Commodore to Liberty convert looking for advice

[Filthy Fish]

I posted this same thread on Ozliberty.com and someone suggested there would be a few people here that might be able to help me out as well so I thought i'd introduce myself:

Hey all,
Having been an SS Commodore owner for the past 5 years, the recent petrol prices have finally forced me to look towards a four cylinder for some type of financial reprieve. The obvious choice to me was a Subaru since I had never heard a bad thing about them and was getting a bit tired of constant sideways action in the Commodore when it even looked like raining.
I did a little bit of online research and ended up going with a MY06 Liberty GT tuned by STI. Having picked it up a month ago with only 8500k's on it I was pretty happy with the purchase as it is in pretty much mint condition. I can't believe I stayed with the Commodore so long. This car is simply amazing! Very quick in a straight line (as was the SS) but once you reach the bends this thing is in a class of it's own.
The first (and only mod so far) was a visit to MRT and a snappy Ecutek tune and service. This has made a massive difference. The car revs so much better now and any turbo lag has almost been eradicated. The car just responds as soon as it is called upon now. For anyone thinking about getting the tune done, I couldn't recommend it any higher.
Anyway, enough of me telling you all what you already know and took me 5 years to work out - I am now looking for some advice from those of you that have had these cars a bit longer than me.
I am thinking of doing a Xenon HID conversion on the low beam bulbs and am trying to work out the best brand to go with and if anyone knows of good/cheap places to get them. I have heard the Philips ones are pretty good but don't know anyone that has fitted them. If any of you could advise me on your experiences with a Xenon HID conversion I'd much appreciate it.
Also, I want to replace the front grille with a black metallic mesh one but can't really seem to find many available except at Subaru but they want about $700 for it. Does anyone know a place to get them cheaper than this?
I've included a couple of pics of the new beast below. The bonnet and headlight protectors have since been removed though so if anyone is keen to buy them, let me know.

Dan.

PS: A few people on Ozliberty have given me some advice on the lights and grille but I thought the more advice the better so if you are on both forums, don't think I am disregarding anything you have said there... I just think the more opinions the better.
PPS: I can't work out how to add a picture so disregard that bit about the pics.

[Ric]

Welcome Dan.

Leo/hks180 is our resident HID expert
Have a read of:
http://forum.liberty.asn.au/viewtopic.php?t=2342
and
http://forum.liberty.asn.au/viewtopic.php?t=1245

Jim/Arith is the local grille-a-holic.
Have a read of: http://forum.liberty.asn.au/viewtopic.php?p=28922
and also check out Mo_GT's Zerosports grille at http://forum.liberty.asn.au/viewtopic.php?t=3339

[Filthy Fish]

Thanks for the quick reply Ric. Those threads were very helpful. Much appreciated.

Dan.

[Arith]

Welcome Dan! Hope your mods go smoothly. But you've come to the right place. OzLiberty are full of knowledgeable people, but for more Gen IV (MY04-MY09) focused advice, this is the place. Where are you located?

But yes, decide on the colour temp you're after with the HID's (6000K or 8000K) and contact Leo (HKS180). The kits he gets are reliable at a good price. As for grilles, if you don't have a copy of Hyper Rev, check out http://www.japanparts.com and see what styles and brands you like. Once you're ready, best person to contact is Phat GT. The most popular non-Subaru grilles on here are Corazon and ZeroSports.

[Filthy Fish]

Hi Arith, I've already had some contact with Leo and he seems like a genuine knowledgeable guy. I just didn't want to rush into anything with a fairly important part of the car (at night anyway) so I was waiting to hear from a few others (such as yourself I guess with a good report on his lights). I've let him know though and it is looking likely that I will get a set from him unless I get any bad reports.

I had a look at a thread which showed a couple of your grilles. The Corazon and ZeroSports ones both look good to me. I just have a couple of questions about them if you don't mind? What would be an average price to have the frame sprayed to colour code with Urban Grey? Are the Corazon and Zerosports badges easy to remove? I was thinking of just having an STI badge on it.

Thanks, Dan.

[EJ25]

Hi Arith, I've already had some contact with Leo and he seems like a genuine knowledgeable guy. I just didn't want to rush into anything with a fairly important part of the car (at night anyway) so I was waiting to hear from a few others (such as yourself I guess with a good report on his lights). I've let him know though and it is looking likely that I will get a set from him unless I get any bad reports. .

i can guarantee that leo is a genuine guy. I got him to do mine and they are still running strong. (more than 1 year)

btw, welcome to the forum which empty's wallets

[Ric]

Commodore to Liberty convert looking for advice

I actually came into this topic to see if you were asking what to do with the Commodore!

Doubtless, some of the suggestions would involve explosives, or a long drive on a short pier...

[Arith]

I was waiting to hear from a few others (such as yourself I guess with a good report on his lights).

Leo is an upstanding citizen and has the backing of the entire forum. I don't have experience with his kits myself because my MY07 comes with HID so I don't need it, but everyone who has bought from Leo has not had a single problem. Well, except for that guy that died ... I'm kidding! I'm kidding!

What would be an average price to have the frame sprayed to colour code with Urban Grey?

You're looking at $70 - $120. Keep in mind the ZeroSports grille only comes in carbon fibre or pre-painted gunmetal. If you're a fan of CF, which most folks on this forum are, get that one. Otherwise the gunmetal is a great match for your urban grey (I left my grille gunmetal and it matches my black car nicely).

The Corazon grille comes unpainted or pre-painted in your colour for an extra $50 (cheap!).

Are the Corazon and Zerosports badges easy to remove? I was thinking of just having an STI badge on it.

No need to remove anything! All the grilles come in 3 pieces: the outer frame, the mesh wire, and the badge. If you're not keen on the badge (like me for the Corazon badge; people commented that it looked like the word 'cougar' and asked whether I liked bourbon) you can simply not attach it to the mesh. You can pick up a fake pink STi badge to attach to the grille for like $20 on eBay. Good luck!

[AdamW]

I did the same thing about five months ago.. Had an SS then a supercharged GTS (that thing was dangerous & completely out of control) and now Liberty, I will never go back.. A few simple mods will truly transform your car..

[hks180]

Welcome to the forum Dan !! mmm another silver sti ......... nice ~

wow thanks for all the kind word guys ....... anyway more then happy to help ...

Leo

[swingn]

Welcome Dan! Good to see you've move into a bit of Japanese class

Once you lower your car a little & add sway bars etc, you'll wonder how you ever lived without AWD.

You should come out to one of the meets & get some ideas & meet some of your fellow Lib drivers. Its what a lot of us on here have done & in the end you land up a very happy chappy... Plus you loose weight! Generally from your wallet / bank account

Cheers
Matt

Welcome to the forum Dan !! mmm another silver sti ......... nice ~

wow thanks for all the kind word guys ....... anyway more then happy to help ...

Leo

You we know we all luv ya Leo

[marki]

U done well, I hate holden, and i hate commodores.

i think all u need to do is convince every other commowhore driver to sell there shit up and buy a real car.lol

[Filthy Fish]

Thanks for the welcome messages and all the good advice. Just thought i'd throw in a few replies:

I actually came into this topic to see if you were asking what to do with the Commodore!

Doubtless, some of the suggestions would involve explosives, or a long drive on a short pier...

Well actually Ric, some of those thoughts had already occurred to me before trading it in and it would have been a lot more beneficial for me financially to have done that. A little thing known as insurance fraud stopped me though....I chose the much more irresponsible path of trading it in for whatever I could get just to let some other poor sucker deal with the problems I was having.

Keep in mind the ZeroSports grille only comes in carbon fibre or pre-painted gunmetal. If you're a fan of CF, which most folks on this forum are, get that one. Otherwise the gunmetal is a great match for your urban grey (I left my grille gunmetal and it matches my black car nicely).

Thanks for the tip Arith, you really seem to know your stuff with these grilles and going by another thread that you posted, it is plain to see why. You must have ADD or something with your need to constantly change grilles. Hopefully I don't get addicted or it's going to cost me a fortune.

A few simple mods will truly transform your car..

Having seen what you have for up for bids in the for sale section AdamW, sounds like a few simple mods for you ended up being a complete strip out..haha. No wonder you have to go overseas to earn your money....Noone here could pay you enough to cover all those costs.

Once you lower your car a little & add sway bars etc, you'll wonder how you ever lived without AWD.

You're right about the AWD Matt. I'm absolutely loving it...especially in the wet...but I think I'll give the lowering a miss. That is the one thing that really annoyed me with the SS. I couldn't even drive over a speed hump. This new car handles 10 times better than the Commy just the way it is.

i think all u need to do is convince every other commowhore driver to sell there shit up and buy a real car.lol

Don't worry about that Marki. I've already been on my soapbox and preaching the good word!

[AdamW]

Yeah if I had any patients what so ever I probably should have searched out an already modified MY07 Lib STi.. I would have saved a fortune..

MY06 Liberty GT tuned by STI with only 8500k's is a pretty awesome find, they come stock lower then the later models.. Sway bars will make a massive difference in handling, and wont change ride height..

People bag out commodores but you have to own at least one high powered V8 rear wheel drive car in your life.. They are a heap of fun & will always sound awesome..

[Filthy Fish]

Yeah, I have to admit it Adam. I did have a lot of fun in the V8 and the sound of a throaty Chev still turns my head.

I've been trying to research the different aftermarket mesh grilles available and it seems that on the Japanese sites they refer to the models differently than here. Obviously the Legacy bit but I have seen things like a BP or BL model and then letters after them like A - C or D E etc? Does anyone know what this means and which one would be a MY06 STI? If I go down the path of getting one inported I just don't want to order the wrong one.

Still trying to decide between the Corazon and Zerosports ones I think.