At one point in my life, I was a parts manager at a Subaru dealer. I used to use a 4WD one of these with a CVT transmission to go and visit wholesale clients. It was great fun to drive. I remember at the time the only problems we had with the CVT were pizza delivery cars driven by young and very energetic drivers who found that by standing on the brakes and revving the engine, they could eventually achieve wheel spin. I remember one time we had a customer's Justy in the shop for a strange vibration. We ended up changing a whole bunch of components under warranty with no success. Finally somebody got the idea of removing the tennis ball thingy the customer had put on the top of the aerial . That fixed it!
I've owned 2 Justy beasts. It got me over the Rocky Mountains and through Alberta in the worst blizzard I've ever experienced. Lots of full sized trucks stuck in snow drifts on the Queen Elizabeth Highway (closed but I sneaked my way on) and I made it all the way home. Mine was a 5 door hatch with a sun roof.
When you pushed the red button on the gear shifter, I half expected a panel in the roof to open and the passenger seat to go rocketing up into the air. Probably because I spent yesterday afternoon watching Goldfinger.
Another great video from Mr hubnut it's really nice that actually there is someone producing content on all these cars that there is not much about online
I agree. Creators(except Ian) only want to make videos about $100,000 + cars because they know that it's a person's human nature to lust after what they can't afford. Hence more views and more money. Hubnut isn't about that. He wants to showcase the forgotten cars like the Invacar. His passion is in the cars, not his wallet. Lol
@@klwthe3rd exactly and that's why we love Ian and also shows what a real petrolhead is someone which appreciates all cars and sees them beyond thier prise and raw numbers
@@Thanos.m I've been watching Automotive RUclips channels since RUclips's inception and very very very few channels are as honest and humbling as Hubnut. When you watch his videos you feel like you've known him for years and that he's bringing you along for a fun filled journey with the cars we all grew up with as kids. He covers vehicles our families could afford and did own for which maybe at the time we didn't appreciate but now look back on with a much more positive light. He deserves a ton of credit for what he has created with his channel and I never ever feel like he is making these videos other than for the love of cars. Just my honest opinion. Hopefully I won't ever be proven wrong.
It never fails to amaze me how some cars seem to live utterly charmed lives and don't ever show their years. This example has definitely been the pride and joy of all its owners since new. What a joy to behold!
Awesome video,oh yes these are the ones I remember,the 4WD button on the gear knob,i used to clean these brand new back in the day,this one is well preserved by the owner,what a nice car.
Comes from the same genre of cheap and affordable hatchbacks with modest off road ability as the Fiat Panda 4x4. Love the old school digital clock and the generally spartan interior. The engine sounded like a cut down 911 flat six! Cool no frills video as usual Mr Hubnut!
Trivia fact US related. The Subaru Justy was the last car to be sold in the United States with a carburetor only. All other 1990 cars had fuel injection. Most if not all Justys sold in the United States were 3 door hatchbacks. To see a 5 door is wierd. Wooohooo Justy for life!
I had two of the 1990s, but two wheel drive and carburetted. Terrific fun to drive, being rather light. I had to get rid of the last when 12 inch tires became more expensive than 15 inch tires! Beautiful little power plant, but tended to leak oil in every possible place...
@@MrLargePig I don't know what year the Justy converted to Fuel injection but I know in the model year 1990, the Justy was the only vehicle left on the available market being sold still with a carburetor.
Just turned 18, don’t have my license yet, but my dad bought me one of these today. 150€ from a really old man (first owner) 1.2 engine, automatic and also my grandpa has one of these, but it’s a manual and it’s fairly dead, so we’re planning to do a gearbox swap! This car helped me to learn how to drive and I fell in love! Planning on keeping one of these for my own future kid :)
This was my vehicle for about 8 years. Got it at around 21k miles. Painted the wheels white, added the fog lamps from a previous justy. Sold it to a guy who did some welding on it and passed it an mot. This car taught me car control, mostly on gravel tracks or iced over car parks. It was great I miss it but couldn't keep it. Besides I bought a mitsubishi GTO turbo :) have fun with it and take care of her she did me proud. Peace
She's had lots of time and love spent on her mate. Don't suppose you had any centre caps for her when you got the alloys? They've been powdercoated in my ownership as well. The Matt finish was proving a swine to remove muck from.
@@tsto2962 hello mate, nah the alloys came from as previous justy as they are. Matt? I sprayed it white gloss. They where a dirty silver before. I had bucket seats in it from a mazda mx3, that made going sideways in it much easier. The discs and pads where black Diamond. And I had spring adjusters in there somewhere. The other osf (driver side) ? driveshaft was a bit weak if I remember, but still subaru made to last. Occasionally the 4WD wouldn't engage. I suspected something to do with vacuum actuation. But it seemed to carry on. Loved how it was easy to slip and slide with just the gas and a dab of left foot brake on ice/snow. They're fantastic cars and I still have its picture on my wall. I'm really appreciative of how you (the owner?) Have immortalised this particular justy on the Internet (pistonheads article was you?) Whenever I talk about her with people and Google image justy I find that pic of my old car. A fine if not a bit abused example of the subaru super mini. It's always quite emotional with me when I think of fond memories with cars, some don't understand, but to explain it, it's like they are you favourite canine or feline companion only made of steel and belch fire. You share moments with them in ways like many other things in your life. I know many think they are just machines for A to B, but to some of us they are much more. And this Justy was no different to me... to me it was my companion, my mate with so many stories to tell. I miss it so, but am so pleased it went on to receive the attention she so deserved. Keep in touch, fellow petrol head :)
Quite a good looking small car. Very good condition for its age allowing for the bodywork repairs that have been carried out. Nice sounding exhaust note from the three cylinder engine.
Test drove one years ago left went home to think about it decided I would pick it up the next day before work and when I got there it was sold. Since then I have never been able to find another one. I loved the the 4 wheel it just plowed though the snow on the road that day I think it worked better then my Nissan pickup did on my way home that day. I glad this dude is keeping his going! Great little car! I think Suburu should bring them back.
Justys were very popular as cheap second hand runabouts for farmers who were fond of their off road abilities. I'm sure many of them ended their rusty days in the farm yard.
My son got a 1989 justy that had been sitting in the woman's yard for a few years and it had weeds growing up through the engine. Ran like a champ but the rear strut towers were all but gone and the front differential went up and it was done.
They were a fun, interesting alternative small hatch and always a pretty rare sight on UK roads. Unfortunately they did like to dissolve in a very '70s Japanese way...
Many Moons ago circa 1999-2000 I owned a Fiat Bravo HGT. I took it to a Subaru / Fiat Specialist for a Service. I came away with a curtesy car for the day. A Justy! To say I was pleasantly surprised was an understatement. From the word go I had a big smile on my face. What a cracking little motor, 4WD too! - By the end of the day I didn't want to give them that car back. Loved it!! - Some time later maybe a week or two, I went back to that same Subaru / Fiat specialist with a view to buying a Justy. I came away with a bright Red Subaru Impreza with Gold Wheels, but thats another story... :-)
I had on of these as my first car. It was on an F Plate 3dr 1988 and it was brilliant in bad weather and the snow 😊 it also sounded better with a modified K&N air filter from my friends Hillman Imp 875cc. My parents also had a top of the range Justy Jem 1991 H plate and I had always wanted one as my first car from the age of 9 and I never regretted it 😎
Great to know it wasn't just me who really wanted one of these as a first car! I loved the understated styling and quirkiness of it, and it's great to see it in detail again here. I test drove it, but rust (on a 10 yr old car, at the time) put a stop to my purchase back in 1999. I ended up getting a Fiesta "Seaspray" instead!
We bought a Y reg Subaru 1800 GLF station wagon in '98..marvellous car, served us well for many years until it succumbed to corrosion. Came close to replacing it with a Justy..just couldn't live with the three cylinder noise!
I can remember my mum having a brand new one when they first came out in red and then years later my sister had another red one as her 1st car! Brilliant little off-roader.
My friend had a 1L carb 2WD one of these at school about 10 years ago. We used to pick it up and turn it around or lift it into silly places when he wasn't looking.
Remember my Dad had one in the early 2000s and in the same Colour, he loved that little car and always wanted to have one. They use to built them really bulletproof back then. Last seen it a few years ago driven by the same guy who bought it from my Dad years ago... It's still running. This was in Israel and Rust is no issue over there I suppose that's why that car lives there for so long.
My mom, her first car she bought brand new in 1987 was a Subaru Justy. She had more problems with that car than any other car in her entire life she’s said. She lost brakes in it once had gas tank issues motor troubles it was basically a death trap lol she traded it for a 1991 Sentra and I grew up with that car and loved it
I had a 1990 Nissan Micra back in 2005 and it was great fun. Very nippy for a 1 litre. It was the car I used to date my first and only true love. I miss the car and her.
BloomingOnion Actually according to Merriam Webster dictionary, ‘stript’ is an acceptable spelling. I’m shocked too, my crispy friend (I wanna try a fresh blooming onion some time!!! 🧅)
In the early 90's, a neighbour, who was a district nurse, had the 4x4 version to navigate the back of beyond country lanes of Suffolk. Smart little car.
Your “plug” about the Retro Japanese magazine has got you another magazine subscriber. i am looking forward to the speaking edition I ordered separately.
what a cracking little car, they should have sold millions of these, so much nicer than a Corsa of that era! You shouldn't apologise for the light under the trees and etc, this is a perfect video, 10 minutes, and we also got to listen to someone new, really it's a great format and recipe for success. Loves the story too of Tom's mums cars, really good. Nice one. I had to watch again just to hear the engine and you can tell Ian is enjoying the driving lol
Great video again Mr Hub Nut sir with yet another car that I really like, never had a go in one though just admired from afar sadly, I wanted one as my first car or a daihatsu charade......if only.....I actually ended up with a Lada Riva....yep....but it was as SL model with headlamp wipers too, very swish 😁
Fantastic little motors - hired one for a two week holiday in Cyprus and went places that should have been impossible to get to . My wife's navigation has improved since then :-) .
I finally got my hands on one! 1200 fuel injected 4WD ECVT. Some things need to be fixed however. Transmission and front diff need an overhaul, some love to the rusty fenders and a bad oil pump, then she should be as good as new :)
The noise my Skoda Fabia made attracted me to it, as it sounded like a Triumph Trident. A work colleague had a Subaru, which developed almost a smallpox rash of rust.
I *LOVE* these cars, thank you for showing us HubNut. I was about to say you don't get anything like this anymore but actually, having thought about it, you can!... Suzuki Swift SX4. Exact same premise as this Justy but obviously, brand new today. HubNut, if you get a chance please record a test drive in one of these and compare it with the Justy and show us the similarities and... well, whether it's any good. 👍
Hi, new here. I just like to say I had one of theses cars and what a great little car it was, mine was five door in white same shape just a year older on a k reg. Now one thing you didn’t cover was the switch on top of the steering column, it’s for park/side lights when you turn the key off it turns all the lights off so they put that there otherwise your key acts like a kill switch but again great little car done many miles in mine, mark
I test drove one of those when my Dad was looking to buy a Justy. He ended up buying a manual as the ECVT seemed to always be revving its nuts off. I don't think they were very popular, and they couldn't have sold many.
The belt on the ECVT was very expensive and difficult to replace. As I recall, it was about 1700USD to do the whole replacement, and the Justy sold for $4995, so there were a lot of the ECVT ones sitting in junkyards, quite soon after they came out!
I know it's a bit late but Pioneer has radios that have USB on the back and sound better as a bonus ;). Lovely little car that Justy. I always had a thing for them.
Wouldn't mind owning one of these. I also liked 3Cyl mills. In my former smart car. The elio was supposed to be a3cyl. 55 horsees. Claimed 86mph. Yeah sure mr elio. Good video Ian you make good Sundays. Rich& cat scratched car seats ! in LA.USA
A wee bobby-dazzler, if ever I saw one. Considering the great looks, the willing little engine and 4WD, it is amazing that they didn't sell more of these in Europe.
+Grenville Phillips It was price that killed them in the UK and Europe, they weren't exactly cheap new and most people spending that sort of money would rather have more car for the money than 4WD...
Definitely digging the electronically selectable 4WD. My Mira is a pain when it comes to that... You have to get UNDER the car and push/pull a little plunger on the transfer box!
Cool car...those white wheels look nice on it...and for some reason that clock arrangement reminded me of my old Rover Metro...though it's probably totally different.. xD
Great review as usual Ian. When you think of the nonsense top gear etc show and the money they spend per episode and I would watch your offerings all day long. Keep up the good work... Some old French reviews would be great old renaults or Peugeot’s etc. What about a wee Gilbert too. Oops carried away...
I always wanted one but rust claimed most...I had the later swift shaped version which was a great car and unstoppable in snow, but no 3 cylinder unfortunately
Remember a mate of mine having one of these slightly older. If travelling with him, we would take it in turns to use the only working seatbelt clip. Girls would ask What car have you got? It's a SUBARU! Wow an Impreza? Umm well......
That instrument binnacle looks like ones found in Nissans cars of that era. If it was a bigger car the styling would look more dull. And have you ever driven a NSU R80? If so what are they like to drive?
I remember seeing those dotted about here and there, kept mixing them up with Kia Prides, Mazda 121s, Suzuki Swifts, etc., they all seemed to be the same, probably cos at one point they all were!! :S
At one point in my life, I was a parts manager at a Subaru dealer. I used to use a 4WD one of these with a CVT transmission to go and visit wholesale clients. It was great fun to drive. I remember at the time the only problems we had with the CVT were pizza delivery cars driven by young and very energetic drivers who found that by standing on the brakes and revving the engine, they could eventually achieve wheel spin.
I remember one time we had a customer's Justy in the shop for a strange vibration. We ended up changing a whole bunch of components under warranty with no success. Finally somebody got the idea of removing the tennis ball thingy the customer had put on the top of the aerial . That fixed it!
I've owned 2 Justy beasts. It got me over the Rocky Mountains and through Alberta in the worst blizzard I've ever experienced. Lots of full sized trucks stuck in snow drifts on the Queen Elizabeth Highway (closed but I sneaked my way on) and I made it all the way home. Mine was a 5 door hatch with a sun roof.
My Dad had two in the 90s and they were tremendous fun to drive. Plus, I've seen them go places in the snow that a Land Rover wouldn't get.
When you pushed the red button on the gear shifter, I half expected a panel in the roof to open and the passenger seat to go rocketing up into the air. Probably because I spent yesterday afternoon watching Goldfinger.
Another great video from Mr hubnut it's really nice that actually there is someone producing content on all these cars that there is not much about online
I agree. Creators(except Ian) only want to make videos about $100,000 + cars because they know that it's a person's human nature to lust after what they can't afford. Hence more views and more money. Hubnut isn't about that. He wants to showcase the forgotten cars like the Invacar. His passion is in the cars, not his wallet. Lol
@@klwthe3rd exactly and that's why we love Ian and also shows what a real petrolhead is someone which appreciates all cars and sees them beyond thier prise and raw numbers
@@Thanos.m I've been watching Automotive RUclips channels since RUclips's inception and very very very few channels are as honest and humbling as Hubnut. When you watch his videos you feel like you've known him for years and that he's bringing you along for a fun filled journey with the cars we all grew up with as kids. He covers vehicles our families could afford and did own for which maybe at the time we didn't appreciate but now look back on with a much more positive light. He deserves a ton of credit for what he has created with his channel and I never ever feel like he is making these videos other than for the love of cars. Just my honest opinion. Hopefully I won't ever be proven wrong.
It never fails to amaze me how some cars seem to live utterly charmed lives and don't ever show their years. This example has definitely been the pride and joy of all its owners since new. What a joy to behold!
Awesome video,oh yes these are the ones I remember,the 4WD button on the gear knob,i used to clean these brand new back in the day,this one is well preserved by the owner,what a nice car.
This car is beautiful! Great job restoring it. I love and miss these quirkly little Subarus from yesterday
Comes from the same genre of cheap and affordable hatchbacks with modest off road ability as the Fiat Panda 4x4. Love the old school digital clock and the generally spartan interior. The engine sounded like a cut down 911 flat six! Cool no frills video as usual Mr Hubnut!
Trivia fact US related. The Subaru Justy was the last car to be sold in the United States with a carburetor only. All other 1990 cars had fuel injection. Most if not all Justys sold in the United States were 3 door hatchbacks. To see a 5 door is wierd. Wooohooo Justy for life!
That is weird. I'm in the UK and I've never seen a 3 door.
I had two of the 1990s, but two wheel drive and carburetted. Terrific fun to drive, being rather light. I had to get rid of the last when 12 inch tires became more expensive than 15 inch tires! Beautiful little power plant, but tended to leak oil in every possible place...
And I should mention that the second one had more than 200,000 miles on it, when I sold it.
@@MrLargePig I don't know what year the Justy converted to Fuel injection but I know in the model year 1990, the Justy was the only vehicle left on the available market being sold still with a carburetor.
Quite right, @@klwthe3rd. I believe 1990 was the last carburetted model.
Just turned 18, don’t have my license yet, but my dad bought me one of these today. 150€ from a really old man (first owner) 1.2 engine, automatic and also my grandpa has one of these, but it’s a manual and it’s fairly dead, so we’re planning to do a gearbox swap! This car helped me to learn how to drive and I fell in love! Planning on keeping one of these for my own future kid :)
This was my vehicle for about 8 years. Got it at around 21k miles. Painted the wheels white, added the fog lamps from a previous justy. Sold it to a guy who did some welding on it and passed it an mot. This car taught me car control, mostly on gravel tracks or iced over car parks. It was great I miss it but couldn't keep it. Besides I bought a mitsubishi GTO turbo :) have fun with it and take care of her she did me proud. Peace
She's had lots of time and love spent on her mate. Don't suppose you had any centre caps for her when you got the alloys? They've been powdercoated in my ownership as well. The Matt finish was proving a swine to remove muck from.
@@tsto2962 hello mate, nah the alloys came from as previous justy as they are. Matt? I sprayed it white gloss. They where a dirty silver before. I had bucket seats in it from a mazda mx3, that made going sideways in it much easier. The discs and pads where black Diamond. And I had spring adjusters in there somewhere. The other osf (driver side) ? driveshaft was a bit weak if I remember, but still subaru made to last. Occasionally the 4WD wouldn't engage. I suspected something to do with vacuum actuation. But it seemed to carry on. Loved how it was easy to slip and slide with just the gas and a dab of left foot brake on ice/snow. They're fantastic cars and I still have its picture on my wall. I'm really appreciative of how you (the owner?) Have immortalised this particular justy on the Internet (pistonheads article was you?) Whenever I talk about her with people and Google image justy I find that pic of my old car. A fine if not a bit abused example of the subaru super mini. It's always quite emotional with me when I think of fond memories with cars, some don't understand, but to explain it, it's like they are you favourite canine or feline companion only made of steel and belch fire. You share moments with them in ways like many other things in your life. I know many think they are just machines for A to B, but to some of us they are much more. And this Justy was no different to me... to me it was my companion, my mate with so many stories to tell. I miss it so, but am so pleased it went on to receive the attention she so deserved. Keep in touch, fellow petrol head :)
Quite a good looking small car. Very good condition for its age allowing for the bodywork repairs that have been carried out. Nice sounding exhaust note from the three cylinder engine.
I too had a 95/96 one loved the 4wd system reliable little car,served me well...Still have the hand book for it...
I never thought they were as common as they deserved to be. That one is unusually tidy. And yes, three cylinder engines sound amazing!
Test drove one years ago left went home to think about it decided I would pick it up the next day before work and when I got there it was sold. Since then I have never been able to find another one. I loved the the 4 wheel it just plowed though the snow on the road that day I think it worked better then my Nissan pickup did on my way home that day. I glad this dude is keeping his going! Great little car! I think Suburu should bring them back.
Justys were very popular as cheap second hand runabouts for farmers who were fond of their off road abilities. I'm sure many of them ended their rusty days in the farm yard.
Absolutely - our local Subaru dealer in the 90s also sold farming supplies and the salesman had a fantastic collection of vintage tractors!
Way ahead of its time and what a great engine 👍
My son got a 1989 justy that had been sitting in the woman's yard for a few years and it had weeds growing up through the engine. Ran like a champ but the rear strut towers were all but gone and the front differential went up and it was done.
They were a fun, interesting alternative small hatch and always a pretty rare sight on UK roads. Unfortunately they did like to dissolve in a very '70s Japanese way...
LOL
Many Moons ago circa 1999-2000 I owned a Fiat Bravo HGT. I took it to a Subaru / Fiat Specialist for a Service. I came away with a curtesy car for the day. A Justy!
To say I was pleasantly surprised was an understatement. From the word go I had a big smile on my face. What a cracking little motor, 4WD too! - By the end of the day I didn't want to give them that car back. Loved it!! - Some time later maybe a week or two, I went back to that same Subaru / Fiat specialist with a view to buying a Justy. I came away with a bright Red Subaru Impreza with Gold Wheels, but thats another story... :-)
I had on of these as my first car. It was on an F Plate 3dr 1988 and it was brilliant in bad weather and the snow 😊 it also sounded better with a modified K&N air filter from my friends Hillman Imp 875cc. My parents also had a top of the range Justy Jem 1991 H plate and I had always wanted one as my first car from the age of 9 and I never regretted it 😎
There's a car I haven't seen in 15 years and they used to be very common. I'd forgotten they existed. Thanks for the nostalgia.
Great to know it wasn't just me who really wanted one of these as a first car! I loved the understated styling and quirkiness of it, and it's great to see it in detail again here. I test drove it, but rust (on a 10 yr old car, at the time) put a stop to my purchase back in 1999. I ended up getting a Fiesta "Seaspray" instead!
I noticed the gauges use the same Eurostile font as the VDO gauges used by VW, Audi, and Porsche in the '80s.
VWestlife fancy seeing you here!
We bought a Y reg Subaru 1800 GLF station wagon in '98..marvellous car, served us well for many years until it succumbed to corrosion.
Came close to replacing it with a Justy..just couldn't live with the three cylinder noise!
But three-cylinder engines sound great!
I can remember my mum having a brand new one when they first came out in red and then years later my sister had another red one as her 1st car! Brilliant little off-roader.
My friend had a 1L carb 2WD one of these at school about 10 years ago. We used to pick it up and turn it around or lift it into silly places when he wasn't looking.
Remember my Dad had one in the early 2000s and in the same Colour, he loved that little car and always wanted to have one. They use to built them really bulletproof back then. Last seen it a few years ago driven by the same guy who bought it from my Dad years ago... It's still running. This was in Israel and Rust is no issue over there I suppose that's why that car lives there for so long.
The few that haven't rusted away need to be cherished, a super package of a car.
9 valve engine - very unusual!
'Not great on fuel' - definately a Subaru trait then!
Lovely car. The alloys really suit it.
Generation Renter 3 valves per cylinder, the three-quarter equivalent of a 4 cylinder 12 valve engine which I think were in the old Protons
Yes on the Subaru fuel trait! I had an Impreza and that got through fuel and tyres like nothing else!
My mom, her first car she bought brand new in 1987 was a Subaru Justy. She had more problems with that car than any other car in her entire life she’s said. She lost brakes in it once had gas tank issues motor troubles it was basically a death trap lol she traded it for a 1991 Sentra and I grew up with that car and loved it
This is good example how the fun has been stript from modern cars. #Fiatpanda
I had a 1990 Nissan Micra back in 2005 and it was great fun. Very nippy for a 1 litre. It was the car I used to date my first and only true love. I miss the car and her.
Stripped. The word is stripped.
BloomingOnion Actually according to Merriam Webster dictionary, ‘stript’ is an acceptable spelling. I’m shocked too, my crispy friend (I wanna try a fresh blooming onion some time!!! 🧅)
@@RoadCone411 I think I know this. Some of us don't have much time... and I suspect the stupid autocorrect.
In the early 90's, a neighbour, who was a district nurse, had the 4x4 version to navigate the back of beyond country lanes of Suffolk. Smart little car.
Your “plug” about the Retro Japanese magazine has got you another magazine subscriber. i am looking forward to the speaking edition I ordered separately.
Thank you! Appreciate it.
what a cracking little car, they should have sold millions of these, so much nicer than a Corsa of that era! You shouldn't apologise for the light under the trees and etc, this is a perfect video, 10 minutes, and we also got to listen to someone new, really it's a great format and recipe for success. Loves the story too of Tom's mums cars, really good. Nice one. I had to watch again just to hear the engine and you can tell Ian is enjoying the driving lol
Great video again Mr Hub Nut sir with yet another car that I really like, never had a go in one though just admired from afar sadly, I wanted one as my first car or a daihatsu charade......if only.....I actually ended up with a Lada Riva....yep....but it was as SL model with headlamp wipers too, very swish 😁
Great video Ian, fantastic car, but more important to see that younger people realise that fact and commit to keep them going.
Fantastic little motors - hired one for a two week holiday in Cyprus and went places that should have been impossible to get to . My wife's navigation has improved since then :-) .
Dad owned one of those, used to drive it when I was around my 20s. Great little car!!!
My father had one and when he came to part exchange it the salesman was so impressed with it he kept it for his wife.
That little 3-cylinder engine sounds really good! What a cool car. :)
Great little car and with a ejector seat switch on top of the gear knob 😂😂 Brilliant
I finally got my hands on one! 1200 fuel injected 4WD ECVT. Some things need to be fixed however. Transmission and front diff need an overhaul, some love to the rusty fenders and a bad oil pump, then she should be as good as new :)
The noise my Skoda Fabia made attracted me to it, as it sounded like a Triumph Trident. A work colleague had a Subaru, which developed almost a smallpox rash of rust.
The 1.2htp engine does make a funky soundtrack, fairly nippy aswell.
I loved these as a kid. Those dials look very like the Charade, such a funky generation of cars. Tom is very cool 😊
Very nice.
Must be 10 years+ since i saw one of these.
Beautiful condition. Someone took good care of that car.
I *LOVE* these cars, thank you for showing us HubNut.
I was about to say you don't get anything like this anymore but actually, having thought about it, you can!... Suzuki Swift SX4. Exact same premise as this Justy but obviously, brand new today.
HubNut, if you get a chance please record a test drive in one of these and compare it with the Justy and show us the similarities and... well, whether it's any good. 👍
As far as the US market, Suzuki pulled out 5 to 7 years ago sadly.
Bit late on this! Very nippy little cars these and 4wd - rather epic 👏👏
i remember seeing one parked back in the mid 90's and the owner had put a funny sticker next to the "justy" logo that said 'nuff.
Like a mini Lancia Delta Intergrale - great to see the Justy being used as a daily.
Exactly the sort of car they should still be making now! simple but capable.
Hi, new here. I just like to say I had one of theses cars and what a great little car it was, mine was five door in white same shape just a year older on a k reg. Now one thing you didn’t cover was the switch on top of the steering column, it’s for park/side lights when you turn the key off it turns all the lights off so they put that there otherwise your key acts like a kill switch but again great little car done many miles in mine, mark
i once drove a Justy 4WD with ECVT. Never ever seen another one like it ever since.
I test drove one of those when my Dad was looking to buy a Justy. He ended up buying a manual as the ECVT seemed to always be revving its nuts off. I don't think they were very popular, and they couldn't have sold many.
The belt on the ECVT was very expensive and difficult to replace. As I recall, it was about 1700USD to do the whole replacement, and the Justy sold for $4995, so there were a lot of the ECVT ones sitting in junkyards, quite soon after they came out!
I know it's a bit late but Pioneer has radios that have USB on the back and sound better as a bonus ;).
Lovely little car that Justy. I always had a thing for them.
These were the uni/polytechnic student's car of choice here in NZ back in the late 90s - early 2000s.
Unfortunately they've all rusted away now too.
Wouldn't mind owning one of these.
I also liked 3Cyl mills. In my former smart car. The elio was supposed to be a3cyl. 55 horsees. Claimed 86mph. Yeah sure mr elio.
Good video Ian you make good Sundays.
Rich& cat scratched car seats !
in LA.USA
A wee bobby-dazzler, if ever I saw one. Considering the great looks, the willing little engine and 4WD, it is amazing that they didn't sell more of these in Europe.
+Grenville Phillips It was price that killed them in the UK and Europe, they weren't exactly cheap new and most people spending that sort of money would rather have more car for the money than 4WD...
what a cool little car. it sort of looks like the old boxy micra from the rear.
Love the subaru Justy! Actually take that back I love all pre 2000 subarus 😂. Really nice example of one as well that is
What a gorgeous car. They are even more rare here in Wisconsin. Road salt kills them.
nice wee car I had one, it was fun to beat the big rear wheel drive, cars at the red light drags on a wet road by selecting fwd
A red button on the gear stick id have one for that alone
One imagines Rowan Atkinson making great use of that feature in a film.
I could never justify a Justy.
I was hoping you'd drive one of these! Test drove one once, great car. Ended up buying a nice Peugeot 309 I liked more instead.
Definitely digging the electronically selectable 4WD. My Mira is a pain when it comes to that... You have to get UNDER the car and push/pull a little plunger on the transfer box!
the tail gate looks like a station wagon door from the bigger Subaru
Cool car...those white wheels look nice on it...and for some reason that clock arrangement reminded me of my old Rover Metro...though it's probably totally different.. xD
A trusty little justy! Love it 👍
Am American is the steering on the Right side or do you have the smartphone recording in Selfie Mode.
I have seen only one Justy which an old colleague of mine used to own, it was white in colour.
Loved the last 2 mins.
Nice unusual car, manual equipment is much more reliable than fancy electrics
I always wanted a Justy as well.
Mr hubnut any chance of road testing a diatsu materia I quite fancied buying one, I wondered what your thoughts might be.liked your bond outing.
I'd like to try one. Good call.
Great review as usual Ian. When you think of the nonsense top gear etc show and the money they spend per episode and I would watch your offerings all day long. Keep up the good work...
Some old French reviews would be great old renaults or Peugeot’s etc. What about a wee Gilbert too. Oops carried away...
Gilbern I meant.
One of my friends father's had one of these in red which was 4 wheel drive. Never saw another one.
I always wanted one but rust claimed most...I had the later swift shaped version which was a great car and unstoppable in snow, but no 3 cylinder unfortunately
Lovely lil car
Think that was the last own Subaru made Justys- the next ones were based on Suzuki’s and then Daihatsu/Toyota’s
the automatic justy had one of the first cvt transmissions
I can't believe it a conversation about a subaru justy, value 100 /200 funny but different
Look like Toyota Starlet from the same period. Are they related?
Oh aye! Lovely little car
Owned one during my residency. Lots of fun and great mileage. Too bad my wife totaled it after my daughter was born...
It's a beauty! I'm guessing no centre diff so the 4wd is not for dry tarmac use?
Correct, and you should only select it when travelling in a straight line.
Liking that little car.
Remember a mate of mine having one of these slightly older. If travelling with him, we would take it in turns to use the only working seatbelt clip. Girls would ask What car have you got? It's a SUBARU! Wow an Impreza? Umm well......
Wish my 1.2 Polo 3 cylinder sounded that good haha.
1.2 L? Whoah you're running the big block. My friend had one with a 1.0 L. It was fantastic, but slow. Very slow. But fantastic.
That instrument binnacle looks like ones found in Nissans cars of that era. If it was a bigger car the styling would look more dull. And have you ever driven a NSU R80? If so what are they like to drive?
Yes, but many years ago. They're remarkably modern for a 60s design.
Nice car. Very good shape :) My neighbour had a green Justy for years. The only way to kill these car is to have a crash...
My moms first car!
That second hear whine sounds very Daihatsu Sirion or Perodua Nippa. Shared parts?
Pretty sure not. Just one of those things.
Love these I had a three and 5 door and the later swift ones
When you push that 4wd button what is power distribution? 50/50?
Yes, I believe so.
Sure I saw this outside Huddersfield Halfords a few weeks ago? Looks mint
Seems likely. It does like in Yorkshire.
I remember seeing those dotted about here and there, kept mixing them up with Kia Prides, Mazda 121s, Suzuki Swifts, etc., they all seemed to be the same, probably cos at one point they all were!! :S
Kia Prides were Mazda 121s, but the others are entirely different.
Redolent of my MkI Micra. Small 4WDs are under-appreciated, most people opt for road mammoths.
I can't find one anywhere for sale. Anyone selling one of these cars?