Just picked up a used copy of Crap Cars. It's by Top Gear writer Richard Porter and ranks the 50 crappiest cars of all time (that were sold in the States). Number 30 was the Subaru XT. Apparently, four wheel drive was activated by pushing a button on the jet fighter gear knob (see video) or by turning on the windshield wiper (singular, as it is indeed a monoblade).
BTW, some of my favorite cars are on the list, including the Maserati Biturbo, the Aston Martin Lagonda, and the Ferrari 400.