Please share your thoughts on the best year of EA82. I like the 86 but 87 seems like the best. All the Loyale are good but seem to basic. I am looking for a good Turbo GL Wagon. I want to get a year worth fixing up and for longevity. Thanks

If you are simply referring to the motor (EA82) There isn't really a lot of difference from 85-94

 

There are 3 differen fuel systems:

 

Carb - 85-87

MPFI/turbo - 85-91 (with Vane MAF 85-86 and hotwire 87-91)

SPFI 86-94

 

There are also different genrations of heads (my knowledge here is only turbo specific)

 

Aside from that, they are pretty much the same.

 

My favorite thus far is my 87. Hotwire MPFI turbo. WRX IC. TD04 Turbo. Carb block (9.0:1 CR) And a whole bunch of other suspension/other stuff:D

Late 80's

 

SPFI is good enough for basic driving and simple,simple,simple!!!!!

 

My '89 touring wagon is our family truck.It just won't die,much like the Subarus of the 70's when things were simple,simple,simple......

The ea-82 body style is my favorite soob. My favorite year would be 88-89. I like the green dash lights and the redesigned steering wheel for 88 in the GL's. And you can't go wrong with FI. Funny thing is I have never owned a 88 or 89. Just 85, 86, 87 and 91. Go figure! I have 3 85's and 86's right now and I don't like the front bumper look at all. ick! Subaru really cleaned it up in 87. Oh and in 89 the touring wagon was available! Love that bubble roof! And your right the Loyales are just a DL with power windows and locks and composite headlights.

 

As for longevity in the turbo... stay away from the auto's. My 87 was a turbo auto and it just loved to eat transmissions. When it was stolen from me it had 200k miles and I never touched the engine.

88 XT got upper 30's mpg highway, best was a 40 mpg straight highway trip. i got 500 miles per tank highway driving, that was super nice. i got it in 91 so it ran quite nice for a 4 cyilnder NA. that was a manual trans, i'm seeing the auto's don't get as good mileage since i've been looking up mileages using the search function. looking to pick another one up as a highway driver.

The late 80s GLs and GL-10s were by far the nicest of the bunch. I've had two Loyales, and they're fine, but the D/R and nicer interior of the GL is far better.

Well i must say.....

my "EX" 87'DL,at,p/b,4x4 3dr..(now living in canada.with steve-o)

that was the best used roo i ever had.....owned it for over 3 yrs put over 100k on that ea82....

its still running right Steve?.................Steve? oh Steveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee:lol:

 

Spark