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MuntCuffin

MuntCuffin

Upgrayedded user
Joined
May 19, 2020
Member Number
238
Messages
1,138
Loc
Farm lands and horse's asses
85 Subaru brat. Needs a lotta rust repair. Rockers are gone, some holes in the unibody frame. Claims it runs well. Haven't heard it run yet.

Thinking a beater with a bed to run parts.

4 speed, don't think its a turbo, but don't know yet.

Guess what I need to know is, even if I scab together the frame and get it safe, are the drivetrains unreliable flaming piles of Subaru crap? Do the engines view headgaskets as consumables? I know they have a cult following....but so do volkwagens.:laughing:

20240606_153702.jpg
 
Do you fit in it?


Would you put your business name on the door?


On first thought I got all nostalgic for the 80s and I'm like FUCK YEAH! but in reality, you should probably just focus on building your business and billable hours and ask your accountant what the parameters are for buying something reliable/ comfortable/ respectable looking with the check you would have been sending in for taxes

Boring, I know. Build the business, get more work, hire mechanics to do the work, then tinker in the shop on fun stuff:homer:
 
I bought a 85 sedan with an auto.

Without o/d they are slow, if you run them up they still suck.

As a field beater with a manual im sure its fun but i would expect to want to driv any distance with them.


I made 1 trip with the sedan, sure footed in the snow, sucked ass in every other catagory.
I wound up giving it away.
 
Projectjunkie said:
Do you fit in it?


Would you put your business name on the door?


On first thought I got all nostalgic for the 80s and I'm like FUCK YEAH! but in reality, you should probably just focus on building your business and billable hours and ask your accountant what the parameters are for buying something reliable/ comfortable/ respectable looking with the check you would have been sending in for taxes

Boring, I know. Build the business, get more work, hire mechanics to do the work, then tinker in the shop on fun stuff:homer:
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good points....great points.


sigh

 
Landslide said:
Liquid cooled wanna be VW flat four.
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Yeah, with 40 year newer engineering...

Stix said:
Fuck me, all that matters is if it has the seats in the bed.
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Fat Electrician says they only got those seats to fit some .gov import rules on passenger utility vehicles.

I had one in the 90s, and loved it. I was 170lb/5'10". Pass, for big guys.
 
subybaja said:
Yeah, with 40 year newer engineering...


Fat Electrician says they only got those seats to fit some .gov import rules on passenger utility vehicles.

I had one in the 90s, and loved it. I was 170lb/5'10". Pass, for big guys.
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Chicken tax

It's why there's always cheap brand new van seats on CL and fbmp, the transit and similar vans come in with them
 
no, look for a cheap honda element and remove the rear seats. Near as big as that bed and is a good parts hauler.
 
Thought about one in the 80s till I tried to get in one, I wasn't nowhere as fat as I am now and it was a struggle getting in and out
 
MuntCuffin said:
And it looks to be a really tight squeeze. I'm a thick and wide 6'3"
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Same, I still fit myself in the 81 hilux. So much fun to tool around town. I can’t drive it more than an hour without a leg cramp.

Steve300xcw said:
Serious?:laughing:

There is a reason why you mainly see vans or 2wd tacomas and rangers for parts delivery
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This, just picked up another 4 dr tracker because I think it’s the ultimate daily. Auto, 5.12s, coils, will power brake a burnout, and hauls a 39 red in the back. :smokin:

If you want a brat, and it’s decent, get it. :flipoff2:
 
MuntCuffin said:
85 Subaru brat.
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I would pass unless you really want a Brat. It's just a cool looking tin can. It's going to be about as practical of a vehicle as a Smart Car.

If you want something you can actually use as daily transportation get a Legacy or Impreza or get one of the Suzukis other people have mentioned.

The Element and CRV mentioned are also very good options. I would have no qualms about working out of either for what you do.

Or be like the Mexicans and get a V6 5spd 9th gen F150 and a cap.

MuntCuffin said:
Guess what I need to know is, even if I scab together the frame and get it safe, are the drivetrains unreliable flaming piles of Subaru crap? Do the engines view headgaskets as consumables? I know they have a cult following....but so do volkwagens.:laughing:
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The EA engine is perfectly reliable but makes fuck all power. Same as every other 80s 4cyl engine. But everything on that car is 40yr old and far beyond the point of being able to find a dozen on car-part within an hour's drive so it's not really appropriate for a business.

MuntCuffin said:
And it looks to be a really tight squeeze. I'm a thick and wide 6'3"
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Don't get an 80s Japanese car.
 
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bad zuki said:
This, just picked up another 4 dr tracker because I think it’s the ultimate daily. Auto, 5.12s, coils, will power brake a burnout, and hauls a 39 red in the back. :smokin:
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I remember them being the rage, don't know anything else about them
 
If you really want that Brat go buy a Baja.

They're all turbo so none of the head gasket shit you flat rate people can't seem to get right and it'll do daily driver things a million times better.
 
bigun said:
I remember them being the rage, don't know anything else about them
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Gotta get the first gen and put samurai lockouts on it. I’m close to 25 mpg with it. The second gens are terrible on the interior. I’m still convinced that they improve the harder you beat them. :laughing:
 

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