• For more information on how to avoid pop-up ads and still support SkiTalk click HERE.

Bring a Trailer and Cars & Bids Appreciation Thread

ScotsSkier

USSA Coach
Industry Insider
SkiTalk Tester
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
3,150
Location
North Lake Tahoe, NV
Here is an unusual one:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1990-audi-quattro-coupe-5/
1990_audi_quattro_coupe_1571930041ec47ad0748549146072_3dcdefcbbe_k.jpg

Jeez, that looks gross......there is only one question to be asked.......why???.....all that work to get .....that..:eek:

I ran the standard 5cyl/10V one for 3 years in the early 90s. Great car and pretty bombproof. Just had to replace the wishbone bushings regularly and the front end was a bit underdamped even with .uprated Konis. It had probably done 125k when I sold it - even the odometer showed about 80K....:)
 

Ogg

Skiing the powder
Skier
Joined
Jun 3, 2017
Posts
3,484
Location
Long Island, NY
That was probably the worst car Subaru ever made.
That one had 56K miles on it because it never go fast enough to go anywhere.
:roflmao:Agreed, my neighbor had '91(?) that was such a bouncy, noisy tin box. I, otoh had a 1990 turbo wagon that drove like a completely different car. Mine had a 4 speed auto, full time 4wd, 4 wheel discs, more sound insulation and a notably better suspension. It was pretty stripped otherwise(no cruise, split rear seat or even intermittent wipers) and wasn't marked turbo on the rear. With just a K&N drop in I used to surprise the crap out of people in a lot the "sporty" coupes available at the time(the '80s and early '90s were dark days for vehicle performance) . It was still a tin box but was at least reasonably capable, especially for the time.
 
Thread Starter
TS
Philpug

Philpug

Notorious P.U.G.
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
42,624
Location
Reno, eNVy
That was probably the worst car Subaru ever made.
That one had 56K miles on it because it never go fast enough to go anywhere.
At lease these were fuel injected, The 85 and 86 were worse, they were still carburated with a wopping 82HP. The hatchback still carried over until 88 and that also was car carburated with 73HP. Not only were these dogs, they were over priced dogs. This FWD GL MSRP'ed at around $12K, Accord LX money. Subaru US distributorship was a mess back then, There was Fuji Heavy Industries then Subaru of America then regional distribution which all added a level of profit.
 

Ogg

Skiing the powder
Skier
Joined
Jun 3, 2017
Posts
3,484
Location
Long Island, NY
At lease these were fuel injected, The 85 and 86 were worse, they were still carburated with a wopping 82HP. The hatchback still carried over until 88 and that also was car carburated with 73HP. Not only were these dogs, they were over priced dogs. This FWD GL MSRP'ed at around $12K, Accord LX money. Subaru US distributorship was a mess back then, There was Fuji Heavy Industries then Subaru of America then regional distribution which all added a level of profit.
Yeah prices were a bit silly. IIRC a GL10 4wd turbo was about $18k. Early Legacies were over $20k but at least they were solid cars. When friends would ask about my mine I'd always say don't get one if you don't need 4wd because there a ton of better and cheaper choices.
 
Thread Starter
TS
Philpug

Philpug

Notorious P.U.G.
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
42,624
Location
Reno, eNVy
Yeah prices were a bit silly. IIRC a GL10 4wd turbo was about $18k. Early Legacies were over $20k but at least they were solid cars. When friends would ask about my mine I'd always say don't get one if you don't need 4wd because there a ton of better and cheaper choices.
I had a *90 Legacy L+ wagon that MSRP'ed at 18K, LS's could get over $20K. The Turbo Legacy came out in 91. In 90, there were actually 38 variations of Legacy's available. It was rediculous. I remember being invited to a meeting with Fuji Heavy Industries at The Chart House on Phila. One of the things I suggested was since Subaru was synonymous with AWD and it was just an $700 option, get rid of the FWD and reduce inventories by about half and reduce costs and create a more solid message. Two years later they did just that. Was I the catalyst for going all all when drive? Maybe.


*crazy story, too long to get into on here.
 

KingGrump

Most Interesting Man In The World
Team Gathermeister
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
12,204
Location
NYC
Had a few Subaru in the family before I bough mine. They were all a little quicky but not bad cars.
I had a '88 wagon in red. Ran like a dog. Once, Mamie put regular gas in it on the way back from VT. That thing wouldn't go over 35 mph on I-91. I think usable top speed was about 80 mph.
The engine in that series has a propensity to drop the timing chain/belt every so often. Dealer warranty support was abysmal. A mechanic friend confirmed the pervasive timing belt issue. Said the only blessing was the valves don't drop when the timing belt goes south.

1988_02 (5).jpg
 

Ogg

Skiing the powder
Skier
Joined
Jun 3, 2017
Posts
3,484
Location
Long Island, NY
Had a few Subaru in the family before I bough mine. They were all a little quicky but not bad cars.
I had a '88 wagon in red. Ran like a dog. Once, Mamie put regular gas in it on the way back from VT. That thing wouldn't go over 35 mph on I-91. I think usable top speed was about 80 mph.
The engine in that series has a propensity to drop the timing chain/belt every so often. Dealer warranty support was abysmal. A mechanic friend confirmed the pervasive timing belt issue. Said the only blessing was the valves don't drop when the timing belt goes south.

View attachment 83050
My turbo would get up to 80 pretty easily but the windshield wipers were useless above 60. I tried all the ones with the stupid looking fins that were supposed to help but nothing did until I discovered Rain-x and just stopped using my wipers on the highway entirely. Dealer service was truly horrendous but, luckily, I found a Subaru specialist right by the Syosset LIRR station.
 
Thread Starter
TS
Philpug

Philpug

Notorious P.U.G.
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
42,624
Location
Reno, eNVy
Dealer warranty support was abysmal.

Dealer service was truly horrendous...
I am not surprised to hear this. The New England Distributor was one of the worst to deal with. Pen Jersey Dealers couldn't even dealer trade with them. IIRC, they were one of the last independents left before SoA bought them all back.
 

Tony

tseeb
Skier
Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Posts
1,284
Location
Northern CA
This looks interesting to me: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1974-alfa-romeo-gtv-86/ although not sure about the color and need for a fuel cell. Good sleeper for the street.
A friend has a red 1969 that he drove to Concours at Pebble Beach this year. But he did not win awards this year as he has in previous years and it only made it half-way before something in the ignition failed and it was put on a tow truck for the rest of the way. He says a 1969 restored to a very high standard went for $117K in Monterey..
 
Thread Starter
TS
Philpug

Philpug

Notorious P.U.G.
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
42,624
Location
Reno, eNVy

This is a pretty damn cool truck when you look into exactly what it is. From an era when you could order a vehicle to your exact specifications.
 

dbostedo

Asst. Gathermeister
Moderator
Contributor
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Feb 9, 2016
Posts
18,096
Location
75% Virginia, 25% Colorado
Sorry I got distracted by the Venezuelan FJ, the Scout and

I'm no rally expert, but my first thought when I saw the picture was "that's just a regular car someone made look like a rally car." Reading this line - "...reportedly following time as a rally car..." - didn't do much to change that thinking. I mean, I know there are upgrades/mods - strut tower brace, interior, seats. But it's not actually a rally car, right?
 

Jim McDonald

愛スキー
Skier
Joined
Nov 15, 2015
Posts
2,101
Location
Tokyo
good god, are you people trying to get me fired?
this site is the most infectious time-waste i've ever experienced.
I can't escape; it's like drowning in 78% cacao liquid chocolate. I hate you all.
 
Thread Starter
TS
Philpug

Philpug

Notorious P.U.G.
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
42,624
Location
Reno, eNVy

I still have a soft spot for these. My father in law had one in Dk. Red.
 

DanoT

RVer-Skier
Skier
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
4,788
Location
Sun Peaks B.C. in winter, Victoria B.C. in summer

This is a pretty damn cool truck when you look into exactly what it is. From an era when you could order a vehicle to your exact specifications.

I worked for a logging contractor in the late 70s and I can tell you that the 77-79 Ford was the toughest, most durable pickup ever made (and I am not a Ford guy). We had these trucks as crew/bush trucks and no matter how they were neglected and abused, you could not kill them. Our woods foreman had one and when it came time to up grade to a new truck he just told the company owner not to bother as he was not going to give up the 78 Ford pickup without a fight.
 

Sponsor

Staff online

Top