Newb from Canberra - talk me into a new 2.5GT!

[Blisterfingers]

Hi all,

New member from Canberra here.
I'm looking to lease a new car in the next few months. I've mostly driven 4WDs and family wagons over the last 15 years but now that the kids are almost grown up I've recently come to the conclusion that I don't need anything larger than a Sedan, so I'm looking for something to:

• have a bit of fun with
• use as a daily driver to/from work
• take business customers out to meetings/lunches
• do some weekend/holiday touring with SWMBO

While a Rexy would be a lot of fun, I'm not sure that it meets the other requirements very well (a good mate has owned a couple), so I'm thinking the MY13 Liberty 2.5 GT Premium Sedan with the 6-speed manual box would be a good fit. I haven't been able to test drive yet as the local dealers don't have the new models yet but I'm down to either a Subie or something German (Audi or BMW probably).

I realise that this is probably not the most impartial forum but please talk me into (or out of) a new Liberty.

[Newbie GT]

Hi mate welcome:)

Can we talk you into a GEN4 spec b rather than the GEN5

Not easy to find but IMO better all round and they look the goods gen5 hmmm no so much but when done up a bit it helps

Good luck

[champ]

^ if he's looking into leasing, it will probably be a new car.

My argument... go test drive the current model first while you wait for the new model to come out

[Beanbag Brad]

*rubs hands together*

OK lets see what we can do!

I think I was in a similar boat to you... well not really, don't have kids, or any need for a spacious sedan. But I wanted one anyway... I go on a lot of road trips, and like to be accompanied during such trips (so passengers ensue.) It was realllllllyyy hard to find a car with that awesome balance of luxury and performance. I went through a massive list of cars; SS's, Ford G6ET's, Mitsubishi Ralliarts and Evo's, Audi 1.8T Quattro's, WRX's (new) and even the Gen4 Lib's.

I also wanted a respectable car that didn't spell 'boy racer' 'fully sick wrx' or full fledged bogan. - As the same in your boat, I am required to use this car for work use (carting clients around etc.) In the end (obviously) I bought the Gen5 GT. It comes with the great luxury (trumps the gen4's, sorry guys) leather seats, push to start, reverse camera, satnav (bluetooth etc.) dual zone climate control, sunroof, button handbrake with hill hold assist (would prefer regular hand brake, but that's fine) HID lights, electric seats (passenger and driver) with the ability to set seats to different pairs of keys etc etc.

I was also looking for a manual, because lets be honest, they're fun to drive. I didn't want a 5-speed for the amount of cruising I was bound to be doing... so my list of selectable cars became very small, well only the lib ticked all the boxes.

And well... I couldn't be much more happier with my purchase, I wish the original owner bought the grille (expanded metal variant) and STi front lip. But if you're going for a new one definitely get them!!!! And if the extra cash is available, the short shifter is apparently pretty good (yet to get mine.)

I get nothing but major compliments when family or friends get in the car. I agree (as per many on this forum) that it isn't the best looker, but if you get the grille and sti lip that will do you if you're looking to keep it stock.

And well, to the sweetest part? You'll be smashing SS's and XR6T's day, night, wet, snow, dirt!! But when you're with the family, leave it in S mode or I mode and cruise along, enjoy your 5 star ANCAP Safety Rating if anything does go wrong.



I would highly recommend the car!! Otherwise I smell a new Lib coming out soon, so you MAY want to hold out a year!

Added: Living in Canberra also, there's not much stop-start traffic, so you'll find the drive quite enjoyable, especially tackling those roundabouts.. But if you end up driving in Sydney CBD (which I've done twice now) you'll get a sore left foot! The clutch is slightly on the heavy side, and first gear doesn't last long!

[Blisterfingers]

Thanks all for the advice. I do need new or near-new car (for tax reasons) so that rules out the Gen 4 unfortunately, but I will definitely test drive the current model while I'm waiting.

Brad, it sounds like you and I have been through the same mental processes - I didn't want to mention 'boy racer' 'fully sick wrx' or 'full fledged bogan' for fear of offending anyone but those terms have gone through my head.

If I do buy the plan would be to go with the short throw shifter. Other add-ons will depend on budget.
Looking forward to a run out on Cotter Rd or down the Clyde on the way to the bay.

Cheers,

Dougal

[Beanbag Brad]

All the members on this forum seem pretty decent so I hope I'm not offending anyone either Everyone here is for the same reason I guess, love for their car! There are definitely some fine examples of that here as well!

As for any light questions give HKS180 a PM, he'll answer your questions (he changed all my lights around and It's the best mod!)

memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=38 - HKS180's profile.

Added: We just finished a good cotter/brindabella run last weekend, it was good fun!! Keep an eye on the ACT forum as we'll probably be running it again, more frequently hopefully! And if you haven't got your car then you can come with me for a 'feel' of the car (when it's being tested )

[champ]

If its anything to go by... the company I work for has a "company vehicle policy".

The only approved vehicles are the:
- Subaru Liberty Sedan
- Subaru Liberty Wagon

[GT-B Spec R Pilot]

First of all welcome ...
I was in a similar situation to you last year when i moved to Canberra for a new job and went through the same process. My kids are both very young but apart from that most of your requirements were exactly the same as mine. I work for a government agency and we only have one choice of lease provider. They will accept any vehicle less than 7 years old at the time the lease commences and the lease must end beore the vehicle is 8 years old. I was fortunate in that i negotiated a hire care as part of my relocation package so i got to compare a few vehicles including GenV sedan. In the end i chose a low km (30,000km 2009 built) Gen IV.
Apart from a reversing camera and an electric park brake, my Gen IV Spec B has everything the Gen V does equipment wise. If you really need a reversing camera you can fit one and as far as the electric park brake is concerned... for my driving style, I am happy without it!
One thing you haven't mentioned which may be a consideration is the insurance cost. I leased my vehicle with the intention of buying it outright at the end of the lease. I perviously owned a MTM supercharged V8 S6 Audi, both the insurance and running costs for that vehicle were vastly more expensive than the Liberty is. Less of an issue while it is still under the lease but definitely a consideration later if you are thinking of buying it.
As far as comparing my current Liberty with the Audi S6 goes, i would point out they are not really competing in the same market segment so the comparison is akin to apples and oranges. On top of that the Audi was heavilly modified wereas my Liberty is still a work in progress. Both are all wheel drive, the S6 a bit heavier but if launched well could hit 100km/hr in 4.0s flat (911 and GT-R territory without the police attention!) but still comfortably cruise along at 120km/hr at 8.8 to 9l/100km. When i bought the Liberty the first thing i did was take a shopping trip at Whiteline for suspension mods to sort out the handling. I have new wheels on order that i bought from a vendor on this site and they should arrive next week. I will fit new rubber all round then do the final suspension tweaks after the tyres have a few thousand km on them. Next on the mod list is to get the brakes sorted. As much as possible i am working the mods into the regular servicing so the lease budget (i.e. pre tax) pays for it. The down side of that is you can't just go and spend money on mods as you see fit, you have to spread it out to ensure the lease account has enough funds in it!
For the money i think the Liberty is hard to beat. It has a nice balance of handling, economy and luxury but if your budget extends to an S6 or an RS6 which are slightly larger cars (if that is important for your client needs) then you will not be disappointed there either but again, mod costs are likely to be coniderably higher as well. Cheers, good luck and let us know what you finally decide on in due course...

edit:corrected spelling mistakes... typing with a 3 y.o. on your lap 'helping' isn't easy.

[seanmau5]

That avatar^^^^








Like a baws! Get a wagon, not a fan of the sedans

[GT-B Spec R Pilot]

[quote="seanmau5"]That avatar^^^^

Well, I wanted something a little different to others... I think i achieved that.