European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 6, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Thursday december 6, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 13 �?~1 it r a. Little car big a 1 a amp the Subaru Justy with four wheel drive on tap is an interesting Little car that has a lot going for it. For instance its probably the worlds least expensive four wheel drive car the 2-door version costs just under $8,000 in the United state sit can hit nearly 100 Miles an hour and it can carry on Over the worst roads imaginable. And it does so with a fuel Thrifty 3-Cylinder engine. Quite impressive. When Subaru a German Headquarters in Friedberg invited us for a Days driving session with the new Justy Gli we accepted in a hurry As this car has always fascinated us. The occasion was to Sample the four wheel drive 4wd Justy with its no wafted improved engine a More powerful 75 horsepower 1.2-liter unit the Justy is not a full time four wheel drive vehicle. The 4wd can be switched on and off As needed and when the 4wd is turned off the car reverts to front wheel drive. In Germany the 4wd Justy is offered with both 1-liter and 1.2-liter engines the Power ranging from 55 to the new Multi Point fuel injection engines 75 horsepower. In the United states however the Justy 4wd is marketed Only with a 1.2-liter-en-Gine. The base Carbur eted version turns out 66 horsepower while the fuel injected engine emits 73 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 71 it lbs of torque at 2,800 rpm. The three Cylinder engine which has three valves per Cylinder is coupled to a five Speed manual Gearbox automatic is optional. That a a bit of background but now lets get on the Road. To make certain that journalists were properly impressed a by the Little Justy 4wd, the Subaru people had several professional Drivers around. Our a a chauffeur was Rena Blore of Germany a rally Driver who has competed in such world Cham the Justy 4wd speeds along with Power from a new 3-Cylindcr, 1.2-liter Multi Point full injection engine. Pion ship 1,000 Lak and the rear setbacks fold Down to provide extra cargo space. Young people watching their pocketbooks would find the Justy perfect for the skiing season because of the four wheel drive setup and As the Justy averages a bit Over 30 Miles to the gallon it Cost much to reach the slopes either. The test route in the Taurus mountains Back roads and autobahn included dry stretches wet and Muddy stretches plus _ classics As the Monte Carlo and 1,000 lakes of Finland. She pointed to an incredibly Steep mud rutted Nill that would have presented a formidable Challenge to a jeep. Professional rally Driver or not this one looked strictly impossible for a car with Only 75 horsepower and Normal ground clearance. But Blome with this writer strapped in next to her charged Uphill it seemed straight up and although the Little car slightly faltered once she caught it at the right second and powered Over the Crest. Then we headed straight Down a arid fast. Once Down we made some turns through a sea of mud then screeched to a Stop in the parking lot. Only a first class rally Driver like Blome could have brought this off but the car had to be first class too and the Subaru 4wd Justy came through. And it was not equipped with special tires or on the More mundane Side the 4wd Justy is not Only a practical car but its a Quot fun car As Well it conies in two versions _ we found the new /5 Norse pc a three door and five door Hatchback a a Gine Peppy and one that offered plenty of gear drive. Nothing could be simpler. Once engaged a diagram of a four wheel drive car tights up on the dashboard to serve As a reminder when the Justy is out of the four wheel drive Mode it reverts to its regular front wheel drive As noted earlier. While four wheel drive is not vital in the wet its reassuring to know that you have it when you want it. And in Snow and mud it can play an important role. A we found the new 75 horsepower in passing Power especially on the Back roads. Our Best Zero to 62 Mph time 100 Kph was 13.5 seconds the official read ing is 13.2 and our top Speed was 97 Miles per hour. Running at High speeds in fifth gear the 80 to 90 Mph bracket the Rev counter is always Between the 5,000 and 6,000-rpm Mark with the redline pegged at 6,000. So the engine works hard and it can get noisy at top Range. The brakes ventilated discs at front and Drums at rear were especially Good and so was the rack and Pinion steering. The suspension is Independent All around offering a firm but comfortable ride. A a generally speaking the Justy 4wd Hatchback Sedan is a lot of car for Little Money and anyone living in an area where it snows even now and then should Check it out. A a a. A a Randy Barnett Auto columnists Goon is spacious and then some by Jan a. Zverina Detroit up the full sized station Wagon lives for 1991, despite the onslaught of minivans in this Market and efforts by Saddam Hussein to make a gallon of Gas dearer for us All. for motorists who cannot manage with anything less than a spacious land yacht that seats eight in Comfort Chevrolet a 1991 Caprice Wagon enters the Market with its first major restyle my in 14 years. A a a a a a. Like the 1991 Caprice Sedan the wag on rear wheel drive full Frame Chassis is carried Over from 1990, but its Interior is completely new As is its windswept body which some say makes this new Caprice look like a Mercury Sable Wagon on steroids the Caprice Wagon gives the word b go a new meaning. At just Over 18 feet Jong it is among the largest station wagons now sold in America. New wagons from Buick and Oldsmobile Chevrolet a sister divisions at general motors share the same body style and dimensions As the Caprice. but archrival Ford will not offer a full sized Wagon after 1991, while Chrysler Nasreen out of this Market for years. A a powering the Caprice Wagon is an elec ironically Foehn jetted 5-liter v-8 engine that delivers 170 horsepower at 4,200 pm. Coupled to a 4-Speed automatic transmission with overdrive it too is Little changed from 1990. This drivetrain also is found in the new Aprice Sedan. But because of the 4.354-Pound curb weight a nearly pounds More than the Sedan a fuel is Down by 1 mile per gallon Over first major styling change in 14 years comes to Caprice Wagon. All to 16 mpg City a 25 mpg Highway. A that Parks the Caprice Wagon pretty close to Gas guzzler territory. But its cruising Range is still a respectable 500 Miles because of its 22-gallon fuel tank which is made of plastic. Tike the Sedan the Caprice Wagon has a Driver Side air hag anti lock brakes and air conditioning As Standard. But these items have helped swell the Caprice wagons base Price to $17,875 a up More than $2,000 from the $15,705 Cost for the j 1990 version.,. A the Model tested wore a sticker Price of $20,419 after the $535 destination fee and several popular options were added a rear window defogger $160upgraded Interior $223 and an $1,180 package a eluding electric windows and door locks am pm stereo cassette Speed control and adjustable steering wheel. Also added was a $171 tra Lenng pack age that lets the Caprice Wagon Tow up to 5,000 pounds As Well As a United sup differential $100 and a pneumatic Load leveling suspension $175. The Caprice Wagon shares Many Interior parts with the Sedan from the Center pillars Forward its third seat faces rearward and seats two adults in Comfort. The rear window flips up while the tailgate can either be lowered or opened sideways a an excellent feature which Many modern wagons Lack. Cargo space with the second and third seats folded is nearly 93 cubic feet. The Caprice Wagon has a smooth Insu fated ride that Many big car owners will find familiar thanks to its traditional body on Frame construction 116-Inch wheelbase and Coil Spring suspension. As expected this Wagon is no slalom Champion but it handles its massive proportions with surprising aplomb during emergency Maneu vers. And the anti lock brakes hauled it to a Quick Stop every time without drama. The Only on Road complaint had to do with a Low pitched wind noise above 45 Mph traced to the. Roof mounted Luggage rack Chevrolet says a redesigned rack is already in the same list of gripes with the Sedan version applies to the Caprice Wagon a cheap feeling steering wheel. Gearshift lever and Glove Box door and Squishy scats that Jack proper Back and thigh support. A it. /. On the plus Side Are Large easily read gauges and controls a pull out cup and Coin Holder and wide Arm rests on the doors a not to mention All that Interior room and a hushed smooth ride. The fit and finish of the Caprice Wagon evaluated was disappointing however especially in Light of Gmys recent crowing about Quality improvements. Its paint Job was marred by an Quot Orange Peel finish on several panels and there was very uneven application in the tailgate Jamb there also were Quot noticeably uneven gaps Between the right and left Side a doors i Quot a Chevrolet is convinced there is still a Market for big wagons with sales expelled to total Between 20,000 and 30,000 a year. The Wagon will represent Only about to to. 15 percent of total Caprice a a a a like most pm vehicles the 199f Caprice Wagon carries a three year �?50,000-mile bumper to bumper warranty a a a. For full details on the Chevrolet Caprice Wagon and Sedan models their Spe rial military prices etc., prospective buyers May Contact general motors sales representatives at the cafes new car sales Points on the various bases in Europe a a a
