Subaru Liberty GTI Premium or Passat?

[Swallowtail]

Without the reverse cam... grr. I bet what happened was the same as mine - the dealer stuffed up the order (no Dynaudio on mine).

So what new options would you have ordered? Are you ordering a new one?

[PassatB6]

Somehow I can sense that there will be another of the Supercharger crew pull out.

[DJC]

Without the reverse cam... grr. I bet what happened was the same as mine - the dealer stuffed up the order (no Dynaudio on mine).

So what new options would you have ordered? Are you ordering a new one?

I specifically asked about ACC and was told that it wasn't going to be available....

However if I had of known I would have also ordered lane assist and factory tint as well as the adjustable suspension.

But there was no way I was going to take an R36 wagon with no reverse cam when my wife has been used to driving a car the size of a BMW 120d.

So i'm just going to sit back and watch at the moment!

[DJC]

This threat has move moves than Elvis!

Its now been moved yet again!

[gead]

I think you will find on the whole the Japanese build quality is better than the Germans. I know my Subarus build quality is better than my VW's. The Lexus build quality flogs the BMWs, Mercedes and Audis from what myself and others have observed.

my experience is exactly the opposite....my liberty had the sort of interior fit and finish issues that are not expected on a new car....the passat is absolutely bullet proof in comparison....at the end of the day, i think it is all about comparisons, when i moved to the liberty from my renaultsport clio, i was amazed at the step up, same again moving from the lib to the r36...

[Steve]

And dont forget Subaru can only afford 1 platform at a time being. The new Liberty/Outback is built on an enlargened Impreza platform

Well, to be fair the current Passat platform is built on an enlarged Golf platform, too...

[kgbAgent]

my experience is exactly the opposite....my liberty had the sort of interior fit and finish issues that are not expected on a new car....the passat is absolutely bullet proof in comparison....at the end of the day, i think it is all about comparisons, when i moved to the liberty from my renaultsport clio, i was amazed at the step up, same again moving from the lib to the r36...

Ahh ... but you ordered the Subby beastie They packed in the performance but eased off on the build quality !!!

My GT (now 4 yrs old) still has no rattles or squeaks & it has about 20% gravel / country thrashing (I wont say what else in case anyone here wants to buy it) and apart from normal servicing has been troublefree.

I think that the Sube product is great & their build quality is awesome & on a par with the Germans nowadays. I am renouned for my loyalty to Subes & have converted 8 mates to them - they were shocked when I said I had ordered a Vdub !!!!

I am un-nerved by the current VW buying process however and their are just as many moaners about vdubs as subby owners

[skyva]

While I liked the Liberty GT, it was not exciting inside. It is undoubtedly a highly competent, fast car. To correct an earlier posting, 0-100 in 6.3 standard, but I am sure that a little tickle of the turbo would have it on the heels of the r36.
However, at present the wife wants me to get a fun car, as a baby is on the way. The car after the one I buy now will need to be Dad's taxi, so the car I buy now is the last extravagance for a while. For this reason i am thinking R36, XC60 T6 or 125i convertible now, then going to Liberty GT when the bub is 3.
In my mind the Liberty is like a Seiko watch, looks fine, reliable and keeps perfect time, but I always lust after something a little more flash. Time will tell whether I get the flash one.
One thing my wife and I both agree on is that regardless of whether I get a Liberty, R36, or whatever, I will be happy as they are all great cars.

[Swallowtail]

To correct an earlier posting, 0-100 in 6.3 standard

I was actually quoting times and specs for the V6 Liberty, not the turbo. That is a fairer comparison to the R36 - both 3.6L V6s with awd. The V6 is 0-100 as posted earlier.

The turbo Lib is a whle different ball game... you are right you'd have no problems getting it as quick or quicker than the R36. But for many of us that have been down the modding path, it's kinda nice to not have to!

[theplanner]

I was actually quoting times and specs for the V6 Liberty, not the turbo. That is a fairer comparison to the R36 - both 3.6L V6s with awd. The V6 is 0-100 as posted earlier.

The turbo Lib is a whle different ball game... you are right you'd have no problems getting it as quick or quicker than the R36. But for many of us that have been down the modding path, it's kinda nice to not have to!

I thought the subes come in boxer engines which is different to V6?
The sube has less power and less torque and not to mention a power and torque curve that peaks much later in the rev range (incl the turbo). They are also lighter cars which allow a quicker 0-100 times. Of cos with mods it can be faster but the same can be said about the R36.
In standard form, the R36 is better both in handling and high speeds stability too.
Don't get me wrong, I have sube too in the garage next to my R36. I am impressed with their build quality AND RELIABILITY compared to the VW. However, I find the tech in subes are about 2 yrs behind the industry standard with the exceptions of their awd sys and boxer engines and safety rating. Eg. their auto is still 4/5 speeds. Their manual is only 5 speeds (with exception of STI). Their keys do not retract. Standard brakes fade significantly after series of hard braking with exception of STI models. Up till the new Libs no subes offerred auto headlights or wipers (even top of range tribeca, which I have). No auto tailgate (not optional). And lists goes on....

Subes makes quality cars but their tech is lacking and general styling is questionable.