club.liberty.asn.au

Hi,
Not sure where to post this. Please feel free to move it to a better location.

I believe I have handling issues, does anyone else? Any pototential solutions?

I have a new GT auto. I drive the motorway everyday. I have found some unnerving experiences.
a. the car self steers with wind gusts and when passing trucks, scary noticeable >100kph.
b. The steering seems too light >100kph
c. If you back off suddenly, due to an erratic move by another driver, when in auto and > 120kph, there is zero feel of the car to road? ie it feels as if it is floating, no pressure on front wheels, auto not causing engine braking ?
d. travelling a fast left then right and hitting a seam in road throws cars balance off dramatically.

So one day at night I was travelling at ~130kph, rounding a bend left to right, passing a truck, got buffeted, self steered, hit the strip, got unbalanced, backed off and had a surreal experience of zero feel of the car on the road and quietly prayed everything would sort itself out ok. It did but was very scary.

From now I always select manual when travelling >100kph, and paddle down a gear when overtaking even on dual carriageways.

Ray_GT wrote:Hi,
Not sure where to post this. Please feel free to move it to a better location.

I believe I have handling issues, does anyone else? Any pototential solutions?

I have a new GT auto. I drive the motorway everyday. I have found some unnerving experiences.
a. the car self steers with wind gusts and when passing trucks, scary noticeable >100kph.
b. The steering seems too light >100kph
c. If you back off suddenly, due to an erratic move by another driver, when in auto and > 120kph, there is zero feel of the car to road? ie it feels as if it is floating, no pressure on front wheels, auto not causing engine braking ?
d. travelling a fast left then right and hitting a seam in road throws cars balance off dramatically.

So one day at night I was travelling at ~130kph, rounding a bend left to right, passing a truck, got buffeted, self steered, hit the strip, got unbalanced, backed off and had a surreal experience of zero feel of the car on the road and quietly prayed everything would sort itself out ok. It did but was very scary.

From now I always select manual when travelling >100kph, and paddle down a gear when overtaking even on dual carriageways.

a. Normal. I have fought hard to keep car straight during high crosswinds.
b. Normal as with most cars. Haven't driven a Gen 5 but IMHO mine is too light at high speeds as well and should have speed dependent steering assistance.
c. Haven't driven auto so cannot comment.
d. Maybe you were driving too fast for the conditions. Stock GT suspension is pretty soft unless you have the version with Bilsteins.

You need to speak with subaru.

On the LegacyGT forums, search for "Shimmy" - a number of people are having the issue. I didnt read much into it because mine wasnt displaying the same problems, but check out the threads to see what was wrong.

Nope can't say I've had any problems - any unsettled feeling I've had has been linked to crosswind or road surface...

The auto in 4th and 5th doesn't have any engine resistence... engine braking just doesn't work without downshifting...

One reason for decreased feel in the situation you described could be VDC - if the VDC kicks in it can be a very weird feeling...

3. Automatic gearboxes as a rule will shift up when you get off the throttle and stay in the highest gear possible for the road speed. In addition to this, revs will drop and the torque converter will effectively uncouple. A bloody stupid idea in this day and age IMO. The ZF 'box in the Falcons and some other marques is an exception in that it can and is usually programmed to downshift when the driver is on the brakes.

You should have gotten a manual...

teK-- wrote:

Ray_GT wrote:Hi,
Not sure where to post this. Please feel free to move it to a better location.

I believe I have handling issues, does anyone else? Any pototential solutions?

I have a new GT auto. I drive the motorway everyday. I have found some unnerving experiences.
a. the car self steers with wind gusts and when passing trucks, scary noticeable >100kph.
b. The steering seems too light >100kph
c. If you back off suddenly, due to an erratic move by another driver, when in auto and > 120kph, there is zero feel of the car to road? ie it feels as if it is floating, no pressure on front wheels, auto not causing engine braking ?
d. travelling a fast left then right and hitting a seam in road throws cars balance off dramatically.

So one day at night I was travelling at ~130kph, rounding a bend left to right, passing a truck, got buffeted, self steered, hit the strip, got unbalanced, backed off and had a surreal experience of zero feel of the car on the road and quietly prayed everything would sort itself out ok. It did but was very scary.

From now I always select manual when travelling >100kph, and paddle down a gear when overtaking even on dual carriageways.

a. Normal. I have fought hard to keep car straight during high crosswinds.
b. Normal as with most cars. Haven't driven a Gen 5 but IMHO mine is too light at high speeds as well and should have speed dependent steering assistance.
c. Haven't driven auto so cannot comment.
d. Maybe you were driving too fast for the conditions. Stock GT suspension is pretty soft unless you have the version with Bilsteins.

A: Agree with point A but never had it that dramatic and can't say it is more than other cars I have owned (and I have had a few in the last 36 years of driving) but I tend to NOT stay over 110kph for that long.
B: Yes they and others should have a little more speed sensitive steer and can only hope the "next" version is better.
C: Not had to back off that suddenly at >110kph but it is very possible, at least this auto box is not as bipolar as the gen 4 auto.
D:All the gen 5s have Bilsteins as standard, hence the reason they don't have the spec B Monika.

smythie wrote:3. Automatic gearboxes as a rule will shift up when you get off the throttle and stay in the highest gear possible for the road speed. In addition to this, revs will drop and the torque converter will effectively uncouple. A bloody stupid idea in this day and age IMO. The ZF 'box in the Falcons and some other marques is an exception in that it can and is usually programmed to downshift when the driver is on the brakes.

You should have gotten a manual...

I think the Gen5 auto is good - with the flappy paddles you can shift down quickly to use engine braking, or let the car coast in a high gear... flappy paddles work any time, you don't have to be in 'Sportshift' and it will return to full auto on its own when things settle down... quicker than changing gears on a manual and don't have to take your hands off the wheel

Do you know if your tyre pressures are in spec, or slightly higher? I run mine 3psi over spec to firm them up a bit, and did same with previous outback. You could get a strange feel if they were low...Does it tram line at all - could be alignment off?

Mate of mine once had a scare with a company car he was issued, almost brand new ute. First hard braking he had to do, it locked up all 4 and skidded wildly. Found all the tyres on 50psi, which is what they put in for long distance shipping to prevent flat spots developing in the tyres.
jp 08 gtb 6mt wagon

Thanks for all of the replies.

- I dont drive too fast for the conditions - but I do drive fast when I have a good road. I am driving a sports sedan - a GT now !!
- the wind and steering is a pain - a design faulty probably. Not sure whetehr teh suspension mods will fix it, probably to do with the slab sides and sprung weight.
- The VDS and auto I think are the main culprits - I will check into it. Tyre pressures are on spec.
- I am used to driving VW Golf, Audis, WRX and Porche, this Liberty GT has a lot of great features, but reminds me of a bog standard Hyundai with is handling !

I just got back from a 5,000 km in 2 weeks tour around NSW, Vic and SA in my MY10 GT with 6 speed manual, now with 16,000 km on the clock and had none of the issues you mention.

Even when I passed big road trains or they passed me on the other side of the road I expected to be buffeted a bit, but there was no wind movement at all.

The steering is fantastic, either when throwing it around the twisty Great Ocean Road (The STI drive button on S# really makes this fun) or on the open highways across outback NSW, read minimal police and long straight roads, the car flies and grips the road like it’s glued on. Of course the roads are not in good condition in parts so I needed to weave a bit to avoid damages and holes and the car responded fantastically and went where I pointed it, flew over cattle grates with just a change in the road noise. Also lots of water on some of the road again the grip was fantastic and all I really noticed is a change in sound and saw water splashing.

I also travelled on some wet mud roads in and around White Cliffs and the car handled the deep red mud effortless and griped well.

On my dealer workshop advice I have the tyres at 38 in the front and 40 in rear.

You DO need to up the pressure over the placard, those pressures are designed to soften the ride (I guess the 'Tourer' part of GT) Try 36 and 38 or 38 and 40 and see how it feels. very different handling.

teejay wrote: D:All the gen 5s have Bilsteins as standard, hence the reason they don't have the spec B Monika.

Not true. Only The 2.5i Sports and Sports Premium and the GT have Bilsteins. All the others, including the 3.6 Premium, have normal independent suspension.

Mark^^ wrote:

teejay wrote: D:All the gen 5s have Bilsteins as standard, hence the reason they don't have the spec B Monika.

Not true. Only The 2.5i Sports and Sports Premium and the GT have Bilsteins. All the others, including the 3.6 Premium, have normal independent suspension.

I happily stand corrected;

An upgrade of sway bars is the direction I am looking to take in the future as I have also noticed a floating-like feeling ever now and then. Perhaps you should look into this combined with some upgraded springs should have you a bit more steady on your feet (or wheels).

Did you actually read this thread: http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.p ... 36791.html

Take it back to subaru. It's a known problem.