1990 Subaru Legacy Wagon - No Rust in this Perfectly Preserved Champagne
$6,800 ︎ 215k
12/2020
When preparing to sell a car, you develop an intimacy with its form, function, and logic that is hard to obtain through typical operation. A sign that your efforts to prepare the car are paying off is a sudden urge to keep it. But for me, this prep has just increased my existing affection; I love this car.
What makes a car loveable, not just an object of desire, but a machine you want to commit to? Form, utility, and performance.
Form: I bought this car 14 months ago. I was scrolling craigslist, had never even contemplated purchasing a Subaru, and certainly was not on the hunt for one, but even in the postage sized thumbnail, I was charmed by the proportions of this car. The short hood and extended back, the straight lines moving across the body. It was at once familiar and idiosyncratic, clearly built to be useful but with engineering parameters that allowed for a unique iteration on a standard form. On further inspection, the commitment to smoothness, a consistent fillet across the sheet metal and molded plastic was remarkable and beautiful. A near-perfect expression of enthusiasm for the new decade (the 90's), somehow subtle and radical at once. A utility vehicle in Tomorrowland.
Seeing the car in person confirmed my formal impressions, but it was the tactile engagement with the interior that sold me—just a beautiful golden tan cocoon. I understand there is some sort of negative sentiment towards beige, but it starts to feel like a space manufactured to chill you out when it moves towards a warmer hue. Also, the condition; holy shit!
The test drive was... fine. The suspension was tired, and there were some sounds, the tires were old, it wasn't bad enough to break the spell. I was already falling in love.
Utility: Subaru's are, of course, known for their functional prowess, but they have become rather disgustingly festooned folded and formed panelized nightmares in the last 20 years. The magic of this car was that something so elegant and low-key could also perform like a truck with an unbelievably compact footprint. The outside shell to interior volume ratio on this car is unmatched. As an urban everything-car, it is perfect.
Performance: This one can be tricky. For the "Furious" crowd, this is an objective trait measured by numbers that index directly to desirability. But for most, the pleasure of driving newer cars has been neutered by their increase in power, as a series of automated processes are continually attempting to trim and limit the delivery of that power to keep the driver from killing themself. The experience of manually controlling the handling, gearing, and power delivery of a mid-power 90's wagon allows one to understand and enjoy "performance" instead of just reading about it at the dealership before purchasing a car. This car is fun to drive.
In my 14 months / 2500 miles of owning this car, I have invested ~$6k in recreating the experience of buying it new-off-the-lot. I wanted to understand the designed intent of the car and enjoy it for precisely what it was intended to be: an AWD expression of practical luxury, an Accord killer. This meant new struts, control arms, bushings, brakes, clutch, timing belt, water pump, tires, shifter bushings, 4 speakers etc... the goal was to create the experience of a new car for myself but also for my wife who wasn't entirely convinced that this car was "it." And, here's the bad news: she never was.
And so, here I am selling this rather incredible car. It's ok. We have other rad-mobiles and will likely get a Vanagon or a Delica. Sometimes you need to pass on the passion and let others enjoy the benefits of your affection.
There are no other Legacy wagons like this for sale. It has been garaged for its entire life, at home and at work. The paint is perfect aside from a few very small bumper marks. I clay-bared it and polished it for the sale, it is beautiful but honestly, it was before that too; it's just been immensely well taken care of. This car is not a "platform" for a "project," and it's not priced as such. The price will only make sense if your interest is in continued preservation, maintenance, and, most importantly, use.
The mileage is a testament to the durability of craftsmanship and materials that Subaru used in the production of this car. Obviously, it looks like it has a tenth of the mileage, has lived its entire life in non-coastal northern California. It is literally, 100%, no caveats, absolutely rust free and therefore an absolute joy to work on.
What makes a car loveable, not just an object of desire, but a machine you want to commit to? Form, utility, and performance.
Form: I bought this car 14 months ago. I was scrolling craigslist, had never even contemplated purchasing a Subaru, and certainly was not on the hunt for one, but even in the postage sized thumbnail, I was charmed by the proportions of this car. The short hood and extended back, the straight lines moving across the body. It was at once familiar and idiosyncratic, clearly built to be useful but with engineering parameters that allowed for a unique iteration on a standard form. On further inspection, the commitment to smoothness, a consistent fillet across the sheet metal and molded plastic was remarkable and beautiful. A near-perfect expression of enthusiasm for the new decade (the 90's), somehow subtle and radical at once. A utility vehicle in Tomorrowland.
Seeing the car in person confirmed my formal impressions, but it was the tactile engagement with the interior that sold me—just a beautiful golden tan cocoon. I understand there is some sort of negative sentiment towards beige, but it starts to feel like a space manufactured to chill you out when it moves towards a warmer hue. Also, the condition; holy shit!
The test drive was... fine. The suspension was tired, and there were some sounds, the tires were old, it wasn't bad enough to break the spell. I was already falling in love.
Utility: Subaru's are, of course, known for their functional prowess, but they have become rather disgustingly festooned folded and formed panelized nightmares in the last 20 years. The magic of this car was that something so elegant and low-key could also perform like a truck with an unbelievably compact footprint. The outside shell to interior volume ratio on this car is unmatched. As an urban everything-car, it is perfect.
Performance: This one can be tricky. For the "Furious" crowd, this is an objective trait measured by numbers that index directly to desirability. But for most, the pleasure of driving newer cars has been neutered by their increase in power, as a series of automated processes are continually attempting to trim and limit the delivery of that power to keep the driver from killing themself. The experience of manually controlling the handling, gearing, and power delivery of a mid-power 90's wagon allows one to understand and enjoy "performance" instead of just reading about it at the dealership before purchasing a car. This car is fun to drive.
In my 14 months / 2500 miles of owning this car, I have invested ~$6k in recreating the experience of buying it new-off-the-lot. I wanted to understand the designed intent of the car and enjoy it for precisely what it was intended to be: an AWD expression of practical luxury, an Accord killer. This meant new struts, control arms, bushings, brakes, clutch, timing belt, water pump, tires, shifter bushings, 4 speakers etc... the goal was to create the experience of a new car for myself but also for my wife who wasn't entirely convinced that this car was "it." And, here's the bad news: she never was.
And so, here I am selling this rather incredible car. It's ok. We have other rad-mobiles and will likely get a Vanagon or a Delica. Sometimes you need to pass on the passion and let others enjoy the benefits of your affection.
There are no other Legacy wagons like this for sale. It has been garaged for its entire life, at home and at work. The paint is perfect aside from a few very small bumper marks. I clay-bared it and polished it for the sale, it is beautiful but honestly, it was before that too; it's just been immensely well taken care of. This car is not a "platform" for a "project," and it's not priced as such. The price will only make sense if your interest is in continued preservation, maintenance, and, most importantly, use.
The mileage is a testament to the durability of craftsmanship and materials that Subaru used in the production of this car. Obviously, it looks like it has a tenth of the mileage, has lived its entire life in non-coastal northern California. It is literally, 100%, no caveats, absolutely rust free and therefore an absolute joy to work on.