Liberty GT or 3.0R-B

[MikeeR]

I'm guessing this might have been asked before, but if you had the choice which would you buy - a GT-B or a 3.0R-B? And it has to be a wagon.]

My old 2000RX is getting a bit long in the tooth and I've got the urge to buy a 2nd hand late model, say 2006 on, Liberty wagon to replace the old one which I've owned since new. I've had 3 Libertys and a WRX over the years and have had virtually no problems. I've test driven a couple of GT's, one of which was a SpecB, and very much liked both, particularly the B. Have yet to experience a 3.0.

Having had a good turbo experience with the WRX I'm thinking the GT will be the way I'll go but am interested in others opinions. Price is an unfortunate issue and I have noticed a couple of well priced 3.0's that have got me considering them.

This will be a family car with a mixture of city and open road driving, will probably remain largely unmodified and will be driven by myself (middle aged gent) and my wife.

Cheers

[smythie]

yeah, I'm sure it's been discussed a fair bit before.

Love my 3.0 personally but it really does depend on what you want. The 3.0 is a little doughy below about 4k rpm where it kicks into stride. There aren't all that many options for power ups for it though. The GT's though have a fair few options for power ups. The 2.0 is a bit laggy but gives a good rush once the turbo kicks in. The 2.5 is a lot more linear and also carries the WRX type burble that many love

[loweart]

Similar to Smythie, I love my Lib 3.0R too ( even though it's mated to a slushbox ) and I chose in preference to the GT or GTB that test drove at the time I was shopping around for a replacement vehicle.

I test drove a couple of GT's with the 2.0T & 5 speed auto and found that the more gradual power delivery of the 3.0R was more to my liking. Please don't get me wrong, the feeling for me driving the 2.0T of the GT was quite a "buzz" but I felt it's character would just too easily tempt me
to acquire more speeding infringements.

Also, a few forum members here have had some good experience with using the sprintbooster power convertor to get rid of that bit of initial hestitation when you press on the throttle or better still had the V tune done from Stocklands.

By the sounds of things that you have enjoyed in the past, the GT-B sounds like more your speed, but hey yake a 3.0R-B out for a spin before you make that final decision so you're not left forever wondering.

Good luck with it MikeeR

[ultrablue]

the 2.0gt manual is not laggy at all

[smythie]

Stock vs stock, in comparison to the 2.5, that is what I have heard (from guys who have owned or driven both). It was a relative term though

[zorbaru]

for me it was a gt all the way. better acceleration with the same if not better fuel consumption.

[honkas]

you will get many a debate GT Vs 3RB...

but what i'd say is pick something your both comfortable driving...

I luv the 3RB

[coyote]

Doesn't really matter which engine you chose.

And it has to be a wagon.

You got the most important part right already.

[Sentinel]

Doesn't really matter which engine you chose.

And it has to be a wagon.

You got the most important part right already.

+1!

Drive them both and which ever puts the bigger smile on your dial - buy it!

[Std08GTB]

You'll use MUCH less fuel in the 2.5T than 3RB. Have owned both.

[Spec B Wgn]

i would choose the 6 speed in lieu of the 5AT next time...

[senator]

Doesn't really matter which engine you chose.

And it has to be a wagon.

You got the most important part right already.

bloody wagon drivers.....

back to the topic, 3.0r b would be the go if you do not want to do any mods, but be warned you made the first mistake by joining this forum, everyone says that.....

and yes get the 6 speed the auto is no fun

[SMI77]

You'll use MUCH less fuel in the 2.5T than 3RB. Have owned both.

Equine Excreta

Previous ride was a MY07 3.0R Spec B 6mt. Wagon, of course!!!!!!!!!!!
I love driving and couldn't believe the difference between the 2.
The current ride had its 1st birthday on the weekend and have not had such a soul stirring year's driving for many decades.
With the GT a must have is a good zorst. Open the sunroof and turn off the Macintosh.

[MikeeR]

Well thanks all for the replies - I've been reading them all with interest.

As I expected there are obviously strong opinions on both sides, which is good, I wanted to hear different opinions. I've yet to drive the 3.0R-B, will try to do so over the next few days.

The discussion brought up two other contentious issues - fuel economy and manual vs auto transmission.

I understand that many would feel discussing these cars and fuel economy don't go together, they're not the sort of cars known for their frugal fuel usage. But I have to say it's a subject close to my heart - on one hand I love my driving on the other I don't like unnecessarily burning fossil fuels (might have something to do with being a long time worker in the weather field and regardless of your point of view, there's no disputing the the rise in CO2 levels and my firm belief that in the medium term, fuel prices are only going in one direction). Anyway I like the GT from this point of view - drive sedately and you should be able to get reasonable mileage figures where with the 3.0 six your always having to push that extra capacity and weight. I know in the four years of driving a WRX I was able to average just under 10l/100kms by being easy on the gas pedal outside of those times I wanted to give it a squirt. I've replaced the Rex with a Golf GT Diesel which, though a little boring compared to Rex, gets under 6 l/100km and goes strongly.

Re Transmission, I've always been a manual driver, for decades, but the current crop of autos with the tiptronic wheel mounted paddles have got me interested. I'm interested in hearing from people on regrets going to the new autos. I've just had an overnight loan of a 6MT GT-B and was impressed with the box - surprisingly so was my wife (in fact she loved the car so much she wants to buy it - I'm having to introduce a little caution).

And one final question, the car I've had a loan of, has just under 30k kms has had oil changes (using Mobil 1) around 6k, 12k and 19k kms, but not at a Subaru dealer, looks like at a local mechanics. Looks like they changed oil and filter but nothing else. Its still under factory warranty, should I be wary of missing out on dealer services? Are there other important things in those first 3 services that would have been missed?


Thanks again for any and all replies.

[smythie]

Fuel economy? well I usually get between 10.5 and 11.5 l/100km in town (between Parra, Bankstown and Burwood) and while I'm not WOT everywhere, I use a fair bit more these days than I did when I got it (when I was averaging around 10.5).

On the highway, less than 8 is easy to achieve and fun driving on backroads is rarely over 9.

All this in a car which apparently should average 12.7l/100km according to the ADR economy test. I've never seen more than 12 from memory.

Hope the anecdotes are of some use to you