2013 Subaru Liberty GT Wagon
Discussion
From responses to other threads, I don't think many are familiar with these. Some will know of the Gen4 (2003-8) Liberty/Legacy and the fantastic GT/STi versions but it doesn't look like the Gen5 made it to the UK at all. V popular in Aus, though not as popular as its predecessor, challenging looks didn't help... Apparently for the (seemingly blind) US market.
This is my fourth Liberty, and third Liberty wagon...
Anyway, the stats:
2.5T Flat four
195kW/261bhp @ 5600
320Nm @ 2400-5200
AWD
6-sp manual
0-100kmh around 6.3s
0-160kmh around 14s
Weight around 1550kg - only a little more than the Gen4 - my 05 GT Wagon was 1500kg
Power/Weight around 170bhp/tonne
Numbers are, as always, only part of the story. The turbo whack is smooth and whilst there is lag, its nowhere as noticeable as in the previous 2.0T. Which is a bit of a shame - that engine span to 7750 and gave a good 4000rpm of BBBOOOOOOSSSTTTT, whereas this one is quieter, more efficient, but a little more dull because of it. Anyway, the shove is there, its just more discreet.
Quality is another mark down. This doesn't feel as well made as the Gen4 - they really did feel solid. This one feels a little tinny in comparison. Time, and 3 kids, will tell.
All the goodies are there inside - leather, AC, sunroof, decent stereo, whatever, whatever, whatever. That's never the attraction of any car for me.
What does attract is how it fits, and every Subaru I've driven always fits me well. This is no different. Wheel, pedals, lever all perfectly positioned for me, and whilst some of the controls aren't the last word in detailed feedback, they are consistent and perfectly acceptable. Handling is probably safe, rather than fun, with an abundance of grip probably spoiling the party at lower speeds. But it does inspire confidence no matter what the weather or road conditions. I live in a hilly part of a place that gets a lot of rain - AWD really is useful.
Anyway, as a car, I like it.
Enough waffle, here's some pics...
Obligatory shot with driveway mates...
Not really planning any special stuff for it, but will update as we go. Plan is to keep it a few years, hopefully all is better than the V70 before...
This is my fourth Liberty, and third Liberty wagon...
Anyway, the stats:
2.5T Flat four
195kW/261bhp @ 5600
320Nm @ 2400-5200
AWD
6-sp manual
0-100kmh around 6.3s
0-160kmh around 14s
Weight around 1550kg - only a little more than the Gen4 - my 05 GT Wagon was 1500kg
Power/Weight around 170bhp/tonne
Numbers are, as always, only part of the story. The turbo whack is smooth and whilst there is lag, its nowhere as noticeable as in the previous 2.0T. Which is a bit of a shame - that engine span to 7750 and gave a good 4000rpm of BBBOOOOOOSSSTTTT, whereas this one is quieter, more efficient, but a little more dull because of it. Anyway, the shove is there, its just more discreet.
Quality is another mark down. This doesn't feel as well made as the Gen4 - they really did feel solid. This one feels a little tinny in comparison. Time, and 3 kids, will tell.
All the goodies are there inside - leather, AC, sunroof, decent stereo, whatever, whatever, whatever. That's never the attraction of any car for me.
What does attract is how it fits, and every Subaru I've driven always fits me well. This is no different. Wheel, pedals, lever all perfectly positioned for me, and whilst some of the controls aren't the last word in detailed feedback, they are consistent and perfectly acceptable. Handling is probably safe, rather than fun, with an abundance of grip probably spoiling the party at lower speeds. But it does inspire confidence no matter what the weather or road conditions. I live in a hilly part of a place that gets a lot of rain - AWD really is useful.
Anyway, as a car, I like it.
Enough waffle, here's some pics...
Obligatory shot with driveway mates...
Not really planning any special stuff for it, but will update as we go. Plan is to keep it a few years, hopefully all is better than the V70 before...
Edited by PomBstard on Monday 27th February 11:37
Well, we've had a spot of rain locally over the past few weeks, and more is planned. The Sube somehow finds great traction no matter what, it really is very capable. Mrs PB's Golf has made great use of the TC pulling away and out of corners, but the Lib has just got going - no fuss, no drama.
Allied to this is a level of chuckability that makes it fun in all weathers. Its not the last word in precision, but it is wonderfully mechanical after the under-rated Mazda and the vastly over-rated Volvo. The only blot for me is a slightly notchy box that sometimes makes 3 -> 2 a tricky gate to get right, but after two years of slushboxes, I'm not bothered.
The power delivery still catches me out. Its very discreet, even more so than the Volvo was, but a glance at the speedo can be enlightening. Hitting the # button does make things more evident, but still not as obvious as the Golf alongside it.
The build quality appears to be there after all, its just that you don't need to slam the doors to effect the thunk that many perceive as the true sign. Just push the doors gently to, and they close really lightly. Nothing rattles, and nothing looks like it'll break too easily.
Its also gone through its first service with me. Regular mechanic was impressed this time (the V70 really ticked him off...) and noted absolutely nothing wrong. Always nice to hear, no matter how thorough you've been yourself. Its now of about 93,000km and the belt service is due at 125,000 - I reckon around 2 years away.
The only thing I've not really bothered to note is the fuel consumption. In fact I've just gone out to check - 20-21mpg seems to be the score. Acceptable in my book, considering the urban life it leads, and the hard life it gets when the chance arises. I've not yet done a long motorway run, but I reckon 30-35 with the bike rack on would be about right.
Anyway, that's about it for now - might see if I can get some more pics up when the weather clears, which is looking like being sometime around May...
Allied to this is a level of chuckability that makes it fun in all weathers. Its not the last word in precision, but it is wonderfully mechanical after the under-rated Mazda and the vastly over-rated Volvo. The only blot for me is a slightly notchy box that sometimes makes 3 -> 2 a tricky gate to get right, but after two years of slushboxes, I'm not bothered.
The power delivery still catches me out. Its very discreet, even more so than the Volvo was, but a glance at the speedo can be enlightening. Hitting the # button does make things more evident, but still not as obvious as the Golf alongside it.
The build quality appears to be there after all, its just that you don't need to slam the doors to effect the thunk that many perceive as the true sign. Just push the doors gently to, and they close really lightly. Nothing rattles, and nothing looks like it'll break too easily.
Its also gone through its first service with me. Regular mechanic was impressed this time (the V70 really ticked him off...) and noted absolutely nothing wrong. Always nice to hear, no matter how thorough you've been yourself. Its now of about 93,000km and the belt service is due at 125,000 - I reckon around 2 years away.
The only thing I've not really bothered to note is the fuel consumption. In fact I've just gone out to check - 20-21mpg seems to be the score. Acceptable in my book, considering the urban life it leads, and the hard life it gets when the chance arises. I've not yet done a long motorway run, but I reckon 30-35 with the bike rack on would be about right.
Anyway, that's about it for now - might see if I can get some more pics up when the weather clears, which is looking like being sometime around May...
but only a Forester owner could ever say that...
MDMA . said:
Still prefer the smoother front end on the gen4 ( have one myself )
Me too - in fact, the whole thing looks better - gratuitous shot of my 2005 GT at Bathurst...
As for 402s, not sure. We did get STi versions, which with the 2.0T meant 200kW/268bhp, whereas my GT was 180kW/240bhp. It also came with a very tasty set of Enkei wheels, and was otherwise very discreet.
Of course, having said how much I like the thing, and how completely reliable I'm expecting things to be, its thrown a boost leak at me. Well, at least that's what I'm hoping it is.
Symptoms are hissing/shrieking noise over the usual whistle once the turbo's on full boost, over 2500rpm. Goes away when throttle is released slightly. No smoke, or noticeable loss of power, idle is fine. Needs to be under load to happen, which means can't replicate it on the driveway. Have checked all inlet side so far, but utterly s
te weather and lack of under cover space have prevented further investigation.
When its predecessor did this symptoms included a lumpiness getting to full boost, and was solved by removing and cleaning all the plumbing on the inlet side.
Will let it go for this week and see if I can get at it next week. Anyone any other clues???
Symptoms are hissing/shrieking noise over the usual whistle once the turbo's on full boost, over 2500rpm. Goes away when throttle is released slightly. No smoke, or noticeable loss of power, idle is fine. Needs to be under load to happen, which means can't replicate it on the driveway. Have checked all inlet side so far, but utterly s
te weather and lack of under cover space have prevented further investigation.When its predecessor did this symptoms included a lumpiness getting to full boost, and was solved by removing and cleaning all the plumbing on the inlet side.
Will let it go for this week and see if I can get at it next week. Anyone any other clues???
Blimey, time flies. And so does this thing. Have gotten into the groove - boost leak, well, not so sure - there is still a leak of some sorts, but the discreet way its picking up speed means very little is wrong. Its one of those cars that manages to pile on the speed between corners without you really noticing, until you realise the next corner is coming up a lot quicker than you expected. Swift cross-country progress is to be made.
Have taken a few road trips, inc Canberra for a spot of mtb'ing. Average of 30mpg with a bike on the roof is not too back considering capability.
Had to swap with MrsPB's Golf for a week or so whilst the rear screen on the Golf was being ordered and replaced. Funny how you get used to certain things. It rained a lot during this time, and I missed the ability of the Subaru to just go in all weathers. The Golf was fine, but just different, and not as capable.
Off to find some snow in a few weeks, should be fun...!!
Downsides? Well, there's a rattle in the tailgate/boot area which I've got to find, the driver's seat has a squeak - I think there's a mouse living in the backrest, and the gearbox is notchy when cold, esp 3 -> 2. Otherwise, its probably just about the perfect car for my circumstances.
Have taken a few road trips, inc Canberra for a spot of mtb'ing. Average of 30mpg with a bike on the roof is not too back considering capability.
Had to swap with MrsPB's Golf for a week or so whilst the rear screen on the Golf was being ordered and replaced. Funny how you get used to certain things. It rained a lot during this time, and I missed the ability of the Subaru to just go in all weathers. The Golf was fine, but just different, and not as capable.
Off to find some snow in a few weeks, should be fun...!!
Downsides? Well, there's a rattle in the tailgate/boot area which I've got to find, the driver's seat has a squeak - I think there's a mouse living in the backrest, and the gearbox is notchy when cold, esp 3 -> 2. Otherwise, its probably just about the perfect car for my circumstances.
Thought I’d give an update, as I’ve had the car a year now. Its just ticked over 100,000km and 5 years old, nicely run in.
The plus sides are still comfort, space, handling, performance and driving position. The downsides are still fuel economy, looks, and the slightly notchy ‘box. Many on here criticize Subaru interiors for their downmarket feel, and whilst that might be justified when compared to the usual German, Jag, and Volvo competitors, its durable, all still works, is clear, and feels like it’ll continue working until its told to stop. The satnav screen is old hat, but I don’t use that, and I’m not bothered by other graphics – just some dials and a clock please.
Averaging around 22-24mpg for the usual urban assault, with 35mpg on a gentle run. We’ve just done a 2000km jaunt in a week, and averaged 32mpg, which wasn’t bad as it had a bike on the roof for pretty much all of that journey. Mrs PB's Golf came with us too and only managed about 40mpg for the trip. Worth noting that after 2000km in 7 days, including two 800km stints in a day, interspersed with lots of cycling and swimming, I didn’t ache at all – the seats and driving position really are spot-on for me.
The interior is holding up very well to the assault of three small children, and the rear bench provides plenty of space for them. Its just that bit wider than the 03-09 Gen 4 Liberty and it’s a useful space. The squeak from the drivers seat turned out to be the leather rubbing on the plastic centre console – some leather cleaner to act as a lubricant has sorted that. And the rattle from the tailgate was the number plate – padded double-sided tape was the answer.
I’ve also found a different Subaru indie to use, and was good to get their view on the car when I put it in for a service back in September. The view was that its all going well, engine feels strong, no signs of anything untoward.
The other thing that’s still in its favour is the feeling of reliability. Mrs PB’s 2011 Golf GTI seems to enjoy using its dashboard lights and bonging every now and then, just to let us know something else needs attention. The Lib just starts and goes. Obviously I’ve got the dreaded head gasket or piston ring failure to look forward to at any time…
At some point in the next couple of months it’ll need a new set of tyres. 225/45R18 so not too outlandish to find. Conti MaxContact 5 on at the mo have been OK – no real downsides to note, but likely that I’ll see if a set of Michelin PS4 can fit. I’ve just put some of the Golf and have been impressed at the improvement over the Turanzas that were on previously. Grip and pace dominate the Lib's handling feel, so decent tyres are a must. Its not a machine with too much finesse, but that probably applies to many other cars in this class, let alone those with AWD. Simple to place and faithful to the line though.
One of the things I’ve also grown to appreciate is the discretion. On the bootlid it says �AWD” on one side and “Liberty” on the other, and that is the sum total of all badges on the exterior. Nothing written to inform or give clues as to the engine size or its configuration or aspiration. Nothing to note trim level or designer. Just twin exhausts, just like a regular 2.5i, and a small slot in the bonnet, just like an Outback Diesel. Catches a few other drivers by surprise…
It’ll also need another service soon, and it also feels, and sounds, like one of the bushes in the OSF suspension is worn too, so we’ll have a look on a ramp.
So, overall, a year later, I’m still happy with the choice, and would happily recommend to any looking for a family hold-all with a bit of poke, that’s not one of the usual suspects. No, it doesn’t have a soft-touch dash. Nor does it look particularly classy or elegant as an overall design. Considering our other two cars are a Golf GTI and a Porsche 928, its still never feels like being short-changed to drive the Lib. The next road trip includes going through Bathurst, will have to see if the Mountain is open for a lap…
The plus sides are still comfort, space, handling, performance and driving position. The downsides are still fuel economy, looks, and the slightly notchy ‘box. Many on here criticize Subaru interiors for their downmarket feel, and whilst that might be justified when compared to the usual German, Jag, and Volvo competitors, its durable, all still works, is clear, and feels like it’ll continue working until its told to stop. The satnav screen is old hat, but I don’t use that, and I’m not bothered by other graphics – just some dials and a clock please.
Averaging around 22-24mpg for the usual urban assault, with 35mpg on a gentle run. We’ve just done a 2000km jaunt in a week, and averaged 32mpg, which wasn’t bad as it had a bike on the roof for pretty much all of that journey. Mrs PB's Golf came with us too and only managed about 40mpg for the trip. Worth noting that after 2000km in 7 days, including two 800km stints in a day, interspersed with lots of cycling and swimming, I didn’t ache at all – the seats and driving position really are spot-on for me.
The interior is holding up very well to the assault of three small children, and the rear bench provides plenty of space for them. Its just that bit wider than the 03-09 Gen 4 Liberty and it’s a useful space. The squeak from the drivers seat turned out to be the leather rubbing on the plastic centre console – some leather cleaner to act as a lubricant has sorted that. And the rattle from the tailgate was the number plate – padded double-sided tape was the answer.
I’ve also found a different Subaru indie to use, and was good to get their view on the car when I put it in for a service back in September. The view was that its all going well, engine feels strong, no signs of anything untoward.
The other thing that’s still in its favour is the feeling of reliability. Mrs PB’s 2011 Golf GTI seems to enjoy using its dashboard lights and bonging every now and then, just to let us know something else needs attention. The Lib just starts and goes. Obviously I’ve got the dreaded head gasket or piston ring failure to look forward to at any time…
At some point in the next couple of months it’ll need a new set of tyres. 225/45R18 so not too outlandish to find. Conti MaxContact 5 on at the mo have been OK – no real downsides to note, but likely that I’ll see if a set of Michelin PS4 can fit. I’ve just put some of the Golf and have been impressed at the improvement over the Turanzas that were on previously. Grip and pace dominate the Lib's handling feel, so decent tyres are a must. Its not a machine with too much finesse, but that probably applies to many other cars in this class, let alone those with AWD. Simple to place and faithful to the line though.
One of the things I’ve also grown to appreciate is the discretion. On the bootlid it says �AWD” on one side and “Liberty” on the other, and that is the sum total of all badges on the exterior. Nothing written to inform or give clues as to the engine size or its configuration or aspiration. Nothing to note trim level or designer. Just twin exhausts, just like a regular 2.5i, and a small slot in the bonnet, just like an Outback Diesel. Catches a few other drivers by surprise…
It’ll also need another service soon, and it also feels, and sounds, like one of the bushes in the OSF suspension is worn too, so we’ll have a look on a ramp.
So, overall, a year later, I’m still happy with the choice, and would happily recommend to any looking for a family hold-all with a bit of poke, that’s not one of the usual suspects. No, it doesn’t have a soft-touch dash. Nor does it look particularly classy or elegant as an overall design. Considering our other two cars are a Golf GTI and a Porsche 928, its still never feels like being short-changed to drive the Lib. The next road trip includes going through Bathurst, will have to see if the Mountain is open for a lap…
Edited by PomBstard on Monday 8th January 23:45
Nice wagon! I share a lot of your thoughts you about the leggy. The interior is basic, but very hard wearing and puts up with children, plus bikes, drum kits and other junk. It's also so basic it doesn't really date.
They're also just good to drive. It's not as manic as the impreza but it's rare that I miss the smaller subaru.
Have you thought about changing the rear Arb? For not a lot of cash it does help the handling with no adverse impact on the ride.
They're also just good to drive. It's not as manic as the impreza but it's rare that I miss the smaller subaru.
Have you thought about changing the rear Arb? For not a lot of cash it does help the handling with no adverse impact on the ride.
Thanks - would love to upgrade a few parts, and rear arb would be on the list but it’s really a swift family hold all, rather than blaster, so will keep standard for the time being. And the other two cars are more than happy to soak up any spare cash at the mo.
Drove past Mount Panorama today, with the Golf behind, so took them both for a loop. Well worth doing if you ever get the chance just to get a real sense of how tight and steep the skyline section is...
Drove past Mount Panorama today, with the Golf behind, so took them both for a loop. Well worth doing if you ever get the chance just to get a real sense of how tight and steep the skyline section is...
Have just finished another little trip with the family - total is about 3000km in 4 weeks and the car was just right.
Route this time was cross-country along some fairly bumpy roads at 100kmh in 36C and took it all in it’s stride. The Golf came along again (we couldn’t get 6 in the Lib) and the ride made things less comfy in there.
Averaged around 33mpg - again, not bothered by that, though this became a familiar sight...
I reckon those 3000km in two cars have cost around $850 which is significantly less than hiring a 7 seater to drive or flying 6 people around. And flying just ain’t as much fun for these sorts of trips.
A few dirt roads have emphasised the worn bush(es) at the OSF but nothing that got in the way of progress, Golf followed but less swiftly...
Both are more than a little grubby!
Route this time was cross-country along some fairly bumpy roads at 100kmh in 36C and took it all in it’s stride. The Golf came along again (we couldn’t get 6 in the Lib) and the ride made things less comfy in there.
Averaged around 33mpg - again, not bothered by that, though this became a familiar sight...
I reckon those 3000km in two cars have cost around $850 which is significantly less than hiring a 7 seater to drive or flying 6 people around. And flying just ain’t as much fun for these sorts of trips.
A few dirt roads have emphasised the worn bush(es) at the OSF but nothing that got in the way of progress, Golf followed but less swiftly...
Both are more than a little grubby!
Just realised its been almost a year since the last note, so here's an update.
Nothing's changed. Yep, really. The car hasn't missed a beat, its still swift and comfortable, roomy and thirsty, reliable and entertaining. And now its just had one of the scheduled major services, at 113,000km, it feels even better. I think the new plugs are the winners here, it was starting to feel a little lumpy mid-range, like a coil was starting to go, but is now wonderfully smooth and torquey again. Next service will be the belt change.
Regular bike trips continue to show its spacious for three bikes and three blokes. Couple of recent trips to Stromlo in Canberra, including being first in the car park which was a novelty...
What is new is that the young bloke is now showing a strong interest in cars, and because we have one, he can pick all the Subarus on the road. If we park next to another Subaru then I have to take a photo for him, and there are lots of Subes in Australia...
We've got a family trip coming up, so with the Conti SportContacts just about done, I've got a set of PS4s to go on next week. The Contis have been fine, so will be interesting to see what benefits the Michelins can bring.
And finally, I'm going to look at getting it remapped - I'm not after power, just better running through the range. It's set to run on 95RON, but is always run on 98, so we'll see what can be done.
Nothing's changed. Yep, really. The car hasn't missed a beat, its still swift and comfortable, roomy and thirsty, reliable and entertaining. And now its just had one of the scheduled major services, at 113,000km, it feels even better. I think the new plugs are the winners here, it was starting to feel a little lumpy mid-range, like a coil was starting to go, but is now wonderfully smooth and torquey again. Next service will be the belt change.
Regular bike trips continue to show its spacious for three bikes and three blokes. Couple of recent trips to Stromlo in Canberra, including being first in the car park which was a novelty...
What is new is that the young bloke is now showing a strong interest in cars, and because we have one, he can pick all the Subarus on the road. If we park next to another Subaru then I have to take a photo for him, and there are lots of Subes in Australia...
We've got a family trip coming up, so with the Conti SportContacts just about done, I've got a set of PS4s to go on next week. The Contis have been fine, so will be interesting to see what benefits the Michelins can bring.
And finally, I'm going to look at getting it remapped - I'm not after power, just better running through the range. It's set to run on 95RON, but is always run on 98, so we'll see what can be done.
A full set of Michelin PS4 have been on about a week and I'm still astounded that the difference is so noticeable. The ride is much improved, steering feels sharper, and the road noise is down, though I've not really had much chance to try the limits of grip. The Contis were by no means bad, but the difference is definitely there.
Road trip coming up, so second bike rack fitted to the roof - wonder what that'll do to fuel economy...??? Usual once-over to check all is as it should be, recent service helps.
Also had the Takata airbag replaced, along with a recall for the electronic handbrake mechanism. Dealer took a day and a half, and helped me remember why I don't use them for anything.
Road trip coming up, so second bike rack fitted to the roof - wonder what that'll do to fuel economy...??? Usual once-over to check all is as it should be, recent service helps.
Also had the Takata airbag replaced, along with a recall for the electronic handbrake mechanism. Dealer took a day and a half, and helped me remember why I don't use them for anything.
Another family road trip saw 1500km put on in eight days without hitch. Two bikes on the roof for most of the time, and Alpine roads when without, meant an average of 30mpg, which is still OK to me. MrsPB's Golf came along to provide further space for all the activity kit and to separate the kids!
The 7 or so hours each way were made so much lighter by PB Jnr continually spotting Subarus everywhere. Forester, Liberty, Outback, XV, Impreza, WRX - all easily identified, and the quicker varieties picked out for special noting...
The Snowies is also worth a trip for anyone whose not been and likes a bit of outdoor action - this is the view from the back door of the place we rented...
Its also worth noting that in the two years I've had it, I've not needed to add any oil between services.
Being able to make better use of the car on the roads around the Snowy Mountains was fun. Combined with the new tyres, even during one of the local downpours, traction was never in doubt, and the ability to dispatch slower traffic made progress simple. Its been a great workhorse and motorway slogger, but cross-country is its forte.
One thing I might have to address soon is the woeful sound system. Its McIntosh-branded, but its so below the standard of the Gen4 set up. There's no depth or clarity to the sound, and even though it has a USB port, its easily confused by anything plugged in.
Otherwise, business as usual, and I mean that in a good way.
The 7 or so hours each way were made so much lighter by PB Jnr continually spotting Subarus everywhere. Forester, Liberty, Outback, XV, Impreza, WRX - all easily identified, and the quicker varieties picked out for special noting...
The Snowies is also worth a trip for anyone whose not been and likes a bit of outdoor action - this is the view from the back door of the place we rented...
Its also worth noting that in the two years I've had it, I've not needed to add any oil between services.
Being able to make better use of the car on the roads around the Snowy Mountains was fun. Combined with the new tyres, even during one of the local downpours, traction was never in doubt, and the ability to dispatch slower traffic made progress simple. Its been a great workhorse and motorway slogger, but cross-country is its forte.
One thing I might have to address soon is the woeful sound system. Its McIntosh-branded, but its so below the standard of the Gen4 set up. There's no depth or clarity to the sound, and even though it has a USB port, its easily confused by anything plugged in.
Otherwise, business as usual, and I mean that in a good way.
Time for an update. We’re up to 127,000kms and the car’s had a major service that included changing the timing belts. No other items noted, but I did get a chance to walk around underneath and realized I’ve never really had a proper look. No problems, but nice to see the distinctive yellow of a set of Bilsteins…
The PS4s that were fitted about a year ago are wearing well, considering the use, and continue to offer a good balance of noise, comfort and traction. They’ll be replaced with the same again come the time.
Also, still not needing to add oil between services, though did have to put in about 3-4psi in all tyres. Once.
However, I do now need to replace one of the low beam bulbs. Not the job of a moment. There are apparently two ways to get to this part of the lamp – one if through the wheelarch by partially removing the liner, but this still leaves the action blind and requiring ET’s fingers. The second is to remove the front bumper and the lamp unit, which is the option I went for.
There are 19 plastic clips to undo, then a further 5 bolts, and a complicated spring mechanism, but it wasn’t terribly difficult. Until I realized I had the wrong replacement bulbs, my car has xenons, not halogens. So it all went back together and is now waiting for the next 2-hr gap in life that I’ve got. Bulb replacement should be a side-of-the-road job, in any weather. Its so far the only black mark against the car.
We’ve done a couple of family road trips – a 1000km trip to get the kids on skis back in August, and a 2700km trip to Noosa for MrsPB to take part in what I think is the worlds largest triathlon event. As usual the car was faultless, comfortable and just about big enough for us all.
August in Canberra is cold, and was my first encounter with a frosty windscreen for nearly 20 years! But I was getting up at 0500 to go mountain biking, so was pretty sure I could cope…
Whilst on the Sunshine Coast we took in Australia Zoo, a floating inflatable playground and, on the way up, the Big Banana. If you’re passing, it’d be a shame not to do any of those things!
Average economy was around 32mpg for the Noosa trip, which was pretty good considering is was full up, had a bike on the roof, coped with the various urban excursions, and was travelling through smoke for much of the journey.
The huge bush fires along the NSW/QLD coast were never far away. This was taken in Port Macquarie the evening before the town was engulfed by smoke from nearby fires. On our way home the next day, the motorway was closed in both directions just a couple of hours after we passed through. It was smoky, and the fires are still going now.
So, once more, the summary is of a boringly reliable car that’s hugely rewarding to own. We’re starting to outgrow it so a replacement beckons, sometime in 2020 I reckon, though whatever it is, it’ll have enormous shoes to fill.
The PS4s that were fitted about a year ago are wearing well, considering the use, and continue to offer a good balance of noise, comfort and traction. They’ll be replaced with the same again come the time.
Also, still not needing to add oil between services, though did have to put in about 3-4psi in all tyres. Once.
However, I do now need to replace one of the low beam bulbs. Not the job of a moment. There are apparently two ways to get to this part of the lamp – one if through the wheelarch by partially removing the liner, but this still leaves the action blind and requiring ET’s fingers. The second is to remove the front bumper and the lamp unit, which is the option I went for.
There are 19 plastic clips to undo, then a further 5 bolts, and a complicated spring mechanism, but it wasn’t terribly difficult. Until I realized I had the wrong replacement bulbs, my car has xenons, not halogens. So it all went back together and is now waiting for the next 2-hr gap in life that I’ve got. Bulb replacement should be a side-of-the-road job, in any weather. Its so far the only black mark against the car.
We’ve done a couple of family road trips – a 1000km trip to get the kids on skis back in August, and a 2700km trip to Noosa for MrsPB to take part in what I think is the worlds largest triathlon event. As usual the car was faultless, comfortable and just about big enough for us all.
August in Canberra is cold, and was my first encounter with a frosty windscreen for nearly 20 years! But I was getting up at 0500 to go mountain biking, so was pretty sure I could cope…
Whilst on the Sunshine Coast we took in Australia Zoo, a floating inflatable playground and, on the way up, the Big Banana. If you’re passing, it’d be a shame not to do any of those things!
Average economy was around 32mpg for the Noosa trip, which was pretty good considering is was full up, had a bike on the roof, coped with the various urban excursions, and was travelling through smoke for much of the journey.
The huge bush fires along the NSW/QLD coast were never far away. This was taken in Port Macquarie the evening before the town was engulfed by smoke from nearby fires. On our way home the next day, the motorway was closed in both directions just a couple of hours after we passed through. It was smoky, and the fires are still going now.
So, once more, the summary is of a boringly reliable car that’s hugely rewarding to own. We’re starting to outgrow it so a replacement beckons, sometime in 2020 I reckon, though whatever it is, it’ll have enormous shoes to fill.
Edited by PomBstard on Saturday 23 November 04:44
Edited by PomBstard on Saturday 23 November 04:47
S100HP said:
Really like this car, and your thread. It's a real shame they didn't sell this in the UK, I'm still drawn to a Subaru even after my last experiment.
Thanks! The real shame is that Subaru don’t make this any more. The Levorg is too small, and there is no Liberty wagon anyway. The parts exist - WRX drivetrain and Outback shell - but clearly not part of Subaru’s plan.For me, this means that when I come to replace it, a Subaru won’t be on my shortlist for the first time in many many years. I’m sure I’ll miss much about this car, as an ownership experience, it’s been top notch.
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