Desirable Subaru’s have four-wheel drive, an air scoop on the hood and a blown boxer engine. However? Well no. The 26-year-old but as good as new Subaru Vivio, who is in the spotlight in this episode of Fancier Wanted, proves that a more modest and extremely sympathetic urban rascal of the brand also deserves a real enthusiast.
When you think of a Subaru for car enthusiasts, you quickly think of an Impreza GT Turbo, WRX or Legacy B4. However, Subaru has also made countless less violent but nevertheless interesting models that can certainly hit the enthusiasts’ nerve. De Vivio, who is looking for a warm home in this edition of Lover Wanted, is the perfect example of this.
The Subaru Vivio, which was launched on the European market in the early 1990s as a successor to the more angular Mini Jumbo, is a rock-solid car in heart and soul. The car, especially developed for the Japanese home market, in the segment of small cars such as the Fiat Cinquecento, Suzuki Alto and Daihatsu Cuore therefore fully meets the requirements set by the Japanese tax authorities for a car in that class. It is shorter than 3.4 meters and has a small machine under the hood that is less than 660 cc. The model name Vivio is even a reference to the (rounded) cylinder capacity: write twice the six in Roman numerals (VI VI) and put an O instead of a 0 after it and you are already there. This Vivio has a 658 cc small petrol engine that, despite its small capacity, simply has four cylinders. Ability? 44 hp and 53 brave Nm’s. You should definitely not be in a hurry with that, especially not in this copy. This cheerful Vivio also has Subaru’s Electro-Continuous Variable Transmission, a CVT. In 16 seconds, the Vivio rolls to 100 km/h and 138 km/h is hard enough. Don’t blame me.
Subaru Vivio
The seller asks €3,950 for this Vivio, about half of the new value. At first sight an absurd amount for a 26 year old Subaruutje of this caliber. But look closely. The cuddly Vivio looks like he just drove away from the showroom. According to the seller, the Vivio was brought from Germany and comes from the first owner who only drove 6,000 kilometers with it. Given its import history, NAP is not included, but we assume that it is correct, despite the five-digit counter. The Viviootje does not have much experience, so it is important to check things such as rubbers and hoses for possible dehydration. But look at him standing there, fresh and ready to be rescued from automotive oblivion.
Subaru Vivio
What do you get for about $4,000? Just a three-door, front-wheel drive Vivio in GLi trim. Besides the Basic, the GLi was the only version that Subaru delivered in the Netherlands. Compared to that basic version, opulent features such as a parcel shelf, a sun visor for the co-driver, ‘sporty wheel plates’ and a rear wiper with washer ensure that you could look down on the Basic drivers. No, no kidding, this Vivio is a true survivor. A car that certainly in this color breathes the atmosphere of the 90s as if it were the founder of it and that with its showroom condition is a real relic from a bygone era in Europe. His asking price is objectively on the high side, but whoever lets himself be swayed by his charms will hopefully pull the wallet for it. Car enthusiasts come in all shapes and sizes and undoubtedly also for Subaru’s little one, which was the best-selling Subaru in the Netherlands for years but has quickly died out.
Subaru Vivio
Enneh, do you feel deep in your subconscious too good for a Subaru without rally history? Even then you do not have to leave the Vivio. In Japan, supercharged Vivio’s were driven in rallies. None other than rally legend Colin McRae has dabbled with it. You could also get a four-wheel drive variant of the ‘regular’ versions. In the Netherlands too. The jolly Vivio T-Top unfortunately passed the Dutch nose.
Subaru Vivio T-Top
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl