hilux_1990 Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 Hello everyone. I just signed up to this forum today and it's my first post... hopefully someone may be able to help with some purchasing advice. I did some searches but couldn't find anything about buying a used vehicle. I appreciate anyone reading this longish post :-) I've had a 1983 Subaru 1800 touring wagon for about 6 years now. It's been 'everywhere', even half way around Australia. Unfortunately it had an untimely meeting with a tree and suspension/steering damage plus radiator support damage means it will be a definate insurance write-off. :boohoo: Time prevents me restoring this one myself. Having decided to end this particular chapter of my life I am now looking for a similar vehicle. Ideally it would be great to pick up an 1983/84 4wd wagon but unfortunately most are going to be pretty tired by now. To be brutal about my own 83 wagon, the interior was tired, it was on its 2nd engine, it needed carby work, possible exhaust work... A Subaru mechanic has told me the 1985/86/87 Subaru wagons are supposedly 'gutless' in the performance department, so I don't really know what that means? I have decided that looking for a vehicle that is 6 years newer would be a better idea, meaning a 1988/89 thru to around 1993 4wd wagon. It would be great to find one with some goodies like bullbar/nudgebar, sunraysia wheels, lift kit (I had none of these on mine) but this may mean the vehicle has been off road. I don't really know what was available in terms of models/engines, but I need a 4wd and it must be a wagon. If anyone has any thoughts on buying such a vehicle it would be a great help? Thanks in advance, David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushbasher Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 I think your mechanic refers to the 85-87's as being gutless, because most of them are carbbed. I'm not sure when the transfer over to fuel injection was. From 1989?-1990 they switched over to pushbutton single range 4wd. If you do alot of 4x4ing you want to get a dual range 5spd car. Your ideal car would be spfi (single point fuel injection) with dual range, somewhere in the 87-89 range. If your car is a daily driver with very occasional use of 4wd, go for an '89+car with single range, but spfi. That' what I would do. Turbowagons are neat too though, if you see one I would look into it. Way faster and usually have full time 4wd, so you can use 4wd on the street. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilux_1990 Posted September 12, 2003 Author Share Posted September 12, 2003 bushbasher: thanks for your reply. I got my current 1983 wagon in 1997, and I vaguely remember someone saying the 85-87 models were a step down from the 83 I was looking at. Sometimes, in passing, people make similar comments about those models but don't say why *shrugs* According to the Australian RedBook there was a 1.8i engine in the 88-90 wagons - is that the fuel injected engine? I definately need dual range 4wd - was the 89 wagon the absolute last to have dual range? I assume the the full-time 4wd wagons (or AWD) wouldn't have a dual range transmission... Hopefully I haven't bombarded you with toooo many questions... I've been searching the Internet all day for information but there doesn't seem to be a definitive guide to the different wagon models Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueTrain Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 try this site..it has a decent list of specs on different models http://www.cars101.com/oldsubaru.html cheers.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calebz Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 Something to remember is that most of the info you will find here comes from US sources.. OZ works on a little different schedule(anyone remember the OZ 1984 EA82 RX?) For the US 85-86 all were carb'd except the turbos. Wagon and sedan used EA82, Hatch and Brat(brumby) used EA81 87- introduced the SPFI, still some carb'd 88(EA82 cars)-No more carbs. all are SPFI, MPFI and turbo.. I really don't know the specs of the EA81 cars too well.. besides you guys in OZ had the brumby until 94(?) ....Also, 88 was the last year for th D/R 5 spd tranny As far as the rest of the trannies go, I don't know what years they made what, exactly.. I do know the Pushbutton Single range 5 spd 4wd in my 87 is originally from an 86. Robs 86 turbowagon also has this tranny in it stock.. so they are not just in the 89+ cars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thealleyboy Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 David: The comments above are all good ones. I'm assuming that you have the same models and trim lines as the US market. If this is not the case, some of this information may not be accurate. My 2 cents: If you don't like to wrench, the 88-94's (fuel injected) are good choices, with the 88-89's being the best of the lot. GL's are much nicer cars than the Loyales, with a lot more standard equipment. Of course, your chances of finding a decent EA82 era Sube will probably be better with the Loys. I agree and disagree with what your mechanic says about the 85-87's. No doubt that they are "dogs" with the Hitatchi (especially A/T's). But I would say that they are potentially some of the best prospects if you are willing to do modifications. The fact that they are carbed, (less sophisticated than latter models) opens up all kinds of possibilities. In my mind, the Turbos are a whole different animal, and probably more suited to 2wd anyway. But if you can find a 4wd Turbo wagon with a D/R, forget all the rest of this advice - buy it on the spot!! good luck, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilux_1990 Posted September 15, 2003 Author Share Posted September 15, 2003 Thanks for all your replies everyone. I've been busy researching during the weekend so you might be interested to know what I have discovered about the different models. 85-86 all were carb'd except the turbos. Wagon and sedan used EA82, Hatch and Brat(brumby) used EA81 Apparently Australia got NO turbo L-series vehicles. Any EA82-T engine that is in Australia will have been imported from Japan. 87- introduced the SPFI, still some carb'd I can't remember that exact months, but late 88 to early 1990 was the ONLY period the Australian L-series vehicles were fuel injected. Essentially though around half the 1989 wagons here will have Multi-Point Fuel Injection, the rest have a carby. This also means EA82-E engines are hard to find at wreckers and replacements are also often imported from Japan. 88(EA82 cars)-No more carbs. all are SPFI, MPFI and turbo.. I really don't know the specs of the EA81 cars too well.. besides you guys in OZ had the brumby until 94(?) As mentioned, 1989 was the only year for fuel injection. No turbos at all. The Touring Wagon or GL model (top of the line model) unfortunately ended in 1989! this was the year they brought out the Liberty wagon as a replacement. The GL model or Sportswagon (sports = bumper and roof racks) was the cheapo line which went through till 94/95. As you say, I believe the Brumby went until about 94/95 too. ....Also, 88 was the last year for th D/R 5 spd tranny All 4WD Touring Wagons and Sportswagons here have a dual range tranny. The automatic models unfortunately have pushbutton 4WD which is only single range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilux_1990 Posted September 15, 2003 Author Share Posted September 15, 2003 thealleyboy: I'm assuming that you have the same models and trim lines as the US market. If this is not the case, some of this information may not be accurate. The Touring Wagon (sometimes called GL model) was the top-of-the-line model. Electric everything, everything standard, nice interior.... they also had the high roof with the "touring wagon" decals. Unfortunately the DL model, due to our ailing economy at the time, looks rather 'cheap' by comparison. Vinyl floors - no carpet. Speedo but no tachometer. No electrics, manual everything... No power steering. Single radio speaker in dash, no 4 speaker luxury. Cloth seats, no velour. Subaru Australia also brought out a sports pack (or 'sportswagon') which simply comprised of a brushguard, towbar, roof racks, sunraysia wheels and fancy decals. ...the 88/89's being the best of the lot. Why do you say this? what about the 90-93 models? I agree and disagree with what your mechanic says about the 85-87's... I think this mechanic guy was comparing the models that had the EA82 engine with the older EA81 models. I would assume the newer engine brings more power. I have 'test driven' both some standard EA82's and one MPFI EA82-E vehicle and let me just say the fuel injected model definately has some grunt to it. Unless I was daydreaming I'm pretty sure I could hear the engine sucking in through the air intake as I took her past 4000rpms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilux_1990 Posted September 15, 2003 Author Share Posted September 15, 2003 In my mind, the Turbos are a whole different animal, and probably more suited to 2wd anyway. But if you can find a 4wd Turbo wagon with a D/R, forget all the rest of this advice - buy it on the spot!! I thought this warranted a separate post... check this out: 1992 Subaru L Series Turbo Wagon 1.8 Litre Fuel Injected DOHC Turbo dual range 4WD programmable engine management Turbosmart BOV turbo timer boost guage filter, sports wheel, sound system, 3inch exhaust remote keyless entry with alarm & immobiliser air conditioning, sola roof racks, towbar Apparently no body rust, although vehicle is currently on the coast of Tasmania (ya know, that little island territory! ) Vehicle has done 200,000km plus BUT the previous owner was a Subaru mechanic who imported a turbo engine from Japan. Motor had 80,000km when dropped in, aparently done another 30-50,000km since, but there is obviously no way to check Most likely it's on the original tranny still too... Any thoughts?? thanks for anyone who read this far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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