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Purely by chance a feller I speak to occassionally who's doing reno works at the nursing home my poor old Gaffs at took a glance at Ellie this afternoon and said "ah a real one" meaning an L RX Turbo .

I said yeah not too many left now and yes its turbo AWD . No 4WD he sez and I said no it has a modified (DR) AWD Vortex box in it .
He groaned and said I used to work at , can't remember the dealers name , when they were new and what a disaster they were .

We both had other places to be but I will pick his brains next time I see him .
So for the record were Vortexs in Australia considered to be a problem at dealer levels ?
I've never known anyone who owned one and the few people who'd seen them mainly remembered them for their "out there" styling .
I have found over the years that some people developing a likeing for cars that were not sold in any great numbers purely because they are rare/collectable .
also , BTW , the above mentioned feller reckoned they we were supposed to get the six cylinder version but for some reason Zoob didn't bring them in .

Damn shame , could have saved a lot of dramas for hardened L Phyles .

They did not sell many because the original Turbo 4WD Vortex was over $27 000 when new, overpriced compared to most other Japanese sport coupes. Imagine the cost of a six cylinder version! No way would Subaru Oz have be able to shift them out of dealer yards/showrooms. Australians thought of Subaru as utilitarian and tough, the Vortex did not fit that particular mold.

If I remember correctly 1987 and '88 were the lowest yearly sales figures for Subaru in Australia since 1982/83. The Liberty in '89 really was a 'make or break' model for the company in Australia.

I always loved the Vortex, even made a wooden model in high school woodwork! But I think it was just a little too quirky for Australian tastes.

Similar sales story here for the Vortex.....
Just seen the UK's registered for the road figures The Vortex (or here called XTturbo's) in manual there are 2 and in Auto 3 of them - soon to be another manual one as mine has just passed its MOT test ! (rego ??)
On the road figures for 1994 (as far back as figs go) Just 312 total !
So based on that figure there would not have been that many more sold than that I'd say.
The Vortex is I'd say just becoming collectable - if you can find one that is !:mrgreen:

Brumbys currently around 600.
For Mk1's and 2's combined were 19,500 total approx sold in the UK around 14,000 Mk2's in that figure. SUK figures.

For whats left its not a lot really considering the UK has 27 million cars and 65million people here !
For those interested take a look here at this linky doodarz......

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/da ... eh0120.xls

Or see here for specific Subaru's sold in UK. (Credit goes to ''TechnicianJack'' for the XL spreadsheet legwork !) .... God how I hate XLspreadsheets !
Fiddled with the spreadsheet, I have selected all of the 1980's type Subarus. There's about 500 or so pickups left.

HOW TO USE THIS CHART:

The numbers and dates don't line up. The format is supposed to be like this:

YEARS----->
Vehicle model - number of vehicles according to year:

For example it should work like this:
---------2010 2009 2008
Pickup - 592 - 600 - 634

So in 2010, there would be 592 pickups left. In 2009, there are 600 pickups left, and so on, from left to right.

Make & Model ID Make Model 2010 q4 2010 q3 2010 q2 2010 q1 2009 q4 2009 q3 2009 q2 2009 q1 2008 q4 2008 q3 2007 q4 2006 q4 2005 q4 2004 q4 2003 q4 2002 q4 2001 q4 2000 q4 1999 q4 1998 q4 1997 q4 1996 q4 1995 q4 1994 q4
R5015 SUBARU 284 4WD PICK UP 592 600 634 676 712 754 799 860 921 965 1149 1470 1889 2377 2911 3644 4454 5301 6203 7082 7870 8566 9129 9988
R5023 SUBARU 1.8 4WD GL 15 15 18 18 22 22 24 29 29 33 44 68 117 220 369 711 1139 1764 2531 3221 3886 4298 4539 4894
R5022 SUBARU 1.8 4WD DL 21 25 27 32 37 38 41 49 57 63 76 139 235 386 567 753 995 1238 1543 1793 2069 2236 2392 2606
R5014 SUBARU 282 4WD 1 2 2 1 1 2 3 3 3 3 2 6 11 10 13 20 37 59 123 207 409 665 987 1452
R5018 SUBARU 283 4WD 5 4 5 5 7 4 5 7 7 4 12 12 16 22 34 64 114 182 323 479 687 859 1009 1256
R5029 SUBARU 1.6 4WD DL 3 4 6 3 4 7 8 6 6 8 16 31 49 75 123 200 305 410 522 650 755 844 878 940
R5024 SUBARU 1.6 DL 5 6 5 4 5 5 8 9 11 12 14 28 50 73 113 167 252 339 470 587 689 768 831 900
R5019 SUBARU 1.8 GL 5 7 9 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 14 16 27 42 72 116 189 286 371 504 618 696 730 786
R5026 SUBARU 1.8 4WD GL AUTO 4 4 2 2 3 4 3 2 5 7 8 10 24 49 76 141 230 338 443 556 646 704 737 775
R5042 SUBARU 1.8 4WD TURBO ESTATE 2 3 2 2 2 4 2 3 4 4 5 7 11 28 38 89 172 279 392 492 554 609 649 668
R5027 SUBARU 1.8 4WD GL TURBO 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 5 13 27 51 93 164 261 394 500 557 662
R5032 SUBARU 700 HIGHROOF 2WD 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 3 2 4 4 9 14 27 47 82 121 183 246 296 401 460 574
R5033 SUBARU 700 HIGHROOF 4WD 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 12 21 39 59 99 131 177 254 343 418 545
R5028 SUBARU 1.8 4WD GL TURBO AUTO 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 4 11 28 39 66 127 188 252 310 340 400
R5005 SUBARU 4 WHL DRIVE 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 5 8 11 14 21 28 36 58 102 165 237 348
R5008 SUBARU GLF 5 SPEED 2 2 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 3 4 6 7 8 12 20 29 42 62 83 125 180 235 328
R5043 SUBARU 1.8 4WD TURBO ESTATE AUTO 1 1 1 1 2 4 9 15 31 58 91 135 192 233 263 291 305 311
R5017 SUBARU 4WD AUTO 1 2 1 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 4 3 13 19 30 52 78 113 178 228 309
R5035 SUBARU 1.8 4WD TURBO COUPE 1 1 1 1 2 4 9 15 23 41 51 91 136 185 220 252 259 274
R5020 SUBARU 1.8 GL AUTO 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 6 5 11 18 37 51 80 102 134 163 191 211 218 239
R5016 SUBARU 4WD DL EST 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 5 4 7 8 9 10 13 25 40 57 90 138 217
R5002 SUBARU DL 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 4 6 9 7 9 17 29 47 64 96 145 216
R5006 SUBARU PICK UP 7 9 8 9 9 10 10 9 9 10 9 11 13 16 22 20 33 37 40 41 59 77 119 192
R5030 SUBARU 1.8 4WD XT TURBO 2 3 4 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 5 7 8 9 14 32 44 64 86 114 151 172 186 191
R5013 SUBARU 282 GLF AUTO 1 2 2 5 11 20 33 49 74 108 157
R5021 SUBARU 1.8 GTI 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 6 8 15 28 41 61 83 116 141 153
R5036 SUBARU 1.8 4WD TURBO COUPE AUT 1 1 1 2 2 2 4 7 7 10 15 33 54 70 84 103 105 119 134
R5031 SUBARU 1.8 4WD XT TURBO AUTO 3 3 4 4 4 3 2 2 1 3 5 2 9 14 16 23 34 51 61 78 103 111 116 121
R5012 SUBARU 282 GLF 1 1 1 2 3 9 19 28 49 80 113
R5025 SUBARU 1.8 4WD RX TURBO 1 3 7 10 21 29 48 72 87 106
R5011 SUBARU 282 DL 1 1 2 9 15 20 32 60 103
R5010 SUBARU DL 4WD 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 5 4 6 14 25 40 57 83
R5041 SUBARU 1.8 INJECTION 1 1 1 2 11 14 19 30 37 49 60 68 73
R5004 SUBARU GL 1 1 1 1 2 2 4 5 8 11 18 22 25 33 38 50 71
R5001 SUBARU GFT 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 2 1 8 10 11 18 17 51
R5009 SUBARU GLF AUTO 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 3 3 1 1 2 4 7 8 13 20 16 15 23 34 48
R5007 SUBARU CUSTOM 5 SPEED 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 3 6 11 13 12 7 5 4 7
R5003 SUBARU DL AUTO 1 1 2 4 4 5 5 5 7 2 4 3 11 3 2
R5034 SUBARU 700 2 2 2 4 8 7 10
R5058 SUBARU GL 2WD 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 2 2 2 4 4 2 3

Funny how there are memories like that fellows out there. My 4GLTA ended up in a wrecking yard before I got it. It went to the wrecker because the used car dealer had done enough in his eyes to resurrect it to a sale standard. One of the sales guys there sold them and the RX new and reckoned they were great cars - their extra efforts were wasted. Caught up with a mechanic that remembered mine when it was at that stage at the dealers and he had no praise for it at all. I have offered to take him for a ride ....one day perhaps to change his mind:)

A review by Wheels in 1985 was only on the FWD NA Vortex and was not all that full of praise for the Vortex, listed at an estimated 19k plus alloys as standard. The only options then were sunroof and AC both about $1200 boxes.

It may be a bit like one brand that did not do well on relability surveys as buyers paid a lot of dough for them, small problems led disgruntled buyer to lay crap when survey time came around. I don't think BMs were deserving of their past low or high ranking.

Maybe if you'd shelled out close to $33k on the road for a door wedge and your sunroof started leaking.....

Non AC Turbo AWD came out with just one radiator fan - an electric fan! You'd think just a second one would have helped

Basic VL Turbo SL $19k
Calais VL Turbo $29k
Cordia Turbo $22k

LNC was the importer of Subarus in the day, not Subaru as such
The sales success may also have depended on the sales person, dealership etc and regions wealth at the time. They must have sold a bucket load of red turbos in Melbourne.

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SoA, Subaru of America had sales target of 25,000 units of the 4WD Vortex in mid 80's

About 10 years ago, Eblens (SA's largest Subaru dealership - used to be the LNC outlet back in the day) had a pristine AWD Turbo Vortex in blue for sale, with 76,000 km on it for $10,000.

Stood out amongst the Outbacks, WRXs etc

Turns out was the dealership owner's mothers car, and it was salvaged from a shipment of about 40 units that were returned to FHI as they could not be sold off the floors in the AUDM at the end of of the model run.

With new models coming, it seems they could not give away in the end.

Well, that is what the parts guy said anyways.

sven '2' wrote:About 10 years ago, Eblens (SA's largest Subaru dealership - used to be the LNC outlet back in the day) had a pristine AWD Turbo Vortex in blue for sale, with 76,000 km on it for $10,000.

Stood out amongst the Outbacks, WRXs etc

Turns out was the dealership owner's mothers car, and it was salvaged from a shipment of about 40 units that were returned to FHI as they could not be sold off the floors in the AUDM at the end of of the model run.

With new models coming, it seems they could not give away in the end.

Well, that is what the parts guy said anyways.

I wonder what they would be worth new today ??;)

Returned ? I thought stock was bought by dealers who had no right to return, unless it was on consignment. What dealer would have 40 of these or was that the total of all dealerships? Not a good story to be telling of the time trying to sell one for $10,000. I have found stuff on the net from 2003 where they change hands for a grand or less, or bit more.

Just repeating the story...

Had the impression was nationwide.

Saw the car myself at the time - was indeed mint, and well as for the price...is a dealer after all.

shoot the messenger , yeah, sorry did not mean to question your word heard.

Would todays version be a two door impreza with turbo ? The Vortex was replaced by the SVX another supercar pricetagged. No SVX owner members ?

Been looking at Vortex figures . The 4WD Turbo hit scales at 1130kg add 45 for auto 4WD, add 35 for AC, add 8 for towbar, 11 for sunroof and 2 for power windows.

The AWD auto is 60 kg heavier then FWD 5 speed, 45 more than 5 sp AWD

Suspension height data from wheel centre to wheel arch
375mm front (AWD man 407) 324 rear ( 4WD man 355)
got some other confuse figures of front 380 and rear 325 for AWD man and 345 and 285 for FWD versions

4490 long, 1690 wide, heigt at kerb mass 1330, wheelbase 2465, rear overhang 995 and laden ground clearance 110mm or 155mm for 4WD Turbo

Above are for JF1AX4DROBB of 4/87 not later JF2AX7

Short answer: Probably. But it was the 80's - the times of bad fashion & haircuts yet from it born some vehicles that grew a cult like status. Unfortunately for the Vortex I don't think this status took off - maybe until now, but it's a bit late!

Cheers

Bennie

It is funny how L Series turbos slip under the radar. I have been parked at some spots where a gaggle of Libs and Rexes go past all revelling in their own majesty yet don't stop near the L to compare or marvel. I don't expect praise, but some recognition would be nice. Maybe if I had the sponge tail on the boot lid, surely the high arse, big tail pipe and door spats would be spotted by a few die hards. Mind you, Cheap Grief has had a few girls (and blokes) pose with her in some random spots

steptoe wrote:I have been parked at some spots where a gaggle of Libs and Rexes go past all revelling in their own majesty yet don't stop near the L to compare or marvel... ...Maybe if I had the sponge tail on the boot lid, surely the high arse, big tail pipe and door spats would be spotted by a few die hards.

Nah. I doubt much that the liberty and WRX crew realise what the early subarus were about - unless they've started in this era, in which case, they've probably posed with cheap grief when they've spotted it

Cheers

Bennie

I always get funny looks off people when they blast off at the traffic light Grand Prix , this funny looking white thing still in the mirror all perched up on these skinny little wheels .

Also get the odd unsuspecting tryer that gets in the curb side lane to burn me off at the lights before they reach the parked cars further ahead . Seven times out of ten I get out of the blocks faster than they do because they think its and ancient carby fed cardie car snail - but its hard not to grin .

So no , very few people know what an RX Turbo is but after a few sets of lights they look closer at the polished to death well white now anyway decals on the sides .
I lurve it when its wet cause I can do most FrWD and RWD cars and the more guts they have the more they sit spinnin .

I drive on the limit , no the speed limit and thankfully little old Subarus are invisible to cops too .

I have caught stern sideways glances from uniforms while idling away at the servo (however stern a mid 20's boy can look at an elder) and need AWD to stop losing traction on those V6 Commode boys. Toyota Coronas don't go like that??

I use to do some work for a Mr P Sturrock former Chief Executive of the FCAI and before that MD of LNC.
He knew I drove a Turbo Sedan and in conversation he mentioned the biggest problem they had in the 80s was the agricultural tag associated with Subaru.
Potential customers looked all Subarus as Brumbies just with different seating arrangements.

That said my family bought a '86 n/a Vortex that my sister inherited once she was driving age and all my mates, even now 20 years later, when they talk about her they mention that "wedge sports car" she use to drive.

god vortexs are ugly tho!

sammynb wrote:He knew I drove a Turbo Sedan and in conversation he mentioned the biggest problem they had in the 80s was the agricultural tag associated with Subaru.

I wish that they had at least ONE model that was more agricultural like what VW has done with their new 4x4 ute...

Cheers

Bennie

Alex wrote:god vortexs are ugly tho!

Exterior I like with a good set of mags - interior is a little too "star trek" for me!

Maybe their target demographic were die hard star trek fans

Cheers

Bennie