Waking up a 90s Japanese Turbo AWD classic - Will this Real Barn Find run?

Waking up a 90s Japanese Turbo AWD classic - Will this Real Barn Find run? In this special barnfind episode Jonny Smith meets his friend's mother-in-law whose recent illness means she has re-evaluated life and decided to get her favourite car back on the road after more than a decade of barn hibernation. The car is a WRC hero that's definitely not the sort of machine you'd expect an older lady to drive.
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CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
1:16 Meet Rob the Buggy Man
2:19 Mum's cars
3:09 Opening the barn
3:22 The car
5:14 Return to the road?
6:40 Car condition
8:25 Interior
8:53 Tyre inflation
9:25 ENGINE
12:35 IMPREZA BRIEF HISTORY
15:00 WILL IT RUN?
16:55 DRIVING IT OUT
18:25 Buyer's guide
20:52 Inside the boot
22:19 FIRST CLEAN
24:59 MEET THE OWNER
#barnfind #classiccarrescue #thelatebrakeshow #4k

[@robinday2392]

What a fantastic episode and very positive and uplifting for a lady who.isent well bless her ❤

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Thank you. Yeah, we say it often but the human backstories are more fascinating than the cars often. Glad you enjoyed watching.

[@welshboys3033]

That car made that lady happy- that is good , well done. Typical 90’s jap car started straight away and drove. Enjoyed that.

[@airchie2]

I think you need to do barn find follow-up episodes. I'd love to see what gets done to the cars you find, particularly when they get recommissioned.

[@torturedtyresdepartment]

There’s nothing I love more than seeing older people still in touch with their inner teenager.

[@G4RY1159]

👍

[@The98scooby]

The best era of impreza in my opinion, im lucky enough to own a p1. Hope its on road soon so the lady can enjoy it again.

[@CantDrive4Sheet]

God bless you Jill, wish you all the best. Her happiness and excitement says it all, such an awesome lady!

[@jamesharding3147]

My dad (rest in peace) always had great cars but the dark green Impreza 2000 turbo he had which was one of the first in the country (L371 FBO) was by far my favourite. Lots of fond memories in that car and I’d often peer through the living room window at it at night just to see it sat outside. It looked (and went!) like a rocketship.

[@DuncSmith]

Jill is awesome, absolutely love her enthusiasm for this car!

[@Audleymoocher]

If you didn't put a cabbage cannon exhaust on your Scooby, were you even allowed to drive it? 😂

[@TomleyRC]

I was lucky enough to have an apprenticeship at a Subaru (and Rover) Dealership between 96-98.. these things were only just hitting the scene. On the PDI we were told to drive them at least 20 miles, and drive them quite hard because the ECU would 'learn' how someone drives and adapt itself.... I'm sure it was a load of rubbish, however, as a 17/18 yr old, I was quite happy to do as I was told haha

[@richardgledhill]

There was a small element of truth in that... The ECU would learn the maximum boost it could apply for the fuel type (95, 98 etc) without detting (lean-burn). I used to reset the ECU when I put a new tank of V-Power in, if someone else had put 95 in, as the ECU would have adjusted back to 95 RON fuel.

[@TomleyRC]

@ well they certainly got maximum boost during that 20 miles 😇

[@richardgledhill]

I had a MY2000 version of that car, but with the Prodrive Performance Pack, and it was brilliant - most fun car I've ever owned and probably ever will. Such a light, nimble car with an incredibly addictive turbo boost. I hit 151mph (GPS indicated) on an autobahn in Germany once and it was still accelerating! Wonderful car. Thanks Jonny! By the way, we've booked a long weekend away in your part of the world, and we'll be dropping in on Ignition Cars and Coffee to see your cars (and you if you happen to be there!). Take care as always.

[@Derrmo]

I just started my mk6 Celica yesterday that hasn't ran in 12 years. Unfortunately I didn't have a garage or a shed to keep it in so there is some rust (and other stuff) that needs a lot of work. However, it fired up on the first turn of the key with a new battery on it. Unbelievable how good Japanese engineering was and is. Can't wait to get it back on the road.

[@Klutch58Customs]

Good luck with it mate. I have a JDM SS3 6th generation. I will be returning it to the road this summer hopefully!

[@Derrmo]

@@Klutch58Customs Cheers mate. Good luck with yours too. Mine's only a 1.8SR but they look so cool compared to new cars nowadays.

[@bsb11kat25]

What an awesome Mother / in law

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Yes, she is indeed. And she can't wait to be back behind the wheel of it

[@iloveACID]

yes she made me smile with her outlook towards car

[@samsung40_media87]

charming indeed

[@junkorbust9498]

Wonderful lady. It may be deemed a classic now but to Jill it is just an old friend perhaps from back in better days. Go Jill!

[@CliveSkipper]

That video brought back so many happy memories. I bought a brand new Impreza 2000 Turbo in Dec 1998 (S reg). That car was the best daily drive I have ever owned. 70k miles is 3 years and every mile gave me the biggest smile. If only I still had my scooby!

[@rsilverwood333]

Great video Jonny. Bless her. Her enthusiasm reminds me of my late Dad. Years of fords ending with Granada's, then Scorpios. Then blew us away, with a 1.7 Racing Puma. He loved it 😅

[@honda4185]

Such a great looking car and in silver color. Mom went so happy that you could feel it thro the screen 😃 Would be amazing to see you revisit when it's done roadworthy and she is gonna drive it again!! Great video done👍

[@Prodriver33]

“It brings out the kid in ya’ which at my age is a good help” What a sweet sweet sweet girl!

[@cmdsecure]

Has a few of these over the years, a T reg, P1, a few newages but my 92 K reg which was also a barn find has been the most fun. Simplicity of it is beautiful and the sound, absolutely bliss.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

They are simple, aren't they?

[@cmdsecure]

​@@TheLateBrakeShow Totally. Great cars to learn the basics and wrench on. You right about the arches, salt and grime eats them so most classic owners like me tuck them away from late October to early April.

[@Tayeedz1]

This was such a great episode. I have my own South African spec Impreza Turbo 2000 that I'm currently restoring. Great to see the joy this car brings to the family shown here and great to see it in such good nick

[@GlossaME]

That lady is cooler than the Scooby

[@ABrit-bt6ce]

She was so up for driving that. You ought to have ended with her dougnutting it, there's plenty of room where you were.

[@greggmay959]

So nostalgic! My Dad bought a silver Turbo 2000 new in '98, when I was 16... He replaced it around 2003 with a used, manual 850 T-5 estate which he kept for years. I still feel he had great taste in cars, both then and now 👌 I hope that Jill gets to enjoy her Impreza once more very soon!

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

A manual T5 and a Subaru Turbo are both quality car choices!

[@FonicsSuck]

I miss my 850 😢

[@Murtayafourfun]

Had 6 Imprezas over 15 years due to the late great Colin McRae. Amongst them I had a P1 for 3 years and a 98 JDM RA which was epic. Having been away from them for 10 years I’m now sort of back in a Scooby. A kit car that runs a 320bhp forged flat four engine, GC8 AWD and 900kg called a Murtaya. Google it if you’re bored, was the original rally demo car 😉

[@mccash264]

Love that shape Impreza, brings many happy memories.

[@NYHeeb]

Never manages to amaze me as a car nut that people can buy such badass rides and just forget they have them. Wouldn't ever happen to me. Love the show coming from East Coast America.

[@stevecarter5084]

Another interesting episode,nice to see the owner taking an interest and still wanting to drive it like it was stolen 😂

[@jasongates2300]

Love that they’ve kept it and good to see it in relatively roadworthy condition. Used to love seeing and hearing these out and about 10-15yrs ago when they were quite common. Now you only see the odd one every now and then which is a real shame. The more modern cars of today just don’t have the same X factor especially the EVs and hybrids.

[@bryandow2827]

What a fantastic find, glad to see it getting some TLC. It amazing what's in some barns, a local farmer was using a Ford cosworth 1980s as a farm car stored in a shed used to tow, transport feed etc! That's a cool lady

[@Reddsoldier]

This has been basically a dream car of mine my entire life so thank you for reminding me just how smitten I am with them even after all these years. When I was little I was frequently around them growing up in Essex in the early '00s when these were truly the council estate terror they're known for in the UK, I remember getting a 1;40 pullback toy of a black blobeye wrx bought for me which became the hero car in my "big car" collection around that time and I spent ages even when I was probably only 6 or 7 thinking to myself how I would fly to Japan and drive one home as you do. I have a ton of reasons that the Impreza holds a special place in my heart from being this car of the moment right as I was becoming aware of and into cars and it's great to see one coming back to life.

[@nickmattock1303]

Another great video! These barn finds just keep on coming. Sure I’m not alone in saying nothing on TV matches your no nonsense quality material!!!!! Thanks mate

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Thank you so much, that is praise indeed. Remember to keep tuned to TLBS this Barn Find Feb as we'll be giving away one of the cars.

[@mlgboy1]

Jill's reaction and excitement was so wonderful to see and to have that love and passion for a such a great looking car, that clearly means so much to her, really warmed my heart. I hope the car is brought back to its best forJill to enjoy again. Keep bringing us video's like this one Jonny, with wonderful human stories.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Couldn't agree more! Glad you enjoyed this episode.

[@tomhighton120]

Love these old Impreza at the time we didn’t realise how much personality they had with that unique sound. For 1/3 the price of an escort cos worth what’s not to love

[@emmajg28]

Always love this car, the sound, the joys of watching them rally, pure classic.

[@martinmalone6324]

Still got mine 21 years and counting wouldn't part with for the world, seems like I've spent millions on it, parked mine up for 6 years couldn't afford to drive it, did up 5 years ago, still going strong 165k miles, greatest car ever made in my opinion, just wished they didn't rust, and rust and rust. best episode to date lol.

[@orbitaljunkie]

It's so, so cool to see a whole family into cars - cool cars especially, and it doesn't get much cooler than a 90s icon.

[@anthonyhawkins9239]

That was wonderful to see her enthusiasm for this car 🤓, that’s what cars do to us 🤓, nice one 👍🏻

[@brokensmilephoto]

Imagine spotting that car on your drive, and trying to catch up to it. Finally, you manage to navigate traffic and get near it at a red light. As you pull up to see the driver, there she is, sitting behind the wheel. Honestly, who'd going to expect that? Love it!

[@JacobTab_S7_Plus-sg4ju]

I would never forget if my Mother in law had a Sub like this, Then again I'm a mecanic, we drive a Subaru legacy 2.5 GT and my parentes have a Forrester XT 2.0 Turbo.😂 You can't crank the engine because of the stat of the t-belt you cut in worst case blow the engine. GREAT CARS this Sub.🎉

[@briancunningham1975]

Superb episode , I came up trumps ! Reminds me of my old Wrx M605YSG , it probably died many yrs ago , good to see this 1 being saved and what a fantastic owner

[@nickmoore2301]

What a lovely lady, wishing her all the best ❤

[@BarryRudge]

I agree draughty barns means good air circulation and no damp, and bonnet up to deter rodents an excellent idea.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Rodents are bad news, so deterring the at all costs is the key.

[@g.williamswilliams8442]

Great video. Lovely car, I do hope its survives for years to come. P.s. Mother was an absolutely super cool lady. Cheers

[@rustybearden1800]

My first car that I bought and paid for was a 1982 Subaru GL10 wagon, fully optioned (with the "cyclops" center headlight, 4 speed stick and 68hp) - it started my love affair for Subie's, station wagons, and 4x4s - still love a Subaru to this day - quite partial to the mid 90s Legacy Outback wagons. Gotta love a Subie - thanks, Jonny!

[@CountryBoyNH8340]

What a great & wholesome episode Jonny just fantastic.

[@AndrewMalley-y6h]

I have a GB270 Halkeye I put in the garage in late 2019. I will have to get it out and sort it before u come knocking on my door 😂😂😂 great episode 👍

[@ManilvaRS]

What a delight to see its owner beaming from ear to ear. I had a 97 STI from Japan with a few tweaks and despite owning some fruity cars since it’s the one I miss the most (not sure my neighbours would agree).

[@Turdzi]

I had one of those back in the day. 1999 mica blue with gold wheels. It was a EU car GT Turbo. Got a tune after a while and RA diffs and gearbox and I regret every single day that I sold it. One of the best cars I've ever had.

[@johndavey72]

Hi Jonny . Drove one of these when they first came on the market , took my girls out for a drive in one ........They howled with delight ! Only 210 bhp but what a hoot ! I also had access to the Ford Sierra 4x4 . At the time only 2.8 V6 but it drove like a tractor compared to this sophisicated machine . Thanks Jonny

[@S-T-E-V-E]

Anybody that's had a Scooby STI has a soft spot for them! I still remember my 330s with rose tinted Specs!

[@rotorhead5006]

Good work, Jonny! I had an 06 MY Impreza Spec D, the first year with the 2.5. With the Prodrive pack. One of the few cars I ever bought "new" (although it was pre-reg) and it was huge fun. As others have said, light, nimble... seemingly unphased, whatever the weather! Hope it's up & running soon and the good lady can enjoy it once more.

[@Massimilianop]

She is the coolest grandma in town! Great episode Jonny!

[@paultucker1272]

What a lovely lady. I hope she's behind the wheel again very soon!

[@wightangel]

Absolutely brilliant work as we have come to expect from this channel. Thank you.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Our pleasure. Thank you so much

[@Paul-Genge]

Easiest days work Jonny has ever done. Quick wash and away we go. Best Wishes to Jill, hope she is on the road to recovery, and fast in her Subaru!

[@drewsterwa]

I tried WORX a while ago but these days I only use Makita, absolutely night and day. Makita are, without doubt, the finest cordless tools on the planet.

[@01FozzyS]

Such a cool MiL! Totally a Subie fan. And what a cool car to own too. Would love to see the outcome of this car.

[@filiannuzzi5871]

Thanks, Jonny.. Sunday barn find time. 😊 . Brilliant.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@iurybonamicifredducci3076]

Love the Impreza...and the ID Buzz too ❤

[@Laundry_Hamper]

A second-hand Impreza in silver was the first car I ever bought...in Gran Turismo 4 on the PS2.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Of course, one of the OG Gran Turismo cars!

[@michaellee3310]

Sold my turbo 2000 a couple years ago watching this makes me miss it

[@williamraysmith95]

Lovely cars, love the TSW alloys very period correct never mind actually suiting the car. Another cracking video Jonny keep them coming!!

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Glad you enjoyed it. Yeah, the rims were particularly early 2000s.

[@ChrisGillooly]

What a lovely ep. and a very cool mum, I know my mum would have loved a car like that. Hope that they can get it back onto the road this summer.

[@Prodriver33]

Crank sensor is right under the alternator, easy peasy.

[@gerrycarmichael1391]

The 2 litre engine (ie 2000) was much more robust than the 2.5 because all the did to get the extra displacement was to bore it over which weakened the cylinder walls just enough to cause them to move microscopically which would wear down the notoriously bad gen 1/gen 2 head gaskets. It took subaru a long time to develop an MLM gaskets that would stand up to being boosted.

[@PaulBoland-t1w]

My god bless his mother inlaw my he protect her and her car! Love the show Jonny!

[@johnnysmith863]

What a nice lady. I've really warmed to the OG shape Impreza Turbos. I quite fancy adding one, or maybe a Celica GT4, to my humble fleet.

[@davidgerrard8661]

What a great mother in law 😊

[@kramnam4716]

I had a V reg loved it. Original wheels really suit them and bit smaller than those ones

[@MrMikeyc10]

I had an RB5. Loved it. Always have loved the impreza.

[@adamtoms2726]

Nicely done as always. I hope the owner gets to enjoy it very soon.

[@casualchap86]

This brought back memories for me as my first Impreza was the T2000 model on a T plate almost the exact same colour aswell. I hope the Scoob is on the road sooner than later 😃😃

[@my4cars528]

Another great one Jonny and crew!!

[@Prodriver33]

OH BABY!!! My absolute favourite Subaru sedan/ coupe (both door counts are good for me) favourite Subaru wagon is the first gen outback (legacy) wagon, I’ve owned over a dozen 97-99 outbacks with the amazing EJ25D and 5spd.

[@russellmalone3532]

Time warp. I’ve never had one but several of my friends used to have them. One was so stripped out for weight loss and bigger turbo injectors water spray for turbo. It was savage but you couldn’t enjoy a long journey in it as it had no sound deadening. It was massively fast ❤

[@Prodriver33]

I bet it didn’t last long lol.

[@H.T.S]

I am LOVING this episode 🥰

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

👍🏽🍺

[@andrewbarnard6935]

Looks a nice one, glad they are getting it back out

[@peterward3965]

The noise she made, / the noise the car made 😅 luv it.

[@robinhadley]

Love my UK2000 So basic and easy on the eye. Cant go wrong with 90s cars.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Do you know how many UK 2000 cars are left?

[@neilwalton7955]

I’ve owned 2 of these Turbo 2000’s. Loved them and looking back I probably should have kept them.

[@ciarand2823]

Had a year 2000 uk turbo back in 2014 and i could fit my fist through the holes in my rear strut towers, they were brilliant but they weren't built to last.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

No anti corrosion protection - that was the issue.

[@mikethomas2138]

Great car, great mother in law 👍

[@jeremiahsherman1190]

Please if you can do a where are they now video you kind of have us fall in love with these cars and then we never see them again 😀

[@Prodriver33]

As someone from minnesnowta I’ve never seen a Subaru of that generation without rust. It’s just normal.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Sadly they were never corrosion treated from the factory, and so few people coated them with protection when new, hence the lack of survivors. It's a shame, especially as it's a cheap and easy job.

[@djcrossie]

I'd love to visit the area where that farm is in a few months time. I bet you'd just hear a burbling boxer blasting round those lanes. A lady driving with a smile from ear to ear as she hammered it from corner to corner 😂

[@dct1]

Car looks great, hopefully see it back on the road! What snow foam lance was being used?

[@brucew1956]

Had two of them. One in that exact colour, right machine 👍🏼😀

[@stargavstar]

Got to love a scooby only thing i dislike about them is the amount of the 5 speed gearboxes i've helped my dad rebuild over the years!!! haha

[@emzy415]

Awesome Beach Buggy's...my mate had had one when we were 16 in NZ went everywhere in it...winter included!

[@stevenmanning6884]

Brilliant as always

[@jonathankay8674]

Good honest car

[@gavinsheehan531]

Getting flashbacks from the 90's with R555FEL hammering down the irish rally stages in Bertie Fishers hands when I see a silver impreza.

[@chriswilkinson1991]

What a cool lady, I hope she enjoys the Scooby for many years to come

[@Ewanm9389]

Very much yes! Love this

[@-ye8em]

Fantastic to see, miss my prodrive 54 plate was amazing .. thumbs 👍 up allround.

[@andyreact]

I had an estate of this shape Impreza, the boot was very small, it was a 1.8 N/A so very slow and crap on fuel! 😅 As with most people who own a Subaru, you always want another, so a few years later I had a Legacy Spec B estate, that was a great car! 👍 3 litre flat 6 with a 6 speed manual! 👌

[@ade-1772]

Nice scooby jonny and she cleaned up nice just need that back arch doing and she’s good and like you said brakes and service

[@_Cads]

Was so hoping it’d be an Impreza and the best shape too. Had a UK Turbo 2000 for a good few years, my dad bought it new as a retirement present to himself, the only car I’ve sold I still look for. 😢

[@DeanVRS20VT]

Been waiting for the episode to drop!!!!!!

[@cruachan1191]

They were very much an "if you know you know" car originally, I remember my sister who isn't in to cars at all laughing at the size of the spoiler on one and saying "who puts a spoiler like that on a car like that?" I live in Lanarkshire in Scotland and they were hugely popular around here for obvious reasons, for a long time the McRae WRC car was on display at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow.

[@nurburgringobsessed5722]

I’ve probably had 20 scoobys in my time from uk turbo 2000 to type R’s to spec c.. also ran the biggest club in the southwest at one point and there’s definitely something about them!! Ive met life long friends just because of a car I’ve owned… I thought my scooby days were over until I seen this, now I’m looking again 🤣🤣🤣 dam you Jonny 🤣🤣

[@hairycornflake8580]

Had a gc8 sti type ra. Was raw as they come