Torque1980 - Episode 06
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ส.ค. 2024
- trove.nla.gov.a...
The above links to an article from the Australian Women''s Weekly dated Oct 16 1974, about the then new Torque program and Peter Wherrett.
"Torque began in 1974 and continued to rate highly in its evening timeslot for the ABC until it came to an end in 1980. Peter Wherrett always said he made the series with the public broadcaster because he wanted to be able to pull no punches about those vehicles that had safety or engineering problems. It was this forthright honesty that attracted the audience to Torque over the years." (Janet Bell - 'Australian Screen' NFSA) - บันเทิง
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In the UK, farmers and country folk loved the various 4×4 Subaru vehicles for all sorts of reasons, usually centred around reliability and durability (other than rust, which could be biblical). But by far the best thing about them was that in absence of a proper dealer network in the early days, they were sold out of farmer's equipment and feed stores, so you didn't have to go into town and deal with the proletariat in a ghastly nylon suit and over gelled hair. It was wonderful. The vehicles themselves were very agricultural, but still more refined (just) than a Series Land Rover, and because they were mostly driven across fields anyway, it didn't really matter all that much. They were seen as tools for doing a specific job rather than recreational vehicles or status symbols. The person who bought a Subaru wouldn't buy a Jeep, and vice versa. However, when Subaru went all upmarket in the 90s, we all switched to the good old Toyota Hilux. And we've never looked back.
Before reviews became shallow advertorials
Thanks for posting these episodes of Torque, really loving them. I was 21 in 1980 and I loved watching Torque.
Oh well, PW was a bit off in his predictions here, but he sure nailed it in the previous episode. Of course the most challenging terrain most of the SUVs bought in my area will ever encounter are the speed humps at Box Hill/Doncaster/Mt Waverley shopping centres!
Wonderful nostalgia. If Peter was put in the seat of a 2023 Prado it'd have him genuflecting. But then again, 43 years of auto evolution is a world away. - Rip Mr Wherrett, thanks for your legacy
Perhaps, but he'd be utterly horrified by the 2024 motoring landscape.
@@UncleJoeLITEin what way do you think?
I can't believe how much respect PW has for the environment and conservation.
The Best 4WD was the Scout .Still incredibly desired today in the US where it has always been a favorite of the survivalist crowd. And the rumble of the old International V8 sounds great. How many scouts were sold in OZ? I've seen a couple over the years but a rare sight.
Yes I am absolutely in love with my 78 Scout ...Quirky but tough and reliable !!
Scouts were assembled in Australia
Gosh the International Scout. A mate worked for IH, the Scouts were thrown in to the deal when buying a truck - I think they were Western Star prime movers?
As I recall, graziers were meant to have 4x vehicles:
1. Statesman/Merc/Fairlane, for a gentleman to cruise
2. Subaru Leone, for the missus to run into town
3. Landcruiser [duh!] SWB/LWB optional
4. At least one Suzuki Jimny, possibly unregistered & rusty. =)
Unlike modern day motoring journalists, Peter Wherett was frank and fearless in his critique of individual automotive makes and models. On the basis of some of the incomprehensible reviews and award decisions by modern motoring journalists, it is obvious a lot of them take bribes (cash, flights or junkets) in return for favourable coverage.
The irony of the closing statement about not seeing a future for vehicles like the Subaru. Oh Peter, if only you were alive today to see the things that we drive now.
He wasn't the only one, in the UK they were condemned as being weird Japanese cars for farmers, and initially they were only sold at farming stores. Although things improved markedly when a new importer took them over, so they finally got dealers, things wouldn't really have changed much without the rallying and, ultimately, the Impreza, though I've always thought that the turbo version of the L-series was a better car in a lot of ways, as it could be a quiet, comfortable saloon car and then you put your foot on the floor and it would go in a way very few other cars did in the mid '80s. And, of course, the rather mad 4-cam Legacy/Liberty turbos, which are pretty much forgotten in all the Impreza hype. One thing any Impreza turbo has never managed to be is refined...
Its easy why Peter came to that conclusion tho. In the early days Subaru wasn't very special. They were known to be quirky rust boxes with the spare tire on top of the engine. it wasn't until the mid to late 80's before they became as great as we remember them now, well after this show was made and without hindsight I understand why he said it. Ive owned both a 1982 Leone and a 1990 Legacy, both were good cars but the difference between the Leone and the Legacy is huge and demonstrates how much Subaru had grown up
I loved it when the Subaru designers and engineers twice met up and got completely baked: 1st time was when we got the Vortex in the mid-eighties; 2nd was for the SVX in the early '90s. Now the boring old farts at Toyota got their hooks in 'em and have now actually lost the plot.
@@TheVeljam Yes, they certainly weren't afraid to stick their necks well out. OK, it often ended up with the company getting its throat well and truly cut, but pushing the limits is where the learning happens. And they did pretty much create a market segment that is now extremely popular and makes a lot of manufacturers a lot of money, two if you count the rally-oriented 4wd turbo super saloons...
One of the few dud calls PW made. Most of his other observations were spot on, and some of his predictions were downright spooky.
I had a 1980 Hilux. It was THE most gutless thing I've ever driven. I doubt it could've pulled Peter's beret off off his head! His comments re the suspension travel was true - it genuinely had NO suspension travel!
I know, I rebuilt a Diesel 2.4 Hilux once (I'm a mechanic) without ever having driven one, took it for a test drive and thought I'd done something wrong. The owner told me it never ran so well ..
Well they certainly improved the hilux from this model along with the price accordingly.
They still continue to make the rear of the Hilux too stiff even now though especially if they have a tray single cab workmate that some people on the forums recommend installing a thick metal plate in the tray for ballast. Also commercial vehicle safety standards are still lacking with abs and airbags I think still optional which is a shame.
What beret? There's no beret in the entire series of Torque, much less this episode.
@@assininecomment4934 The style of hat/cap Peter generally wore is usually referred to as a Flat Cap. A number of different names exist for that style of headwear, the names vary from country to country and include the name Ivy Hat Beret.
Fast Forward to 2019 and I Just Love Love Love My 1978 International Scout II = Legend
Does yours have the removable fibreglass roof?
@@ronanrogers4127 yeah sure does mine is the Traveller long wheelbase!
Agreed mate....I had one as well a while back..VERY capable on the beach....And that V8 motor left everything in it's wake...including $100,000 land cruiser shitboxes..LOL.... Towed a heap of them on Fraser island.....
@@petefinn4914 Even Toyota and Nissan NEED A SUPER HERO!
In todays money the International at $15000 in 1980 is about $63000 in 2018. That is a lot of money for a 4wd wagon like that.
...you could buy a decent home on a 1/4 acre block in a country town for $15k in 1980.
The Subaru was the first SUV...., It has always been my favorite car. Only recently replaced my 1981 Leone with a Nissan LEAF ( the first mass market electric car). I still have a Brumby on the road, and if I put a battery and a muffler on the old wagon in the paddock it would still go. They were not tough, they fell apart, but they would not stop.
Complaints on a 1970s vehicle.
If only Peter was still around, complaints on a 2019 off-road vehicle will give him a heart attack !
I don't know about a heart attack, I think he'd have spontaneously combusted with anger at the fact that a lot of car makers are still falling down on the basic stuff they were getting wrong in 1980...
I think the Subaru was more suited for Europe with harsher winters bringing very bad road conditions which a 4WD can be very handy, but still wanting a smaller car without having to resort to buying a farmers truck to get the option of 4WD.
I wish he was alive today in 2019 to see the Subaru cross overs that are very compliment all wheel drive cross overs. I love my 2006 Jeep V8 and 2002 WRX.
Still driving a 1981 Subaru wagon as a daily, 40 years later. Take that!
Never knew about the suspension adjustments on the subi since my parents had a 1984 one for many years with little problems he is right about the interior noise and it could of done with a 5 speed and a tachometer
PW: "... I can't see much of a future for (the Subaru.)"
Turbo Yoda: "Hold my lemon squash."
LOL@ Turbo Yoda HAHAHA
Got that one wrong Peter .
Its easy why Peter came to that conclusion tho. In the early days the 4WD Subaru wasn't very special, and he was ONLY referring to the 4WD duel purpose idea concept and not Subaru cars as a whole.
They were known to be quirky rust boxes with the spare tire on top of the engine. it wasn't until the mid to late 80's before they became as great as we remember them now, well after this show was made and without hindsight I understand why he said it.
Ive owned both a 1982 Leone and a 1990 Legacy, both were good cars but the difference between the Leone and the Legacy is huge and demonstrates how much Subaru had grown up
If memory serves, these models used a selectable 4WD transfer case and were usually driven in FWD on paved roads, rather than the constant and symmetric AWD that Subaru uses now, so it wasn't really that usable unless you were on something slippery like dirt and grass (moderately likely) or snow (much less common in Oz.) They weren't a bad compromise, all in all, but the approach/departure angles precluded surviving any really heavy going without some wayward bodywork around the bumpers and front apron. I found them best for dirt roads that were relatively smooth but dusty...maybe some mud or wet grass on steep hills. So his analysis is pretty much spot on for the time. it's just that subsequent to this show, Subaru managed to significantly improve the car.
Peter thought in his own bubble. Outdoor people loved the duality of the Subaru. A perfect relatively economical vehicle to travel to the snow and then drive in it.
This is amazing
Tyre pressure Peter tyre pressure!
Owned outback’s since 1998. Never intended to be a full on 4 wheel drive, but a jack of many trades and just so versatile. Not the best thing on 4 wheels no, b it as an alrounder they’re bloody good
He was a hard man to please 😂
I like the way Peter werett has a straight line when driving the car should be taught to the P plate drivers and they're have control over The car
LOL at his closing statement.
Peter seemed to have more trouble with the tailgate of the IH Scout than I would imagine one should have. My stepfather had a 1970s Toyota Hilux pickup truck which was easy enough to lower and raise.
I just think he was making a point about cheapskate design features...gas struts were installed on much less expensive cars. Scouts were assembled here and as he said, were quite expensive...considering this, local suppliers might have been called upon to provide better spec items.
@@saxongreen78 Ahhh! Okay. My stepfather's Hilux had a chain link tailgate. However cheapskate it looked, it worked like it should.
Have to let your tyres down to about 18 psi to drive on sand everyone should know that...✌️
I bought an '85 Subaru GL wagon years ago and by that model it had many changes Peter would have given the ok to. Might have been a bit short sighted on the future of part time car/4wd vehicles but then he could only go on what was available back then.
I'd love a hatch and tailgate on a 4x4
I've never seen an International Scout in the wild. Probably for good reason. And I use to own an '84 Subaru Touring Wagon. It was awesome! Gutless, but awesome
Can't see cross over vehicles off? Opps. That was a bad call 😂
because they were very expensive.
I like the way he was actually interested in protection of the environment, and encouraged people to respect it and take care of it. These days, If anything,environmental protection is even more important. But it seems no motoring journalist is interested, or at least none of them express any interest. Worse, people like Clarkson actually engage in nonsensical climate change denial. I don't quite understand how people think that protection of the biosphere - that which enables life on this planet - is somehow optional. Or that only zealots are interested in it.
Yep agreed he went up in my books saying that
Flogs
The climate has always changed
No law against foolishness.
@@stanpolitanski4490 Yeah, internet randoms know more than climate scientists. No one is arguing that the climate doesn't change. The point is that the data indicate a very large and rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 over the last 1 to 2 centuries that is correlated with increasing global average temperatures.
Got that one wrong, Pete. Subaru 'compromise' AWD wagons became top sellers world wide.
He missed a massive point with the Hilux, Its designed to be carrying probably half a ton in the back, I dare say It would ride alot nicer in that case..
Yep had a CJ6 Jeep, had a SD2.5 Navara Liked it, Hated my mates 2.2 Hilux 4x4 (rough, shitty seats and seating position, Now have a Subaru Forester.... Almost right Peter and almost right Subaru. Subaru needs to make a real reduction transfer case and height adjustable suspension available on the fly. If this was done they would make a killing in the SUV market. Have not driven current Outback but I don't see the ground clearance nor entrance and exit angles improving as they are on other SUV's. Having said all that , for the price and handling it is reasonable dirt roads and occasional mild rough ground , the Subaru is almost a real 4x4 but not quite, but I think if developed just a little I think Peter could be proved Very wrong. Subaru has proved its self in rally it just needs to bring some of that suspension across.
I think he broke the leonie at 24:42.
All quiet then BANG!! That was bloody hilarious - it was like something out of 'World's Worst Drivers' footage. Except I think PW's a legend.
@@TheVeljam I'm sure he broke it. I dunno much about them old Subys but maybe he had it in 4wd and turned too tight on dry ground. Diff? Uni? Transfer case? Dunno. Something went bang!
@@Detroit8V92tta I think he hit a decent sized rock. It appears the right front of the car bounces at the time of the noise.
Yeah, that was a nasty bang from under the car.
@@petehoskins1267 maybe someone took a pot shot at him 🤣
I’d take the Scout or CJ7 any day
I wonder what he would think of the wrangler today, probably be disappointed by lack of progress. Also I wonder what he would think of the Subaru Forester, I have one that I take off road and it's still got the same compromises that he mentions, have to slip the clutch - no low range but what it makes up for with on road handling, size, power - XT turbo model and comfort is worth the small lack of off road ability.
I think Peter would be taken aback by just how car-like 4x4 utes are these days, whilst still being competent off-roaders. The Ford Ranger and new (2021) Isuzu D-Max would give him pause for thought.
The first Forrester's had low range with manual not auto
Re the Scoobee Doo, how wrong was he? Everything he said was in essence correct but they still sold like hotcakes. I know, I did my apprenticeship at a Subaru dealership and for the most part they were fairly reliable, except when they were overheated and the sleeves leaked water into the sump.
As a 4wd they were quite capable, but there was of course the 4sp Range Rover that could do 100mph on the bitumen then go up some of the hardest hard core 4wd tracks quite a lot easier than a Toyota 40 or 55 or a MQ or G60 Patrol. Subaru obviously wasn't in that category, more I'm mentioning that Wherrett didn't mention the other cross over 4x4 that really started it all.
Look's like the Jeep was the best off road.
Has the right rear wheel jammed at 18:38 or is it an optical illusion.
What I don't like about the Jeep is where the gear shift selector is positioned. While I like having the gear selector on the steering column, rather than on the floor between the driver and front seat passenger, I believe that the selector should be facing toward the centre of the car, rather than towards the driver's side door.
Because it's designed for RHD
@@cruiser6260 Are you sure about that? I've seen RHD cars where the gearshift lever is on the *left* side of the steering column.
@@jasoncarpp7742 I should have said it's designed for LHD
@@cruiser6260 I knew what you meant. Its position is fine for a Left-Hand Driven car, like those sold here in the USA and Canada, etc., but for a Right-Hand Driven car, like those sold in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, or the UK, etc., you'd think the gear selector would face the centre of the car.
I reckon the IH Scout was perfect in size. I don't know what Peter's problem with it is.
Probably because he actually took it off road and not drive around the city.
@@mb3558 I don't know. I thought the Scout was made for off-road driving.
what was the bang at 24:42 mark??
He fucked the car.
Something under the car broke in a big way?
Scout,345 V8,but the 392 would bolt straight in.The jeep was a basic military vehicle,and soldier you WILL drive it !
Interesting comments by Peter Wherrett at the end there about the awd
That is my "moment of note" from this video...
Amazing how much can change and also how little other things do.
What awd?
I dont think he really liked any of them !
Too bad all the cars weren't up to Pete's standards 😢
Wrong about the Subaru, they got better as time marched on.
Still heaps of shit.
Lol, the 2.5 engine is notorious for blowing head gaskets but as a sports/rally car they dominated for a few years. Btw, I don't own one.
No they didn't. They dropped the low range and changed from 4wd to awd.
Head gaskets on the 2 ltr Subaru aren't much good either, Should have studs rather than bolts to allow decent and consistent tensioning
He was correct half of these suv s we have today still couldn't half of what the old 4x4 s could do.
Also you don't see honest car reviewers like Peter. If they were like Peter there would be very minimal car reviews as today's society is to soft . Political left wing retardedness going on . Car manufacturers would die at the thought of Peter reviewing there cars today. And ban him from there products
Boy was he wrong about Subaru.
PW and 4wd??? A ute with no load and race track tire pressures.... any wonder he kept getting caught up in the sand!
I love the boxer engine
Got the Subaru future very wrong 😅
Out of that lot, I'd take the Hilux and modify the suspension.
Thats all it needed or test with load in the tray not empty .
I'm a fan of PW, but probably one of the worst people to review 4wd vehicles. If he couldn't get a scout or a jeep to work on sand he has limited ability. The Leonie was popular because of price and they were cheap to run. Most 4wd's are modified to suit the owners needs wants which a reviewer of new cars finds it hard to understand.
and no mention of tyre pressure, the single, cheapest and fastest thing you can do to improve traction/ride off road.
@@nudibanches essential on sand
He should have joined the 40psi club on Fraser island .
He's too woke
AKA: Wherret the Ferret and his yank shitboxes. And that kids, is what almost killed the US car manufacturing industry!
By the end of the 80's, hell even around this time the Japanese were taking over.
Unfortunately all the cars he is reviewing are all crap, the better versions are all overseas, sad to say