The Subaru BRAT: Ugly, Cheap, & Incredible Off-Road!

In this video we head off-road with our Subaru BRAT! This 1970s and '80s icon is quickly becoming a classic, but how does it perform off-road!? Let's find out!

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[Zeinzu]

Goofy little AWD/4WD cars/trucks like this, are what I'd like to continue seeing from you guys here on all your courses!!! Nice vid.

[chirpter]

I love that it actually had selectable 4wd not just a viscous coupling that needs wheelspin before it works, or the modern equivalent, brake-based tc. Very capable over that wombat hole course

[taswegian]

In Australia it was sold as the Subaru *Brumby until production ceased in 1994. Here later models had 1.8l engines, with some variants having dual range (H and L) selectable.
You can still see a few on the roads in rural areas, but many seem to have been kept for on-farm use only.
* Feral work horse.

[andrewsnow]

You mentioned the exposed oil pan. That brush guard originally came with a large steel bash-plate -- very sturdy (and heavy) for the size of the vehicle. You can still see the mounting flanges on the brush guard.

[speedbird]

I have a BRAT and people love it like nothing I've ever owned, People who remember it from back in the day love it, kids love it, women love it. I rarely take it anywhere without someone approaching me to ask a question or tell me that someone they knew had one and how cool they think it is. People wave, point, yell something in passing, give a thumps up or smile, it never ceases to amaze me.. It is completely stock with original paint and a little rough around the edges but in overall good shape. It is just a great little

[unclebob]

Tommi my neighbour had one new in 78 or 79 and it just plowed through any Manitoba winter and it started in cold weather without issue, they had a manual choke and had decent enough heaters in them to, he later traded it in for the first wagons to come to North America with the selectable 4WD transfer case and it did even better than the Brat did in bad weather, i do know it pushed snow as high as its front bumper without getting stuck, I don't know if it had open diffs or an LSD in the rear, I heard something about that, just can't confirm it, in snow storms we use to tow toboggans behind it what a blast it was 👍

[robb]

First speeding ticket I got was in a 1984 Subaru. Judge dismissed it when I told him the car was not capable of speeding on that uphill road.

[gsctht]

Love the video! Glad to see someone in the family don't just bash Subaru and just let's them be what there built to be.

[nateraw]

@6:19 when you start pulling off, i so luv the sound of those older Subaru engines😏 I miss the/my '81 Brat i had when i was a teenager🥲

[magnusshawn]

I had that exact car in silver with blue accents, jump seats and a factory tonneau cover. It had the 4 round headlights and everything. I never did serious trails but I worked on a huge farm and summer or winter it would go anywhere. Even in 3 feet of snow. Great video as always. Thank you 😊

[stanw]

Back in the 1970's my oldest brother worked for Southern California Edison as a lineman. That was when Global Cooling was a fear. He was issued a 4X4 utility van but it couldn't get through the unusual amounts snow that fell upon the Tehachapi mountains at the end of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. He started using the Brat he owned because it was the only vehicle that could handle the snow. It was so light that it just floated on top of the snow where the big Ford just sank and got stuck.

[thebeast]

You should try to find a 1980-85 or 87/88 AMC Eagle to test (in 1986 they changed the AWD system and it wasn't as good as the other years). Those things were tanks and fairly capable, and would make for an interesting VS against some newer CUVs or wagons.

[max.fleming]

1984 was probably the best year of my life, not that I haven't had a few others since. On march 11th I got my discharge from the navy. Moved back home to Santa Fe NM and a week later bought a brand new Subaru Brat and then a month later swapped my old Yamaha DT 175 for a 2 year old Yamaha XT 500. I've owned many vehicles and bikes since, but those two are still the best I've ever had !.
Right now in my garage is a 1980 XT 500 basket case I'm just starting to restore, but as I emigrated to the UK half a lifetime ago I doubt I'll ever get another Subaru brat, mores the pity.

[cartopia]

I agree with you Tommy. I also wish Subaru would have kept this powertrain recipe. I also loved the T-tops on the next generation of the BRAT. I stopped looking at Subarus when they went to the CVT.

[ragnarocking]

excuse you. That's the most beautiful car I've ever seen.

[OldThomMerton]

I had an '85 Camero when the USAF sent me to Montana for a tour back in '88. I picked up an '85 Brat and put some serious miles on it as a back-up/winter vehicle. I took that thing places that most people wouldn't have, used it to get to trailheads and as a winter vehicle. It was solid . . . I sold it when I left Montana, but after a few interesting winters in Washington I wished I's hung onto it.

- I just spotted the temp plates . . . Did you just buy that?! Awesome! I'd looked for one a while back and they are hard to find usable and ESPENSIVE!'

[RonOrud]

I had a 78 I bought in 86 for $200. It was rough, but I would love to have it again. It was rusted away and the motor probably needed a new head gasket. I love it still

[matthewwalker]

We had a ‘92 Loyal and it would go anywhere. All factory 4 or 2 wheel drive. We pushed a 2wd Isuzu trooper out of the mud, bumper to bumper, with little effort. Loved that car.

[RichiPuppi]

I wouldn’t exactly call them ugly. My father had one of these and got all sorts of positive attention whenever I was running around in it and could not believe how much interest it got when it was time to sell.

[reeddill]

I owned a 79 Wagon I inherited from my Dad when he bought a 84 wagon. Both were selectable FWD/4WD. The 79 had the same 1.6L boxer at 67 hp. The 84 had the upgraded 1.8L at 82 hp. The 79 had 150K miles on it when I inherited it. Gave it to my younger brother 4 years later with 210K miles. He rolled it down a hill with 240K miles and was scrapped. Motor ran perfectly up until it was wrecked. My Dad drove the 84 for 20 years and had 420K miles when the engine seized up. It was rusted out but was the most reliable vehicle he ever owned. Always started in Minnesota winters and lived its entire life outdoors. He bought a 99 outback to replace the 84. Last vehicle he ever owned. It finally died in 2015 with 280K miles after my niece bought it from my Dad. Subarus hold a special place in our family. Unbelievably reliable, the FWD/4WD and the AWD outback simply go anywhere you point them. The excellent ground clearance and light weight made them exceptional winter vehicles. I currently own a Jeep grand Cherokee AWD just for the added horsepower but it’s a similar vehicle to the Subaru wagons. My only advice to a prospective Subaru buyer is to choose a color you’ll like forever as it will far outlast most vehicles mechanically.