We’re starting the week off small. We’re going to look at two itty-bitty four-wheel-drive imports, both rocking three-cylinder engines. One is a US model, and the other was never sold here, but you could drive either one of them home today.
On Friday, we looked at a couple of four-door hatchbacks that could fit right in at RADWood, and I asked which one you wanted, and whether you’d clean it up and keep it as a classic, or just drive it like a normal car. By an overwhelming margin, you took the Geo Prizm and said to hell with collectibility.
I agree with the daily driver part, though I think I’d keep either one of them off the road in the winter, as road salt would cut the party short. But I’m torn on which car to pick. The Geo is undoubtedly the better car, and I always associate them with a neighbor I once had who I had a crush on, but I do appreciate a nice K-car. I think I’d rather lavish attention on something like a Dodge 600 convertible if I was going to go that way, though. Yeah, I’ll take the Geo too.
It seems like practically every car these days is available with four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive, even small crossover hatchbacks. But back in the 1990s, it was a rare feature. One of today’s choices became kind of famous for it, as the only 4WD car in its class here in the US. The other never made it here, but was famous everywhere else. Let’s check them out.
1991 Subaru Justy 4WD – $2,200
Engine/drivetrain: 1.2-liter OHC inline 3, five-speed manual, 4WD
Location: Pisgah Forest, NC
Odometer reading: 163,000 miles
Operational status: Runs well, drives OK, needs a little work
If you’re of a certain age, you may remember the TV commercial that introduced the Justy to America, featuring a guy named Jerry and his incredibly condescending friends and family, who make fun of the little hatchback until one of them notices it’s a Subaru, at which point they all start slamming the doors, hood, and rear hatch – the implication being that since it’s a Subaru, it can “take it.” People can be real jerks sometimes. The joke’s on them, though – the Justy may have only lasted a few years in the US market, but in that time it developed a cult following of owners who still appreciate the little hatchback today. “Inexpensive,” the ad said, “and built to stay that way.” Thirty-five years on, this one is still pretty inexpensive. As for how well it’s built, well, it’s still here. I guess that says something.
All US-market Justys were powered by a 1.2 liter three-cylinder engine. Early versions had a carburetor, but this 1991 model has multi-port fuel injection. The transmission is a five-speed manual, and the 4WD system is part-time, activated by a red push button on top of the shifter, like other Subarus at the time. It starts right up and runs fine, but it needs a few things to be truly roadworthy, including tires, struts, new engine mounts, and one new CV axle. It looks like Rock Auto has some of it, but not everything. Tracking down the parts may be a bit of an adventure.
It’s in good shape inside, and it has some really cool fabric on the seats and doors. I think the front seats have covers on them, though, since the upholstery doesn’t quite match. And somewhat ominously, the seller says it has “that perfect old car smell.” Personally, I’d prefer used cars to smell like nothing, if possible, but that’s just me. Oh and by the way: yes, the hula girl is included.
It’s a little dull and faded outside, but I don’t see any rust. That’s good – nobody wants a rusty Justy. It’s riding on the donut spare, which I assume has something to do with the “needs tires” part. Hopefully the fourth original wheel cover is in the trunk with the flat tire; it would be a shame to only have three of them.
1999 Daihatsu Terios Kid – $5,900
Engine/drivetrain: Turbocharged 658 cc OHC inline 3, five-speed manual, 4WD
Location: Lansdale, PA
Odometer reading: 97,000 kilometers
Operational status: Runs and drives great
Importing used cars from Japan has become a big business in recent years. You hear a lot about the big-ticket cars, Skylines and whatnot, as well as little kei trucks, but the variety of cars available in Japan is absolutely staggering. I’ve heard of the Daihatsu Terios, and seen a few in my travels – they’re very popular on Caribbean islands – but I had no idea there was a miniature kei version of the Terios, amusingly called the Terios Kid. It’s adorable, and if you want one, you don’t have to go all the way to Japan. This one is for sale in Pennsylvania.
Kei car engines are limited to 660 cubic centimeters of displacement, and the Terios Kid’s engine comes in just under that. It’s a turbocharged three-cylinder that makes either 59 or 63 horsepower, depending on which version this one is. The seller says it has had a bunch of work done recently, and it runs and drives like it should. That’s good; if you’re buying a car for which you’ll have to import even the most basic of parts, you should pick one that’s in the best mechanical condition possible.
Inside, it’s got some really funky seat fabric, as well as zebra-striped floor mats. More cars should be this colorful and interesting inside. It has air conditioning that works well, and a US-spec radio with Apple CarPlay and all that good stuff. Yeah, the steering wheel is on the “wrong” side, which pretty much rules out drive-thru windows, but other than that, it should be daily drivable just like any other car.
This one has the “Aerodown” package, which seems to include ground effects, fog lights, and a cute little spoiler on the roof. It still has the spare tire on the tailgate, just like the more off-road-focused Terios models. And by the way, it’s not a hatchback – the rear door is hinged on the right side and swings open from the left.
I realize there’s a big price difference between these two, but there’s a pretty big difference in condition as well. One needs some tinkering and the other is ready to go. By the time you whip the Justy into shape, the price difference probably wouldn’t be so great. Then again, the Daihatsu is going to be a pain in the ass to title and register in certain places. Lots of factors to consider here. I guess I’d better leave you to it.
I voted for the Kid because its cute and I have never seen one before, also I think MN DMVs are still allowing Kei car registrations.
Otherwise, I really like the Justy and it should be cheap to keep on the road! This might be sacrilege but I think a Harlequin Justy would be a pretty sweet ride.
I want the Terios but if parts are getting hard for the Justy I imagine you’ll be praying daily that nothing breaks on the Daihatsu.
These are fun but if I need a cheap serviceable daily, my $5,000 is going to the best mid-aughts 3800 Buick LaCrosse I can find.
As someone who runs 2x JDM cars in NYC, I will say that while finding parts is not always convenient, parts can be had in the end – it will sometimes cost you, both money and time, but they are out there, in Kazakhstan, Sharjah, Japan, or Thailand. For USDM versions of cars, if the parts aren’t here in the US they do not exist, end of story. Federalized versions were often wildly different from their global counterparts.
Anyhow, my sister had a Justy in the same color (3-door, FF) and so I would pick the Justy because of that, not because I don’t want a Terios Kid just as much.
I can back up both of these. I have a buddy at work who traded in his USDM Evo X that was always in the shop for a Stagea that he daily drives. About 4 months ago he hit a deer with it and destroyed the headlight. The body shop was able to find one new in the UAE for a few hundred bucks, and it arrived by the time they finished the bodywork.
On my car the amount of parts that are US-spec Elise and super expensive/NLA vs easily accessible and cheap out of the Lotus parts catalog is pretty stark, and that’s for an early USDM one where Lotus’ efforts to federalize it were pretty rudimentary. Luckily there’s very little I’ve run into where I couldn’t just adapt the regular part to work (I can use the UK-market lighting switch pack when I cracked mine and just flipped over the UK-market switch decals, for example).
But a guy who bought a 2011 Federalized Elise (the only year they sold the S3 here)? Hope he doesn’t break a headlight.
The Justy was chosen mainly because it’s the first year of it moving beyond the “what was the last car for sale in the US without fuel injection / with a carburetor.”
The Justy is just(y) enough car for what I’d need. It feels like the kind of car that is probably more okay than it seems and someone didn’t feel like spending money to possibly make more money. I see a chance to haggle down the cost and have a genuinely neat little car. Maybe even make it a little more off-road looking for kicks (little all-terrains, a roof basket) and enjoy a very different basic camping car.
The Kid is cool, can’t deny that. I just don’t want to spend that much money on a car that will forever be a nightmare to maintain. Plus, I’d really agonize over keeping it in good shape which feels like a hassle.
My friend got all over the federal lands in Idaho in a little red Justy with as many as four kayaks on the roof at a time. It wasn’t fast, but it was a plucky little thing.
I love plucky! My first car was an almost ten year old first generation Eclipse with the base engine and my friends had a Saab 900 Turbo, a Civic SI, a heavily modified SN95, and an Acura Legend. I was 100% the plucky one. The Justy seems cheerful and eager, I love that.
Urgh, I test drove one of those 92hp Eclipses (actually think it was a Plymouth Laser) and it was muuuuuuch slower than my 70hp Chevrolet Turbo Sprint. My sister had a Justy and it felt sprightlier than the Laser, too.
Oh, it was not quick. I got very lucky (from a “performance” standpoint) that mine was totally stripped down. It had no A/C, no power steering, a manual, and just an AM/FM radio. It got a little toasty in Georgia summers considering that car was a terrarium on wheels.
I cannot even imagine how hot that got…
It was the car my Uncle replaced his Volvo 240D wagon with when he was stationed in Hawaii before he came home. Bought it with no miles on it used because the first owner didn’t like it as her Sweet 16 car. Over there, he didn’t need the A/C. When it landed back in Georgia…it was a bit different. I didn’t car too much, it was a great little free sports car for a 16 year old.
Needless to say, my next car, the 1992 Town Car, absolutely had great air conditioning.
Still miss that little car. I’d take it back exactly as it was again in a heartbeat.
It costs nearly three times as much but I never would consider something like the Justy, and came very close to buying a Kei twice now. I think I’d rather have a Pajero Mini, but this is pretty cool too
I’ll take the Terios and back through the drive-thru. No kidding!
That Terios is adorable!
I’ll go with familiar-hand drive.
I’ll put snow tires on it and honk and wave at oversized glamour pickup trucks struggling in the snow as I zoom past.
Edit: And would probably die when they rear-ended me at the next stoplight.
I’ve never driven a RHD car, but I’m pretty I wouldn’t ever get used to it.
It’s easier than you think.
Well, except for the muscle-memory stuff, like looking in the rearview mirrors and using the steering-column stalks, which are reversed.
True, it’s only more difficult when it’s RHD and you are driving on the left side of the road and reminding yourself to bear left at every traffic circle. It helps to have a navigator. Oh, and yeah, you will hit the windshield wiper stalk every time you turn left for a while. And everyone in the car will laugh.
I feel like the Justy was the official car of American game show prizes for a time.
For some reason I just don’t trust an engine with an odd numer of cylinders. They’re tools of the devil or something. Maybe it’s just memories of trying to drive my ’93 Geo Metro over the mountains on I-70 in Colorado. Anyway, I voted for the Diahatsu because it’s in better condition and the rules say I have to vote.
Shoot, I did that too. Being a cheap bastard, I rented one to visit friends. I remember thinking it was a bad idea as we headed through the Eisenhower tunnel in the winter.
Yeah, it wasn’t fun even with clear roads. I spent a lot of time in the truck lanes shifting between 2nd and 3rd gears and trying not to hold up traffic.
I’ll take the Trusty Justy, the Terios is probably Scarios to find parts for on this side of the world.
Remember when a used Subaru Justy was a $450 car?
Pepperidge Farm remembers…
My brother’s MIL won a Justy on Wheel of Fortune. Had to be the grand prize or something so she must have been pretty good at The Wheel…
It was poverty spec for sure, 2WD, 2 door, 5 speed. I went to visit him in SoCal in the 90s and his 71 Country Squire wagon was acting up so he borrowed the Justy, which had a broken ignition switch by that time. We managed to take it apart and figured out which pins to jump with a paper clip to get juice to the ignition. Had to pop start it tho, not a big deal with 2 young guys and a car that didn’t even weigh a ton. At times we were able to get it rolling by hanging our legs out the door and giving it a shove or two, a la Flintstones.
Long story long, I picked the Justy for the fond memories.
In my youth, I would admit to, more than once, going thru a drive thru in reverse, and telling the Cashier, that the guy in the passenger seat was “paying” as a reason. Now I did this in a 72 AMC AMX. totally no problem doing it in that Kei car.
I can’t say I’ve never done that, or doing a whole informal short “parade” around college campus completely in reverse. I still picked the Justy.
…I can at least own the Justy without the threat hovering over my head of Illinois ripping up the title. But I waaaaaant the Kei. >:
Stupid state. The Justy is cool anyway, I’ll take it.
Justy. Onshore parts availability (to a degree,) RHD which means my wife doesn’t drive on the wrong side of the road, and I wanted one back in the day. I’ve never even heard of the Terios.
Justy all the way. While the Kei is amazing in it’s own right, the Justy is better. Once sorted, be a fun car.
Voted Justy, but I’d like both, please.
In dusty, musty, yet rusty-free Justy we trusty.
I’ll take the trusty one
The young one. And Daihatsu 3s are great 🙂
Mr. Tucker rather breezily says “other than that, it should be daily drivable just like any other car.”
I lived a few years in British Territory and so learned to drive on the left before we came back home. My parents were worried about me taking the American driver’s test but no problem, I find it easy to switch back and forth.
However, I drove a Plymouth on the left and found it dangerous and confusing to have the steering wheel on the wrong side. Anyone considering that kei car should drive it first, long enough to take both left and right turns. Some people are not bothered by the wheel on the wrong side, but some are. I would take the Subaru based on that alone, even if parts weren’t an issue – I’d worry more about finding parts for the Daihatsu, even though I live in a free state and could easily register it.
Justy, I’d make all the necessary repairs, and also add Car Play to it. It’ll be a fun little runabout and will actually make it to my driveway in the snow.
I voted for the Justy. My sister had one and it was a great little car.
Also, I recall a C&D comparo of small cars that included the Justy. They said it should get credit for having a remote fuel door release because you could roll down the window and reach it from the driver’s seat. I guess that only applies to the 2-door. Oh well.
I bought that exact same color and spec. Justy as the first new car I ever bought. Bought it new for $8888 in 1992 as a left over in early 1992. It was so much fun. That little tractor motor was sturdy. I got it to over 100mph at one point. The ex got it in 1993. It was a great car. I would love a running one as a back up fun little car.
I think the automatic version was a CVT at the time.