I’m in Memphis helping watch my nephews while my sister has an abdominal operation, and, while here, during a couple of hours of free time, thought I’d take the Tacoma over to Discount Tire because I’d noticed a rear tire out of balance.
While they were working on it, I thought I’d walk next door to Jim Keras Subaru to see if they had a 22 WRX on the lot.
Well…they did…despite the salesman who intercepted me telling me they didn’t.
It was in the back and was marked as sold. It was a fully loaded CVT model in red (MSRP: $44,000+)
This was the first 22 WRX I’ve seen in person.
Despite the controversial styling elements (cladding on wheel wells and lower rear bumper), it’s still an impressive ride, with some great-looking exterior elements (nose, side profile, coke bottle-like hips, “lava” taillights).
And it’s one heck of a drivers car, from everything I’ve read, and, despite the published on-paper specs, it’s going to be a weapon on a road course or mountain road in the right hands, and the new 2.4-liter turbo boxer engine has massive headroom for aftermarket power and torque improvement. It’s also unique from almost everything else on the market, and a tremendous bargain in base model trim ($30,000) among its peers and near-peers.
And the base model 6-speed would be my choice. In gray.
But, possibly more interesting was the Ranchero that belonged to a salesman that was also parked back here! What is this, about A 1976?
Ive always thought Rancheros were really cool - even more so maybe than El Caminos.
Anyone know much about them? What engine/trans combo does this likely have? 351? 390?
Was there a “GT”? Or is this just aftermarket paint embellishment by the owner?
What’s with the Spanish-sounding names “Ranchero” and “El Camino”?
Were “car pickups” like this particularly popular among folks of Latin heritage, or in Latin America, hence the names? Which came first? I assume one came before the other, then the other was introduced to compete?
Not real familiar with these, since, having been born in 1979, the peak for these was before my time. A neighbor did have a mid-80s El Camino when I was growing up, which he used as his household work vehicle/pickup. Which, the last ones that were made were not nearly as good looking or substantial (deliberate planned depreciation by GM in the mid-80s) as the earlier 60s and 70s models.
This car was in extremely good shape, with very fresh paint, restored interior, etc.
So neat!
While they were working on it, I thought I’d walk next door to Jim Keras Subaru to see if they had a 22 WRX on the lot.
Well…they did…despite the salesman who intercepted me telling me they didn’t.
It was in the back and was marked as sold. It was a fully loaded CVT model in red (MSRP: $44,000+)
This was the first 22 WRX I’ve seen in person.
Despite the controversial styling elements (cladding on wheel wells and lower rear bumper), it’s still an impressive ride, with some great-looking exterior elements (nose, side profile, coke bottle-like hips, “lava” taillights).
And it’s one heck of a drivers car, from everything I’ve read, and, despite the published on-paper specs, it’s going to be a weapon on a road course or mountain road in the right hands, and the new 2.4-liter turbo boxer engine has massive headroom for aftermarket power and torque improvement. It’s also unique from almost everything else on the market, and a tremendous bargain in base model trim ($30,000) among its peers and near-peers.
And the base model 6-speed would be my choice. In gray.
But, possibly more interesting was the Ranchero that belonged to a salesman that was also parked back here! What is this, about A 1976?
Ive always thought Rancheros were really cool - even more so maybe than El Caminos.
Anyone know much about them? What engine/trans combo does this likely have? 351? 390?
Was there a “GT”? Or is this just aftermarket paint embellishment by the owner?
What’s with the Spanish-sounding names “Ranchero” and “El Camino”?
Were “car pickups” like this particularly popular among folks of Latin heritage, or in Latin America, hence the names? Which came first? I assume one came before the other, then the other was introduced to compete?
Not real familiar with these, since, having been born in 1979, the peak for these was before my time. A neighbor did have a mid-80s El Camino when I was growing up, which he used as his household work vehicle/pickup. Which, the last ones that were made were not nearly as good looking or substantial (deliberate planned depreciation by GM in the mid-80s) as the earlier 60s and 70s models.
This car was in extremely good shape, with very fresh paint, restored interior, etc.
So neat!