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Howdy Folks,

I'm chasing a subaru liberty with a budget of around $10k in mind. Now, before you tell me which one is quickest........it's for the missus
So, specifically, i am choosing a liberty because they are one of the few cars of this size that are not front wheel drive, plus they are meant to be one of the safest vehicles on the road.

Basically i'm chasing any general info i can find on them- which models are considered better, which ones to avoid, major inherent problems, different spec levels offered etc etc.

i've done heaps of searching but cannot find this more general information.

thanks for any help

ive seen really nice gen2 wagons for around that price.

yeah i've been doing some searching/reading since i posted this- the gen 2 runs from around 1994 to 1998 yeah? i figure that's around about the right age/price range. anything in particular to look out for when buying a gen 2? can anyone tell me if the automatic gen 2 libertys are 50/50 front/rear power split, or 90/10? i suspect they are 90/10? (the manual are all 50/50 yeah?)

cheers

More importantly, are you looking at a wagoon of a sedan?
Welcome and good luck with the search.

Buy her a "GX" she'll love it.
All the mod cons.

gen2 RX...very nice car. You can be lucky to find some gen3's for around 10 as well.

or you could get a very very nice RS turbo(gen1) for about 10.

alex

Are you interested in a gen 2 liberty sdn heritage?Electric everything, Leather interior,abs,auto,dual air bags,new timing belt,idlers and waterpump.
mags,fog lights etc...in Perth too
Chris 0419 928 306

Gen1 - Gx best model
Gen1 - Rs Turbo model (unsure about p/m p/w etc)

gen2 - Rx best model

by best i mean luxury, off the showroom they would of cost more

thanks for the info fellas

she wants an auto sedan-so i guess i'm looking for a GX or RX gen 2? what is the heritage chris? can you give me more details- what engine, how many km etc.

if i bought her an RS gen 1 i think she would get a bit suspicious the first time i launched it off the lights- i.e is this car for you or me sort of thing-ha ha ha

i'm still wondering what the front/rear power split is in the auto if anyone can confirm that for me.

which engines were available for the gen 2 in Australia? on wikipedia they list a SOHC 2.0L, a DOHC 2.0L, a SOHC 2.2L, a SOHC 2.5L and a DOHC 2.0L twin turbo. i have heard the 2.5L engine has head gasket issues? what is considered the pick of the bunch (besides obviously the twin turbo).

ok-just found some more stuff- so the heritage is like the top luxury model yeah? and it has the 2.5L motor, as does the RX, but all the others have the 2.2L. which is considered the better engine? 2.5 or 2.2? what's the story with the head gaskets on the 2.5? anyone have real world fuel economy figures for either?
i also found the power split info- in the autos it's definitely 90 to 95% FWD, with a maximum of about 60/40 in low traction conditions.

cheers

yes heritage is the luxury model,2.5 l quad cam engine,its got 180000k,white,also replaced the cam and crank seals,i have receipts for all of the workdone.
Chris

west_oz wrote:anyone have real world fuel economy figures for either?

I have a MY96 LX (FWD only) Liberty Gen 2 5spd. We bought it with 70K, now 220K. Through that time we have been able to achieve low 7L/100 at highway, but not much worse for street/local runs either, at around mid 8's but never over 9's unless ur revving the crap out of it for a whole tank.

I have never driven the 2.5, but the latter 2.2's are great in my opinion, plenty of low down torque, pulls well from 2000rpm+ starts to flat line around 4000, but I'd say with a bigger exhaust and perhaps a better air intake situation that would change drastically to. 110km/h is pretty much right on 3000rpm, a bit high, but still gets good economy.

GREAT car, too bad its not AWD (that would get worse economy though), getting to small to be the main car for the family though w 3 very young kids...

MY06??

my gen3 liberty 2L uses about the same as smokey's

alex

west_oz wrote:...i am choosing a liberty because they are one of the few cars of this size that are not front wheel drive, plus they are meant to be one of the safest vehicles on the road...

Models before 1998 could be only FWD. Safety is relative to what you hit.

Also not all heritages are 2.5L, the early ones were 2.2 as all the motors were. I have a 2.5RS Impreza and a 2.2 Liberty. Both vehicles weigh the same. The 2.5 is much better IMHO. for 10k you'd be looking at 94-98 models yes? I know of a 91 GX wagon with 90,000km for $9000!

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