A pile of horse manure
Where do I start the thing kept breaking down. I had to get a new gear box, the head gasket went, and the exhaust fell off.
It handles like a boat, rusts like an old nail and is as desirable as a kipper tie.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 13th August, 2005
Ugly, nippy, cheap, reliable, best car ever
Only problems so far have been the exhaust. After shopping around got a replacement front/mid section fitted new for £100. I didn't mind paying that at all.
Front anti-roll bar popped out of bracket on passenger side, I had it welded back for £15.
Rear wheel arches have rotted away, so filled for MOT.
Considering the age of the car it is amazing no problems at all apart from exhaust and tyres, but they are consumable parts on any car.
I've done 18000miles in first year on every surface possible, even through mud off road 2 foot deep with no problems at all. This is the most reliable car I've ever had.
Performance is fantastic considering engine size.
The handling is the best I've ever seen on a car this old.
She turns a tiny circle, very maneuverable with muscles.
Very tough inside and out. I have hammered her off road and on motorways (with very heavy loads) and cannot believe her ability.
The handling in snow and ice couldn't be better.
40-50mph in 2wd 30mph in 4wd. She takes 4 star or unleaded without modification and runs better on 4 star.
I've only had to buy consumables so far (oil change, exhaust, tyres, fan, belt, fog bulb).
She is pig ugly (like a messed up micra) but has tons of character and capability.
Very highly recommended for people who need to drive anywhere the way they want to without worries.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 30th April, 2003
Fast, reliable and tough
I had to adjust the tick-over as the previous owner had neglected to service the engine very often.
Slight wear on the rear seating.
A very swift ride, have only done a few hundred miles so far, but enjoyed the excellent road traction the vehicle has displayed.
The 4X4 feature is useful, given that I live in a rural area. Have found no problem with the transmission in either 4X4 or 2WD modes.
After adjusting the engine's tick-over, she ran like a charm. I would say that the Justy is a smooth, reliable car with plenty of power under the bonnet. It's surprising the velocity you can pick up given that this engine only has 3 cylinders.
Overall I recommend this car to people who live in rural, country areas for it's work-horse charm and excellent maneuverability (just perfect for slim winding lanes.)
Not so hot for motorway use, despite it's powerful nature the car is still preferred for countryside usage, although I'd recommend it over a Fiesta or Clio.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 18th February, 2003
I have owned four Subaru Justy's, two '87's, an '88, and a '89. One of the '87's was a 4wd, the others were all 2wd. These were not popular cars in America as most purchasers did not understand how to drive them. I agree with Steven that their best use, and real charm is in a rural setting where speeds do not exceed 60mph. Beyond that point, their braking capability diminishes greatly, and their short wheel base gives very twitchy handling characteristics. In Japan, these were known as "K" cars as they met a certain set of Govt. insurance requirements based on their various dimensions. Utilized within that format, these are really excellent cars, and built to a much higher quality than might be expected in a micro car. In my town, Fredericksburg Virginia, there are only three Justys still running, and parts are a problem as there are only six Justys in salvage yards in a four county area. Pity. The carburetted versions never idled smoothly, and the injected versions never ran right. Still, the Justy series were very tough cars that demanded little, and took a lot.
14th Aug 2005, 08:13
Errrr... well it's not exactly new, is it?
And with that mileage either the engine's never been warmed up or it's been round the clock at least once.