MotorWeek | Retro Review: '88 Subaru XT6

[@milkmunstr]

I love how Subaru just did everything they could to make sure that making yourself comfortable in the car is as close as possible to feeling like you're starting a rocketship

[@christopherjones4550]

The guy getting in the back seat is the funniest thing I've ever seen on KZbin! Thank you MotorWeek!!!

[@MaestroTJS]

The hair-pulling was a great touch, lol

[@toyoscio]

Christopher Jones His name is Craig Singhaus

[@jasoncarpp7742]

I know. When I saw this video, I was on the floor, I was laughing so hard. :)

[@harrycallahan9733]

Craig's sense of humor :)

[@RobCamp-rmc_0]

Should have been shot in black & white. _“There’s got to be a better way!”_

[@alfamonk]

2:57 give this guy his own show!!

[@DocWolph]

Craig Singhaus was a regular contributor for the show until 2002. I do miss him.

[@Hectorson3]

Craig was always funny, he was kinda the comedy side of Motorweek

[@TheObiwantoby]

It is a retro savagegeese.

[@ODSTOninersIxTwO]

its like when you try to squeeze into a airplane toilet when your overweight.

[@daytonasayswhat9333]

Lol

[@djsworld_Tv]

Why he had to do all of that just to get in the back seat DAMN!!!....LMAO

[@cgcgundersen]

Haha right? So dramatic.

[@StereoMike06]

***** HAHAHA I watched that part 10 times in a row, laughing harder every single time!!

[@carwhiz90]

I found it hilarious. The way he was using his legs to push himself and then falling flat on his stomach

[@1BrownElCamino]

+djs world101 (Djsworld101) LOL I know that was so over exaggerated, he could have easily turned his body sideways and slid in easily.

[@McRocket]

Me as well...especially when he he is pulling his own hair to get in the back.

[@Wike1991]

man the 80s were cool

[@bubblegumgun3292]

ikr f*ck this car is awesome, the 80's car always had cool mechanism like the doors of the deloreon the turn car seat on the japanese 1985 rex combi. have you seen the kenwood cassette player the tech way just 1980's scifi cool

[@DrewLSsix]

BUBBLEGUM GUN. mercedes had gull wing doors decades earlier and domestic manufacturers had rotating seats again decades before.

[@yrasphong]

DrewLSsix yea..but we are talking about affordable cars at that time...Japanese cars IMO will always be better than German because..u can pay 30,000 for a Benz but it doesn't come with nothing while a 30,000 Japanese car has everything

[@goclunker]

NY NY still rather have a benz

[@TA_Plus_Hemi]

These XT6s were ultra cool what non-supercar was cutting right turns on city streets at 50 mph back in the 80s? Seriously I would love to get a bunch of fun 80s cars and restomod them

[@trefod]

Pulling himself in by his hair was a nice touch. Somebody clearly let the comedian out of the basement. The car is totally weird inside and out, but I remember seeing them in the eighties and thinking they were very sci-fi looking things.

[@LaRaeGallant]

The most comfortable car I've ever owned. You may tout the controls, but I wouldn't have them any other way, having experienced them. It was an incredibly innovative design that I would love to see again.

[@martinparker6536]

citroen cx ?

[@usernameisusername]

Tout is a good thing.....

[@icytwitchy123]

Where do you get your parts from

[@negativeindustrial]

Touting something is to compliment it.

[@fokuz02]

Definitely a Robocop/ Total Recall era car. I love that car makers took great chances during these times. Today all cars look alike.... Keep the videos coming, I love them!

[@projectsixtars86]

Thank you for this comment, i got the idea, i need an 80's style Robocop cosplay to my XT :D

[@alarmman08]

In the 80s a lot of cars looked the same too. Look up 86-89 accord the ae86 the 91 prelude the 89 integra the mitsubishi starion (my favorite of em all with wide body) and this subaru. Im sure im missing a few but you get the point. Each automaker had spies back then in eachothers factories or taking photos or videos hidden.

[@alarmman08]

@@projectsixtars86 and i know accord prelude and integra are all honda just saying lots of cars looked a lot alike. Dont mind me im not trolling you, just want you to check out those cars so you can see how cool they all were too.

[@daytonasayswhat9333]

How do you figure cars all look alike today?

[@buzzshavinutts8898]

I was thinking og transformers series and androbot TOPO . back in 1999 nobody wanted these things! Or any 80s mobile for that they were so out of fashion

[@kylerobblee4099]

2:55 goes to show that, even in 1988, the struggle was real. I love these retro reviews though. They're one of my favorite parts of KZbin.

[@carlj5969]

I miss mine...it was white too but it was awd with push button locking 4wd on the shifter and it would go thru anything...there's actually a switch under the dash that turns the wiper from summer to winter mode which just keeps the wiper raised a lil out of the cowl to help keep ice from freezing it up. Lil quirky touches like that made it so different and cool

[@Jestr86]

i owned my XT6 since February 17th 2007 it is no doubt the best car i have ever owned, i will be lost with out it. today it grabs people attention, not to many are around these days.. all the more reason to love and keep my XT6 going.

[@sinsplendid1]

Is it still going now

[@butterdawgg]

@@sinsplendid1 i hope so

[@ruebzrandomreactionz3488]

@@butterdawgg He never replied lol... Now I really wanna know.

[@tscooter22]

My g/f of the past bought one of these brand new. This was the first car or truck I drove with AWD. I was amazed by its cat-like traction which gave excellent acceleration off the line. Even with snow and ice on Chicago's roads it pulled VERY well out of the hole. My g/f had unique tastes and this car fit her perfectly. Prior to that she had a 6 cylinder Peugeot 505. Like I said, unique taste. She ended up becoming a shrink. How fitting. :-D

[@machupikachu1085]

Of course she had unique taste. She was smart enough to date you. ;D

[@OneAdrenaline]

2:56 - I too pull myself by my hair when I am trying to wedge my body through a tight spot.

[@idrive25]

hahaha best part of the video

[@martind349]

If you say wedge talking about a Subaru everybody drinks

[@redneon06]

Old cars are so cool! I love Motorweek!

[@brianlee5649]

I love Motorweek too. John Davis is an amazing host!

[@chriscornelius2518]

I think the 80s had a lot of bland cars, but this one stood out a bit.

[@wchomes106]

@@chriscornelius2518 80's bland, huh....what do you call today's cars?? exhibit a - bmw 2,3,4,5,7 series all blend, right?

[@chriscornelius2518]

@@wchomes106 yeah the regulations have caused the cars to look so much alike. However the performance of cars today is unparalleled. I will at least acknowledge it. It's kind of funny because I was just looking up 1985 Riviera convertible. Definitely some cool cars of the 80s. I like the 90s better

[@fernandorocha8459]

@@brianlee5649 I love Motor Week, Retro Reviews is my favorite

[@NickolaiVolkov]

This video is absolutely perfect! Zero fluff. Straight facts. Good narration. Encompassed pretty much everything you'd wanna know about the car. Awesome!

[@TheLaXandro]

I want this with a modern Subaru boxer in it. It's so 80s.

[@Samolyet]

I still want one. Is that wrong?

[@unluckyabsol]

no

[@unluckyabsol]

I want one

[@777jones]

They are sexy

[@levey2]

I had one, one of the most balanced handling cars I have ever driven on gravel roads, I miss it.

[@johnwillyn]

i will trade my 2014 car for this. :(

[@jriley1992]

Subaru was weird, but a good kind of weird :)

[@kriswingert1662]

I had a white XT and a Pearl White XT6, both were fun cars. I likes the wing pods for the HVAC and wipers. I had the back spoiler on both and it made it look so much better. I had to replace the electric power steering pump on my XT6, but it was so easy and was right on the firewall above the power steering master cylinder. BTW, never had the problem getting in the back like the guy in this video did. I had my XT6 till 2004

[@ironicchannelname6457]

Watching these makes me wanna go back in time so I can buy the car

[@icemanroyal]

never thought i would hear "tasteful" and "velour" in the same sentence

[@snowrocket]

+icemanroyal I LOVE crushed velour interiors and always have! I'll take one of those ANY DAY over leather! Leather is too-expensive vinyl that is cold in the winter and hot in the summer. Give me cloth any day. My Impreza has a beautiful beige cloth interior.

[@feltongailey8987]

Man nothin' feels like velour though. Put you to sleep driving lol.

[@Drchainsaw77]

Find yourself a 1975 Chrysler Newport and then take another look.

[@SirTonk]

That back seat bit was too good, great job as always MotorWeek.

[@noladol]

Now that's how you get into a back seat.

[@onesixr]

That front end is exactly like a 3rd gen prelude.

[@gxdjoeybaby07]

I was thinking that would have been a better cross-shopping comparison than the MR2.

[@kriswingert1662]

The XT came out in 84 and the redesigned bumper and 6 cylinder came out later half of 87' for the 88' model year. The Prelude and Xt had the same bumper design the same year. I had both the XT and XT6

[@michaelmassart2349]

80s tech, gotta love it. It has an unmistakable Inspector Gadget aura about it. Petty though that the XT6 lacks the quirky digital dash.. A rare classic.

[@Catman66]

I forgot all about the XT6. Haven't seen one in decades! Thanks Motor Week for the reminders of those forgotten 80's cars.

[@PantomimeHorseMusic]

Don't listen to the haters. These retro reviews are outstanding. I watch all of them. And I had the turbo version of this. It was an interesting car, but the air shocks kept blowing out. If I had the FWD version with normal suspension I would've had a much better opinion of the car.

[@wawewawe1316]

PantomimeHorseMusic I test drove a AWD turbo version 10 years ago. The interior layout is stupid and very impractical. The exterior isn't that pretty either. It's a turbo but it is only as powerful and as quick as equivalent N/A model of a similar size. Plus the suspension had a little bit too much body roll for a sports car.

[@kriswingert1662]

You had an XT turbo, not an XT6. The XT6 did not have a turbo. Only the AWD versions had the air suspension. I had both.

[@gxdjoeybaby07]

Thanks for uploading! I've always admired these cars. Love the origami styling. And the why-not-do-it-this-way interiors. And the mono-wiper! The motorized seatbelts, not so much. For those who are outraged, angered, or confused by this car, I'm sure there is a Camcord or Civirolla just waiting for you on a dealer lot somewhere.

[@taterpuff1974]

the dude trying to get into the backseat made this review.

[@toyoscio]

Craig Singhaus

[@ChortSock]

2:55 this man has been in some infomercials fore sure

[@toyoscio]

Nope. He was a reporter for Motorweek. He would do a feature, Out on the road with Craig Singhaus(?) covering interesting finds and people

[@thetreblerebel]

That flat 6 will become legendary. Many championships will be won

[@jdonns2221]

That 80's styling

[@rhondfredlund9455]

ijason aldean

[@johnrothermund]

Drop in a WRX engine and lower the car, do alot of fab and suspension work, change the axles, and you have a badass car.

[@dchawk81]

So basically replace this with a badass car and you have a badass car.

[@Fdjt4ever]

😆 these things came with adjustable suspension. Why gut and change it?

[@EA-vj4yb]

Bought a used 89’ in 94’. Man was it expensive to keep on the road. Dumped it when the exhaust went and they wanted $1500 to fix it. But boy was it a fun car. Recently picked up a BRZ and it has some of the charm of this car that brings back some great memories.

[@BlayzedBlue]

Had the 86 turbo XT. The interior looked like Knight Rider, with all the ridiculous digital gauges and the side mounted controls by the steering wheel. It served me well in the harsh NY winters. The air shocks blew out and I got rid of it.

[@raymondsims4324]

This was my very first car in ‘94 when I was 19 YO. My college basketball coach sold it to me for $1200. He told me I was going get in a lot of trouble in that car. He was right, 4 speeding tickets in the first year. Smh it was definitely a head turner. Definitely brings back memories.

[@justinbig10]

This car is quirky and different, I love it! Only thing I'd change is the 20 watt stereo, but otherwise it's perfect!

[@machupikachu1085]

manual equalizer baby! Yeah!! :)

[@vanitymirrorss]

As an owner of a 1989 Honda Prelude, the XT-6 looks like if the Prelude did more cocaine and I absolutely love it.

[@pbfloyd13]

1980s Subarus... the automotive representation of that geeky kid from high school, who grew up to run a successful tech company.

[@daytonasayswhat9333]

pbfloyd13 Why 1980s?

[@patrickmichaellangan576]

Jimmy Buffett's classic "Margaritaville" is playing on the 20 watt radio!

[@stuartbear922]

Don't tell Jimmy. He'll want his royalties

[@roddydykes7053]

2:55 this guy, after acting all serious at the controls, cartoonishly flinging himself into the backseat was the funniest thing I’ve seen on this channel by far! Hope he’s still doing well.

[@coletrickle-km7cl]

He's permanently stuck In that XT6...it's a 1980's Japanese size love compartment....not a usa sized version.

[@kippaseo8027]

I remember seeing these driving around when I was a little kid but what I most remember is when I was like 14 or 15 years old coming across one on a used car lot. I was scoping out potential cars to hit my parents up to buying for me for my upcoming birthday. I remember gasping at the steering wheel design. It was such a weird weird car. I wanted either a Nissan Pulsar NX or a Toyota Paseo unfortunately for the sixteen-year-old I got stuck with my mom's 89 Camry DX but after over 300,000 miles of all most trouble-free driving as I've aged I've only purchased Toyota Camrys. I currently drive a 2000 Camry with 399000 miles on the odometer and was just assured by my mechanic she had at least another 100,000 miles to go.

[@RJKYEG]

I would absolutely go for one of these now. The kind of power a modern engine could give that car could truly make it amazing.

[@hsinwulau]

Back then this car was so modern, now it looks so retro

[@ChipLeach]

The retro reviews are my favorites!

[@material___]

The body alone is very, very visually appealing. As busy as the interior may be, I love it.

[@Dankcatvacs]

Fun fact the door handles are spring loaded like mail doors so the handle is flush for. Better aerodynamics

[@Cheezwizzz]

Looks like a scalpel! You gotta love the quirky interior

[@Fdjt4ever]

I lived across from a counciling center in the 80's. One of the workers had a blue one and had it for years. Always thought it was super weird looking. I want one!

[@szimbazsununnu1088]

Had one and loved it...until the oil pump failed. I didn't know it, and drove 'til the engine started ticking 'n clicking. Mechanic opened up engine and said all valves should be replaced (at $27 each!!!). Since 24 x 27 = $648 in 1998 ($1037 in 2019), he was asked if any corners could be cut. He reluctantly said that the left side of the Porsche-esque flat six can do without it, but not the right, so 12 valves were imported from Japan. Parts & labor totaled 900-something ($1425-ish here in 2020). Sold it to a brainless hispanic man after the repair, who didn't take the best care of it (he left a cantina drunk on tequila and got a DUI). After neglect it was probably junked, melted down, and is the chassis of a new Forester right now...? Sad. Thanks for the video. Brought back a lot of great memories! I agree with about 95% of Motorweek's assessment. They missed a few details (probably for time reasons) like a switch underneath the steering wheel, which prevented the wiper retratction motor from pulling in the wiper after you switched it off, for better aerodynamics / less visual obstruction. The stereo system sounded good (and I was an audio engineer). Both door handles were flush; your fingertips had to push in a horiontal 'lever' to allow you to pull out the handle. What else... The A/C had two settings: green & orange. One of them saved fuel or something? Also (unless I'm confusing w another car) no cheap LED; clock display/outdoor temp gauge had a VFD, like the Alesis XT, MG1214, Speak & Spell, Prius C.....soooo cool. Since I was all about efficiency at the time, the only complaint was the 27-ish MPG. The Honda CRX HF got like 51, the Justy similar, Metro XFi got 58 - and those were from the same era. At least it was faster than those economy cars. I'm kinda eccentric so a unique car like this suited me quite well. One chick got in the passenger seat at night, saw all the controls lit up, and said, "Am I in a spaceship!?"

[@kylechambers]

This is ONE sophisticated car, holy cow. ALL those luxuries and buttons...

[@Killmatic5000]

It's a funky little car. I want one. I love the weirdness of 80s Subarus.

[@dbrxsdgo]

.... and the award for dramatic performance while climbing into a back seat goes to....😂😂😂 I think his name is Craig Singhaus. I remember watching these as a kid. Thanks for the memories.

[@williamdunn9053]

I live in Montana where Subarus are VERY popular. These cars were everywhere here in the 80’s and still dozens around.

[@123andme]

This car was actually pretty cool. My friend had one in high school. It was quick and great in winter. Issue was it was on the shop a lot but when it ran it could keep up with v8's of the time.

[@iqtpilot]

I resurrected an xt6 10 years ago. non running and in a field. years of fun putting "honoria" back together and gave it to an aspiring teen. i am surprised this didn't talk about the air suspension.

[@hendo337]

I always wished Subaru would have put a turbo or two on one of their flat sixes hooked to a manual transmission with awd. Even this XT6 could have really been something with a pair of the little turbos from the previous flat four on this six. 250-300hp easy then a strong enough transfer case and 5 speed manual. Could have been a pour man's Porsche killer. People would have clamoured to get them to this day if they would have continuously updated and improved a drivetrain like that. With today's tech in a newer Impreza, Legacy and ever the BRZ...a 400-500hp twin turbo 3.6L flat six would be a monster and would be heralded for decades as a legendary must have car that the everyman could afford.

[@RAA12586]

parents had the xt turbo with the digital dash, would love to have that car today.

[@georgejacob3162]

I'm from the UK. When these were new Subaru did not have a dealer network in the UK so Subaru sold them at shopping malls & farmers markets. I saw one of these at a shopping mall but I've never seen one on the road in the UK.

[@stevencramsie9172]

I love how every single one of the options he listed has been standard on cars for almost 20 years now.

[@MassiveTrackHunter]

Owned an XT Turbo. Total dog 1.8t, but very cool digital gauges and interior layout for an 87. It was a fun little car to throw around and fun in the snow.

[@ErinWunder]

Total dog? Wtf...you own a few Ferraris back in the '80s?

[@cosaosa2855]

After viewing this video, I've decided not to buy the new Subaru XT6.

[@incyphe]

Subaru needs to bring back that steering wheel!

[@hollowpoint45acp]

headlight washers not useful? must've never driven in much snow--you know, where the subaru excels

[@koolkeiths]

Wow. These had headlamp washers. Who knew? That steering wheel is growing on me. I like this quirky thing

[@areyoujelton]

That guy getting into the back made my life complete.

[@akrocuba]

I love it! I always wanted one for off roading.

[@florian237]

Nice car...I want one now

[@landyachtfan79]

You can bet that I was surely singing along with "Margaritaville" at 2:24, & have ALWAYS laughed my ass off watching Craig Singhaus try & shoehorn himself into the back seat at 2:54!!!

[@jennydonne8946]

The controls are like the Citröen satellite controls from the 70s & early 80s

[@briteidea08]

Reminds me of something from a science fiction movie. I do remember seeing these growing up. But they were rare.

[@jeffreysmall8902]

had one when i was kid loved the car had lots of air ride problems kept falling had trouble finding parts loved the car great in the winter finely sold it because of many problems.

[@jannevaatainen]

The exterior looks so cool, so 80's! Especially the rear. Also functional, as the drag is only 0.29.

[@todd3563]

The black car in the beginning is great looking. Wish it were mine.

[@MrMyxalplyx]

Cool! Damn..didn't know about the speed alarm feature (Runs out and checks car).

[@skylinefever]

3:36 There are other ways to get a 6 cylinder engine by sharing parts with other engines. I'd rather have a 4 cylinder with 2 cylinders tacked on versus having an 8 cylinder engine with 2 cylinders chopped off. The Mopar 3.9 and 3.7 V6 were an example, and GM had too many to count, the 4.3 was the most common one I know of. Sure, some of those engines lasted for ages, however, controlling vibration wasn't easy.

[@tmassey1465]

I almost bought one back in the late 80s, decided on a Ford Escort GT instead. In retrospect should have gone for the Subie.

[@dininjaronin2002]

this baby would be great with a wrx engine,a rear wing,lowering and some styling...with modern tuning could have been an amazing machine...if one ever survived though...

[@djsonic6533]

The guy in the back was the best I've ever seen on how small a car can be

[@M5aru]

2:55 xD Sweet mercy I love these Retro Reviews.

[@kalgstol]

Even the instrument cluster moved with the wheel. I thought that was pretty neat and forward thinking

[@ottodob]

80s-tastic!

[@skunkhollow1]

PLEASE release a retro review for the Volvo 740 or 940 or even 240 models. (if you have them that is) I love these retro reviews.

[@ACEcolorado1]

That interior looks very similar to a Citroen from that time

[@stuartbear922]

Especially the steering wheel

[@martinparker6536]

CX or BX or GSA ?

[@sjb2471]

Yes, a lot of the controls are very “French”. The Japanese have always been the masters of flattery (copying) but making it better and more reliable than the original!

[@larquefausse3623]

See these around occasionally. I was always curious about them.

[@woodychadwick9834]

I remember these weird little things. Only saw a couple on the road.

[@tbone020998]

When the guy grabbed his own hair to pull himself in the backseat, that was comedic genius, lol

[@johngaudet6316]

In the 90s my friends parents had this car, we would jump the governor's Island bridge in Meredith NH. At around 60 mph the car would be airborne. WE WERE BO AND LUKE DUKE.

[@GeeEm1313]

I didn't know they had only one wiper.

[@vorg_]

I would love to see a modern take on this. A bigger coupe than the BRZ with an H6.

[@snowrocket]

+Michael Vorgitch Sort of. The way to go would be a special bodied Impreza Coupe, available in WRX/STi variants.

[@vorg_]

That would be really cool, like a new 22b.

[@snowrocket]

+Michael Vorgitch Yeah, sort of, but far more stylish than just looking like a 2-door Impreza. What I'm thinking of is how the Honda Accord coupe looks way different from the Accord sedan. Subaru should do something like that. Regular "secretary's car" versions would pay for the tooling to justify the WRX/Sti versions.

[@chrismc410]

didnt they try that with the SVX

[@walkerhall9243]

chrismc410 that was more of a bmw 6 series competitor, and this would just be a smaller wrx, not really a whole different car

[@tenofdiamonds6440]

9.8 seconds to 60 in a H6 coupe. Lol! That wouldn't work today. I would still love to have one of these. I love Subarus and this is one of the weirdest ones. It's amazing. If I ever see one that isn't rusted to hell, I'll pick it up.

[@ErinWunder]

I had one! Funniest car EVER! The pneumatic suspension...omg...cruising with the odometer pegged over 130 miles..(ok..i WAS young and undoubtedly stupid thinking I was invincible), nose to the ground; was like skating on glass. THEE smoothest, easiest car I ever drove then or since

[@ВиталийТ-г5й]

В 90-е они были большой редкостью во Владивостоке.

[@tmmurphy]

As I watched the video of the Mazda GTX yesterday I wondered if you'd ever cover my eccentric neighbor's, mid life crisis car. It was a white XT6 she bought new. She drives a base, manual Forester these days. I always wonder what that car could do. She drove it so slow that it bogged and shuddered, kinda like her Forester these days. Imagine my suprise and delight when I logged on tonight. That car looked like it had been designed by space aliens on LSD, kind of like some sixties Chryslers. Thank you for the memories.

[@RogueVigilante]

That part where he gets in the backseat is Epic for this show lolz

[@briteidea08]

Motorweek How many times did you use new housing construction sites around Owings Mills?

[@jeffreyrigged]

i have a 89 i got give to me. needs some work just got to flip.

[@PantomimeHorseMusic]

Oh, and the passenger seat moved forward for passengers. It's designed to have all passengers use the passenger door.

[@craigmoorer5927]

Is it me or do the automatic seat belts bring back memories???

[@tmmurphy]

Next at some point, you'll have to cover my eccentric uncle's mid-life crisis car: the Subaru SVX. He put newspapers down instead of buying floor mats and told me (an avid car guy), that he'd give me a ride in it when it was not so new. True to form, he gave me a ride 8 years later with fresh newsprint still on the floor boards and a napkin under the E-brake to "protect the plastic." The mind traveled back to grade school when I recalled he had a 455 Buick LeSabre vert that he never took the top down on because it would "wear out the mechanism." SAY WHAT?

[@mattsherer2017]

Videos like these are the only place to see these cars these days