Having owned new and used cars over the years, and a new Subaru Brat in 1982, I consider myself as moderately observant of Subarus.  In the late 1980s and early 1990s it seemed the Subaru wagons were everywhere.  Now I virtually never see them (of that era) here in NE Georgia.  Maybe I am just not very observant. Maybe they all were resold up north in snow country.   At the time, I don't think I was even aware that Toyota even made an All trac.  Not that I see many Alltracs, but relatively I would think I would see many more Subarus of the same era.  But this is just not the case.  My question is, are Toyotas of the era more reliable and long-lived than Subaru or am I just not paying attention?

I believe that Toyota is more reliable car than the Subaru.

I see a LOT of newer Subaru's here in Canada, 1995+

Most of the old ones are rusted out from what I've seen. In the junkyard there is always more Subaru's than Toyota here.

I think Subaru makes some nice wagons but they're also one of the ONLY options for all wheel drive wagons for the family consumers who want something newer, safer, etc. I believe that if Toyota would have kept up this line of wagons in the North American market they would sell the largest number of them just as they do with other cars! Subaru filled a need, but not necessarily with the same quality Toyota would have filled that need with given different circumstances!

Thats my 2 cents.

4 years ago I was actually looking for an 1980 series subaru wagon, looking online I came across the toyota corolla 4wd wagon.

I'd never heard of such a thing.

I began to do some research.

The subaru's engine was slightly more powerful, but the toyota proved better in crash tests & only marginally better in reliability - both were good.

But the subarus were considered rust buckets good for farmers but not for street.

The toyota had more going for it.

One thing the subaru has over the toyota though, is availability of aftermarket modification parts for those who wanted to toughen up it's 4wd aspect.

The toyota is more complicated to turn into an off-roader but it is do-able

Funny, I was also looking at Subaru wagons when I found my All-Trac in the classifieds.  I even saw a Subaru Legacy wagon with FWD, no AWD... I was like, what??  That one also had an issue with the fuel sending gauge, or whatever it's called... basically you wouldn't know how much gas was in the tank at a given time!

I, too, was looking at Subarus when I came across a Craigslist listing for a Toyota Corolla All-Trac in January 2004.  I had already narrowed my search down to stick-shift wagons, and wanted a 4WD.  The party selling the Subaru delayed our meeting, so I went to see the All-Trac.  The owner said that she received 11 inquiries, and had agreed to meet them at a local elementary school.  I was the first and only person to show up and bought it on the spot.

Quoted from datsa

I, too, was looking at Subarus when I came across a Craigslist listing for a Toyota Corolla All-Trac in January 2004.  I had already narrowed my search down to stick-shift wagons, and wanted a 4WD.  The party selling the Subaru delayed our meeting, so I went to see the All-Trac.  The owner said that she received 11 inquiries, and had agreed to meet them at a local elementary school.  I was the first and only person to show up and bought it on the spot.

damn good timing, i'd say  

although toyota engines go forever(i have owned 4) subaru 2.2 will go forever. i lived in northern vermont for years and all my friends from there roll the 2.2l 4 cyl. an live by them.i think subaru is the most popular car in new england?

Quoted from rolla

although toyota engines go forever(i have owned 4) subaru 2.2 will go forever. i lived in northern vermont for years and all my friends from there roll the 2.2l 4 cyl. an live by them.i think subaru is the most popular car in new england?

you're probably right - i see more of them than any other brand AWD vehicles in this region. granted, i'm driving one right now too...which would immediately change if the '92 All-Trac holy grail is ever found.  

Personally, when it comes to AWD vehicles, I prefer Audi Quattro vehicles. I had a 1989 Audi 200 Quattro, which was full-time AWD (50/50 split ) with a lockable rear diff. In my opinion, it's far more predictable than any of the other AWD systems I've driven. When I bought my car, I got the cheapest all-season tires I could find (walked out of the store under $250, mounted and balanced). A week and a half later, we got 8-10 inches of snow. I had ZERO issues with the snow. Those early Quattro cars (mid-80's through the early 90's), with snow tires are basically tanks.

I think my second favorite system would be the one in the All-trac though. From the little bit of heavy snow driving I've had with it, it seems fairly predictable, and the slight bias towards the front is nice. My only complaint is that my car pulls hard right when the diff is locked.

The few Subie's I've been in did some funky things in the snow. I'm not a huge fan of part-time AWD, particularly Subaru's system. It's not very predictable (I once had the AWD kick in mid-turn, which kicked the rear out in the middle of an intersection, that was interesting), and just doesn't seem as solid as other systems.

Quoted from SirRipo

My only complaint is that my car pulls hard right when the diff is locked.
.

I think the drivetrain/tranny/transfer needs to be checked; it should not do this, at least, I've never experienced anything like this.
I've seen your other posting about this. Any progress on this issue?

Quoted from JedzWagn

But the subarus were considered rust buckets good for farmers but not for street.

I was talking to a friend the other night, and he confirmed this, even for a Florida car, Subaru bolts etc rust out like no other.   He also said that buying replacement parts is costly, even for where he works (they salvage wrecked vehicles like Lancer Evos, Honda S2000s, etc).  I'm so glad I went with the All-Trac wagon when it came down to the choice!  This friend of mine is also in love with my wagon, lol... he wants one so badly.

In Washington state you cant throw a rock without hitting a Subaru. I like the all-tracs because they are different. If you look at the wagons for the period they were made the design was ahead of its time. A subaru wagon of the same period looks like a shoebox.

I agree Bam, 100%! The Subaru's that came out later, particularly the 96-99 Outback's look a lot like our wagon's from the side. Obviously a little curvier, but still very very similar to me.

Its disappointing Toyota abandoned this market. =\

Quoted from BAM

In Washington state you cant throw a rock without hitting a Subaru. I like the all-tracs because they are different. If you look at the wagons for the period they were made the design was ahead of its time. A subaru wagon of the same period looks like a shoebox.

I agree

outback's aren't very good cars because after 96 the 2.5 was mandatory,it has plenty of power,but a thirst for head gaskets and if the timing belt goes off one notch. they seem to rot out like crazy up here

Yeah I was at the junkyard not too long ago, and there are a LOT of subaru's in the import section, not NEARLY as many toyota's and very few with the 4AF(E)

I constantly get told my car looks like a Subaru. =( Its just because Subaru copied Toyota and then sold millions of them here.

probably one of the few reasons subaru had success with it,is after 1996 i think all they built were all wheel drive's PERIOD,plus they used bigger motors.don't get me wrong I like subaru's having owned one an outback no less,but given the oppurtunity i'd take a previa or corolla all-trac any day over a subaru.

apparently the all-trac system provides better grip than the awd subaru system but they're both very good cars. I think toyota really made a mistake with the 1.6L 4afe, they could've at least fitted a 100kw 4age and a little higher/stiffer suspension

I think one of the reasons for the discontinuation of the All-Tracs in the U.S. were that there was not enough general interest in an under-powered AWD/4WD vehicle.  Or maybe it was just poor marketing and not understanding the regionalism of the U.S. market.