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> OT: I want Subaru!, Not WRX or STi, it's a BRAT!!!
kkid
post Jul 23 2014, 10:45 PM
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Hey guys!

I'm not sure where else I can go and ask about this unique vehicle. I am fallen in love with Subaru Brat after watching this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnolzTQ1zXI

Does anyone here own one? Has anybody owned before?

Please share your experience with that car if you own one or have a friend who has one. I've been searching through CL and ebay lately. But most of the cars for sale look to have seen good days already.

I personally have not seen the car in real life. If you or your neighbor have one for sale you can let me know!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chowtime.gif)

Thanks in advance,

kkid (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

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Dave_Darling
post Jul 23 2014, 10:58 PM
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A buddy of mine got one when they were... Well, they were newer at that point than now. It was one of his series of $250 cars.

He drove it from South SF to Sunnyvale to hang out with me and my roommie. It didn't make it past Mountain View on his way home. The distributor drive shaft broke its bore, leaving the distributor to flop around and not turn. Wasn't worth even trying to fix, so we pushed it off the freeway and abandoned it.

The title wasn't even in his name yet...

--DD
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mgp4591
post Jul 23 2014, 11:02 PM
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I've worked on many of them and one of my friends had 3 of em. Not bad for an early 80s car, really good at off road stuff unless you're gonna Rubicon or something because ground clearance is less than a newer Outback. 1.8 liter 4 cylinder and lower gears work together well on this package and the 4 wheel drive (not AWD) has a transfer case so you're 2 wheelin' it on the street. Biggest problem is one you should be familiar with already- rust, Rust, RUST!!! They came out before Japan started using the galvanized body panels or a decent undercoating so look well. Other than that, they're lots of fun and being a Subaru, it should run forever with proper maintenance. Get one in really good shape tho and save some headaches down the road. Sounds like a teener, don't it?!
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kkid
post Jul 23 2014, 11:14 PM
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QUOTE(Dave_Darling @ Jul 23 2014, 09:58 PM) *

A buddy of mine got one when they were... Well, they were newer at that point than now. It was one of his series of $250 cars.

He drove it from South SF to Sunnyvale to hang out with me and my roommie. It didn't make it past Mountain View on his way home. The distributor drive shaft broke its bore, leaving the distributor to flop around and not turn. Wasn't worth even trying to fix, so we pushed it off the freeway and abandoned it.

The title wasn't even in his name yet...

--DD


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)


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kkid
post Jul 23 2014, 11:51 PM
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QUOTE(mgp4591 @ Jul 23 2014, 10:02 PM) *

I've worked on many of them and one of my friends had 3 of em. Not bad for an early 80s car, really good at off road stuff unless you're gonna Rubicon or something because ground clearance is less than a newer Outback. 1.8 liter 4 cylinder and lower gears work together well on this package and the 4 wheel drive (not AWD) has a transfer case so you're 2 wheelin' it on the street. Biggest problem is one you should be familiar with already- rust, Rust, RUST!!! They came out before Japan started using the galvanized body panels or a decent undercoating so look well. Other than that, they're lots of fun and being a Subaru, it should run forever with proper maintenance. Get one in really good shape tho and save some headaches down the road. Sounds like a teener, don't it?!


Yeah, it sounds like a teener! There you go! - rust, Rust RUST! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

Thanks for all the info BTW! That's very informative!

I'll look around my area first but have never seen one in the bay area so far. Maybe as DD told in his story it's not worth fixing and became extinct even in sunny CA. Maybe I should just look around the sides of freeway? hahahaha...

Things are getting more interesting.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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Cuda911
post Jul 24 2014, 02:14 AM
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I've owned about 10 Subaru's over the years. My '88 GL104WDTurbo was basically the sedan version of the BRAT. Loved that car.

I did some pretty heavy off-roading in it... Anza Borrego Badlands, etc. The car was fantastic. Guys in Broncos were always amazed to see me cruising out there in a sedan! Of course, ground clearance was limited, but my car had the air-adjustable suspension option to give a bit more clearance.

Yes, rust is a big problem for the older ones.

An extremely fun car. I highly recommend it. Just looked on Ebay and saw a couple BRATS that looked good.
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Mark Henry
post Jul 24 2014, 03:19 PM
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QUOTE(mgp4591 @ Jul 24 2014, 01:02 AM) *

Biggest problem is one you should be familiar with already- rust, Rust, RUST!!! They came out before Japan started using the galvanized body panels or a decent undercoating so look well.


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Good buddy had one, he beat the living shit out of it, couldn't kill it.
But it rusted so bad the bottom 12" of all the panels was gone, cops finally made him take it off the road as unsafe.
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rhodyguy
post Jul 24 2014, 05:52 PM
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Chimp Sanctuary NW. Check it out.
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like driving a regular old fwd subaru if you're not on something other than pavement. riding in the back while off road wasn't very much fun. not a jeep or land cruiser. the 4wd in the station wagon flavor was more practical.
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Dr Evil
post Jul 24 2014, 06:34 PM
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Get one and throw an H6 in it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)
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mgp4591
post Jul 24 2014, 07:17 PM
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QUOTE(Dr Evil @ Jul 24 2014, 06:34 PM) *

Get one and throw an H6 in it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

Don't think it would fit, possibly not even bolt to the tranny but you'd be the expert on that one. I don't even think an EJ22 would fit cuz it's such an older model. Buy an Impreza wagon, cut the top off the load area and make yer own! Or an even bigger version, get an Outback H6 wagon, do the same and have a 4 seater Brat! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)
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Mark Henry
post Jul 24 2014, 07:48 PM
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QUOTE(mgp4591 @ Jul 24 2014, 09:17 PM) *

QUOTE(Dr Evil @ Jul 24 2014, 06:34 PM) *

Get one and throw an H6 in it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

Don't think it would fit, possibly not even bolt to the tranny but you'd be the expert on that one. I don't even think an EJ22 would fit cuz it's such an older model. Buy an Impreza wagon, cut the top off the load area and make yer own! Or an even bigger version, get an Outback H6 wagon, do the same and have a 4 seater Brat! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)

They are tiny I bet a 914 has a bigger cabin.
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jmill
post Jul 24 2014, 07:49 PM
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Buddy of mine had one. He was a slacker and hadn't done any engine maintenance for about 75K miles besides topping off the oil. When he finally got around to changing the plugs and oil the car ran horrible. Yes, the plugs were correct and gapped. He poured the old oil back in it along with swapping the old plugs back in and ran it for another 100k miles before he sold it.

True story!
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Krieger
post Jul 24 2014, 07:53 PM
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I love the Starski and Hutch paint stripe.
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kkid
post Jul 26 2014, 01:18 PM
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QUOTE(Cuda911 @ Jul 24 2014, 01:14 AM) *

I've owned about 10 Subaru's over the years. My '88 GL104WDTurbo was basically the sedan version of the BRAT. Loved that car.

I did some pretty heavy off-roading in it... Anza Borrego Badlands, etc. The car was fantastic. Guys in Broncos were always amazed to see me cruising out there in a sedan! Of course, ground clearance was limited, but my car had the air-adjustable suspension option to give a bit more clearance.

Yes, rust is a big problem for the older ones.

An extremely fun car. I highly recommend it. Just looked on Ebay and saw a couple BRATS that looked good.


Yours sounds like an awesome car! If I found one I would probably drive daily but the car might not see off road soon.

Since you're in CA, I wanna ask how easy it was to pass the smog inspection? Most of the Brats for sale are 150K miles or more on them. Are they equipped with a cat converter?

Thanks,

kkid (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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kkid
post Jul 26 2014, 01:21 PM
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QUOTE(Mark Henry @ Jul 24 2014, 02:19 PM) *

QUOTE(mgp4591 @ Jul 24 2014, 01:02 AM) *

Biggest problem is one you should be familiar with already- rust, Rust, RUST!!! They came out before Japan started using the galvanized body panels or a decent undercoating so look well.


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Good buddy had one, he beat the living shit out of it, couldn't kill it.
But it rusted so bad the bottom 12" of all the panels was gone, cops finally made him take it off the road as unsafe.


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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kkid
post Jul 26 2014, 01:40 PM
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QUOTE(rhodyguy @ Jul 24 2014, 04:52 PM) *

like driving a regular old fwd subaru if you're not on something other than pavement. riding in the back while off road wasn't very much fun. not a jeep or land cruiser. the 4wd in the station wagon flavor was more practical.


like the extreme case of the 2+2 form. Probably not use the jumper seats often except for my kids and her friends.
But if I get a camper shell, now that's my second cave. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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stugray
post Jul 27 2014, 12:15 PM
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I loved the Brats in the 80s.
Friend of mine had one in HS.

Trivia: Until 2013, what was the ONLY 2WD subaru ever sold?

NOW what is the latest 2WD car that Subaru offers?

(Hint: I couldnt help myself and had to buy one)
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mgp4591
post Jul 27 2014, 04:43 PM
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QUOTE(stugray @ Jul 27 2014, 12:15 PM) *

I loved the Brats in the 80s.
Friend of mine had one in HS.

Trivia: Until 2013, what was the ONLY 2WD subaru ever sold?

NOW what is the latest 2WD car that Subaru offers?

(Hint: I couldnt help myself and had to buy one)

My brother and my sister both have had 2wd Legacies, and the BRZ is the newest 2 wd. RWD to be more specific... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif)
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ThePaintedMan
post Jul 27 2014, 04:50 PM
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I want a BRZ bad..... eventually it'd be nice to have that motor in a 914 as well.
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stugray
post Jul 27 2014, 07:19 PM
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3X 4 cyl boxer engines in one shot:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i366.photobucket.com-10819-1406510359.1.jpg)

One is a couple of generations of technology from the others.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)
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