Jack in Norfolk

Shawn: email me in private. Jack.Herbert@noaa.gov

I was not on this board when the Baja was released so forgive me for bringing up something that has probably already been discussed. When i was last on the bored there was a rumor that Subaru might build the new brat. People were very excited about it and I think that a group of folks sent Subaru a letter expressing interest in the "new brat." I was just wondering what your reactions were to the new vehicle. I was a bit underwhelmed. It sucks that it only has a 4 cylander and that just like the outbacks, it has too much plastic where there should be metal. I still think the baja is kind of cool though. If there is an old thread discussing this, I would love to see it if someone could direct me. thanks, -Jack

I think I know the basics, but I was hoping you guys could tell me the right things to look for when giving this Brat the once over. There is some rust, but it appears to all be cosmetic. I stuck my head underneath and it looked pretty good. The guy said the cvs were good and it had new brakes and tires. If it says AC on the dash can you assume it has a compressor? I know that a lot of the older subes had the option of being equiped w/ AC after the purchase. Let me know. thanks, -Jack

$400 is what I was going to offer. I don't know what he expects. I figure I have a lot of work to day, body, paint, gas tank, who knows what else. He can always say no. Otherwise, shawn's is looking real, real good. I just dont have the time to go get it. -Jack

yours looks awesome. THis one is dark brown. I'll try to get some pictures up this week. -Jack

There is a brown brat 1985 that I found behind a dealership. The good points: It is a 4 speed t tops jump seats (in very bad shape). wagon wheels look good. interior is not too bad. body is fairly straight. not too much rust underneath. belongs to a subaru mechanic 120k says air conditioner on the dash board. dont know if it has one, or if it works. the rest: rust near wheel wells. 2 small rust holes in the hood (?) needs a gas tank, or needs this one cleaned out. mechanic says the engine runs great when you pour gas in it. did I mention its brown? um.... What do you think about the gas tank? Should i expect a bad fuel pump and bad fuel line too? Is this a big deal? Is it worth offering $400? Can I assume that it is dual range if it has a 4wd lever by the gear shift? I am going to talk to the guy this week. I just want to make sure I ask the right questions. thanks, -Jack

sounds great. keep us posted.

I work with a guy who used to be in the navy. He was in Japan for a couple years. He had a Skyline gtr (bastard). He told me that bit about yanking engines with 50k is bolanga. I have heard it too (actually I heard 30k). So it must have originated somewhere. Speaking of skylines, I saw one in Sitka when I was in Alaska this summer. Snowman- do you know what;s up? Is there some difference in laws that allows grey market cars? I heard that there was also an older WRX in town. You know, the cool looking ones before they got those goofy dodge neon headlights and that wierd hyundai trunk/reardecklid. These were coast guard guys that I was working with.

I'm right behind you. I have my eye on a couple subes right now. I'd like to have my grand cherokee replaced this week or next. I am ready to be through with the JEEP portion of my life:D

if i recall correctly, the one on ebay said it was done by a "coachbuilder" in Miami. It may have been that the car was from miami and the conversion had been done in LA for a dealer. I have seen a newer (86 or 87) four door sedan converted via sawzall in Jacksonville beach, FL. It looked really really bad.

Ok, I know they are all Japanese:drunk: but, I saw that a guy is selling a wagon with "used Japanese engine and tranny." I know a honda guy here that ordered an engine and tranny from Japan. It was in an add in Jeg's magazine. Are these available for old subes too? Are they any better? Anyone else done this? -Jack

right on bro. lift kits are definately a better investment than taking the little lady to go see the new Ben & Jen flick:brow:

yeah man, that;s what I was thinking. I bought my last one for $400. it was an 86 4wd dr 5spd wagon with ac. It had 100k on the clock but the exterior was rough. I was about 18 and I figured I had just made out like a bandit. I sold it for $800 4 years and 100k miles later. Anyways, I like my girlfriend's dad, but I think he is thinking of asking $1000- $1500 and I dont want to tell him that he wont get it. I dont want to go down that raod with him. Unfortunately, putting alot of money into an old car doesnt usurally translate into getting it all out when you sell and I think this would come to his attention very quickly if he put it on the market. Anyways, I just wanted some opinions. If I am going to spend that kind of money, I want something 4wd, or at least in pretty nice shape cosmetically as well as mechanicly. Maybe I'm just venting, because the car is sitting in my driveway and it would really take the stress off right now if I didnt have to worry about replacing my POS Jeep! :banghead:

its an 87 dl sedan. 2wd 3spd auto. shoing rust. several repaints due to several crashes! put back together by a local subaru guy (used to be new dealer, now specializes in old subes. I think he's a little shady) AC blows cold. aftermarket kenwood sucks and doesnt play tapes. starts right up and runs like a top. I am a little concerned about the left rear strut. That part of the car looks lower and when you go through turns at high speed (like on and off ramps on the interstate) and hit a bump it makes bad noises and skips more than it should. oh, did I mention that this is my girlfriend's dad's car? It has been to college in the mtns of VA 3 times; with each of his daughters so it is very well educated (even if it did go to Tech twice:moon: ) Um... I just really need reliable transportation right now and I thought I could offer him $500 and maybe be overpaying, but not have to worry about a car for a while. I havent talked to him directly because I dont want to haggle with him, but my girlfriend says he is going to ask too much.

that looks really cool. now all I need is a brat and I can start accesorizing:D

this is why I love you guys. a bunch of seriously cheap bastards: just like me!!!!! there are better things to spend your loot on, like girlfriends...or something, right? -Jack

so could people still sit back there with the soft top on and the sides rolled up, or was it stretched from the top of the tailgate to the top of the cab?

Has anyone ever made a soft top for the back of thier brat? It would be cool to have on where the sides and the back rolled up like on broncos, old 4 runners and jeeps. I guess you would need a cross bar of some sort across the back of the bed. I'm not sure how you would fasten the sides down. I know I wouldnt want snaps screwed into the side of the body pannels. I've heard that they make soft tops now that do not require snaps. Speaking of which, has anyone ever done a rack like that? One that crosses the bed at the tailgate? just curious.

can you really pick a 360 on grand turismo 2? I've never played.

I'm sure every blonde high school cheerleader who has every had to drive a hatchback instead of the cabriolet that daddy would not buy her has though about it. Just joking. But, in case you havent seen one, that is exactly what the other style of convertible (not the one richie has) looks like. I saw one on ebay a couple of years ago. It was discussed on the board. I'm surprised that no one grabbed the picture.

you have mail.

and I was just about to guess that Richie went and got the racing 360 for $20K!

what is STD (in this context)?

Which years did subes have a single pair of round headlights? To be more specific, I seem to recal gen 2 brats, wagons, hatches etc with a single pair of large round headlights as opposed to the two pairs of small headlights in the 70s. thanks, -Jack

Rupster: Bushbrat is the local subie nut. He has a lifted Brat and a wagon which I believe he has also lifted. The brat is painted in desert camo. It is sweet. He lives in Portsmouth. I had a friend at the beach that had a killer 77 4wd wagon with an ea 82 and a dr 5 speed but that was 5 years ago. Most of my friends in VA that were into subes got tired of fixing them all the time. They complained about constantly fixing cv joints, or they just bought trucks and are enjoying the extra power.