Buying a used Subaru Liberty (2003-2009)
Its basics didn't change but the fourth-generation Liberty put Subaru's ‘family' car into direct competition with some highly-rated Europeans.In 1989 when the first Liberty (aka Legacy) appeared in Australia, nobody was convinced that a brand known for low-cost 4WDs could challenge Honda and Mazda in the market for quality sedans. Fifteen years later, the Liberty had collared a cupboard full of awards and expanded from the realms of competent family car to a source of seriously involving transport for the dedicated driver.
Output from the 2.0 and 2.5-litre four-cylinder engines increased by 6kW over preceding versions and the 3.0-litre flat-six with 180kW became available across to the Liberty range.
Six-cylinder buyers could pick between ‘Sport Shift’ five-speed automatic transmission or six-speed manual. Those who chose one of the non-turbo fours needed to be content with five-speed manual or four-speed auto. The 2.0-litre Liberty GT range will be evaluated in a future Guide.
These Liberty models were not pitched at bargain-hunters but they did offer excellent value for money. The entry-level 2.0i Sedan with manual transmission cost $30,990 and included air-bags, ABS, air-conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels and a six-stack CD system. The wagon version was $2000 more and automatic transmission bounced the price up by a further $2000.
Belt pre-tensioners, ABS brakes, multiple air-bags, traction control and a very strong structure all contributed to the Liberty achieving a five-star safety rating in ANCAP testing.
The appropriately-badged Safety model included head and side air-bags, larger-diameter wheels and a sunroof. The 2.5-litre automatic cost a snip more than $40,000 and was a popular choice among Liberty owners.
Next step up was the Luxury with leather upholstery and power seat adjustment plus an electric sunroof and above the even-better-appointed Premium.
This, with the 2.5i engine and four-speed automatic took the four-cylinder wagon to more than $46,000.
The six-cylinder 3.0R engine was available in basic and Premium sedans and wagons and only with automatic transmission. If you wanted a 3.0-litre manual the answer was a Spec B model that in basic trim cost $51,990, or as the feature-packed Blitzen. Initially the Spec Bs were manual only but 2005 brought an automatic.
Introduced during August 2004 the 3.0R had leather, a multi-function steering wheel, in-dash display and a sunroof. To that list the Blitzen which was available briefly during 2006 added exclusivity (only 200 were sold) a different grille and wheels.
An update for 2007 brought a new nose, with Xenon headlights in the 3.0R, trim changes and significant mechanical improvements. Aside from physical changes the 2.5-litre engine gained 6kW to 127kW and the non-turbo 2.0-litre was gone. AESS five-speed automatic transmission now incorporated three-mode ‘Intelligent Drive’ and came with column-mounted shift paddles. The automatic and six-speed manual now cost exactly the same.
Get a Liberty off the urban bitumen and it will ease away from any of the well-sorted front-wheel drive designs and many highly-regarded rear-wheel drives.
The Liberty steering system is well-damped against road shock but still manages to let the driver know what is happening down below. If there’s a weak link in the chassis hardware it would be the brakes. The pedal is a little soft at the best of times and can be turned positively mushy if you decide to hammer a Liberty back home from the High Country.
The 2.0-litre engine with 101kW delivered just one kilowatt more than the original 2.2 introduced 15 years earlier but the improved 2.0R works OK with manual transmission. As an auto with some weight behind or a few bodies on board though it’s hard work.
The 2.5 does a decent job of towing but if it’s effortless grunt you want, allied to easily-sustained open-road running and quick overtaking, choose a 3.0R with the five-speed automatic.
If towing and general family motoring isn’t your go, then hunt down one of the rare 3.0R-B Blitzen sedans. People who test drove a 330i BMW then saved themselves $50,000 by choosing the Subaru will still grin manically every time some challenging bends or slippery terrain come into view.
Performance from the six-speed incorporates a 6.9 second time for 0-100km/h however it is the intensity of the manual car’s performance that sets it apart from many far more costly models.
The dash layout, seats and visibility are first-class, especially given that the basic Liberty structure hasn’t changed in 20 years. The trim is all high-quality stuff and if you’re looking at a car with ripped vinyl, creased, torn leather or broken plastics it will have been seriously abused and should be ignored.
Manual 2.5s will crack the 10 second barrier for 0-100km/h and easily achieve sub-10L/100km fuel economy, with the automatic using 10-15 per cent more. Tests of a 3.0R brought an average of 11.5L/100km but rushing from one red light to the next can send consumption into the 13-14L/100 range.
The 2.5 will handle 91 RON fuel but 95 premium is mandatory for the 3.0-litre.
The back seats are meant primarily for two occupants and anyone obliged to use the middle section won’t want to be there for long. Multiple child seat mounts are located in the roof and easy to use and the wagon seat drops easily to provide a decent platform.
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>> Four and six-cylinder engines can suffer coolant leaks and poor compression due to faulty head-gaskets. Overheating and eventual engine damage result if not corrected and new heads are very expensive. Look for coolant dripping after the engine has been switched off and a chemical smell under the bonnet when the engine is hot.
>> Spark plugs for the 3.0R are designed to last 100,000 kilometres but the costs of new plugs and installation runs to a few hundred dollars. The cam belt needs to be changed at the same interval so the cost of a six-digit service can be significant.
>> Well-maintained auto transmissions should reach 250,000km without a problem but beware any that thump or vibrate when down-shifting and don’t respond instantly when shifting manually. Clutch wear can manifest in 80,000+ kilometre four-cylinder versions, especially those that have done some towing.
>> Test that the steering-wheel-mounted controls including the cruise-control stalk are operating and that cruise disconnects immediately the brake or clutch pedals are pressed.
>> Leather trim needs ‘feeding’ and careful cleaning to minimise wear and cracking. Cars with noticeably worn seats have poor resale so don’t buy one unless it is seriously cheap.
Safety: 16/20
Practicality: 15/20
Value for Money: 14/20
Wow Factor: 13/20
SCORE: 74/100
ALSO CONSIDER: Mazda 6; Honda Accord Euro; Audi A4 Quattro
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