine what a WAGON with FWD ONLY would be like driving (or parked) on a snowy road.......traction SO BAD, that I had trouble making it up the SLIGHTEST incline! There were times when a regular REAR DRIVE car would have to drive AROUND me and I would end up having to BACK DOWN the hill. Subaru took a 4-WD Legacy and removed the RWD components to sell it at an attractive price. Let this be a cautionary tale: DO NOT buy a '94 Legacy "L", UNLESS you live in a state that has NO snow!!

[@mendodsoregonbackroads6632]

@@TheOzthewiz Well, in 2023 and going forward I have no intention of buying anything older than a 2013, so I'm safe from the 94 "L" model Legacy Lol

[@AWDfreak]

Back when most Subaru vehicles had 4WD available and AWD was yet to be a widespread option in the Subaru vehicle lineup.

[@smiththers2]

oddly this makes me miss my old GL wagon, slow but it would go anywhere anytime....

[@ROBinJVILLE]

GLs were fkin badass

[@bigdane87]

Same

[@cutroc350]

They were highly addictive! One winter and you were hooked.

[@svpracer98]

I'm assuming these ALL rusted back to mother earth. I can't say I've EVER seen one.

[@chriscornelius2518]

Yes those years it was rare to see a Subaru with no rust.

[@Kacpa2]

Well you will never see any of the more mundane 80s cars to be honest. They're 40 years old now. Same as you couldnt see any 70s cars in 2000s anymore. Its just how things are. Few surviving cars become collectibles and museum pieces rest are just gone forever.

[@Dankcatvacs]

@@Kacpa2 i have a few in oregon rust isnt as much of a problem . but it does have some rust sadly

[@bonacrash]

I fell in love with that dashboard

[@Keiji1978]

I was born and raised in Japan This car was called Leone here but I seldom saw one of these even then

[@ofirs5830]

They were extremely popular in Israel in the 80s

[@Keiji1978]

@@ofirs5830 wow I didn’t know that

[@HectorCarrasco]

1989 Subaru Full-Time 4WD RX Turbo 3-Door Coupe automatic 3 speeds in red... and I proudly own it and it looks almost brand new :)

[@joebotz1243]

I love these old episodes used to watch power block all the time

[@rebelusa6585]

Subaru is a odd car company. In the '80s fuel was cheap, subaru made small high mpg cars. Today fuel keep getting more expensive, subaru decided to make big high horse power cars. I wish subaru bring the justy back.

[@brkbtjunkie]

My gf in the early 2000s had a 90s Impreza 2 door 5 speed. It got amazing mpg and never got stuck. Very simple car, probably was only about 13k new back then

[@LearnAboutFlow]

Subaru almost left America because of its fwd cars. People flocked to Honda, Toyota and Nissan. It wasn't until they claimed the AWD crown (and 'The beauty of AWD" as their ad slogan) that they prospered. And, yes, today everything they sell is a gas guzzler relatively speaking, except for the grossly underpowered Impreza. I don't know of any owner who didn't love their Justy :-)

[@Dankcatvacs]

High mpg cars they got 25 while Honda datsun and Toyota got 30

[@LearnAboutFlow]

@@Dankcatvacs The other factor is that a lot of America, especially California, did not care about AWD at the time, so the Subaru 'premium' wasn't worth it.

[@rturner4205]

Eh, 30.7 in a 2017 Legacy is pretty good.

[@jiggscasey1]

This is exactly my car. 2nd owner, been driving it daily since 1996. I had no idea it was 12K new, I paid $2400, lol. Best money ever spent.

[@mrpoohbearlvr]

Loved this model back then. Crisp angular style... perfect! Well once gas is $5 a gallon idiots will stop buying huge SUV's. We'll get cars again!!

[@drivedb7]

I’d like to believe that, but I just don’t see it happening. Modern unibody SUVs are much different and far more efficient than the gas-sucking Explorers, Suburbans and Hummer H2s people were rolling around in during the last price hike. Still, I’m sticking with an actual CAR until I can’t buy one anymore.

[@mrpoohbearlvr]

@@drivedb7 yup! People are sheep, they follow idiots off a cliff. Unibody is so cheap and disposable. But give me an older Corolla anyday. 😁

[@haroldbeauchamp3770]

We’re never going back to cars. People love the room and comfort of suvs. No matter what the price of gas I’ll pay it for my Sequoia and my Tundra.

[@444mopar]

I live in Canada and gas is over $5/gallon here. Nobody is rushing to get rid of their trucks and SUVs.

[@mrpoohbearlvr]

@@444mopar well kids..... Enough people whined about gas going up to $3 a gallon in 2006..... Now certain people are bitching about it again. Long as I get 30 miles to the gallon I couldn't give a rat's patootie. 🤪. But I'll never waste $80,000 on a refrigerator shaped SUV with more technology packed in it than it takes to launch a ballistic missile. And as reliable as a Yugo. Hi GM!!

[@timothyforce1949]

Wow, do I remember how fun my Dad's '84 Subaru BRAT was! Not a lot of power, but still fun.

[@oliverdelgado6952]

80s Subaru is so fascinating

[@GalenlevyPhoto]

hmm my dad bought a brand new Base model Nissan truck for $7k in 1986 also. that’s like almost the half price of a Subaru and now the new trucks cost more than a base model Subaru. Time changes, eh?

[@cutroc350]

My Father had a 86 Hardbody with the 4cyl 5sp. Made it well over 250k with two teens beating on it. The 8 sparkplugs in a 4cyl was a neat way to mess with friends at the tech center automotive class. Great little trucks.

[@GalenlevyPhoto]

@@cutroc350 wow I completely forgot about the 8 spark plugs in a 4 cylinder engine. That was strange. it was black color body with 5 speed manual and had vinyl bench seats. We took it all the way to Alaska from California for a month. Canada had a lot of bad roads including miles and miles of muddy highways. so much memories with that truck.

[@mediocreman2]

The really impressive thing about this segment is the car didn't rust away while they were driving it. There's a reason nobody has seen these on the road in 25 years.

[@nlpnt]

The 3-Door replaced the Hardtop, in Japan they were both "Leone Coupe" in succession.

[@johngiannola9142]

I owned the front wheel drive version of the Suburu GL 3 door/hatchback....for 10 years. The first 5 years were years were great. It was advertised as a '' pocket rocket '' ...with a top speed of 130 mph. I tested this engine many times.....even when I was passed by a mustang doin ; 160 mph on I-75....

[@TEXHO3OHA]

Haven't seen one of these in years, but last week came across I think 1990 Legacy sedan in decent condition

[@fsfs555]

This (rather, the '88-89 RX/II) is my favorite Subaru of this era. Non-USDM models got better HVAC controls though (specifically a dedicated a/c switch and fresh/recirc buttons). I love the XT but the 3-door is far more practical. The 3-door is lighter and has more luggage space than the sedan and is nearly as versatile as the wagon without being an actual wagon.

[@Suchayoutuber]

And to think back then Mercedes and them ranked highest in customer satisfaction now that's a different story

[@mikeyveloster7615]

The Subaru DL/GL Coupe, Sedan & Wagon were the Americanized version of the Subaru Leone sold in Japan, which was eventually sold as the Loyale in America

[@jeffmorse645]

"Engine vibration". Yeah, my 2021 Legacy Touring XT has a bit of a shake at a cold idle and has done so since day one. First one I've owned and read that their boxer engine isn't the smoothest thing in the world. It is nice to see how the AWD system has progressed though. Its just on now all the time.

[@bikes7777]

The whole design idea behind the boxer engine is to REDUCE vibration.

[@jeffmorse645]

@@bikes7777 It didn't work. lol

[@k9feces]

The fastest rusting cars on the planet.

[@kz1000ps]

Remember the Rusty Jones sticker? Yeah that was a farce.

[@k9feces]

@@kz1000ps omg yes

[@yuriypodgorniak2728]

For a Time and a price very versatile vehicle and I'm surprised about four wheel disc brakes ❤️

[@TheOzthewiz]

For about $2k more you could have gotten a '86 Mustang GT. So, I don't think I would call it a "good value". I (personally) would have ENJOYED owning a Mustang more than an "econo-box"! Just my opinion!

[@seththomas9105]

Taking me back to high school. MW still doing road tests on un finnished highways!

[@DD-dj4jr]

I-795

[@nemonooit]

how can you have torque-steer with even-length driveshafts?

[@monogoroshi1547]

Was waiting for this! love my coupé

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

1:50 Wow indicator for which door is open in the 80s.

[@gregg9672]

omg i had forgotten about these i loved them always wanted to get my hands on one but it never came to be

[@pmafterdark]

Is it me or does it seem the videos with the most views are the retro review ones?

[@roddydykes7053]

3-door is a great name for a car

[@Sanpedranoazul]

This or the XT? 🤩🤩🤩. Loved Subaru till the 90s, the Impreza wagon was a beauty! Today, smehhh, vanilla all the way

[@cutroc350]

The XT6 with it's flat 6 is up there but I'll go with the RX Turbo 3 door......with the H6 swapped in please.😉

[@BReal-10EC]

Before better engine management computers and intercoolers, turbos were really just for some added midrange power. Adding too much boost caused lots of issues back then- like fouled plugs since you had to run much cooler plugs. So there were lots of turbo models that had just anther 10-20% more power.

[@cutroc350]

Yeah those early turboroos were not long for the world. They were better off with a EJ22 swap in every way. The EJ22T would make them WRX killers. For a while you could find those EA18T cars with cooked heads for next to nothing.

[@BReal-10EC]

@@cutroc350 Just adding big power to an old car doesn't make it better than a more modern car. The chassis and 4x4 system on these cars is fairly crude by modern standards.

[@scottbogfoot]

Round or oval logos on an 86? I would have thought it'd still be the trapezoid shape

[@FCT8306onTwoWheels]

this reminds me of a very similarly looking Nissan Sentra XE hatch. All wheel drive, manual, not a boxer but did have a 4 cylinder that was carbureted I think and it was great in the winter

[@FCT8306onTwoWheels]

the one we had was the 1988 Sentra XE fastback

[@adamn7516]

To bad Subie does not use a true 4WD system on the Crosstrek or Forester.

[@bobonthis9520]

Low range, limited slip rear diff, manual gear box, WTF happened to you Subaru ?? This set up would sell like hotcakes now.

[@bigdane87]

👁️👄👁️ childhood dream car. So neat!

[@yamatodamashii1179]

Ah, the good ole days of moderate horsepower spare tires.

[@bikes7777]

This car would look good even today.

[@reneegudjon3204]

Best all wheel system. Period

[@Andyface79]

These weren't very common, at least where I lived. Quite a few sedans and wagons though.

[@neuideas]

I really wish people would stop referring to two-door hatchbacks as "3-door" vehicles. The rear hatch is about as much a door as a trunklid is, and nobody in their right mind calls a sedan a "5-door." The only 3-door hatch I can think of in recent memory is the Veloster.

[@marshalmagooo3899]

Friend had a DL back on the late 80s. Nice car, however Subaru had to order a part from Japan and he had to wait 3 weeks for it to come in

[@ninjaknight-jn9ky]

Love this car one of my friends picked a non turbo one up that we are planning on ej swapping at somepoint for reliability and mpg, but the ground clearance great, i dont really get the rust comment it rusted to all hell but we found it less then a mile of the coast and even then it's only rust where it had from damage for an accident and an around the part of the windshield where it got moisture between the window and the frame but for a 35 year old car its not that rust the ae86 he has is about as rust and if you've ever seen the way 240s rust you wouldn't say that but this is also on west coast nothing like what I've seen in 15 year old cars over there. My friend 2004 wrx from the rust belt has as much rust as this thing you could stick your finger through the strut towers.

[@jimmyr1683]

I've never seen a tire in the engine bay

[@The_Opinion_of_Matt]

It used to be more common. I suppose the thought was why eat up trunk space and you don't want to put a dirty flat tire in a clean trunk.

[@Ty4ons]

@@The_Opinion_of_Matt More common in regions where engine sizes were quite small

[@The_Opinion_of_Matt]

@@thirdstar9255 Ok ageist

[@1985_Honda_CRX_Si]

Id buy one back then (maybe now)

[@marylandsportsman4114]

What unfinished highway is that? Route 100?

[@AnalogueKid2112]

Judging by the “State Speed Limit” sign, this particular episode seems to have been filmed in upstate New York

[@milfordcivic6755]

These things were totally rotted after 4-5 years of New England winters.

[@flight2k5]

Everything rots In the salt belt

[@haroldbeauchamp3770]

This is the Subaru I miss. While Subaru has never been reliable, it was so much simpler then. Subaru made a real car with an attractive hatch

[@therealsnow]

Really? I know in the 1990s and 2000s Subaru was ranked the most reliable car brand in the world.

[@Dankcatvacs]

My 93 has almost 300k miles

[@haroldbeauchamp3770]

@@therealsnow interesting. I’d like to know the source for that ranking. A master mechanic would passionately disagree with that ranking lol

[@haroldbeauchamp3770]

@@Dankcatvacs I’m glad for you. You truly have a remarkable example. I wish you many more miles. I do know that they were made better back then.

[@ziginox]

I have the exact same car in the video, same year and options. It was a fair bit over 200k before major issues cropped up. I'd call that pretty reliable.

[@Clevelandsteamer324]

Head gasket issue?

[@Leonaristo]

So this is what today's coupe crossover or coupe SUV looked like back in 1986.

[@foreignautomobiles]

I like the Toyota Prius model in the background. Lol

[@jamesh7571]

I agree it's better than a '76 civic wagon, but is it built as well as a '72 toyota corona dlx? Jury still out on that one... When did Justy come to play 😢

[@107MainAvenue]

Subaru Leone coupe

[@PhillyDee215]

Throwback😎

[@cgreenfield6655]

I'm cringing at how much these head gaskets probably leaked.

[@dalewilliams2063]

Also had a head cracking problem with higher mileage.

[@jaxandmore440]

I didn't know this vehicle ever existed. I've never seen a "3-door".

[@derekintrovert5619]

Saturn Coupe & Hyundai Veloster

[@jaxandmore440]

@@derekintrovert5619 I was referring to this model of Subaru, not the body style. I've never seen this Subaru model before. A "3-door" typically refers to a hatchback with 2 doors. Once a popular body style among affordable small cars in the 80s and 90s.

[@ziginox]

@@jaxandmore440 They're mostly called "three door liftbacks", even in Subaru's documentation, to differentiate them from the previous "three door hatchback" that ran alongside it for a few years. Not sure why Motorweek dropped the liftback part.

[@cutroc350]

Look up the RX Turbo....It gets better.

[@NSXTypeRGTRLM]

Good luck finding any AWD coupes today.

[@Dankcatvacs]

its 4wd

[@FLAWEDLOS]

I'm thinking about getting this as my first car anyone know if its good, reliable, and good on gas.

[@dinocracchiolo996]

An era in time when there were abundant veical choices for fuel efficient, economical vehicles that most Americans could afford .Unlike today, with excessive government over reach dictatating to manufacture what kind of veiicsls to produce driving prices out of reach for most Americans.

[@dennishughes721]

In the 80s Mercedes and Subaru where tops in reliability.

[@mrHoppedupford]

Toyota

[@DavidAndre657]

MW HITS: -- Versatility -- Power -- Brakes -- Good Value

[@DavidAndre657]

SUBARU Inexpensive and built to stay that way.

[@retrocompaq5212]

cheap made and extremely expensive to maintain in great shape, even audis are more reliable

[@LearnAboutFlow]

Those were the days.

[@Dankcatvacs]

Got 297k on my 93 loyale

[@Dankcatvacs]

@@retrocompaq5212 whut audi are 🗑️

[@tima6549]

@@retrocompaq5212 LMAO you wish! VW and Audi most unreliable cars on the road.

[@carwrtr1]

I’d take this in an automatic transmission model. I don’t know why you’d want a manual transmission; manual transmissions are not fun in rush hour traffic.

[@gojackets4894]

I don't remember ever seeing one of these.

[@LearnAboutFlow]

I grew up in New England, ground zero for Subarus, and I never saw one. You either bought the wagon or the XT, not a weird pseudo hatch sporty thing.

[@manhoot]

The little sooo-bar-ooooo. Wow.

[@birdworldist]

Lovely

[@theyweredeadwhenigotthere1391]

Back when it snowed

[@dougiefresh386]

The door chime sounds like a Nissan/datsun

[@444mopar]

MW : All the torque steer!!!! Also MW : 110hp awd.

[@The_Opinion_of_Matt]

Yeah, they got torque steer, which is associated with FWD cars. But the gauges indicated the front wheels being engaged when 4WD was engaged. Plus a Limited Slip on the rear axle, which would seem weird to put a LSD on the non-primary drive axle. So I'm led to believe they got torque steer on a RWD car, or did the run the acceleration tests in 4WD, which I would think would negate the torque steer? I was/am a bit confused.

[@KAuto26]

@@The_Opinion_of_Matt it’s a fwd car with a part time transfer case so the acceleration tests were done as fwd. you can see the wheelspin in the video

[@Dankcatvacs]

@@The_Opinion_of_Matt torque steer in 2wd ....

[@RickJohnson]

2:21 - anyone else cringe when the driver immediately revved the engine after startup? Jeez, let it build oil pressure first!

[@oliverdelgado6952]

Not even broken in yet

[@constructionbootgazer]

Anyone looking for an awd AE86…

[@michaelcoffey7362]

Cool 😀

[@DavidAndre657]

PASSING 40-55 MPH: 5.3 SECONDS

[@Dankcatvacs]

Try the na and enjoy every second of it . The Subaru boxer is just the engine to pass the time

[@johnbehneman1546]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! GREAT VIDEO & EDUCATION. I LOVE THE SUBARU BRAND!!!!