Spotted: Subaru XT
A cross between a sci-fi prop and a car, this weirdo coupe proves that two-door Subarus are nothing new.
And everyone, but everyone, would be driving round in something very like this Subaru XT.
These days, the XT oozes Bladerunner/Tron cool. It's got a quirky offset, asymmetrical steering wheel, a single wiper blade, an artificial horizon-style orange digital instrument cluster (OK, so this car doesn't have that, but some of them did), four-wheel drive that can be switched on and off via the trigger-like button on the centre console. Some XTs also had all-wheel-drive that would be activated by switching the wipers on, but we don't think this is one of those cars.
This is a proper Subaru, too, with a turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine (kicking out 136hp in European spec, rather more than it mustered in other markets) that, not entirely coincidentally, permits a low nose. This gave the XT a thoroughly impressive drag coefficient on 0.29.
But unlike, say, an Impreza in the 90s, this is not a common car. In fact, the vendor of this particular example reckons there are only four XTs in the UK, which we can well believe.
It's also got plenty of ticket left, a smidgen of tax, and sounds like it's been well looked-after (though it is a minor disappointment that the air suspension has been replaced with Legacy springs. All of which, if slapping on some electronica, indulging in copious amounts of hairspray and practising your Rutger Hauer impression is your bag, makes the £2,000 asking price seem rather reasonable...
SUBARU XT
Engine: 1,780cc flat-four turbo
Transmission:4-speed auto
Power (hp):136@5,600rpm
Torque (lb ft):145@2,800rpm
MPG: na
CO2: na
First registered: 1987 (D-plate)
Recorded mileage:92,700
Yours for: £2,000
Funny, I only spotted a SVX the other day and thought I hadn't seen one in yonks...but this is something else.
Have a soft spot for etch-a-sketch designs
Edit...that said, there's an awful lot of 'Iron Mask' Skyline in its looks - not that that's a bad thing!
When she was about ten, my daughter pointed to it and said she'd like "that one' - which was amusing given the cars I've had over the years. She's now 24 and a textile designer. Her agent says her designs are like they come from 'an island' so her liking this car speaks volumes!
This car also lives about 2 doors away from a Ferrari Testarossa (well it did when I last saw the garage open).
I like it, they were rare when new and by no means a common site, the Isuszu Piazza was more numerous and that was pretty rare.
Two grand doesnt seem unreasonable, ok it isnt pretty but is distinctive, looks tidy and is 4wd so could be a useful winter tool.
Probably about the rarest and distinctive car you can buy for a couple of grand, I even dont mind the looks.
When she was about ten, my daughter pointed to it and said she'd like "that one' - which was amusing given the cars I've had over the years. She's now 24 and a textile designer. Her agent says her designs are like they come from 'an island' so her liking this car speaks volumes!
This car also lives about 2 doors away from a Ferrari Testarossa (well it did when I last saw the garage open).
FWIW, I think it's great.
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