An imaginative Plan B for contemporary times...
Considering the average $50K+ price of a modern new car or $60K+ for a truck, wish that we'd have had had divine foresight, or a crystal ball, back in the day. Instead of one, we would have bought seven of these vehicles. Driven one and put the other six in garage storage. Once that designated driver had seen its day, pull another from storage, and repeat the process. Consider that our original purchase was eventually retired at 180K mileage, let's say at an average mileage of 25K/year. In theory we'd currently be on vehicle seven, with an expiration date of April, 2030. At an original purchase price of $5,200 (including tax and license), total cost for the seven vehicle lot ≈ $36,400. Figure in a few spare replacement parts for on the shelf, e.g., carburetor, alternator, distributor, CV joints, wheel bearings and such. Not bad (our opinion) for a, basically, fifty year daily driver. We did a current (on-line) inflation adjustment. Say $142K at $20K/vehicle. We've experienced typical modern repair receipts doubling that original purchase price. The small fleet of three RAM 5500's and one Ford F450 (all diesel) we ran at work averaged these typical shop repair costs: routine service $600 - $1,200+, minor fix: $1,200 - $3,000+, major fix: $6,000+. To replace a single, less than $100 sensor on a GMC Sierra 3500 once cost $6,200 as the entire cab of the truck had to be lifted to access the sensor (NOx or O2 as we recall) located somewhere behind the firewall. Prior calls to three alternate shops before authorization all confirmed the procedure... "Yep, that's what ya' gotta' do." And we maintained a file of multiple recall receipts for each.
(Internet Image)
Quite the deal, our opinion, for a carbureted mechanical engine system, points/condenser ignition, manual four-on-the floor, manual part-time 4WD, off-road competent, 4-passenger, 2-door small car hatchback. 1600cc (1.6L) engine; inline-4, iron block, aluminum head. Highway rated 33mpg (never checked it but sounds close). Best features - no convoluted electronic control modules and relays. Especially - no temperamental electronic sensors. And if ya' wanna' put the window down, right there's the hand crank.
Fixer friendly as well. Wasn't a thing on that car we couldn't repair ourselves. If needed. In 180K miles all we ever replaced was one CV joint and wheel bearing. Recall that we replaced the water pump around 140K. Replaced the fan belt while at it. Drivers seat broke mid-life and ya' had to constantly drive at a slight lay-back. Lived with that. Back to the CVjoint/wheel bearing. We were havin' a heck of a time removing the bearing. Couldn't get it. While back at the shop purchasing a replacement bearing we asked the parts guy how to get the old bearing off. He turned to a wall display of several hanging Subaru specialty tools. He points to a wheel bearing removal tool... $50... cost more than the bearing. And we were short on cash. And cash only purchases in those days. Don't even think that they accepted credit cards. We didn't own one even if they did. He then says "Wait a minute, I'll be back" and goes out thru the shop door. He returns about ten minutes later with an improvised shop tool consisting of a small box-thread knuckle welded to a bolt head. "This is what we use... just fasten it to the bearing then screw a slide-hammer body dent puller to the knuckle and hammer it out... just take it... no cost."
Still, it's a less than optimal small car unibody, which were just becoming standard. OK suspension. IFS struts/coil springs. IRS torsion bar, struts/shocks. Eight-inch ground clearance. The torsion bar gives the rear a bit of jaunty soft lift and firm ride. Nevertheless, we took it just about every (rational) place off-road as we did a lifted Dodge Power Wagon that we owned. Just had to be alert navigating the ruts and large rocks. And two guys could push it out of a ditch.
(Internet Image)
Manual four-speed w/ mechanical shift 4WD gear box
(Internet Image)
Initially walked into the dealer intent on a BRAT, at the time Subaru's version of a small, light truck. Wasn't aware of the hatchback or wagon models. After looking 'em over, walked out with the DL instead.
(Internet Image)
They even had a copy of this art poster on the wall exhibiting some rube on top rope rigged with a full rack of climbing gear, helmet and rock shoes. We'll bet he stood on the roof of that DL to grab that first hold... we'll take one anyway.
A while back someone commented to us that they doubted that we ever drove a car up into Bellefonte Quarry near State College, PA... "You could never drive into that place - we been there!" Pulled this old 35mm still image from the archives. The only image that we have of the DL. Dated Sept, '83. We never thought the uphill drive in was bad at all compared to some of the places we took that car. Climbing related, that's the beginner wall in the background. Three parties can be seen climbing. We'd occasionally run rigging from the auto tow hooks and belay from the top of the wall to climb a few routes along the foreground wall of the pond. Was too brutal of a cheese-grater slide to fall unroped from on high. And the face is almost entirely thin crimps, smears and edging, so ya' needed to maintain dry shoes and chalk. A while back we were contacted by a member of a local State College group looking to re-open the quarry as a designated climbing park. Asked for use of an image or two. Sure. Don't know what ever became of their efforts, but we see that the quarry is still closed to all access. Too bad. They're settin' on one of the best single-pitch, trad/sport climbing areas along the east coast, our opinion. A bit unique as well, featuring open sky faces and hosting a few western granite-style splitter finger and hand cracks.
(Interent Image)
Found this image on-line. We always thought that hatchback would modify to make a nice (looking) rally-style machine. Like minded thinker. Looks like they installed a bit of a body lift ta' boot. Nice work. Although, we learned our lesson regarding bolt-head shear on those unibody strut-spacer lifts. We'd cautiously decline if the intention was to take that thing out and beat it up.
This is probably the ultimate endorsement ever for those early model Subaru 4WD's. Our old climbing buddy Goodman, a highly persnickety and very hard man to please to say the least, was so impressed with the performance of our 4WD DL that he eventually purchased similar. Of course, a step up (one up per his rationale - ya' had to love 'em) to a 4WD GL wagon. An '84 model as we recall. He drove that thing up until his recent passing away just a few years back. Think that he (himself - he was a pretty good mechanic) performed a bit of short block rebuild just a few years prior. Said that he had a heck of a time finding parts. A thirty+ year old vehicle at the time. Not many of those were left cruising the streets. He mentioned that by then he had to get the pistons/rings shipped in from outside the US.
Pictured: West face of Seneca Rocks, WV - note the long departed Gendarme formation nestled at the base of the Gunsight Notch. Goodman's wagon nosed into the parking stall.
No comments:
Post a Comment