1989 Subaru Loyale GL Turbo from North America - Comments

I purchased the vehicle from a large car lot. the vehicle was owned one time prior. it had only 95,000 original miles on everything original. I purchased the vehicle for 3,000 cash after talking them down from the 6,000 asking price. I owned the vehicle 7 months, it ran excellent until one winter morning the engine decided to blow up, the oil had been changed every 3,000 miles (4x total) and everything was cared for. Why did this car do me wrong? Nobody could tell me, some repair shops told me that the turbos tend to go bad after 100,000. Well that was obvious,I sold the car for $500 to a mechanic, anti-freeze and oil were pouring out the tail pipe when he drove it away, yes it still ran. it was still a beautiful car. It was my 19th birthday surprise, it didn't wait for my 20th to crap out !

The interior was very pleasing to the eye, and everything was arranged well.

The vehicle got excellent gas mileage, unbelievable in fact, over 40 mpg.

Everything worked inside and out the entire time, before the engine went bad.

The car never had any overheating or electrical problems.

I find 40mpg a bit hard to believe. I have a '92 with EA82/auto and it only gets 29-30. I am not sure 40mpg is possible with a manual.

But maybe I am wrong!

Sounds like you simply blew a head gasket, which is common with any make and model turbo vehicle.

I have an 88' and it still runs perfect after 180,000 miles!

I have a 1990 Loyale and it is ENTIRELY possible to achieve 40 MPG... when you cruise along back-roads at 55. I find that I get somewhere in the neighborhood of 20-25 on the Interstate. Just my two cents.

I have an 89 GL turbo wagon with 215,000 miles on it now, and it's probably the most reliable car I've ever owned (going on 5 years now). The turbo still runs great. I haven't ever heard the turbo model of this car being singled out as any less reliable than the non-turbos, except my mechanic once told me that people tend to drive them a little harder, which consequently burns out the engines faster.