This is ANOTHER attempt at the Sorceror project. Project Sorceror (Based on the 70s movie of that same name) is to create a vehicle that can "go absolutely anywhere, at anytime, for any reason - no questions asked". The original vehicle for the project was the 4Runner that I brought back from Colorado. I couldn't afford to do shit with it, and the East coast rust claimed it's life right quick. Not to mention, the fuel cost was a huge obstacle (Needs to get no less than 400 miles out of on-board fuel)
In CT, however, a large SUV is actually a hinderance. Here I don't need a rock crawler because I ain't got no rocks for at least 400 miles radius. We have roads.
So the new project is slightly modified, and was going to be either a Subaru Brat or Subaru "2 door hatch" (Like a Justy, even) Fuel economy is an added requirement, and ground clearance was removed as one.
my Subaru Loyale (The Broodwagon) was a GREAT car on the roads, but the design wasn't my cup of tea. The Brat was my cup of tea, but the salvage title and all the work necessary to it was way out of line. The new RX is the middle ground.
Yeah, it ran for a few days before I "blew out the cobwebs" from the turbo and blew the head gasket. The car was pussyfooted all it's life.
It's ok. 1.8 liters, mild turbo, 10 forward gears on dry pavement (!) (Yes, it's got low and high for dry or wet roads) and it corners very well. It's not WRX fast, but it gets out of it's own way. Upgrades will follow.
There are few interesting points about old Subarus:
They have 2 ebrake systems. One for the front, one for the back. They are attached to one cable. (will attach them to individual cables and levers)
They have a ton of room under the hood, for the spare. Without the spare in the trunk, there is a ton of trunk room. (spare fuel cell and necessary electronics)
The suspensions on the upper models had air suspensions that lifted and lowered mildly. You can remove the small charge canister and either install a larger one, or flat-out valves to raise and lower it manually (Raising the car also increases strut pressures, and makes it bounce like a superball)
Subaru wheels from that generation are 4x140. Impossible to replace. But you can drill out the Ford 6x140 steel wheels and stuff them on. Subarus lack the torque to break them.
Older subaru transmissions are assembled in slices. You can stack certain bits and they all work together (You can make a car with low, high, and ultra high (or low)) You can also lock the rear driveline, or release a factory locked one. You can unplug the vacuum and disconnect the diff locks. All sorts of shit)