The Story of Four Subas ..... Big Boys Toys 

The Wandel Menfolk

The Gang of Four

Stephen In December 1995 Stephen made the ultimate mistake of buying a Subaru. A 1985 L Series sedan, the green mean machine, with lift kit, large wheels, constant all wheel drive plus low range. This car has been to all sorts of places, Weipa, forest tracks, beaches and Stradbroke Island. It has been in various stages of assembly or disassembly with bits strewn about under my house. But I still love him!

Brian (and Diane - of course!) Stephen showed us what these cars can do and we decided that the white Valiant which was 25 years old needed to go, so why not buy a Suby? We ultimately saw and bought the absolutely beautiful ’93 Liberty wagon in eye catching Mica Red. It is GXi AWD with low range and adjustable height. It doesn’t quite have the get up and go that the Valiant had but it is a pleasure to drive.

One day as we were driving up the Bruce Highway I made the comment that there is only one thing wrong with this car: "You hardly have to drive it" (as I sit behind the wheel, power steering of course, cruise control of course, adjustable steering column and seats of course) "you just need to aim it".

Unfortunately we have not yet made it on Club outings but hope that will change next year. It handles the towing of our Cub Camper trailer with ease.

Andrew The "Ghostlet" was purchased as a replacement for the "Blue Bomb" - a 1981 Datsun Pulsar which belonged back in its stellar namesake. It is a ’91 Liberty GX, with constant AWD, tinted windows (which we only noticed after we bought it), alloy wheels, and, most importantly, a spoiler. It also comes with roof-mounted racks, which, when removed, make it look like it has had a prickle haircut. Stephen, having the annoying trait of having to pull everything apart, decided to disconnect the spoiler’s high-mount brake light and re-connect the interior brake light. This meant, of course, that the if the interior high-mount brake light was activated, you couldn’t see it for the spoiler, unless the boot was open, which means that you still wouldn’t be able to see it. That wouldn’t matter, however, as people would be too busy trying to dodge the luggage to bother looking at your brake light!

Unfortunately, the Ghostlet doesn’t have a powered antenna, because the previous owner decided to use it to dance the limbo. Since this is the only car in the family that isn’t lifted, or can be pneumatically raised, I guess it’s got the best chance of winning.

Fortunately, the aforementioned trait of Stephen came in handy here. While looking for the jack handle, he pulled out the boot lining around the passenger side (thinking the intelligent past owner had decided to stow it with the jack) and looked in the cavity next to the panel. There it was - no not the jack handle, the remains of the power antenna. Our friend, the previous owner, once he had disconnected the antenna must have thought to himself "Now what do I do with this?" It obviously being too much of an effort to remove (these things are really heavy), he unbolted it from its frame, and decided to leave it there. Wasn’t that thoughtful of him?

When one of the local Subaru workshops did a test of the car, they discovered a rattle in the back left but couldn’t identify it. Another "specialist" said they tightened an axle nut and the problem was fixed, but I think we all know what it was now, don’t we comrades?

I could tell you a lot more stories but the Ghostlet’s calling for some attention, and of course, you’ve got to obey your Suby.

By the way, the nickname "Ghostlet" came about because the Rego number is CBG - Seebeegeebies - Get it!

Jason My car has already appeared in the "That’s My Car" section a couple of years back. It was listed then as being Julie Neilson’s "shopping car". It’s essentially the same: a 1991 white DL Sportswagon with lift kit, flares and roof bars (which I’ve removed to save petrol).

It has changed a little though, in the year and few weeks since I purchased it from them. Most of the changes are superficial: central locking, new stereo system, new spotlights and wiring. However, it has also had power steering added and GL front seats so I get height adjustment. Next is a stabilizer for the rear suspension and power windows, and perhaps 14 inch wheels and, at an outside chance, constant 4WD.

Brian, Jason And Andrew Wandel

Webmaster's Footnote: Steve earned himself the nickname "Salty" as he couldn't seem to keep out of the water when travelling on club trips down to the beach. We have since learned that Salty has retired the Green Machine - not from rust, but from accident damage. He is now setting up another Subaru for off road.

Salty on dry land - almost!