1987 Subaru GL Wagon 4wd 1.8 from North America

Summary:

A reliable, high mileage car

Faults:

Front half-shafts and bearings... the only thing wrong with the car that I can see. Everybody I know has had to replace them at least once. I've already replaced one side twice, although that may have been a bad installation on the first go around.

General Comments:

One of the best cars I've ever owned. I bought it with 101k miles and immediately drove it from North Carolina to Los Angeles, CA and back with no problems. I've been driving it regularly since then, and it's still going strong.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st September, 2000

24th Jul 2001, 13:38

Half-shafts always go quick on these because of their insanely sharp steering (wears them out quicker). I had this same car for several years until I was t-boned by a maniac in a Full size ford. The car took a big hit, and had a whole lot less damage than anyone would have thought. They are nice, heavy steel cars, and very safe in accidents. I upgraded to a 93 wagon when this one died, which has been perfectly reliable for several years now.

View 20 more comments

1987 Subaru GL GL 4 door 4x4 1.8 from North America

Faults:

Timing belt when through a canyon.. whoops, no more power going up hill. Differential and then heater coil. After that nothing at all.

General Comments:

Love this car. Has saved my life serveral times --- twice on ice coming to a stop sign, and others just braking and manouvering in bad traffic. I love to go out in snow storms and try to get stuck, pop-her in 4x4 and it feels like someone yanked it out with a chain. You've got to do it just once. I have begun telling friends, 'Don't drive a Subaru, because you'll never want anything else again'.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th July, 1999

16th Dec 2000, 04:36

I bought a Subaru GL 10, 4 door sedan, not AWD, which has an oil leak. Anyone else with that problem and a solution?

9th Aug 2002, 18:01

Owned two subaru's (one was a Justy). Both leaked oil from most places that oil could leak at one point or another.

If you're seeing oil under the car try to determine where it's dripping from underneath and then trace the 'path' the oil has followed along the engine. Two common places are as follows:

1) Valve Cover (an easy, do-it-yourself fix) or

2) Rear Main Seal (leak appears between engine and transmission bell housing, probably a shop fix)

Be sure to check the CV boots too if the 'oil' you see is *really* thick and under the left or right sides of the motor.

11th Feb 2004, 00:37

Mine leaks about 1 Qt every 2,000 miles. Different mechanics have estimated $2,000 to fix all the seals. They said that if they owned the car they'd just be diligent about checking and adding oil whenever they bought gas, and that's what I do.

25th Oct 2004, 13:49

Boxer engines in general are known oil leakers. The cam carriers and cam seals are a common place as is the valve covers.