subaru xt qustions

subafan · #1 10-06-2002, 01:08 PM

now that i'm hooked on the svx... the xt is starting to look mighty fun as well... just wondering if anyone can tell me if the xt is also prone to weak transmissions, wheel bearing, and etc. like the svx...

also, i noticed that there's a regular 4 cylinder xt, a 4 cylinder turbo, and a 6 cylinder one? any suggestions as to preferences?

and lastly.... where can i find one in good condition, and how much are they going for nowadays??

Seraph · #2 10-06-2002, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by subafan
now that i'm hooked on the svx... the xt is starting to look mighty fun as well... just wondering if anyone can tell me if the xt is also prone to weak transmissions, wheel bearing, and etc. like the svx...

also, i noticed that there's a regular 4 cylinder xt, a 4 cylinder turbo, and a 6 cylinder one? any suggestions as to preferences?

and lastly.... where can i find one in good condition, and how much are they going for nowadays??

XT-6 is the 6 cyl. version.

Lwin

benebob · #3 10-06-2002, 04:33 PM

The XT is a much lighter car. around 2500 for the XT around 2800 for the XT6. It is based on the EA82 engine (Loyale and GL 85-89) The XT manual tranny is pretty much bullet proof although the syncros do start to go as it ages. Good news is its the same as all the other Subies of the era. The auto is pretty good so long as the fluid has been changed on a regular basis. The XT6 manual and auto are the same I think but don't quote me. Areas of concern are the Turbos (seperate oil for the turbo), overheating issues, t-belt and rust issues. Aside from that its fairly reliable (for an 11-17 year old car that is). Personally, I'd kill for a cheap low mileage manual 91 XT6 awd or any XT from 91 year for that matter. I just like the look the best from the last year.

#4 10-06-2002, 05:42 PM

Yes, but dont forget that the XT-6 is the 6 cylinder model!

Mike

huck369 · #5 10-06-2002, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by benebob
The XT is a much lighter car. around 2500 for the XT around 2800 for the XT6. It is based on the EA82 engine (Loyale and GL 85-89) The XT manual tranny is pretty much bullet proof although the syncros do start to go as it ages. Good news is its the same as all the other Subies of the era. The auto is pretty good so long as the fluid has been changed on a regular basis. The XT6 manual and auto are the same I think but don't quote me. Areas of concern are the Turbos (seperate oil for the turbo), overheating issues, t-belt and rust issues. Aside from that its fairly reliable (for an 11-17 year old car that is). Personally, I'd kill for a cheap low mileage manual 91 XT6 awd or any XT from 91 year for that matter. I just like the look the best from the last year.

The 87 1/2, 88,89 and 91 all looked the same , why do you like the 91 best? Just because it was the last year? Or maybe because they offered Yellow in 91

(Randy's favorite color)

The biggest downfall of the 4-cylinder XT was that they used the old Subaru 4-lug wheel pattern, which is near impossible to get aftermarket wheels for.
The XT6 has the newer 5-bolt lug pattern, which is much easier to find aftermarket wheel for, of course you could convert the 4-lug to the 5-lug, but would cost a little extra.
Also the XT6 was Subarus first 6 cylinder, it is a 2.7 liter, single overhead cam, and was a good little motor, that I think they SHOULD have offered in the Early Legacys and Imprezas as well.

Neat little cars, and cheap to buy and fix up.

benebob · #6 10-06-2002, 06:17 PM

Yeah they are pretty much the same from 87.5 on but for whatever reason I just think the 91s look the best. I don't know if the front dam is different or the rear end is cleaner or what. Its possible that the 88 and 89s that I've seen just weren't in as nice of shape but its just something that I can't put my finger on. Yellow? Was that really a color? I know that all of the 1990 XTs came with the factory zebra stripe paint and interior but yellow?

#7 10-06-2002, 06:33 PM

Maybe the newer ones have different wheels?

Mike

#8 10-06-2002, 07:02 PM

some of you XTers might want this...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1864084786

huck369 · #9 10-06-2002, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Green1995SVX
some of you XTers might want this...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1864084786

Pretty interesting, since they didn't make any XT's in 1990 they skipped that year.

huck369 · #10 10-06-2002, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Green1995SVX
Maybe the newer ones have different wheels?

Mike

Nope all the XT6's had the same alloys.

huck369 · #11 10-06-2002, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by benebob
Yeah they are pretty much the same from 87.5 on but for whatever reason I just think the 91s look the best. I don't know if the front dam is different or the rear end is cleaner or what. Its possible that the 88 and 89s that I've seen just weren't in as nice of shape but its just something that I can't put my finger on. Yellow? Was that really a color? I know that all of the 1990 XTs came with the factory zebra stripe paint and interior but yellow?

Yep, "Electric Yellow" was the official name.

This has been a shameless plug to up my post count

#12 10-06-2002, 08:01 PM

The turbo XT's had a problem with heads cracking and Subaru went through two upgrades before solving the problem. Underneath the cylinder heads is a casting number. You want one that has the number surrounded by a box. The original heads had just a casting number, the first upgrade had the number underlined, and the last (ultimately successful) one had the number inside a square. This is the one you'll want if you get a turbo. I ran mine, before selling it, to 170,000 miles. I used Castrol Syntec, made sure the cooling system was kept up and basically had only a few problems -- oil pump, front axel boot, fuel injector, clutch. Mine was FWD, not AWD. Stay away from air suspension models unless it's been changed.

#13 10-06-2002, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by huck369

Pretty interesting, since they didn't make any XT's in 1990 they skipped that year.

Maybe he looked on the door panel for the year, and it was made in 90 but sold in 91?

#14 10-07-2002, 12:20 AM

There is no exterior difference between the 88, 89, and 91 XT-6's. The interiors were changed a bit through all years, and the nicest interior belonged to the 88 models, except they didn't have 3 point belts in the rear.

I think they look best in black, with a low, simple spoiler, and the air suspension (the car looks horizontally uneven after the regular spring conversions.

The XT-6 is one of my favorite cars. comfortable, fun, and the engine has lots of power. Awesome in snow, too. Quiet, even going really fast. Good brakes. The auto shifted really smooth, like the SVX one when it works. With the air suspension, great compromise between comfort and handling. Cool eighties era tech craziness on the inside. And the bionic, extension of your mind Cybrid Electric Speed Sensitive Power Steering that was computer controlled. And, nearly bulletproof. My mom got rid of her 1988 4WD auto model, in 1998, with 75,000 miles on it. The car was NEVER taken care of, yet NEVER let us down.

Bottom line: I LOVED that car. I would KILL for a perfect, low miles, 5 speed AWD 91 model in Red Mica Claret (SAME AS SVX!). If I could have found one, I would have taken it over my SVX as a first car, no doubt.

(god I loved that car...)

subafan · #15 10-07-2002, 02:05 AM

so am i understanding this correctly when i say that the xt-6 is just the 6 cylinder engine and was offered no turbo? but the regular 4 cylinder engine ones comes either with or without turbo?