Faults:

At 100,000 miles I changed the fan belt, otherwise the car only needed routine oil changes and tires.

The original battery lasted 8 years.

After about 9 years the rubber boots on the transaxles began to crack and leak, but they were about $80 each.

Never a bit of trouble with the engine, clutch, transfer case, suspension, etc. I drove this car under harsh conditions and it held up wonderfully.

The 13" wheels needed new tires every couple of years.

General Comments:

The 1.8 H-4 engine produced 73 hp. The car had a 4-speed manual. Handling was superb, the car was underpowered yet use of terrain and skillful driving made it competitive on the highway. Once it hit 4000 rpm you tried to keep it revving. Still had the original brakes when I sold it with 141K miles. Top speed 85 mph and averaged 27 mpg.

No power equipment of any kind. Full set of gauges.

The car performed well in any weather/road except on slush, or during high winds. The car weighed 2,200 lbs.

Faults:

Carb needed to be rebuilt at 207k.

Horn.

Radiator needed to be flushed, ran hot ever since I got it, but never overheated...

A/C doesn't work.

Car ticks (valve lash adjuster) is just Elmer's way of saying he loves me!

Right front axle is starting to go out.

General Comments:

I own a 1986 Subaru GL wagon 4x4 with dual range. It has over 210k miles, and I bought it last year for $300 from a guy off of Craigslist.

All manual options : steering, locks, windows, seat belts, yet was optioned with dual range, carburetor (as opposed to TBI), and it has A/C!

All I have had to do to it is (yet when I got it, it ran and drove perfectly):

1. Replaced fuel filter.

2. Replaced air filter.

3. Replaced distributor rotor and cap.

4. Replaced wires.

5. Oil change and Sea Foam.

6. Fixed horn.

7. Replaced headlights (old ones fogged and watered).

8. Bypassed the sensor for the electric radiator fan (never came on until it was rigged up to a switch and the battery).

9. Bumper (some jack money rigged up a hitch wrong, and yanked the bumper half off, so it was held on by bungee cord).

10. Soon it will need a routine brake job.

11. Wiper blade.

12. Low range 4wd indicator light.

13. Low fuel light/sending unit.

14. Car wash..

The car gets 25-30+ mpg, and can go anywhere. It gets me there and has NEVER let me down, even though it ticks like a Swiss watch.. Until the last 3 days.

It can keep up on the freeway, but passing can be exciting, given the 0-60 time is 15 seconds balls out, and pretty much on flat land. So crossing traffic requires finesse, timing and practice.

But the thing is I love my car. It has plenty of room, is extremely safe (I was at a wrecking yard, and 2 cars were stacked on a Subaru GL, and I could still open the doors and close them as if there wasn't 5 tons stacked on top of it!

Very unique, and it's one of the best cars ever made; if only it was a bit quicker.

I don't understand the people that think they need to spend over $3000-$5000 to get a decent car? And then the people that think 5 years is old, and 10 years old is an antique. The car is only as good as you treat it, that is if it was good in the first place...

Older cars have experience, and it's easier to do research and figure if they will be reliable or a never ending project from hell. You can't always know if a new car will be perfect, with recalls or glitches. Even with a Honda or my favorite manufacturer, Subaru, there are problems that can and will pop up, and would have already been replaced, fixed and done with, if it was an older model...