Why was the Subaru BRAT discontinued?

The Subaru BRAT was discontinued after the 1987 model year. One of the main reasons for its discontinuation was the change in import tariffs. The BRAT had rear-facing jump seats in the cargo bed, which allowed Subaru to classify it as a passenger car instead of a light truck. This classification significantly reduced the costs of importing BRATs to North America, as passenger cars were charged a lower import tariff compared to light trucks. However, the loophole seats were discontinued in the last couple of years of production, making finding a BRAT with intact jump seats special .
Additionally, the Subaru BRAT faced declining sales in the mid-1990s as the market for compact trucks reduced. This decline in sales, along with the changing preferences of consumers, led Subaru to discontinue the BRAT in 1994.
It’s worth noting that the BRAT was well-loved by a small niche of consumers and had its unique features, such as a spring-loaded hidden door with a side step, a T-top split roof, and a spare tire in the engine bay.
Overall, the combination of changing import tariffs and declining sales contributed to the discontinuation of the Subaru BRAT.

When did they stop making Subaru BRATs?

The Subaru BRAT, short for “Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter”, known outside Canada and the United States as the 284 in the United Kingdom, Brumby in Australia, and Shifter, MV, or Targa in other markets, was a pickup truck that was made by Subaru from 1978 until 1994.

Is the Subaru Baja coming back?

While no information has been released just yet, there is speculation that a new Subaru Baja could hit the market with a hybrid powertrain option, a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, and similarities to the famed Subaru Outback.

How much is a Subaru BRAT worth?

A: The lowest recorded sale price was $4,000 for a 1986 Subaru Brat GL on Dec 22 2022. Q: What is the average sale price of a Subaru BRAT? A: The average price of a Subaru BRAT is $16,164.

What came after the Subaru BRAT?

What replaced the Subaru BRAT? The Subaru Baja replaced the Subaru BRAT pickup. The Baja was also a pickup but had many comfort and capability enhancements over the BRAT.

Why did Subaru Baja fail?

It failed to set itself apart from the Outback and didn’t perform well enough to stand with the other trucks on the market. Another key factor that lead to the failure of the Baja was the sales strategy. It couldn’t perform as well as the competition and was far more expensive.

Can you legally sit in the back of a Subaru BRAT?

In California, people can only legally ride in the cargo body of a pickup truck if there are seats and approved restraint systems. So basically, it’s illegal to ride in the body of a pickup truck because it violates the California seatbelt law.

Why did Subaru stop making the Baja?

Why was the Subaru Baja discontinued? Relative to full-size pickups, the Subaru Baja was small and expensive. Research showed that the original Subaru Baja didn’t cater enough to the luxury expectation of brand loyalists.

What Subaru motors to avoid?

Subaru’s 2.5-L turbocharged engines, particularly those used in the Subaru Impreza WRX and WRX STI models, have been the subject of a class-action lawsuit. The engines have been found to overheat or malfunction, leading to power loss, stalling, and potential engine failure.

Is a Subaru Baja rare?

The Subaru Baja turbo was sold in the US for just four short model years from 2003 to 2006, making it a rare luxury to find.

What problems did the Subaru Baja have?

Worst Issues

• engine feels rough at idle in the 2005 Baja.
• clutch pedal very hard to press in the 2005 Baja.
• stalls/loosing steering & brakes in the 2004 Baja.
• loss of power while driving in the 2006 Baja.
• radio doesn’t work in the 2003 Baja.