Why do certain cars capture our hearts? Sometimes it’s obvious – blistering speed, head-turning style, or an emotional connection that’s hard to define. And then there are cars that defy easy explanation, vehicles you adore despite their flaws. For me, the Subaru Xt Turbo falls firmly into this latter category. Make no mistake, the Subaru XT Turbo is, objectively speaking, a flawed machine. Yet, I find myself captivated by its quirky charm and 80s angular aesthetics. Sometimes, however, even deep affection isn’t enough to overcome the harsh realities of car ownership.
My First Encounter with Subaru’s Most Angular Creation
Growing up in the Midwest, Subarus weren’t the common sight they were in regions like the Pacific Northwest or the snow-belt areas of the East Coast. By the late 90s, any 80s Subaru that had braved harsh Midwestern winters had long succumbed to rust and returned to the earth. The Subaru XT and XT6 were complete unknowns to me.
Then, I stumbled into the orbit of a dedicated Subaru XT6 enthusiast right in my own backyard. When I joined the Champaign County Sports Car Club and started participating in autocross events, I was astonished to see a Subaru XT6 competing. It was my first glimpse of Subaru’s distinctive wedge design.
Jim's "Ruby Red" modified Subaru XT6, showcasing its unique wedge shape and sporty modifications.
The car’s owner, Jim, was a true aficionado. He was a moderator on a now-defunct XT/XT6 online forum and possessed encyclopedic knowledge of the Subaru XT6. His maroon XT6, affectionately nicknamed “Ruby Red,” was a testament to his passion. It wasn’t just any XT6; Jim had expertly modified it with suspension components from a WRX, transforming it into a surprisingly agile competitor in the Street Touring Sport (STS) autocross class. While not destined to dominate the podium, this quirky, angular Subaru was built to carve through cones and tackle twisty roads, and I found that incredibly appealing.
I eagerly sought Jim’s permission to drive “Ruby Red” at an event, but unfortunately, a severe storm with torrential rain and gale-force winds forced the cancellation of the event. Nature had intervened, denying me my chance to experience the XT6’s autocross prowess.
Rust, the perennial enemy of classic cars, eventually took its toll on “Ruby Red.” Undeterred, Jim embarked on a quest for a rust-free replacement. He located a pristine XT6 all the way in Hawaii and had it shipped back to Illinois. He then meticulously transplanted all his performance modifications onto this new, black XT6, christening it “Black Betty.” “Black Betty” continued to serve as Jim’s autocross machine and reliable daily driver.
After graduating and moving to Michigan for my first job in the automotive industry, I finally had the financial means to pursue my car passions. I indulged in a series of fun cars, including a 1966 Ford Mustang, a 1988 Mazda RX7, and a 1967 Saab 96. Yet, in the back of my mind, the desire for a Subaru XT Turbo or XT6 of my own persisted.
The Quest for XT Turbo #1: A Rust-Free Dream
Having learned harsh lessons from previous experiences wrenching on rusty cars, I was determined to find a project car that was free from the dreaded tin worm.
However, sourcing a rust-free 80s Japanese car, especially a relatively rare model like the Subaru XT or XT6, proved to be a significant challenge. Cars from that era were prone to rust, and Japanese cars, perhaps even more so. Compounding the issue was the fact that the Subaru XT and XT6 were never high-volume sellers to begin with and were known for potentially expensive mechanical issues, particularly their complex air suspension systems. Consequently, many examples had long been retired, succumbed to rust, or been scrapped before the turn of the millennium. My regular searches on Craigslist, eBay alerts, and constant monitoring of Subaru forums yielded only a few promising leads each year.
Meanwhile, “Black Betty,” Jim’s once pristine XT6, had started to show signs of rust, a consequence of its time as a winter car in Illinois. Witnessing the decline of such a unique car fueled my desire to find my own rust-free example, a garage queen Subaru that would be spared the ravages of salt and winter roads. But finding such a unicorn seemed increasingly unlikely as days turned into weeks, months, and years.
Front view of the black 1986 Subaru XT Turbo, highlighting its pop-up headlights and distinctive angular design, a hallmark of 80s automotive styling.
Just when I was beginning to lose hope, an eBay email alert appeared in my inbox, announcing a 1986 Subaru XT Turbo for sale in Oregon. Excitement surged through me as I clicked on the listing. There it was, a sleek, all-black car that appeared remarkably solid, with an interior that looked surprisingly well-preserved. Even better, the listing stated that the car ran and drove, and the seller mentioned using it for daily commutes. This suggested a degree of roadworthiness that was encouraging.
Side profile of the 1986 Subaru XT Turbo, showing its wedge shape and sporty stance, parked on a residential street in Oregon.
A quick check of Craigslist confirmed the car was also listed locally. I immediately contacted the seller, expressing my strong interest and explaining my intention to purchase the car and ship it to Michigan. I requested permission for a friend in Portland to inspect the car on my behalf. The seller agreed, and I contacted my friend, tasking him with a crucial mission: “Check for rust. If there’s even a speck of rust, let me know.”
My friend’s inspection report was exactly what I had hoped for: no rust, anywhere. My excitement intensified. I instructed my friend to proceed with the purchase, sending funds electronically for a cash transaction. Once the deal was finalized, I arranged for a shipping company to transport my newly acquired Subaru XT Turbo from Oregon to my garage in Michigan.
The black Subaru XT Turbo being unloaded from a car carrier, arriving at its new home and ready for its next chapter.
The day the transport truck arrived, I eagerly watched as the black Subaru XT Turbo was unloaded. As soon as all four wheels touched the ground, I jumped behind the wheel for a quick test drive.
Disappointment struck swiftly. The air suspension, a notorious feature of the XT Turbo, refused to raise the car. The test drive was abruptly cut short as it became painfully clear that the car was riding directly on the bump stops, resulting in a bone-jarring, teeth-rattling experience. How the previous owner had driven this car daily was a mystery. Perhaps the air suspension had failed during transport, or more likely, the previous owner had simply tolerated the jarring ride, oblivious to the car’s intended smooth, adjustable suspension.
Close-up of the Subaru XT Turbo's hood scoop, highlighting its non-functional design in relation to intercooling, and its role in directing air over the turbo housing.
Effectively undrivable, the black Subaru XT Turbo was relegated to the back corner of my garage. My backup plan was to fabricate a coil spring conversion, bypassing the troublesome air suspension entirely. In the meantime, my attention was focused on my Miata, being prepped for National Solo competition, and a Mustang undergoing preparations for a cross-country road trip.
XT Turbo #2: A Parts Car Savior
Fate, or perhaps my persistent eBay searches, intervened again about a year later. Another 1986 Subaru XT Turbo surfaced on eBay, this time hailing from the rust-prone New England region. As expected, this example exhibited rust on the body, but crucially, it boasted a remarkably clean interior and, allegedly, a functioning air suspension system.
The maroon Subaru XT Turbo parts car, showing its clean interior and the body rust typical of cars from the New England region.
Determined to secure this potential parts car, I placed an unusually high bid and won the auction easily, as interest in rusty XT Turbos was understandably limited. Arrangements were made for transport, and soon, the maroon Subaru XT Turbo arrived.
This second XT Turbo, unlike the first, was drivable, at least to some extent. While the interior air suspension controls were unresponsive, this car came with a treasure: a genuine Subaru diagnostic box, a relic from the 80s designed to troubleshoot the XT Turbo’s complex systems, including its temperamental air suspension. This diagnostic box was a grey metal enclosure with toggle switches, LEDs, and a cable that plugged into a port near the driver’s seat.
The genuine Subaru diagnostic box, a valuable tool for troubleshooting the complex systems of the Subaru XT Turbo, including its air suspension.
With the diagnostic box, I could manually activate the air suspension, overriding any faulty signals from the ride height sensors. However, my intention for this maroon Subaru XT Turbo was not to drive it, but to dismantle it. Before long, with the help of friends, I spent a weekend stripping the car of its interior and suspension components. The bare shell was then relegated to another corner of the garage, joining its black counterpart.
The maroon Subaru XT Turbo being stripped for parts, with interior and suspension components being removed to salvage for the black car.
Unfortunately, my initial enthusiasm was hampered by the realities of limited free time and the daunting prospect of lengthy troubleshooting sessions. Both Subaru XT Turbos remained dormant in the garage while other car projects took precedence.
Selling the Dream and Forging Unexpected Friendships
My cardinal rule for car ownership is simple: if a car isn’t being driven, it needs to go. With limited time and garage space, it made no sense to keep cars languishing in disuse. After much deliberation, I concluded that restoring the black Subaru XT Turbo was not a project I could realistically undertake at that time. My focus was better spent on my other cars, particularly racing my Miata. It was time to find a new owner for the black XT Turbo.
The two Subaru XT Turbos parked in the garage, awaiting their fate, alongside other project cars in various states of repair.
Unsurprisingly, advertising a non-running Subaru XT Turbo online yielded minimal interest. The first inquiry came from a young individual seeking an AWD Subaru, envisioning my XT Turbo as a budget-friendly alternative to a WRX project car. I quickly dissuaded him, explaining that the XT Turbo was not a suitable WRX substitute and declined to sell it to him.
The second contact was unexpected. It was a local email imploring me not to sell the car. Intrigued, I learned that the sender, Tim, was also a Subaru XT Turbo owner, and a passionate enthusiast of the model. He owned a pristine, concours-condition maroon XT Turbo, identical to my parts car. Tim, also a Dearborn resident and Ford employee, offered to assist in troubleshooting the black car. While appreciative, I declined his offer of help.
Finally, weeks later, a message arrived from a young man named Brady, an intern at FCA for the summer, who was interested in the XT Turbo. Skeptical but open, I agreed to let him inspect the cars.
Brady arrived and surveyed the two forlorn Subaru XT Turbos in my garage. I gave him a frank assessment: the black car was not roadworthy, and the parts car was immobile. Brady, without a truck or trailer, hoped to drive the black XT Turbo home.
I proposed a deal: if he could get the black XT Turbo running and roadworthy, I would sell him both cars for a significantly reduced price. He was welcome to use my garage and tools to work on the car. Once he succeeded, he could drive the black car away, and I would handle scrapping the parts car.
Brady working on the black Subaru XT Turbo in the garage, utilizing tools and parts to diagnose and repair the air suspension system.
Brady accepted the challenge. For two weeks, after his internship in Auburn Hills, he would drive an hour south to my Dearborn garage and dedicate his evenings to the XT Turbo. Tim, the local Subaru XT Turbo expert, joined us on several evenings. The three of us formed an unlikely bond as we watched Brady methodically dismantle the parts car, testing air struts and suspension components, piecing together working parts for the black car.
When Brady successfully revived the air compressor on the black XT Turbo and the air suspension system finally inflated, we were elated. I was genuinely happy that the black XT Turbo was going to a deserving owner, someone with the dedication I lacked.
Brady and Tim standing next to the now-working black Subaru XT Turbo, celebrating their success in restoring its air suspension.
Life often takes unexpected turns. While I never realized my dream of owning a pristine Subaru XT Turbo for shows and cruising, I gained something perhaps more valuable: two new friends, brought together by a shared passion for one of the most obscure and intriguing cars on the road.
I still maintain my online searches for an XT Turbo, XT6, or Legacy Turbo. A part of me still hopes to find the right car someday. But for now, reality has intervened, and I no longer have an 80s Subaru wedge in my garage. Neither does Jim, who has since transitioned to modern Subarus.
Jim is a wise man. Yet, I still find myself longing for a rolling doorstop, a testament to the inexplicable allure of the Subaru XT Turbo. Perhaps some automotive loves simply defy logic.
