O/T Q - Subaru XT

Nobody · #1 04-17-2006, 12:55 PM

Hi folks, consider to buy two Subaru XTs, 1.8 Turbo. One seems to be OK, one is just a spare care. Price 1500 Euro for both before negotiating. Does anybody of you ever owned it? Is there anything to look at? Links to know?
Thanx for letting me know.
Petr

Stevebsy · #2 04-17-2006, 01:56 PM

Your best shot is the XT6 network:
www.xt6.net
and
www.xt6.net/forum/

Second best would be USMB:
www.usmb.net

They're fun little cars, that's for sure. Check for head gasket leakage on the turbo cars, also the oil for coolant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nobody

Hi folks, consider to buy two Subaru XTs, 1.8 Turbo. One seems to be OK, one is just a spare care. Price 1500 Euro for both before negotiating. Does anybody of you ever owned it? Is there anything to look at? Links to know?
Thanx for letting me know.
Petr

huck369 · #3 04-18-2006, 05:35 AM

I'll Second Stevesby's comment....

Go to www.xt6.net for all you'll ever want to know about the XT's

I own both SVX and XT's, both have there good and bad sides, but both are great cars in their own right....

svxistentialist · #4 04-18-2006, 04:54 PM

Nobody is going to thank me for saying this [no, I don't mean YOU by that remark Petr

], but I have long maintained that the XT is right up there in the top three for Ugliest Car in the World.

There. I've said it.

There was a penchant in the 70s and 80s for wedge shaped cars, which came from Lotus with some of their Formula 1 designs. Examples would be TVRs, Triumph TR7s, Subaru XTs and a rare car I owned myself, the Matra Murena.

I have never liked the flat plane surfaces of these cars. I much prefer the bulging bullet-like lines of our SVX.

The XT in particular has so many planes and angles, it looks like it was designed by a sheet metal cutting class, or possibly a beginner's origami class.

As the fore-runner and certainly the mule for our beloved coupe, I have no doubt they were good cars in their way. It's just that I feel they could be made beautiful or elegant for the same cost as making them ugly.

[]Rant[/]

Joe

huck369 · #5 04-18-2006, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svxistentialist

Nobody is going to thank me for saying this [no, I don't mean YOU by that remark Petr

], but I have long maintained that the XT is right up there in the top three for Ugliest Car in the World.

Joe

You'd get along grand with my wife...she thinks "XT's are the ugliest car in the world"....but I like them.....but it was a "aquired" taste, as I didn't care for them at first either.....but they "grow" on you

Jamsvx · #6 04-19-2006, 01:34 AM

I am also in the spousal hatred of XT club - she calls them the wedge car and the mobile doorstop (you know, the triangular wedges you put under doors to keep them open!)

Anyways, the one car that I regret not buying was a certain XT (called a Vortex back home in Oz) that happened to have a WRX engine, drivetrain, gearbox and uprated boost and intercooler - that was an absolute rocketship with the capability to go under 5 sec to 100kph - can you imagine the look of the F430 pilot as you were next to him at full pelt *grin*

Buy them I say! I would get one here but don't think they were sold in the Uk (is this right???)

Cheers

James

b3lha · #7 04-19-2006, 02:58 AM

I have seen a few in the UK. They are very rare though.

Back in those days, Subaru didn't have proper UK dealers and sold their cars alongside the tractors at agricultural machinery suppliers. That's why the older Subarus tend to be located in countryside areas. The farmers were not really interested in buying an XT, but the BRAT sold like hot cakes.

There was an XT Turbo at the Subaru dealer in Exeter a few years back. Lots of rust - I can't imagine anybody bought it. Probably ended up in the crusher.

Was it an XT in the cannonball run movie?

svxistentialist · #8 04-19-2006, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b3lha

Was it an XT in the cannonball run movie?

Was that the one with Jackie Chan in the white overalls? I thought that may have been a Mitsubishi Starion, the one with the turbo, but you could be right.

Anybody know for sure?

Joe

huck369 · #9 04-19-2006, 05:15 AM

Not sure in the Canonball Run movie, but Tom Hanks Girlfriend in "Big" drove a Turbo XT, which is shown mostly in the closing of the movie....

Just did a quick search and found this:
Quote:
"The Japanese have an entry, too, a rocket propelled Subaru driven by Japan’s premiere racecar driver (Jackie Chan). "

So I guess it was a Subaru XT...now to find some pics of it from the movie.......

Found the movie trailor, and Jackie Chan was driving a 2-door Hatch...about a 1980 model...the movie was made in 1981, and the XT didn't come out untill 1985....oops....

svxistentialist · #10 04-19-2006, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huck369

Not sure in the Canonball Run movie, but Tom Hanks Girlfriend in "Big" drove a Turbo XT, which is shown mostly in the closing of the movie....

Just did a quick search and found this:
Quote:
"The Japanese have an entry, too, a rocket propelled Subaru driven by Japan’s premiere racecar driver (Jackie Chan). "

So I guess it was a Subaru XT...now to find some pics of it from the movie.......

Found the movie trailor, and Jackie Chan was driving a 2-door Hatch...about a 1980 model...the movie was made in 1981, and the XT didn't come out untill 1985....oops....

You are right Huck, I remember the hatch. It was supposed to be all computerised, stealth mode etc. I'm surprised it was a Subaru. I really thought it was a Mitsubishi, possibly a forerunner to the Colt hatchback.

What hatchback, other than the Brat, did Subaru have? I can't say I remember one, but they did not market here at the time.

Joe

huck369 · #11 04-19-2006, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svxistentialist

You are right Huck, I remember the hatch. It was supposed to be all computerised, stealth mode etc. I'm surprised it was a Subaru. I really thought it was a Mitsubishi, possibly a forerunner to the Colt hatchback.

What hatchback, other than the Brat, did Subaru have? I can't say I remember one, but they did not market here at the time.

Joe

http://www.ultimatesubaru.net/photos...00&ppuser=5845

Here are some pics of the early 80's Hatch...

Nobody · #12 04-19-2006, 06:47 AM

Hi guys, it is not a question of beauty rather question to have Subaru "rare" collection. Price is good but I have not seen them yet. Maybe I will be running away very quickly:-).
Shame Subaru did not make any convertible...
Petr

svxistentialist · #13 04-19-2006, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nobody

Hi guys, it is not a question of beauty rather question to have Subaru "rare" collection. Price is good but I have not seen them yet. Maybe I will be running away very quickly:-).
Shame Subaru did not make any convertible...
Petr

Don't let me put you off it Petr. It could be a good buy. The people that have them, like them. That speaks volumes.

One man's ugly is another man's quirky, if you know what I mean. If the car wasn't rusty, and drove well, it could be a good one to collect. Go look at it anyway.

Joe

huck369 · #14 04-19-2006, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nobody

Hi guys, it is not a question of beauty rather question to have Subaru "rare" collection. Price is good but I have not seen them yet. Maybe I will be running away very quickly:-).
Shame Subaru did not make any convertible...
Petr

There was a Convertible kit available.....but finding one is the Holy Grail of the XT's

And the Convertible ones looked Sweet...

Maineman1963 · #15 04-19-2006, 03:59 PM

Well guys I have to say that I personally think the XT is ugly ( so yes said it as well !). But then I also thought the Impreza STI 7 bugeye ( not the std WRX which was pants !!)looked fine so what do i know. Weighing up whether to add another SVX to the stable or push the boat out and get a STI7 ( had a new one back in 2001 as a JDM and never got over having to sell it due to a house for heavens sake ) or maybe a P1.