3rd gen vs 4th gen

[Insomniac]

I recently purchased a low km 3rd gen Liberty Rx. I have fixed a few small things wrong with it and now im thinking about selling it and upgrading possibly to a 4th gen Liberty. from what i have read the 2.5L engine seems to be the best engine choice for both generations but how does the 4th gen compare to the 3rd? I have a friend who says the 4th gen isn't meant to be as good as the 3rd gen, however he is biased as he is currently on his third 3rd gen liberty, due to no fault of his cars.

I'm interested in anything anyone can tell me about the performance, handling and reliability differences.

Cheers in advance.

[Tradewind]

The 2.5 is a good engine - just a few changes to it between those 2 models

The cars themselves are massively different in interior appointments, style etc etc which is all obvious.

[Mr Bagus]

You'll get better fuel economy in the Gen 4 (if the O2 sensor isn't stuffed) and the Gen 4 just feels newer and more modern all-round. Gen 3 is a great car, but I will stick with a Gen 4 and will just get a GT-B as an upgrade......one day.......

[zch91]

A majority of us own Gen4's here so we may be a bit biased.. I have no input on comparing them.

[HyRax]

I liked my Gen3 when I had it, but the Gen4 is leaps and bounds ahead of the Gen3. It rides better (yes, even in stock form), the 2.5 has a little bit more poke in stock guise than the Gen3 2.5 did, the interior looks and feels 100% more modern, and there are more aftermarket bits available for the Gen4 than there are for the Gen3.

Once you've had Gen4, you can't go back to Gen3 IMO.

[sjm69]

I owned gen 3 rx for 8 years before An unplanned upgraded to a gen 4 , for me it was a massive step up, better fuel economy and a lot better interior and exterior ,no fake wood grain on the dash ,more speakers ,better stereo more air bags ,as much as I loved my gen 3 the gen 4 is sooooo much better. IMO

[cruisn]

Gen3's are ugly.

[HoFF]

I loved my gen3 rx. But I love my gen4 3.0rb a lot more

[JKeep2.5i]

I've owned my 2004 gen 4 2.5i wagon for just over a year and still love it to bits, my younger brother brought a 2002 gen 3 2.5rx wagon (both white in colour) the difference in my opinion is night and day, the gen 4 is a lot smoother to drive and does have more grunt, possibly to different exhausts and other bits and pieces, I don't mind driving the gen 3 as being both stock I'd have to say the gen 3 sounds better, but if you want a more sophisticated car I'd go with the gen 4

[Mr Bagus]

I was also doing a valid comparison as I was driving a Gen 3 Heritage wagon for a few years before some stupid clown wrote it off by turning in front of me and tried to sue my CTP for a huge amount. Turns out he had done this 13 times before and so it never went to court........

Miss the leather seats, sunroof and McIntosh stereo, but apart from that, am happy with my forced upgrade

[Corsair]

Gen3's are ugly.

I dunno. I like the Gen 3 shape. And what about B4s and RXs?

[stocky]

I'd say the Gen 4 looks better, smoother bodylines and such. But, there's nothing wrong with a Gen 3. I have plenty of fun in mine and until I have the money to get a Gen 4 TBSTI, I'm content.

[T-Willy 2.5]

Personally i think go with a 4th gen..... I have an RX2.5 (3rd gen) and its nice (however it lacks in power) and it also gets a bit of body roll.... On the otherhand my brother has a 4th Gen Liberty GT And that is the best subaru ive been in (stock). It has power (lags a little at low end) but it holds the road way too well.... it makes me ....so yes...... go with the 4th Gen

[Gards]

Didn't the Gen 3's suffer from head gasket issues? The Gen 4's are easily the best looking liberties.

[WheelieBin]

I can't fairly compare on engine performance, because I went from a MY01 RX to an MY08 GT-B. Every time I drove the RX after getting the GT-B it felt slow (obviously), but it also felt very plastic and low quality compared to sitting in the Gen4

When it comes down to it, a Gen3 is an older car, the newest one you can get will be a 2003. Unless they've been very well looked after, the Gen4 will be a better option.