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Liberty 3.0 for first car?

PostPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 8:41 pm
by Kody.B
Hi all,
I am about to get my licence, and after many years of saving, it's come time to buy my first car.
I have two options at the moment that I am throwing about.
My cousin has a 2010 Impreza RS Sedan that she will sell to me in my price range.
I like the car, but I've always wanted a 3L Liberty.
The cars in my price range vary from 100,000km to 150,000.
I was wondering what the reliability is like with the motor? Are there any 'common' parts to go?
I understand that they need a minimum of 95 octane (would happen anyway) and I would run fully synthetic oil anyway, do they need anything else?
I did hear as well about oil usage being something like 2-3L per 10,000km? Anyone have any info about that?
Will the motor go past 200k?
Also what sort of fuel economy do you get?
I think that I could put up with the more expensive insurance and rego if the car was reliable and didn't have horrendous fuel economy.
Also if anyone could give me a rough estimate of $'s per week, I'd really appreciate it.
Anyways, thank you to anyone who helps!

Re: Liberty 3.0 for first car?

PostPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 8:52 pm
by JKeep2.5i
This may or may not help, my lib is my first car and I couldn't be happier!!! :D I bought my liberty wagon 2.5i for $13 000 last year with 140 000kms on the clock, as me being a 2nd year electrical apprentice I'm not earning alot ATM, I'm still very able to pay my car off, pay for rego/insurance, petrol each week and the occasional mod here and there, roughly I spend $65-$80 on petrol a week depending on the driving I do, wanting a 3.0r for your first car is fine as it is a naturally asppirated engine (non-turbo) if you can afford to pay the whole insurance/rego/petrol go for it :D :mrgreen:

Re: Liberty 3.0 for first car?

PostPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 9:14 pm
by Kody.B
JKeep2.5i wrote:This may or may not help, my lib is my first car and I couldn't be happier!!! :D I bought my liberty wagon 2.5i for $13 000 last year with 140 000kms on the clock, as me being a 2nd year electrical apprentice I'm not earning alot ATM, I'm still very able to pay my car off, pay for rego/insurance, petrol each week and the occasional mod here and there, roughly I spend $65-$80 on petrol a week depending on the driving I do, wanting a 3.0r for your first car is fine as it is a naturally asppirated engine (non-turbo) if you can afford to pay the whole insurance/rego/petrol go for it :D :mrgreen:

Hmmm, I never considered a 2.5 Liberty. May have to jump online to Carsales.
I'm sure you'll be earning more than me, I'm >$200 a week, hence why I was worried about 6 cylinder costs. Uni will make me even poorer unfortunately.
I suppose just because I can afford the car doesn't mean I can afford to run it!
Thanks for your help!

Re: Liberty 3.0 for first car?

PostPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 9:15 pm
by JKeep2.5i
Exactly and being on here you will catch the mod bug haha

Re: Liberty 3.0 for first car?

PostPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 9:20 pm
by Kody.B
I've already caught the mod bug...
Haven't even got a Liberty yet, but looking at bits and pieces already.
I feared that signing up here would cause it to get worse... It has :)

Re: Liberty 3.0 for first car?

PostPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 9:26 pm
by Kekotic
Kody.B wrote:I've already caught the mod bug...
Haven't even got a Liberty yet, but looking at bits and pieces already.
I feared that signing up here would cause it to get worse... It has :)


Just don't look here...
viewforum.php?f=38 (he can get you anything from Japan for good prices)
Or here....
viewforum.php?f=10
Oops too late.

Re: Liberty 3.0 for first car?

PostPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 9:32 pm
by Kody.B
chaotic2050 wrote:
Kody.B wrote:I've already caught the mod bug...
Haven't even got a Liberty yet, but looking at bits and pieces already.
I feared that signing up here would cause it to get worse... It has :)


Just don't look here...
viewforum.php?f=38 (he can get you anything from Japan for good prices)
Or here....
viewforum.php?f=10
Oops too late.


Oh Bugger.
My first though about PHAT GT was wondering if he could source me a mesh/possibly bilstein edition grill, great lot of good it would do now :)
I am going to disregard those links until I buy the car. Looking at a 3.0R-B tomorrow, 146,000, $16,500 neg.
May see if there are any 2.0/2.5's for sale so I can make a day out of it.

Re: Liberty 3.0 for first car?

PostPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 9:43 pm
by SuiCid3
Running costs will be pretty high for a uni student.
I average about 4-450km per tank. 500 if I do highway.
Roughly $80 per tank with 98.

Re: Liberty 3.0 for first car?

PostPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 9:56 pm
by Kekotic
SuiCid3 wrote:Running costs will be pretty high for a uni student.
I average about 4-450km per tank. 500 if I do highway.
Roughly $80 per tank with 98.


+1 to this. If you drive it around town and not on the highway, expect about 450km. Highway driving you can do 600km.
You can run it on 95 though, but the benefit of extra power and higher mileage from 98 outweighs the extra cost, so just fill it up with 98 all the time.
$80 for a tank is about right with current prices

Re: Liberty 3.0 for first car?

PostPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 11:08 pm
by SH30RB
SuiCid3 wrote:Running costs will be pretty high for a uni student.
I average about 4-450km per tank. 500 if I do highway.
Roughly $80 per tank with 98.


450? i managed 560 off a tank, but mind you i was driving like a grandpa around town, and i get about 650 on the highway,
i only use 98 to fill my car, nothing else, not even 95.

Re: Liberty 3.0 for first car?

PostPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 11:40 pm
by Kekotic
SH30RB wrote:450? i managed 560 off a tank, but mind you i was driving like a grandpa around town, and i get about 650 on the highway,
i only use 98 to fill my car, nothing else, not even 95.


Im just talking from a GT perspective, but I found that although you "can" do 500km on town driving, over time it usually ends up being more around the 450 mark over all.
Town driving 10.5L/100, highway 8.2 ish.
Just rough figures, but 500km+ is the exception not the rule to a town driven car.

Re: Liberty 3.0 for first car?

PostPosted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 6:32 am
by SH30RB
chaotic2050 wrote:Im just talking from a GT perspective, but I found that although you "can" do 500km on town driving, over time it usually ends up being more around the 450 mark over all.
Town driving 10.5L/100, highway 8.2 ish.
Just rough figures, but 500km+ is the exception not the rule to a town driven car.


yes, you are right, i usually get the same around town, and highway driving, last week i managed 7.8L i was stoked

Re: Liberty 3.0 for first car?

PostPosted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 7:47 am
by Kody.B
Hmm, that could be a little steep for uni. If I could afford it I wouldn't have much left. Maybe a 2.0/2.5 is the way to go?

Re: Liberty 3.0 for first car?

PostPosted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 8:33 am
by Kekotic
Kody.B wrote:Hmm, that could be a little steep for uni. If I could afford it I wouldn't have much left. Maybe a 2.0/2.5 is the way to go?

Not going to be much better mate. Subies aren't known for their impressive fuel economy. Only real difference is you can put 91 in the 2.5 NA which will save you a few bucks, but you will get less mileage too compared to 95/98.

Re: Liberty 3.0 for first car?

PostPosted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 9:52 am
by rooby
Have a search around the forum, there are a number of topics specifically regarding fuel consumption.
Here are a couple but there are probably more.
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=165&hilit=consumption
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=9973&hilit=consumption

But I agree, if fuel economy is a major factor subaru probably doesn't have something for you :)
Having said that, there are a lot of other cars, especially of the size of the liberty, that aren't any better.