Bought a college beater car, "The Wedge" - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

derburger · #1 01-04-2009, 11:44 PM

I bought a 1986 Subaru XT turbo for winter and beater driving at school so my MB is the garage queen now. I'll get better pictures later but I have one for now.

The car has 93k miles, engine has around 50k, was a replacement. It's a 5-speed manual, has an orange digital dashboard. Runs and drives nicely, but will need new tires due to dry rot. It's part time 4wd, 4wd is a toggle button on the shifter. It has the cool flip up headlights and they work. A/C, power windows, locks all work, has a factory cassette stereo with upgraded speakers that sound very nice. It has aftermarket wheels that are apparently rare in this bolt pattern. Not riced at all but has a big "SUBARU" sticker on the windshield. The hood scoop is factory and functional... The car came from California and has an ameteur repaint, very little rust. It idles a little high and might need other work of course. The interior looks like NORAD from WarGames or an 80's arcade game.

It came with a trunkload of parts, 3 alternators, a starter, headlights and tail lamps, fuel injectors, wiring stuff, extra ECU units, a bra, factory manuals, and a spare catalytic converter. All of that stuff is usable and eBay-able I suppose.

It should get great mileage on the highway due to gearing and aerodynamcis. I'm pretty happy with my purchase, the car was $750.

TheDon · #2 01-05-2009, 12:04 AM

got any more pics?

I kinda like that car

johnathan1 · #3 01-05-2009, 12:10 AM

I've always liked those cars!

bgkast · #4 01-05-2009, 12:39 AM

Nice. My friend had a old subie with that super '80s digital dash.

derburger · #5 01-05-2009, 12:53 AM

I'll get some pictures of this crazy dashboard and interior tomorrow. The manual shifter is a joystick, I don't think a more 1980's looking car could be found anywhere. It has a mono-wiper, flush door handles and the drag coefficient (.29) of a new Corvette.

TheDon · #6 01-05-2009, 12:56 AM

I had one of those in Grand Turismo... man that was a cool car

I think there is one for sale near me.

JimmyL · #7 01-05-2009, 02:00 AM

"The Wedge"!! Now that is funny!!

I can't wait to see pics of the interior and dash. I loved the 80's........

OldPokey · #8 01-05-2009, 11:26 AM

What a fun car! I drive by someone with three of those parked in his back yard every so often...

Mister Byrnzoil · #9 01-05-2009, 11:42 AM

Thats funny, I had an xt coupe in college... I loved it, it ran fantastic, it only left me stranded once when a timing belt broke, but hey, its a non-interference engine, so no damage.

The boxer engine on that car took a heroic amount abuse and was still running when it went to the junkyard many years and miles later.

Have you found the winter/summer switch for the mono-wiper yet? its under the dash by the drivers left knee.

That was my college car, it had many names... but someone called it 'the mazdaratti'... and for some reason, it stuck.

EDIT-Oh yeah... the seat belts were the automatic type, a cable driven system that I repaired at least 2x, that was a bit of a bummer... eventually I disabled it... anyway, if they get stuck in the forward position, close the doors, disconnect and reconnect the battery, and they should come back to the rearward position.

LUVMBDiesels · #10 01-05-2009, 12:23 PM

I always loved the XT. It was much cooler than the SVX that replaced it. It is built on the Loyale chassis and many drivetrain/suspension parts will interchange. for $750 you got a great dealon a car that is as reliable and well built as your MB!

derburger · #11 01-05-2009, 03:00 PM

This XT doesn't have the auto seat belts fortunately. It used to have an air suspension from the factory, but it was replaced with coils and springs when the air struts leaked. It does have the good stuff like digital dash and 5 speed, A/C works.

The car idles a bit quick at 1200. When I take off the oil cap the idle returns to 850 RPM which should be normal. The seals on the cap and dipstick aren't great. I think there's a vacuum leak somewhere that causes the fast/rough idle, there's a lot of "suckage" from the oil cap when it's off. Either way, it runs/drives good but I'll order new tires for it before I take it to school and try to track down the cause of the rough idle.

It's getting a safety inspection but after that more pictures. Here's the futuristic owner's manual. Wear Seat Belts At All Times For Your Own Safety!

wolf_walker · #12 01-05-2009, 04:05 PM

I always thought they were neat too, but kept it to myself, figured people would think I was weird.

I just put a clutch in a 95 Legacy AWD wagon last night, I like the little subies.

vwnate1 · #13 01-05-2009, 05:58 PM

Looks like a good deal . old Suby's just keep on running....

My son's Legacy Outback made a nifty off road racecar , good AC too

300SL24 · #14 01-05-2009, 08:36 PM

Back in the day there was a great commercial for that car...
Old farmer tells his 20 y/o son it's time for the family to buy another Subaru. The son heads off to the dealership, presumably to buy another sturdy wagon. Much to the father's surprise, the son returns with the XT.

Old father says "I told you to get a Subaru." The son responds "But dad, it is a Subaru."

That's a nice car. Good luck with it.

JHogan · #15 01-05-2009, 09:05 PM

Nice XT. I have the Factory service manual if you need any info and I used to build these EA82 cars a long time ago.

This one had a 4" lift, 14" Peugeot wheels, fabricated rack, posi rear, locking center diff, headers, cams, and a Weber 32/36 carb.

This is an 87 RX with factory posi rear and locking center diff.(read NO Spin)15" steel autocross wheels and 16" WRX wheels.
With many, many EA82T engine mods, including a TD03(can't remember, off a 93 Legacy turbo),
fabricated front mount intercooler running big cams,
and and about 14psi boost with a recirc valve. Very quiet, very fast.

I'm pretty knowledgeable about these EA82 cars if you want to PM me questions.

Didn't mean to hijack, just reminiscing about times(and cars) past.

Jay