Anyway, here's my Scooby story so far....
My love affair with these astounding little work horses started some 15 years ago with the purchase of an MY85 L Series wagon. I wasn't particularly looking for a Subi at the time, but this one came along at the right price, place & time. It wasn't until my first camping trip with her that I discovered what Subi's are all about and I was instantly hooked. Unfortunately, a misguided Tojo driver decided he'd like to occupy the same piece of road as I was using at the same time and that was the end of that. An MY85 L Series came along and what followed was some 250k of enjoyment and interspersed with periods of mirth at assisting a close friend remove his Hilux from the mud, or towing logs out of the way for him when he slid back down a hill with no way out
As time went on and driving off road took a back seat to riding off road, I sought a little more comfort and refinement for my time on the black top. This came in the guise of an MY96 Liberty GX Ralley. Twos indeed a nice little number and although it did actually venture to places a regular car shouldn't tread, ground clearance became an issue and I realised it was time to start shopping again.
An MY01 Forester was to find it's way home this time around and I have to say this car remains my favourite. (Oi Nick, next time you're chattin' with that Ikuo bloke have him talk to the monkeys in interior design about bringing back the fold out arm rests. Cheers) A few tweaks were made to her over the years (some voluntary, others by the local flora & fauna) and she reliably did everything I asked and then some often surprising myself at where I was able to go. However with the advent of a company car for me and the trouble & strife having her own sporty little machine, the Forester was to spend the vast majority of the following 12 months in the carport as I just couldn't bare to part with her. (The Forester that is, not the wife)
With the better half's car now up for renewal, it was time to start shopping Subaru again, or so I thought. Instead I was swiftly taken to the nearest VW dealership and advised I was to test drive a TDI Golf of some ilk as that's what she'd intended to purchase. After much protest about how she doesn't want to drive a car that looks like a bar of soap, and much persuasion from me after extolling the virtues of Subaru ownership, a shiny new MY06 Forester found its way home although it did come with strict instructions. No getting it dirty before it's first service. "Yes dear, whatever you say dear". With that in mind and less than 150km on the clock, the new beasty was loaded up and headed north for fishing and hill climbing in Dampier & Karatha. Aside from getting a little to friendly with a bit of mud somewhere along the Murchison (and some excess noise from around the passenger seat when the mud was approached with 800km on the ODO) all went well in typical Subaru style.
Oddly enough, with new car time again upon us it's now the lovely lady suggesting an MY10 Subi of some ilk should be directed to our garage in the next few weeks.
Ok, that's enough babble & bulldust from me. See you lot in the dirt some time.