CAR/VEHICLE NO. 9 - SUBARU E10

SUBARU E10 - TM9339

If you are following my posts, you might recall the stories about a car called Nissan Langley bearing registration No. TJ480 that I've given to my father for his own use. The stories and facts about the Langley can be located in my posts on Nissan Langley , Nissan Langley - Part 1 and Nissan Langley/Pulsar, all dated 7th May, 2011. Please refer to the Blog Archive in the left column of this page should you feel to explore the facts about Nissan Langley.

The Langley was sold back to the car dealer who was the agent and/or dealer for Subaru E10, a mini van introduced by Subaru for Malaysian car/vehicle markets. So, I have traded in the Langley for a brand new Subaru for my father's usage. The sale and purchase transactions  for Langley and Subaru were completed in early1989.

It was a small/mini van, and in certain places it was called as micro van. The mini Subaru van had an attractive registration number as TM 9339 and registered in my name as the hirer where its monthly installments had to be paid by me.

I have tested drive the unit and was astonished abut the van's power and performance. It could have reached the speed at 140km/hour easily and for a small van like that, it needed a better stability. Though it could go faster, I have no courage to do that.

I remembered how my father scowled and burst out with disagreement when I said I wanted to sell the Langley. Here is his disappointment verse in our local dialect as I still remember them:

"Pah beli gi jual...baru nok abis ansuran, gi jual pulok...bile nok jadi hok sendiri dok tau lah!"

Meaning that, I was in the habit of buying the cars and selling them at anytime before the installments were fully paid, which never make me as the real owner of the cars with no debt with finance companies.

But then, I remember how my father could not hide his happiness, the moment I brought home to him the Subaru E10. He was really pleased with that and straight away hugged me in front of my Mom. What a happy moment was that. The tears dropped from my mother's eyes too...

FACTS YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT SUBARU E10 MINIVAN/SUMO

The Subaru Sumo, known as the Libero in European markets apart from the UK, Norway, and Sweden, and as the Domingo in the Japanese market, was a microvan produced from 1983 to 1998. In Sweden, it was known as the Columbuss, and in Taiwan the latter generation was marketed as the Estratto. It was also called the Subaru E10 and Subaru E12 respectively in some places, the names referring to the size of the engines. The Sumo shared many characteristics with the Sambar, except it had extended front and rear bumpers and a larger engine borrowed from the Subaru Justy. Because of these modifications, it didn't conform to kei car regulations, which stipulate the maximum dimensions of the vehicle and the maximum engine displacement requirements, which then determine the vehicle tax to be paid.

It was launched with the option of four-wheel drive and powered by 1.0- and 1.2-litre 3-cylinder EF engines based on those used in the Subaru Justy although in the van they were rear mounted. Somewhat unusual for a microvan, the 1,200 cc Sumo could be ordered with selectable 4WD, operated via a gear stick mounted button. In normal driving conditions, only the rear wheels were driven, as there was no central differential to allow highway driving in 4WD mode. In 1994, Subaru's Full Time 4WD was added to the options list with the ECVT transmission only and a viscous coupling. An oil cooler was installed on European versions to better facilitate light duty towing.

The Sumo was discontinued when the sixth generation Sambar was introduced, and the market that the Sumo was targeted at was refocused towards the Subaru Forester, which, in comparison to the Sumo, had permanent 4WD, a more potent 2.5 L boxer engine and increased cargo capacity. In Japan, the Domingo market segment is now served by the Subaru Exiga, which is capable of carrying up to seven passengers.

A more passenger-car-like Subaru Domingo high-roof van with 997 cc, later 1,189 cc engines and coil springs at the rear was added in October 1983. It had a length of 341/342.5 cm and a width of 143 cm. This vehicle would stay available well after the release of the next generation Sambar. In the export the smaller Sambar received a 665 cc engine and the vehicle was called Subaru 700 (length 322.5 cm).

Manufacturer	Subaru
Also called	Subaru Sambar Subaru Libero Subaru Domingo Subaru Columbuss (SE) Subaru E series Subaru Estratto(TW)
Production	1983–1998
Class	microvan
Body style	cabover van
Layout	Rear-engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Engine	1.0 L EF10 Straight-3 1.2 L EF12 Straight-3
Transmission	5 speed manual ECVT Transmission
Length	3,525 mm (138.8 in)[1]
Width	1,415 mm (55.7 in)
Height	1,925 mm (75.8 in)
Curb weight	1,040 kg (2,293 lb)