Subaru Estratto microvan

[rk1951]

I made a new purchase. 1998 Subaru Micro van 1.3L rear engine. It is in pretty good shape. It runs well and I can haul my race bikes in it. I hope it isn't the death of my wallet. It only cost $75K which included the yearly taxes and transferring of all the papers which was over 10,000nt. God it is so tiny, but so convenient for Taiwan!

[Ducked]

Pretty shiny for a 14 yr old van. Not that I'm a big fan of shinyness, of course, but still.

Hope you have good luck with it.

EDIT:

I had an even tinier (550cc), cuter, but not so shiny Honda Acty truck in the UK. I beleve there are a few here, but VERY rare.

Bear in mind when driving this kind of thing that your thigh bones are the crumple zone.

ENDEDIT

[*monkey*]

The rear seats just fold right down and it turns into a flat bed. It is amazing. I don't think most of the other micro vans do that. I think you actually have to remove the rear seats. Anyway, I think it should be a decent lil van.

You must be really short. I always though camping in the back of the truck sounded a good idea, but there are about 5 days during the year when it's ideal to do that in Taiwan. Too cold and clammy in winter and too hot and humid in summer. If you open the windows even for 5 minutes, the mosquitoes pile in for a party. I wish there was mini dehumidifier you could just plug into the cig lighter socket.

[sulavaca]

The rear seats just fold right down and it turns into a flat bed. It is amazing. I don't think most of the other micro vans do that. I think you actually have to remove the rear seats. Anyway, I think it should be a decent lil van.

You must be really short. I always though camping in the back of the truck sounded a good idea, but there are about 5 days during the year when it's ideal to do that in Taiwan.

I would agree. A sweat box in the summer here.
We used to have a customer with one in the old days. He was a representative of some sorts and he used to drive his from Northumberland to somewhere in Africa. He would sleep in the back of it during his stay there and then drive it back again. He used his for years and years. It did very well considering that it wasn't a Toyota Hilux. It always sounded like it was going to explode, but never failed him. At least he used to get regular servicing and maintenance though, which is the only way to work it when doing a lot of extreme driving.

rk1951, I would seriously recommend that you take those alloys off it and replace them with the original sized wheels. Fitting such high resistance tyres and extended rims are going to cause excessive wheel bearing wear as well as steering rack and suspension component wear and tear.

[Ducked]

The rear seats just fold right down and it turns into a flat bed. It is amazing. I don't think most of the other micro vans do that. I think you actually have to remove the rear seats. Anyway, I think it should be a decent lil van.

Too cold and clammy in winter

What winter?

[Ducked]

The rear seats just fold right down and it turns into a flat bed. It is amazing. I don't think most of the other micro vans do that. I think you actually have to remove the rear seats. Anyway, I think it should be a decent lil van.

If you open the windows even for 5 minutes, the mosquitoes pile in for a party.

Its fairly easy to fit net to a car's windows. I don't see why one of these wee vans would be that much harder.

But in any case, AFAIK, the OP hasn't said he intends to use it as a camper, so it may not be relevant.

[k4mik4zered]

I had a Varica as my first car when I came back to Taiwan and decided to round up the island.

I don't know much about the scooby, but I didnt regret getting the varica. Very cheap to maintain as its a well worked on car, probably by and at any mechanic.
However, I took it up Alishan once and my accelerator-limb kneecap went out. You wont have this problem though. The driving position leaves too much to be desired, but it could hold a huge cargo, revs high as is typical of Jap engines. I had a lot of fun with it. Challenging fun. You should test drive one at least.

[omerojs]

I made a new purchase. 1998 Subaru Micro van 1.3L rear engine. It is in pretty good shape. It runs well and I can haul my race bikes in it. I hope it isn't the death of my wallet. It only cost $75K which included the yearly taxes and transferring of all the papers which was over 10,000nt. God it is so tiny, but so convenient for Taiwan!

Nice buy!!!
I know you will take good care of it!!

[rk1951]

Nice buy!!!
I know you will take good care of it!!

Omerojs, I didn't notice you posted. Thanks man. So far so good. It has been super reliable. I already found a junked (Bao Fei) Subaru that I have bought a few parts off of (mirror, 2 door handles and a spare tire.) I'm only 5'9 so it isn't so bad to drive, but it isn't the most comfy ride car in the world. It isn't the most powerful van in the world, but it works and I can fit 2 race bikes in the back. A few friends and I now rent a house at Fulong beach and I have been driving there at least once a week and it hasn't had any problems even with a full load of crap in the back. I can even fit 2 long boards in the back. The last owner made a rack to fit 2 boards inside the Van. Such a perfect Van for Taiwan. The AC even rocks. Windows need to be tented, that is next! I can't believe 2 bikes and all my gear fit into this tiny Subaru!

[Ducked]

How'd that wee van work out?

One for sale on TEALIT at the moment which reminded me of this thread.

(Red, so probably not yours.)