Faults:

Usual wear and tear - belts/tires.. etc.

General Comments:

This is the best car! I call it Scooby Subuy! Very tough/long lasting; just a great car that will run forever! I see lots still out around the same year... 1988!

Faults:

When I bought the wagon, it ran well enough to transport. I brought it home and began to read about the breed and gather parts. I bought another Subaru, a 1988 RX Turbo, as a donor car. I later found that the two models shared fewer parts than I had hoped, so it donated little.

The GL leaked some oil and coolant. The carburetor needed some attention as well; it idled high and roughly. I bought a repair manual and set to work. My plan is to disassemble the engine to the block, replace gaskets and reassemble the engine. I currently have the heads removed and am in the process of cleaning up the surfaces.

I hope to have the engine reassembled and running this winter (2008/2009), inspected and on the road by spring.

General Comments:

The body is in almost perfect shape for the age. I felt obligated to bring it back to life.

Faults:

At @15,000 miles I bought the car for $400 and replaced the passenger side wheel bearings. It was sounding like it had a metal lathe in the front end. No damage was done to the spindle. People told me I was Crazy to buy it like that, but now she is quiet and faithful.

General Comments:

I still need to add plugs, change the oil. I have had it up on the mountains 3 times in the week I have owned it. I truly love it.

The 4 wheel drive action is awesome and very capable. I live in north east Oregon and do a lot of off road driving, and this lil' SUBARU does what I need.

Even with old plugs, I still am pulling 35 mpg in town,and gas here is 3.95 a gallon.

I parked the ford due to running costs.

I will drive this lil' Subaru till I can't drive no longer. Then my teen gets it.

Faults:

Normal wear and tear for brakes, battery, and tires.

Replaced alternator and serviced air conditioning after 19 years.

Replaced c-v joints at 90,000 miles.

Replaced front-end bushings at 135,000 miles.

Have replaced a few exhaust systems over time.

Timing belt and water pumps at 60,000 mile intervals.

Rust has taken over at the rear quarter panels and hood leading edge.

General Comments:

We purchased the Subaru DL wagon with automatic transmission and air conditioning in 1988 for $10,100 as we were expecting our second child and had to replace one of our two two door coupes.

The car was spartan, with a rougher, noisy ride, but was also reliable and low cost to drive and maintain.

This has been a great family car that we have passed on throughout the family over the years. I am finally at the point of letting go due to the extensive body work that will be required to keep it on the road. 140,000 miles with an engine that is no where near ready to quit, but leaks oil.

I would buy another new if I could.

Faults:

Front wheel brakes & rotors (OEM) needed to be replaced twice before 40K miles. Car is still very difficult to stop on bumpy roads even at low speed. This seems to be a common problem observed by many Subaru owners, but Subaru Corporate will not acknowledge an ABS design defect in this area. A/C will not cool interiour on hot days below 30 mph or at idle and compressor cycles off more than on from day one. Coolant fumes in passenger compartment at idle on hot days dealer can't fix. Cloth seats already wearing thru as are rugs also.

General Comments:

This was my first Subaru, it will be my last! If you're thinking of buying a Subaru, DON'T DO IT! Buy a Honda or a Ford instead as Subaru cars are PURE JUNK and their Dealer Service is utterly incompetent in all areas.