Like any toxic relationship, I have a weird obsession with the Subaru XT. As some of you long-timers may recall, I embarked on a project with the six-cylinder version of one of these wedge-coupes way back when, and immediately regretted my decision. This XT is the turbocharged version which sadly isn’t doing much driving these days due to the motor being bad. The seller notes it has a good body (don’t they all) and it’s listed here on craigslist for $1,500.
The XT I owned was an original owner car, which was where half of the motivation came from for buying it. I figured very few of these cars were left that hadn’t seen multiple owners, so I thought it was a good omen encouraging me to buy it. That’s about where any “good” signs ran out, as it quickly became apparent these were not terribly fun to drive and the lack of parts availability and/or dealer support made repairing one a small nightmare.
The problem was I couldn’t get over the looks and just how much “stuff” Subaru crammed into the package. For a company that was still quite humble in the 1980s, producing the XT was nothing short of a moonshot for Subaru. The space-age cockpit, checkerboard upholstery, turbocharged for flat-six powertrains, locking differentials, and obviously, all-wheel drive, made the wind-cheating coupe seem like a home run on paper. Sadly, reality was quite different.
There’s a small but loyal following for these cars, and I often wonder where mine ended up. I actually swapped the earlier-style rear bumper like this one onto my car which had the reverse lights integrated into the center tail light panel, partially because I went hog wild any time I found a decent parts car and raided it for every viable part it could offer. This XT will be a labor of love for the next owner, and while I wish them well, I also hope they spend their money on a more compelling driver’s car from the same time period.
The GL-10 was Subarus way of saying fully loaded with the digital dash and electronic shocks and air ride suspension. Ditch the original engine and install a EJ20T but then embark on a long journey of repairs and modifications. $1500 is actually a good price if it’s in nice condition body and interior wise. Not for me though. I had my experience with one earlier in my career and I was not fond of it.
I have had my fair share of hurdles with cars and professionals that know everything and this one gives me screen panic attack, you see i really love driving and these things suck up more shop time than road time …
I remember “sad” stories from owners of the Subaru back during those times. But things do change, we decided to follow a daughter’s recommendation on the Outback and purchased one in 2020… it’s a great vehicle … (so far)…
I remember these things on the road when I was a teenager, with Subaru still producing the boxer engine kinda makes me wonder if you could find a WRX or impreza from Copart for a parts car and get this back on the road with modern drive train
I may be mistaken but I don’t believe the 6 cylinder was ever turbo charged.
Yeah, I think that was a typo, should say “turbocharged or flat-six powertrains”, and of course they also offered a non-turbo flat-four in the early DL and GL specs, and in the continuing base-model XT after the flat-six equipped XT6 replaced the turbo GL-10 spec.
My one and (thankfully only) experience with Subaru XT was when I agreed to a co-worker’s offer to drive us to lunch to a “destination restaurant” in rural Tarrant County, TX in his new”ish” Subaru XT6. On the drive, it died…miles from anywhere…in mid July… in 90+ degree temps and high humidity. Cell phones were still an expensive novelty, so we got to walk…for miles…to a country service station where we were able to call a tow service. NEVER AGAIN. While I understand (and believe) that Subaru has upped it’s game substantially, I still can’t trust them.
We purchased our first Subaru, a 2020 Outback, and so far it has been a great performer. For our area, having an AWD is a good thing to have, and it rides pretty well for an SUV.
The goofy window arrangement was all I needed to see
Jay, I think you are referring to to SVX. Different car altogether.
Bought an 87 for $50 and trade for a front brake job on a Series 2 XJ6 Jag. Had to put the timing belt on (correctly – someone didn’t know how to set the cams). Had 55k on it when we got it in 97. Was oldest Daughters first car. She drove the livin crap out of it. Sold it for $400 with a little over 200k on it in 2010. Put 2 sets of head gaskets on it and thats it. Well…till the ECU died.
Had it been an 86, a new ECU would have been $136. Had it been a late 87 ECU would have been $88. BUT…because it was an early 87, the ECU was $1300 and at the time there were only 2 in the country. But dang that was a fun car to drive
IIRC these had an electric power steering pump with a special dealer-only fluid called Cybrid steering fluid. I’m sure it’s unobtainium now and there are no substitutes.
Jeff – If you ever get chance to drive an XT or XT6 that still has its pneumatic (air) suspension you might fall in love (again?).
No car is super fun to drive in sub-par condition, or base specs.
I’ve always had a crazy love for these myself. Take a plebian Subie and wrap it in space age futuristic 80s looking styling, and wah lah, an XT coupe. My first serious love in life had one given as a graduation gift. A DL model, it didn’t even have a back seat! just a padded shelf. If I remember correctly the bumper covers were black. Remember back then when Honda and other makers would cover your bumpers and doorhandles in black to remind you of your poverty grade trim level? Oh, and forget about having passenger side rear view door mirror unless you went big lux on the trim.