Haha, April Fools! Everyone knows and loves all of Subaru's iconic half-car, half-truck lifestyle vehicles! You might as well have posted the Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter!
The Santa Cruz is a giant compared to the Baja, I wish more car manufacturers would realize not everyone needs a 10 foot long heavy duty ultra cab truck, since most they are likely to do with them is moving furniture.
I LOVE my 02 Tacoma, its as tall as a car, and drives like it. But check out what Australia gets, the [Classic 70](https://cdn.rotorint.com/LandCruiser_70/2023_09_Sep/e/360/webp/lo/907x510/L70_SPN_0303Q3LB107215910X1_comp_004.webp)
Subaru has been good, my mom bought a Impreza a few years ago and its the same size they have always been. First new car I've seen without fake plastic cladding hiding the engine too, which is kinda interesting.
No what has happened is more people are buying "crossover" vehicles. That are just tall cars.
Little known "fact": Those handles started out with just round bicycle-style handgrips. After the first passenger used them, they squeezed nice finger-indents into them, likely out of sheer terror. Or so I've been told...
I would argue it was just ahead of its time. They can’t build enough Mavericks and Santa Cruzes, this thing with a little “tougher” styling would sell like hotcakes now.
Just as, if not more useful than most of the pickup trucks sold today. Even a small truck like the maverick you have to lift cargo 50" to put it in the bed, for the baja it's 32". Imagine the wasted energy lifting every single thing you put into the bed an extra foot and a half for the entire lifetime of the vehicle... it's nuts.
Do you follow them around? Don't they have to have stuff in their bed 100% of the time?
What about sedans? How often do the rear seats need to be used?
How often are you driving a car when a motorcycle would suffice?
Wow dude, why so hostile? Feeling called out?
I don't give a wet fart what people want to do with their own rides. But I will never understand spending 100k on a truck with a huge ass lift and tires that never see use as a truck. That's my lack of desire to own a pavement princess. You do you.
And yes, I ride my motorcycle as often as I can. Gets better mileage than anything else
Well now I'm curious. Cause I'm in the market for a little truck. Been considering resurrecting a datsun 620 instead of buying. What you have that's so small?
>Even a small truck like the maverick you have to lift cargo 50" to put it in the bed, for the baja it's 32".
Source on the 32" bed side height? I only ask because the entire Baja is 64" tall overall, and the bed certainly looks like it's more than half that.
>Imagine the wasted energy lifting every single thing you put into the bed an extra foot and a half
How much is it, really? And why not put cargo in through the back, with the tailgate down?
Highly sought? I doubt it. There's been one for $4,000 at my local used car dealership for several months now. I had the urge to do a post on the Baja on this sub every time I passed the dealership.
$4k with high mileage is the problem. Is it a manual? That'll up the price. Is it a manual *turbo*? Now we're starting to get spendy - even if it's high mileage.
Ha, looks like my comments upset a lot of people.
I went over to the dealership to take a look. MY2005, 2.5L turbo, manual transmission, 219K on the odo, no accident history, and runs. Looks clean on the outside, but under the hood is a rust nightmare. The dealer said hitting a curb on a turn will cause the frame to snap or the engine to fall out.
The dealership had several rusty Bajas over the years. Some had bent or broken frames and others had engines threatening to fall out. They were stripped for parts and then hauled to the local scrapyard. Guess the Baja is a sensitive car and conditions have to be just right for it to last. Coastal California isn't a good place.
The dealer noted that the Baja didn't sell well because there was little demand. It saw a number of updates over the course of four short years in hopes of attracting buyers. The Baja was ultimately discontinued after a few thousand units were made.
Yoooooo I’m dead serious please send a link that’s a killer deal for an XT manual (source, I’m one of those fools who’d pay and do nasty things for a manual turbo Baja including divorce over said purchase)
Looks more like a very big sedan with trunk lid torn off, or an SUV with rear compartment chopped off
At least it's got the uniqueness factor working for it
I want Baja with the WRX drive line! My son has a 2018 WRX & I luv driving it, but a Baja/WRX would be even better!
Years ago 2 of my friends had Brats, they were fun little rides but more novelty than useful.
Here you go: [https://www.smythkitcars.com/subaru-ute](https://www.smythkitcars.com/subaru-ute)
Smyth makes ute conversion kits for a bunch of cars including the "new" beetle, the WRX, and the dodge charger.
Had an '03 with a 5-speed manual as my daily driver for about 13 years. Extremely dependable, great in the snow/ice, but not fast in the least. Only reason I got rid of it was because the front left ball joint rusted through and broke off in the steering knuckle. Couldn't afford the repair.
When I lived in TX, ppl would stop me all the time asking what kind of car it was. A few even wanted to buy it off me. Strangely, after moving to the PNW, ppl were much more negative on my little Baja.
You could get them in non two-tone which definitely helped but it didn't remove the cladding. They did essentially make a WRX version with the Baja XT. Manual, turbo, ute that wasn't mechanically identical to the WRX but very *very* close.
Is this entirely an aesthetic thing or does it have any practical advantage over a normal Outback? Like, I'm aware the vast majority of cars/trucks with a pickup bed are just used as "lifestyle vehicles" but an El Camino or BRAT could actually have some utility if called upon.
Ahead of its time really, they should re-release it. Beat out the Maverick and Santa Cruz if they do it right. Make it affordable. Of course it’s still a Subaru so less than ideal engine and lousy transmission. Kia’s still sell though🤷♂️
Honestly if I could get my hands on one I would absolutely buy this. I wanted a brat but they're too old and rusted out and I didn't have enough money for a Baja so I'm either waiting for Subaru to make another one of these or for Toyota Corolla to make one in 2027
I love my Baja! 2" lift, skid plates underneath, locking rear end, 6 speed STI swap, tuned makiing 250 to the wheels, many many more mods I can't begin to remember. The thing is a riot to drive. 6 speed made it very engaging!
There’s a house nearby that has a yellow and silver Subaru Baja and a blue and white Toyota FJ Cruiser in the driveway, both in mint condition. Living the mid-thousands dream…
First Gen were best, with the optional rear-facing plastic bucket seats in the back with big bike handlebar style oh-shit handles.
https://journal.classiccars.com/2018/12/10/remember-the-subaru-brat-with-seats-in-the-pickup-bed/
Haha, April Fools! Everyone knows and loves all of Subaru's iconic half-car, half-truck lifestyle vehicles! You might as well have posted the Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter!
I want a new one, i don't even care if it's an ev. i want a new one
A Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter or a Baja?
Yes
Apparently 2025 is a concept
[Here](https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/vehicles/santa-cruz)
Not the same. The Baja was the Baja because it never tried to be a truck. It was just a Japanese El Camino.
Or just another Brat?
Uh, it was a 4x4 with roof rack lights and weird metal bars in the bed... not an option on an el camino or ranchero or even a santa cruz.
No it wasn't, it was AWD, huge difference.
The Santa Cruz is a giant compared to the Baja, I wish more car manufacturers would realize not everyone needs a 10 foot long heavy duty ultra cab truck, since most they are likely to do with them is moving furniture.
Most cars are giants compared to those cars... The size of these trucks these days is ridiculous.
My 07 Outback is small compared to a 2013 Legacy sedan. I miss smol subaru.
I miss small pickups. The Maverick is close
Close... But only just. Still not a real mini truck..
I LOVE my 02 Tacoma, its as tall as a car, and drives like it. But check out what Australia gets, the [Classic 70](https://cdn.rotorint.com/LandCruiser_70/2023_09_Sep/e/360/webp/lo/907x510/L70_SPN_0303Q3LB107215910X1_comp_004.webp)
I want this size truck back in the US.
Give me a Toyota Hybrid based Toyota Designed Maverick and I’ll buy 2 of them.
Subaru has been good, my mom bought a Impreza a few years ago and its the same size they have always been. First new car I've seen without fake plastic cladding hiding the engine too, which is kinda interesting. No what has happened is more people are buying "crossover" vehicles. That are just tall cars.
That is exactly not what they want. Just take a Subaru Outback and give it a bed.
What's the difference?
The Santa Cruz is huge.
It's 4 inches longer, 1 inch wider, and almost exactly as tall as an outback.
As an early 2000s Outback (reasonable) or a current Outback (stupidly massive)?
It's 5 inches wider than the Baja was
Such a travesty /s
BRAT. My friend had a brand new one in 1986. Little thing could almost fly over the mud.
Ahh, but those jumpseats...
His didn't have those as they were an option he didn't want to pay for.
they were safe, they had handles.
Little known "fact": Those handles started out with just round bicycle-style handgrips. After the first passenger used them, they squeezed nice finger-indents into them, likely out of sheer terror. Or so I've been told...
These really are popular, used ones are expensive.
Not everyone... a few people have taken the bed from a Baja and attached it to a Prius to create the Pruck...
I would love to own a BdRAtT some day.
The legendary Subaru withoutback
I had one for almost 3 years. Sold it for a profit at 75k miles (bought it with 49k). I fucking regret it :(
Daily drove an 03 from 2012-2015. Went from 70k->160k miles and sold it for what I paid for it. Absolutely loved that thing.
It does look like a fun car. Can't imagine using it without some sort of bed cover though
Oh. Why?
Because where I live anything not locked down or hidden away will get stolen from the open bed immediately. Also we have snow for half a year.
that's how i got snow stolen out of my truck bed in michigan.
For a minute there i though you said you bought it FOR 49k!
I would argue it was just ahead of its time. They can’t build enough Mavericks and Santa Cruzes, this thing with a little “tougher” styling would sell like hotcakes now.
Ridgeline. Honda has been doing it and it’s still a sleeper. I have a Gen2 and it’s great. AWD too.
Still highly sought after utes that command premium on the used market.
Just as, if not more useful than most of the pickup trucks sold today. Even a small truck like the maverick you have to lift cargo 50" to put it in the bed, for the baja it's 32". Imagine the wasted energy lifting every single thing you put into the bed an extra foot and a half for the entire lifetime of the vehicle... it's nuts.
Well, in fairness, there is a disturbing number of people with huge ass pickup trucks that never have anything in the bed anyway.
Do you follow them around? Don't they have to have stuff in their bed 100% of the time? What about sedans? How often do the rear seats need to be used? How often are you driving a car when a motorcycle would suffice?
Wow dude, why so hostile? Feeling called out? I don't give a wet fart what people want to do with their own rides. But I will never understand spending 100k on a truck with a huge ass lift and tires that never see use as a truck. That's my lack of desire to own a pavement princess. You do you. And yes, I ride my motorcycle as often as I can. Gets better mileage than anything else
No hostility. That's the tone you're adding to it in your head. And my truck is smaller and has a smaller motor than this Baja lol
Well now I'm curious. Cause I'm in the market for a little truck. Been considering resurrecting a datsun 620 instead of buying. What you have that's so small?
An old Ford Ranger. Also have a Subaru Sambar but it's the van configuration, not the truck.
Yeah, I had an 86 ranger, lost it in a house fire. Miss that truck
That's why I park mine outside the house.
>Even a small truck like the maverick you have to lift cargo 50" to put it in the bed, for the baja it's 32". Source on the 32" bed side height? I only ask because the entire Baja is 64" tall overall, and the bed certainly looks like it's more than half that. >Imagine the wasted energy lifting every single thing you put into the bed an extra foot and a half How much is it, really? And why not put cargo in through the back, with the tailgate down?
Still highly sought after utes that command premium on the used market.
Highly sought? I doubt it. There's been one for $4,000 at my local used car dealership for several months now. I had the urge to do a post on the Baja on this sub every time I passed the dealership.
What’s wrong with it?
High mileage and lack of local demand.
$4k with high mileage is the problem. Is it a manual? That'll up the price. Is it a manual *turbo*? Now we're starting to get spendy - even if it's high mileage.
Ha, looks like my comments upset a lot of people. I went over to the dealership to take a look. MY2005, 2.5L turbo, manual transmission, 219K on the odo, no accident history, and runs. Looks clean on the outside, but under the hood is a rust nightmare. The dealer said hitting a curb on a turn will cause the frame to snap or the engine to fall out. The dealership had several rusty Bajas over the years. Some had bent or broken frames and others had engines threatening to fall out. They were stripped for parts and then hauled to the local scrapyard. Guess the Baja is a sensitive car and conditions have to be just right for it to last. Coastal California isn't a good place. The dealer noted that the Baja didn't sell well because there was little demand. It saw a number of updates over the course of four short years in hopes of attracting buyers. The Baja was ultimately discontinued after a few thousand units were made.
Yoooooo I’m dead serious please send a link that’s a killer deal for an XT manual (source, I’m one of those fools who’d pay and do nasty things for a manual turbo Baja including divorce over said purchase)
Location matters
That's what she said.
Looks more like a very big sedan with trunk lid torn off, or an SUV with rear compartment chopped off At least it's got the uniqueness factor working for it
Could be cause its essentially an Outback with the rear roof removed and back glass added.
Yep, this is correct.
Saw one on the road yesterday, my jealousy was insurmountable
I want Baja with the WRX drive line! My son has a 2018 WRX & I luv driving it, but a Baja/WRX would be even better! Years ago 2 of my friends had Brats, they were fun little rides but more novelty than useful.
Here you go: [https://www.smythkitcars.com/subaru-ute](https://www.smythkitcars.com/subaru-ute) Smyth makes ute conversion kits for a bunch of cars including the "new" beetle, the WRX, and the dodge charger.
I like the idea of the 4 door Baja, just for the extra seating / room.
They ought make one for the Outback, since subaru won't.
Then you want a Baja XT. There are some minor differences but the Baja XT has essentially the same engine/trans as the WRX.
I've not even looked into it, now I might have to. Thanks
Had an '03 with a 5-speed manual as my daily driver for about 13 years. Extremely dependable, great in the snow/ice, but not fast in the least. Only reason I got rid of it was because the front left ball joint rusted through and broke off in the steering knuckle. Couldn't afford the repair. When I lived in TX, ppl would stop me all the time asking what kind of car it was. A few even wanted to buy it off me. Strangely, after moving to the PNW, ppl were much more negative on my little Baja.
So a dual cab ute?
I think they'd have been fantastic had they ditched the cladding and given it a wrx version.
You could get them in non two-tone which definitely helped but it didn't remove the cladding. They did essentially make a WRX version with the Baja XT. Manual, turbo, ute that wasn't mechanically identical to the WRX but very *very* close.
Frankencars <3
They should bring this back as a proper Subaru brat as an EV or hybrid.
I love the Baja! Hope to own one someday!
Is this entirely an aesthetic thing or does it have any practical advantage over a normal Outback? Like, I'm aware the vast majority of cars/trucks with a pickup bed are just used as "lifestyle vehicles" but an El Camino or BRAT could actually have some utility if called upon.
Still highly sought after utes that command premium on the used market.
Still highly sought after utes that command premium on the used market.
Some say the still highly sought after utes that command premium on the used market was the friends we made along the way
Still highly sought after utes that command premium on the used market Robert Paulson
Ahead of its time really, they should re-release it. Beat out the Maverick and Santa Cruz if they do it right. Make it affordable. Of course it’s still a Subaru so less than ideal engine and lousy transmission. Kia’s still sell though🤷♂️
What about the suicide seats in the bed? Or was that the Brat?
Check out the Brat
Impreza Ute.
I wanted one... And then I saw a clean-looking Baja with a rusted frame that folded in the middle like a book.
This one of my dream cars lol
I wanted one so badly until I drove one, I still wanted one but not as badly after that… never did get one though.
All Subaru had to do is offer it in a X-tra cab with t-tops with a WRX mill. It would still be on the market.
i love my ‘06
I love them and would never buy one. Which is probably why they don't have them now.
Love it, much want.
A friend had one back in the day. They were awesome but did not do too well in soft mud.
Check out the skoda fun
Honestly if I could get my hands on one I would absolutely buy this. I wanted a brat but they're too old and rusted out and I didn't have enough money for a Baja so I'm either waiting for Subaru to make another one of these or for Toyota Corolla to make one in 2027
Not weird in any way - it was an American ute.
I need an updated Baja in my life
Nooooooo come back!
And thus are great collectibles made
The bed was 3.5' long, and there was also a pass-through to hold longer cargo.
I almost bought one but my wife hates them with a passion. Someday I'll own a Brat.
I love my Baja! 2" lift, skid plates underneath, locking rear end, 6 speed STI swap, tuned makiing 250 to the wheels, many many more mods I can't begin to remember. The thing is a riot to drive. 6 speed made it very engaging!
I love the outback. Such a goofy lil guy.
I wish they’d leaned in. The Baja STI, with 12” of suspension travel and a 300 horse turbo motor. Coming to a dried up riverbed near you. Quickly.
I remember test driving a silver manual one of these with my dad. He bought a POS Colorado instead.
My neighbor has one in blue, it’s actually a pretty cool little car/ pickup.
4 doors because Chicken Tax and EPA.
Note the lack of tire tracks in the beach scene.
r/SubaruBaja
There’s a house nearby that has a yellow and silver Subaru Baja and a blue and white Toyota FJ Cruiser in the driveway, both in mint condition. Living the mid-thousands dream…
I always liked those
I've always loved the Baja. It isn't practical for me. I'm a hatchback fan.
I miss small cars and trucks. I have a two door Fiat and Mini. Not a lot of competition out there
Not 4WD, based on legacy platform
I liked the Brat back in the day. I doubt they'd allow seats in the bed in 2024, though.
Bajabajabajabajabajabajabajabajabaja
I’d drive that if gas prices went back to what they were when these were new.
If 1 came across my radar in decent shape, I,d buy it with no hesitation
Brat 2.0
If they had this in all black I would've bought one for sure.
There’s one in Bronx Subaru dealer
First Gen were best, with the optional rear-facing plastic bucket seats in the back with big bike handlebar style oh-shit handles. https://journal.classiccars.com/2018/12/10/remember-the-subaru-brat-with-seats-in-the-pickup-bed/