Rally Dreams: 2005 Subaru Forester XT

The Subaru Forester was launched in 2007 as Subaru's first entry into the (then small, now large) segment known as the crossover SUV, but the Forester was a long way away from being an AMC Eagle. A few years later Subaru put a slightly detuned version of their 2.5 liter turbo motor from the legendary Impreza WRX STI and called this new model the Forester XT.  Today, as cheap used cars, they offer an interesting combination of off roadiness, boosted all-wheel-drive fun, and manual gearboxes that'll challenge all takers for a few grand. Find this 2005 Subaru Forester XT offered for $5000 in Atlanta, GA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Little Lion: 1988 Subaru GL

Ask the average Joe what he knows about Subaru and he will probably talk about the new Forester or a variety of SUV-ish looking wagon-things that are designed to be lightly off-roaded and driven around the city.  Press a little more and Joe might talk about the sporty WRX or STI versions of the Impreza...but it is entirely likely that he is totally unaware of Subaru's interesting history of importing oddball economy cars into the US market starting in the 1960s with the Ladybug and continuing through the 80s with things like the GL. Find this 1988 Subaru GL offered for $3700 in Westchester, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Nicest Around: 1990 Toyota Celica All-Trac Turbo ST185

I love it when someone calls some car "the nicest around" because it often is such a stretch from the truth. And I won't give the hyperbolists in the room a free pass with this next car, I'll at the most admit that it looks like a blast to own/drive. Find this 1990 Toyota Celica All-Trac Turbo ST185 bidding for $6,300 reserve-not-met here on eBay with 3 days to go, located in Palm Harbor, FL. Tip from Dave.

6-Speed Shuttle: 1991 Honda Civic Wagon RT4WD

The 5-door Honda Civic Shuttle (previously called the Wagovan) was a crossover before there was such a thing as crossovers, but it competed with Toyota's Tercel Wagon and Subaru's Wagon thing in the small 4X4 wagon segment.  Power in the Civic Shuttle came from a 109 horsepower 1.6 liter 4-banger that was mated to a 6 (YES SIX) speed manual gearbox that featured a stump-pulling first gear good for about 2.1 mph at redline.  Find this 1991 Honda Civic Wagon RT4WD offered for $5500 in Cincinnati, OH via craigslist.  Tip from Rock On!

Not So Delicate: 1992 Mitsubishi Delica Exceed 4WD Turbodiesel

The Mitsubishi Delica was a compact Japanese van with unibody construction, a mid-engine RWD or 4WD drivetrain, and a smattering of engine options. These were sold in North America under the creative model names Van and Wagon, and only lasted a few years here (1987-1990). Those were basic cargo and people mover versions, but if Mitsu had offered us the full-on 4WD turbodiesel Delica in this market, they might have been as common as 4Runners and Cherokees. Find this Mitsubishi Delica 4WD for sale in Fort Myers, FL for $15,000 via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Full Time 4WD Turbo: 1987 Subaru GL

This next car comes as a tip from Jeff S who writes: Turbo Subies last forever...er...not really but this is interesting.  I have to admit that this machine does have some interesting street cred regarding its turbo, hatch, manual trans, and push button hi-lo 4WD.  Find this 1987 Subaru GL offered for $2,500 in Eastern West Virginia via craigslist...which can't be much more than the seller paid for it about a year ago.

Bento Box: 1983 Toyota Tercel 4WD

How often do you run into classic 80s Japanese cars with all-wheel-drive that aren't total wrecks or complete piles of rust? Not very often...well...actually we try and post those all the time around here, but I'm still regularly surprised. Find this 1983 Toyota Tercel 4wd offered for $3,200 near Boise, ID via craigslist.  Tip from Fuel Truck.

Diesel: 1987 Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60

 The 60-series Toyota Land Cruiser was built from 1980 through 1990 and offered a combination of off-road prowess and comfort that was far superior to most of the competition.  In the US market it was available with a thirsty inline-6 gasoline engine, but in some markets it could be optioned with a torquey diesel that matched the off-road character nicely.  Find this 1987 Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 offered for $14,500 near Phoenix, AZ.

Mountain Goat: 1984 Toyota Tercel 4WD

Photos of cars being used for their intended purpose greatly strengthens the persuasive argument come selling time, even if slightly abusive. Would you rather buy a Chevelle that you knew wasn't too tired to do a burnout via photographic evidence? How about a Tercel throwing snow over its trapezoidal silhouette? Hell yes, please, on both counts. Find this 1984 Toyota Tercel 4WD for sale in Concord, NC for $1,800 via craigslist.

Loyale Companion: 1988 Subaru Loyale TURBO 4WD Wagon

by Adam -- Growing up in a wintry wonderland, the kids whose parents really cared for their offspring found themselves equipped with four wheel drive cars. How the rest of us poor people survived I will never know. This turbo all-wheel drive wagon may have migrated from colder climates or was purchased by someone who visits the slopes in Arizona. Every option available for this model is present and works! That means the rare electronic ride height control is present along with the “digital” dash, trip computer, sunroof, power windows/doors/mirrors and “Turbo” light. Come on, who doesn’t want or need a turbo light in their life. Just in case you forget this is a turbo model graphics on the rear of this four door wagon remind you with “FULL TIME 4WD TURBO”. This 1988 Subaru GL-10 (Loyale) Wagon TURBO 4WD is available in Prescott Arizona  for $2,800.00.

Auction Watch: 1984 Toyota Tercel SR5 4WD

Find this 1984 Toyota Tercel SR5 4WD here on eBay offered for $3,977 buy-it-now or make-offer located in San Diego, CA.

Not So Mangy: 1983 Isuzu P'up Diesel

Once upon a time, before GM decided that it could spare a few thousand engineers to develop its own compact pickup truck, but after they realized they needed one, the top brass just did what any self-respecting large auto company would do in the same predicament, and bought one from Isuzu. The Isuzu Faster (...than what exactly?) was a pretty ordinary small Japanese pickup, which GM rebadged as the Chevy LUV as their bid in the captive import mini-hauler craze, competing with the Ford Courier (really a Mazda) and the Dodge D50 / Plymouth Arrow (Mitsubishi in disguise). After GM discontinued the LUV in the US and started selling their own S10 however, Isuzu marketed the truck under the parent badge, with the name P'up...short for...wait for it...Pickup. Find this 1983 Isuzu P'up Diesel 4WD for sale in Ventura, CA for $7,500 via craigslist.

5k: Ocean Hopping Keitora: 1991 Subaru Sambar

How much more Idaho can you get than a small town named Salmon with a population of 3,112?  Perhaps a town named Potato or Spud could be even more descriptive of the 14th largest and 39th most populous state in the Union, but today's feature has floated a long way from home.  Find this 1991 Subaru Sambar offered for $4,500 in Salmon, ID via craigslist.  Tip from AbnMike.

5k: 4WD Big Block: 1964 Dodge Town Panel Truck

It is the day after Christmas, so you are going to need a big car to haul your newly acquired loot home and to haul your old junk to the Goodwill.  You could find any number of domestic pickup trucks, but what if you need to stop for a coffee on the way -- someone might steal your new-in-box Chuck Norris Total Gym.  What you need is a panel truck...specifically this 1964 Dodge Town Panel Truck offered here on craigslist for $5,900 in Paso Robles, CA.

5k: Winter Soldier: 1990 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 3/4 Ton 4WD

In 1973 with the release of the 3rd generation of third generation Rounded-Line C/R & K/V, the Suburban was let into the wild as a 4-door vehicle.  This was technically the 8th generation of Suburban and it was built for an amazing 19 year production life cycle, only to be replaced in 1992 by the GMT400 based Burb.  Find this 1990 Chevrolet Suburban 3/4 Ton 4WD currently bidding for $2,550 here on eBay with a few hours to go, located in Etters, PA.

5k: JustYou Wait: 1988 Subaru Justy, 54k miles

Sometimes it's fun to imagine people being unreasonably defensive about their cars. "Just you wait," the Justy owner shrieks. "Slightly inclement weather and a marginal gas price increase is coming, and then guess who will be laughing?" With or without snow, the Justy's gas-sipping virtues and AWD capability are attractive even in examples more "broken-in" than this one, which has more cylinders than seat stains. Find this 1988 Subary Justy 4WD with 54,000 miles in Sacramento, CA for $4,800 via craigslist.

10k: Future Classic: 1994 Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4

The Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 was Mitsubishi's entry into the free-for-all cage match that was the 1990s Japanese sports car scene. Nissan had its turbocharged 300ZX and Skyline GT-R, Honda the superb NSX, Mazda the rotary screaming RX-7, Subaru sold a few funky SVX and even Toyota got in the ring with the bulletproof Supra, but the 3000 GT VR-4 was special...different...an eccentric madman in the clubhouse.  Find this 1994 Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 offered for $11,000 in Houston, TX via NASIOC forums classifieds.

15k: Classic Pickup: 1984 Toyota HiLux 4WD

The Toyota Hilux Pickup is known for its frequent use by militant groups all over the third world as an impromptu tank/troop-carrier/apc/goat transporter.  The HiLux is legendary for its rugged chassis and bulletproof R-series engines-- even the nay-saying talking heads over at Top Gear are fans of the simple pickup and it isn't built in Britain.  The market for used HiLux models has been pretty tame and simple running/driving examples can be had for nothing...but...signs of an impending explosion of nostalgia from folks who remember them from their youth and now have money are starting to show.  Find this 1984 Toyota HiLux 4WD currently bidding for $15,400 on ebay with a few hours to go, located in Tempe, AZ.