I also miss my old '87 RX Turbo. It had a 5spd, dual range stick and a diff lock and I once floated it across a mud lake about 125 feet and I don't believe the tires were touching anything but muddy water, although I hit it at 30mph - lol. That was definitely the most fun vehicle I ever owned, putting the Porsche in 2nd place.
I prefer the dials over digital now too, but back in the 80's it was certainly a 'WOW' factor in the touring wagons. Most people had never seen digital display before (at least on cars they could afford).
Those digital display developed heaps of dry joints and became unreliable, I had a dial skuby however the speedo needle bent with the heat on summer hAHA
I had 2 1800 4wd hatchback versions of those in this video. First one was that orangey red just like the one in this video and a black one. Wish I had still got one now. When I walk in the area where I used to take them off road (where colliery and spoil heaps used to be-now grown over with bushes etc) I am amazed to think back how I used to be "ranging" all over the slopes, figure of eight turns, stopping on steep bits and getting away again, its a wonder they didnt tip over! Great little car!
@Seattlecarnut Thanks, Yep the subies have a great reputation in Australia and they really brought a comfort to 4wd'ing that was lacking in those days.
I guess the full time 4wd they used in rallying made its way across the vehicle range. Along with that a time came when Subaru (in Australia at least) didn't seem keen on having their cars portraying the 4WD image. They wanted the AWD image of icy roads and snow rather than the dune and mud driving. They heavily sponsored events and teams involved in snow sports here for a long time.
I think this is a remarkably honest video for the 1983 Australian market, explaining four wheel drive to people who are usually stuck way before they get to a creek, and I think it clearly demonstrates what it can do, and more importantly, what it can't. The narrator says creeks with visible rocks are unlikely to get Subarus stuck, Can't see the rocks? This is what happens, and don't be surprised if you drown the engine or fry the electrics. He was surprised that neither occurred, and required another 4WD to pull and four hairless men to push him back out of what the vehicle couldn't do.
I remember when Subaru cars were available with part-time 4wd. Why did Subaru switch to full-time AWD? I like to have some control over what my car does.
it may have been to keep accidental low range engagement.but there not truely a full time AWD until a wheel slips and then the car shift it to full power
Id imagine when they went to the ej it just wasnt needed. The old ones were awd with disconnect for hard surfaces because it had no slip in the transmission and it would damage the drive train above 60km/hr if i remember correctly. With open diffs and an open centre on the ej cars there was no reason to have the complexity of the disconnect when you can just leave the system be and market it as a safety feature. After that there was just no reason to bring it back, it doesnt really give controll since it was to handy cap the awd not improve the fwd if that makes sense, it was just a handycap that had to be there and now it doesnt.
Sorry to correct you but the outback is a totally different car to the liberty. We have both in Australia. Currently we have... Outback, Forester, Liberty, Impreza, Tribeca, XV, and soon the new BRZ. Im with Taza, i wish they kept the real 4wd, as aposed to the AWD. Cheers BK
In doing research to rebuild my 82 Brumby, I stumbled across this....great historical account, but hysterical subtitles - activate the sub-titles and revel in the "pismonunciation" - brilliant...!!!
Yes same setup. All subarus have boxer engines. There are only 2 or 3 different drivline setups. Then the difference is what body they put on it, and what engine they bolt on. And then the STi is obviously different. (6 Speed) Not Tasmania (Well done BTW) South Australia.
The car would have to be rugged in order to withstand Australia's roads, particularly in the outback country. Hopefully Subarus are like that. If only our American (yank) cars were built that way.
@@scottdilks5918 That's good. If only our American cars were tested, designed, and built like that. Even here in the USA, we have roads that have potholes, gravel, imperfections that would vibrate and possibly tear a car apart if it weren't built strong enough to withstand it.
i know right! :) funny as, I actually have a 1994 model of one of these, everyone knows they are pretty good for what they are, but if you wanna drive them up to the windows in water and stuff like that you will need to get a snorkel and diff locks. Funny how he doesn't know what he is on about with the "running out of fuel" thing. It happened to me the other day, right after I stormed through a puddle, its because the air intake is low next to the wheel. ha His air filter got wet.
It was vacuum fluorescent just like all the Audio video equipment however it was unreliable (in Australia summer heat poor solder) developed dry solder joints I showed a mechanic how to fix one once
Very good car. Without a doubt. Perhaps the best Japanese car., But they have always problems of Axial screw.'s Plenty of money to fix. Every year the same..
Evan Green Wanker! 10:45 "other things still working water above my waste" Those electric windows wont keep working once the water in them turns to rust! Good video but! Loved My Suby
