Subaru Liberty GTI Premium or Passat?

**Rocket36** · 25-11-2009, 01:20 PM

Mate I went from a VE HSV Clubsport R8 (six speed manual) to the VW Passat R36 and there is no comparing... There R36 is the better car in EVERY way (except you lose the V8 exhaust note obviously). The only thing not standard is a basic phone call only bluetooth but that's a small price to pay when you consider the rest of the car.

Reliable, refined, top quality... In my opinion there is no better value for money performance/luxury saloon available from Germany.

Oh, and if you've had a HSV servicing will be cheaper on the R36.

Go the R36. The best car I've ever owned without question. And the seats... MY GOD!!! Find me a car under $70k with seats that are anywhere near as good and I'll be amazed!

**Jayse** · 25-11-2009, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by SteveA

Hi Guys, going to see the VW dealer tomorrow for a deal/deposit on Blue or black R 36 Wagon with Dynaudio,satnav,Ipod interface and bluetooth, I have also looked at the Liberty GT and it was good value for money although the salesman was just not interested unless I bought it on the spot. Just need to ask what is the reliability of the VW R36, this will mostly be my daily drive and I really need the reliability, is it much more expensive in terms of servicing, not worried about fuel costs as that can be managed, I have had, a HSV R8 and also have a Pajero 4wd which I am keeping, a 2000 model V6 petrol, never missed a beat, so any advice would be very appreciated, I have done a lot of looking over the past 3 months and in the Value/performance/specifications list I must favour the R 36 over HSV, FPV, AUDI, many thanks steve

Hey SteveA,

The car is amazing and very reliable to boot!
My first service (15,000kms) cost $414.55
I would think again about the blutooth...which one are you getting?
I tossed around with the 335i & A4 3.0TDI but the .:R36 was such a better deal overall!

Cheers,

Jayse.

**Jayse** · 25-11-2009, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by Rocket36

Find me a car under $70k with seats that are anywhere near as good and I'll be amazed!

Prepare to be amazed Rocket!!

**Rocket36** · 25-11-2009, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by Jayse

Prepare to be amazed Rocket!!

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

**Lance B** · 25-11-2009, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by craigy

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.

I think the build quality thing is sort of right but what I have found is that whilst the fit and finish and general reliability factor of my previous Subarus (and Japanese cars in general) is better, the long term robustness of the VW seems better and feels stronger. Whether this pans out in real life we shall have toi wait and see.

**Rocket36** · 25-11-2009, 03:53 PM

Japanese build quality is cheap and nasty (at least in appearance) compared to the Germans. I'm talking about the build quality inside mostly. Japanese interiors make you feel like you're inside a cheap tupaware container.

As for panel alignment etc, well they're all built by similar robots...

**SteveA** · 25-11-2009, 04:56 PM

Thanks guys, that info really helps a lot, not sure about bluetooth, I have read that an Iphone will not work with the factory fit bluetooth, ??if you have any suggestions re bluetooth please advise, once again thanks for the advice, greatly appreciated before I spend @$70K.

**apom** · 25-11-2009, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by SteveA

Thanks guys, that info really helps a lot, not sure about bluetooth, I have read that an Iphone will not work with the factory fit bluetooth, ??if you have any suggestions re bluetooth please advise, once again thanks for the advice, greatly appreciated before I spend @$70K.

Yep, if you have an iphone like i do, wait and get a kufatec or something better fitted, u wont regret it

**SteveA** · 26-11-2009, 12:14 PM

Well I did it paid deposit for R36 wagon, Blue, Grey trim, satnav, dynaudio, rear DVD Player, should be here March/April, now to countdown the calendar!!