Not a thing.
This is my frist car and so far I love it. I am only 16 so it's a good car. Everything in it works, including the power windows and the A/C. For being a 1993 and having 89,000 miles, that is good. No rust and nothing else bad with it. The car handles good off road. I have had the car for only a little while.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 8th May, 2006
It just keeps ticking, Literally
Leaks oil, don't really need to do oil changes.
Ticks and rattles when accelerating.
Exhaust leaks at engine.
Automatic trans revs high at highway speeds. Blows a big puff of smoke roughly every 1000km for no apparent reason.
Engine light has been on since I bought the tank.
Alternator replaced at 215000km.
I have owned a lot of cars, I have never had one with this many problems and still just keeps going without complaint.
I bought the car as a second "grocery" car in aid to running the tires off our 2000 Honda civic. 800 bucks and a windshield later I was on the road. I didn't expect the car to make it this far, I must admit it has grown on me to a point I want to find another just like it, but new!
The transmission is an animal like no other. The fact it runs at 4200 rpm at 120km per hour is outrageous, and the dealer says that's normal?, well after a year of driving I can say they are right.
I am in the market for another!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 21st November, 2005
If I could find a good used one with low miles or a new engine, I'd buy it
1. Nothing except regular wear and tear.
1. Extremely reliable.
2. Extremely underpowered.
3. Extremely good gas mileage.
4. This basic wagon is very underpowered, but it delivered 37 mpg on a cross country trip and averaged 25 mpg in town.
5. Handling was acceptable.
6. One of the best dashboards ever designed. A large flat area for a cup of coffee and all the controls except the radio are at your fingertips.
7. The only negative is that they are no longer made, so finding parts at the local wrecking yard, which is where mine ended up after a crash, is difficult.
8. My first clutch replacement was at 145,000 miles, first brake replacement at 155,000 miles.
9. Drives in snow better than an SUV.
10. The push button four wheel drive feature is more acceptable to me than the modern all wheel drive systems that do it for you.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 29th May, 2005
Built like a tank and about as fast as one
Right front wheel bearing went at 163,000.
Left front CV started clicking at 164,000.
Pros:
Terribly reliable and unbreakable.
Cheap parts.
Easy to work on.
Lots of features for a cheap car.
4WD = unstoppable.
Built like a tank.
Tons of room in such a small vehicle.
Cons:
It's certainly not pretty.
90 HP and 101 TQ means you can't be in a hurry to go anywhere.
Thin sheetmetal, so it dents easily.
The seats kinda hurt my back.
Keep on top of the radiator - these things like to get hot if the radiator gets plugged, and the heads will warp or the headgasket will go if its overheated.
Noisy interior! The lack of sound deadening and bracing on the roof make it sound like a tin can inside.
Gas mileage seems to get worse with age. Mine's down to the low twenties, but mine's not stock either.
Lack of the dual-range transmissions that came on earlier models is no good.
Notes:
My Loyale is not a stock vehicle, and I push it a lot harder than it was supposed to go. I run oversize wheels and tires and I seriously tax the electrical system with the amount of lighting I run. Luckily, the alternator hasn't given up the ghost yet. But I've beat the crap out of this thing and it keeps coming back for more. I've also owned a '92 which was equally tough, until it was stolen.
All in all, these old Subarus are tough as nails and will run forever if they're taken care of. They're certainly neither pretty nor fast, and you're not going to get a whole lot of attention from the opposite sex with one, but if you're looking for reliable, cheap transportation that you can beat the hell out of, the EA82 Subaru (that's the '85-'94 DL, GL, GL-10, and Loyale) is a great choice.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 24th April, 2005
25th Jul 2006, 18:42
Dear... Let me explain why that Loyale engine ticks too much:
The EA82 Engine, is one state of the art engine, that never needs to calibrate its valves, due to the use of hydraulic lifters, but with time, the engine´s oil pump, loses its ability to pump with strength, so the hydraulic lifters become noisy...
The medicine to this is too easy & cheap: Just change the oil pump core. Buy the "Oil Pump Kit" at the dealer... that´s all.
A minor repair, considering that the oil pump is very easy to reach: it's located in front of the engine, just remove the left timing belt cover.
Due to the fact the the EA82 uses two timing belts, that need to be replaced at at least 60,000 KMS... I strongly suggest to change them along with the oil pump kit, and your car will become as quiet as new.
I am mechanic, working since 1985 on Subies, so I really know what I'm talking about... So change that and you´ll love to keep the car.
Good luck! :)