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DL vs GL?


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Dls have quad headlights like the EA81 GL cars. the EA82 GLs have combo lights. GLs have tachs, and more insturmentation than DLs. GLs have wider tires and plush interiors. DLs do not. Thats all I know for sure, but I am positive that there are more differences.

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Do a search, i think we went over this one a little while ago, and it was pretty extensive, but basically its like what the other two guys said, the GL is "gots lots" and the DL is "didn't leave S**T but an am radio"

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ok my DL 3dr has power windows. & cruise control .but no air....no fancy stuff ,its like a standard ford comet from the 60's just enough to get you buy thats all...

now i don't know what the wagons have but i bet ya it's the low end ..your GL is a step up.........spark

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I wish I could find a decent late 80s DL for a build up (for example NoahDL88's wagon). I like the idea of "less is better" esp in the power window dept....

Just my .02...

 

Cheers!

Chris

Yeah all the options are great untill they start breaking :( Lots of mine have stopped working for variouse reasons.

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  • 12 years later...

Last night I picked up a used 1989 Subaru GL Wagon 4wd and it is ROUGH!

...
How Rough is it?
...
crispy potato chips on top of every door panel begins to describe the interior - what was rubberized plastic moldings.
The driver seat looks like a tank ran over a prius and then folded it into this chair!
230,000 miles on the odo. 23,000 burrito farts in the interior
The timing belts are broken, so it won't start. starter fluid means nothing!
There was a baseball-sided wasp nest in the driver sided rear quarter panel - revealed whe I opene the floor cover.
Both front Fenders are rusted down to the bone : There is absolutly no structure rust at all, but the fenders look like metal termites got into them and the rear door.
 
All that and I am so excited to get into this car!
 
My daily driver is now a 1991 Loyale and seeing what the 1987 GL offers with that lever on the floor that has a 4 LO!  Woot!
It's nice to have electric windows, EXCEPT when they don't work.
Even with my well-charged battery the "new" GL front-passenger  Windows was very unhappy to "roll up"
and I wish I could have just grabbed the window handle.
 
-Jeff.
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Welcome, and I have to commend you in the fact that you've obviously been searching around.

 

 

 

That looks like a great first post and start to a new thread. But certainly not cause to bump up a 12 year old thread that's not any more related than just about any other....

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My 87 Brat is a DL, has  no (tach, A/C, power steer, central locking, sun roofs)  AM radio only, vinyl seats,

 

basic pressed steel wheels with no trim  ( just axle nut caps) plastic interior floor cladding, plastic door linings

 

My 86 Leone GL wagon  had tach, cloth seats, cloth door linings, central locking , powered external mirrors,

 

carpeted floors, alloy wheels, touringwagon stepped up roof (DL wagon had flat roof here) Black trim around

 

tailgate window, single headlight enclosures, mine didn't have power steer / windows nor AC - liked the non

 

power steer - felt better to drive  than 88GL with P/S that had as well.

 

The advantage of DLs is that there is less to go wrong  particularly as 30ish years old ( so yes agree less is better in this regard)

 

The GL looks better finished than DL (more basic looking - particularly the interior)

My old 86 Leone GL Touring Wagon when sold in 09

1934397_1030570381198_4050791_n.jpg?oh=2

Edited by subnz
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I bought my '87 GL wagon in Sept 2011 and a week later someone walked up to me and asked if I would consider selling it. I'm sure the paint didn't impress him at all. He said it was the ultimate mushroom picker car--meaning going into the woods on logging roads and maybe off them too. Dual range 4WD, but no power windows :^)  I still have it and it has been very reliable with 238k miles so far (383k in Celsius). Replaced the alternator and choke pullout in these almost 5 years since I bought it, and that's all it has needed aside from regular maintenance.

Edited by OregonYeti
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I bought my '87 GL wagon in Sept 2011 and a week later someone walked up to me and asked if I would consider selling it. I'm sure the paint didn't impress him at all. He said it was the ultimate mushroom picker car--meaning going into the woods on logging roads and maybe off them too. Dual range 4WD, but no power windows :^)  I still have it and it has been very reliable with 238k miles so far (383k in Celsius). Replaced the alternator and choke pullout in these almost 5 years since I bought it, and that's all it has needed aside from regular maintenance.

 

Had a great run out of my 86 GL  - had for 14 years (95- 09)  added 120K miles (220K miles when sold)

 

Only major was clutch, alternator replacement and replace carb with 2nd hand one as stuffed up rekitting / rebuilding original one.

 

Apart from the usual cambelts  twice. water pump tyres batteries  filters spark plugs light bulbs etc

 

Probably the best car ever owned for simplicity reliability cost /ease to fix / maintain apart from silly cam belts etc.

Edited by subnz
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