Have you ever had a car in your life that you know is not all that great, but you still can’t quite avert your eyes from it? That’s how I feel about the Subaru XT. I owned one of these cars in the elusive combination of the flat-six engine with a 5-speed stick, and it was thoroughly underwhelming. However, there was something so captivating about that goofy “wedge” shape that I just can’t stop finding them fun to look at. It’s probably why I also like the blasted TVR 280i that Barn Finds reader Chuck Foster keeps sending me. Find this donated turbocharged XT here on eBay with bids to $260.
As a donation car, there’s no reserve, and of course, very little info. The XT was Subaru’s attempt to build a car that went beyond simply being a cheap 4WD runabout. All of the Japanese makers were experimenting at this point in time, trying to break out of their niche of simply building affordable, reliable cars. While sales indicated American consumers appreciated them for making ordinary vehicles that delivered extraordinary reliability, it was time to break into other markets where car shoppers would spend more money based on looks alone. In terms of being futuristic and sporty, the XT delivered.
The interior was your single best argument for evidence of Subaru being tired of its reputation for building a 4WD station wagon. The checkerboard seats, floating steering-wheel controls, digital gauge cluster, pistol-grip shifter, and angular dashboard treatment were downright mind-blowing for the era, especially for a Subaru. A wonky air suspension rounded out the whiz-bang features, but as I learned the hard way, there’s no modern retrofit for the elaborate shock absorbers when they inevitably go bad.
The EA82T engine is a 1.8L turbocharged mill that generates around 111 horsepower and 134 lb.-ft. of torque. While the XT6 is more powerful, I’ll tell you something cool about the turbocharged model: it sounds like a WRX. That’s right – it has the conventional Subaru “warble” that sounds even better with unequal length headers. One of my greatest disappointments with my XT6 (and there were many) was the fact that it didn’t sound like a Subaru. This turbocharged project car is a big gamble, but at the current bid, it’s worthy of a revival attempt.
Given the bid is $260 and there is only a day left, someone may just get a real deal. Don’t know much about the shocks you mention. Is there nothing available from the likes of Rock Auto, etc.?
I’d buy it instantly if it was a 4WD. Not because I think I could get it running but for the pure nostalgia factor – my first new car was a dark blue ‘87 XT 4WD Turbo and those are some *very* fond memories.
This is a FWD model, not 4WD. The 4WDs were not only prominently badged (next to the “Turbo” markings on the trunk and door panels) but were “on demand” 4WD so they had a big orange button at the top of the gearshift to activate the 4WD. I had one and it was an absolute blast of a car.
Does this a running cat
Remember the commercial for these? A young man is shopping for his first car. A grizzled old farmer tells his driving age son: “If you want my advice, I’d buy a Subaru!” Cut to Sonny Boy flying up the dirt driveway in one of these, wearing sunglasses and driving gloves. He steps out of the car, when Dad exclaims: “I thought we’d agreed, you’d buy a Subaru!” Sonny Boy replies: “But Dad! I did!” Farmer Dad, amazed, starts looking around Sonny Boy’s brand new car! Here’s link to the commercial on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/FdRWlRR4jgk?si=mPUt9CB_TgJS3I6S
Note the slot windows in the door glass in the commercial, since the side windows didn’t roll down!
My bad, I was thinking about the Subaru SVX instead, not the XT for sale in this post. Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa! See link to the SVX below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_SVX
Great ad but not seeing what you mean by “slot windows” there? The side windows in the doors can fully roll down on the XT. You may be thinking of its successor the Subaru SVX, which had a “window within a window” where only the inner window rolled down.
See my apology above, as I realized my mistake later! I apologize unreservedly! See link below.
https://youtu.be/lwfuUyTMpVY?si=3GU_yg1l2UFnvapw
Is this a running car
They don’t have keys for the car so they can’t start it.
Steve R
Up to $3200 with 5 hours to go, always liked these cars, but my wedge was a 1980 TR7 convertible, was very peppy, had a shaved head and valve job that perked it up.
Sold on 6/26/2026 for a high bid of $250.
There were 2 bids, plus 2 other bids which were retracted at the last minute, one for $3,150, the other for $3,880. It looks like a couple of people were looking to rig the bidding, the retracted the bids last minute to dissuade potential buyers.
Steve R
Although I was still too young at the time to drive a car, I remember these Subaru ads. “Inexpensive, and built to stay that way.” I love this ad for the XT model. I thought it was Subaru’s best looking car at the time. I’d buy one if I could find one in well-maintained and driveable condition. Never mind mileage, what matters is its condition.