Jack in Norfolk

I realize that I will be outnumbered here, and also I admit that I am biased because the only subaru I have owned is an 86 GL, but I must disagree (in part). With the Legacy, (and its important to note that I was talking about the first, "pre Outback" cars) Subaru most certainly did not build on thier off road capability. The first legacy was a regression. I am not aware of any Legacy in the US that was offered with 4wd. They are all AWD. Also, Legacies here did not come with a Dual Range transmision if I am not mistaken. That set up (single range AWD) is far inferior, as far as off road capabilites than the dual range 4WD available on the earlier Subes. And even if the AWD without a low gear can pull you through some mud and snow, it is doubtfull if you will make it through with out busting up the plastic valance below the front or back bumper. Also, I thought that the turbo Legacy was only offered one year (again reffering to the pre-outback legacy). While an old legacy is quicker than most of the Boxy subarus I'm afraid that Legacies do in fact carry on the tradition of "sluggish acceleration". In high school I routinely blew the doors off of my friend's 91 Legacy in my Dad's Mazda mini-van. Now, my intention here was not to harp on what bad cars I think Legacies are, because I don't think that they are bad. The turbos are very cool and the fact that some of the cars were available with the pnuematic ride height adjustment is also cool (it would be cooler if those airbags weren't so expensive to fix; but this is certainly not a problem unique to the legacy). I was setting out to back up my first post that the early Legacies were Subaru's attempt to sell thier cars to mainstream buyers. The first Legacies looked like "normal" cars. Their rear ends do not stick up in the air like the old 4wd Subes. They are not boxy and quirky. They look like they could have been the love child of a Camary and an Accord. When this marketing attempt failed, they dressed up the Legacy to enhance its quirky, offroadable car lineage by doing things like putting big fog lights on the front, adding a bit of ground clearance and putting white letter tires on the cars to make them look more "rugged". This is the image that most people are buying when they buy Subarus now, but if you look back at the early 90s, this image was not being pushed. Even the Loyale, the last of the quirky traditional subes was toned down. No more white wagon wheels, instead, conservative hubcaps or stylish alloys. Again, this is just my relatively uninformed opinon. -Jack

Yeah I have noticed... uh, er ..um I mean heard that from uh.. people that read playboy or something.

Any pics of the brat shifter kart? I saw the two pics of your tires, but that was all I was able to find.

I'm a little late checking in here, but wow! What a beautiful find! Way to go!

Subaru tried this departure from thier core customers in the early 90s too with the advent of the first Legacy and Imprezzas. I believe there was a statement from SOA to the effect of "You can't out Camary toyota". It was only when they started the "outback" line that the sales of the newer subes took off. This proved that people (like me) who like the oddball cars that subaru builds are the ones that keep the lights on at SOA.

That would be awesome!

Are you still married to this woman? I hope that some counseling has been arranged if so .

sweet! I'll have to find a picture of my old wagon.

If you don't find a place to host them, one easy way to do it is to start or join a yahoo group, post your pics there, then link back to that url.

That sounds a lot more accurate than my attempt.

That is a killer site! Some very impressive cars. I was particularly surprised to see that they will be making a rally car available for rent next year!!?? Man I know how I drive normal rental cars on the road, I can't imagine what I might do if i got it on a rally course!! That poor GTI is going to be so dead by the end of the season.

really? a 2wd brat, that has got to be rare. I thought that brat stood for Bi Range All purpose Truck (or something to that effect) and so that the bi range (dual range) would correspond directly with a 4wd transmission. But now that you mention it, I think I might remember somone on this board from Florida with a 2wd gen 2 brat.

I don't know anything about that brat either. Have you got any more info or pics?

maybe contact this guy and see if he can do anything for you? http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=26603

Yeah, I have seen those too. Weren't all Brats 4wd? My old subie mechanic had an old gen 1 wagon that he had put a D/r in, and I think it had an ea81. It was 4wd, but I'm not sure if it came that way from the factory.

Go for it dude! I had 80 series tires on my stock subie rims when I had the wagon, but I had a different goal; ground clearance for the beach.

sounds awesome. Let me know how you do on that slow planning speed. I have two sailboats with planning hulls. I'd like to jump on a plane in less than 20 knts of wind. Ps if you change your mind about the "no photos until she's done" rule, I promise not to show anyone else.

What about the rear spoiler? was this part of a kit that was included w/ the front air dam? Was it available for sale by an aftermarket company or was it specially made for the QS?

Paul, sorry for jumping in late, but what have you got? What car has this motor? Just curious.

What was the first model and year that subaru offered 4wd? I remember a neighbor growing up whose parents had two old subaurs (pre 1980). One was front wheel drive and the other 4wd. You could tell because it said the words "front wehhl drive" in chrome on the fender (I think).

I didn't know if it was the first purpose built "sports" car by subaru. The only picture I have seen is of one prepared in racing decals.

What is (was?) and ff1? I saw a picture and have read the term a coule times. Did a search and came up with nada.

That seems reasonable. I think I paid about $35 for mine. Or, as I said before, you can go with the library option.

Was the ragtop somthing that was produced and sold in any volume in the aftermarket or was it unique to the QS car?

YA!!! indeed.