Research, buy & sell with confidence

Snowman purchased this Subaru Liberty used for $12,500 (including all on-road costs) in 2021. Snowman would buy this car again because: “It absolutely fit the purpose I had for a relatively cheap, safe and comfortable second family wagon. We had the fortune of finally moving out of the city to a small country town interstate and needed a second car to fill the gap as the main commuter and safe chariot for our two little noodles. Moving to a mountain town, I really wanted to tick the all-wheel drive box, along with safety and uncompromisingly good looks – or, to be within budget while we shopped around for a new home in a rapidly expanding bubble. “

The car has been very reliable, especially considering its age and mounting kilometres. The only issues I have had all year have been replacing and adjusting the headlight globes a couple of times. It seems to be a bit of an art, balancing these things, but it seems all sorted now.

I could be wrong, but I believe that Subarus are known as constant, gentle sippers of good quality oil, so I respectfully acquiesce to its habit and keep an eye on the levels every few weeks or as often as I can remember.

I am nearing the end of the ownership experience and feel like I’m getting out satisfied and unscathed.

I purchased the car through a trusted dealership and the experience was easy and straightforward. I had (and still have) very little time on my hands and needed some assurance of reliability and ease of payment/pickup so going private didn’t suit my needs.

The only hiccup really was changing the registration from NSW to Queensland, which required a safety certificate and meant dealing with a local mechanic and double checking everything again. Funnily, this just gave me more peace of mind, once I had accepted that the hours ticking over weren’t coming back.

Worth noting that dealing with the QLD Government felt like going to lunch at a nice old pub, compared to walking through the valley of sharp objects with the former State.

Well, the price is reflective of the crazy times we are in. In my case, I budgeted for $10 to $12k and went looking. I would have bought a Mazda 6, but unfortunately I couldn’t bring myself to have two of the same car, let alone pay the same (used) price for them 5 year apart.

I think, considering the times, it went pretty well, and I’m satisfied with the experience.

As far as features go, the biggest feature is the fact that it’s a low-riding gagon, which I love; the space, the convenience and the fact that it’s not an SUV.

The car is from the lower-end of the range so, technically you’re missing out on leather seats, a sunroof, and all that kind of thing. But honestly, with the aftermarket head unit and reversing camera, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on very much that was available in the price range. Good and simple, simple and good.

This naturally-aspirated 127kW weapon will use all the wheels it has and its whole heart to launch you to the IGA at break-biscuit speeds. No coffees have ever spilled as a result of this drivetrain on flat or uphill terrain.

However, it is wildly appropriate for most situations and is comfortable and smooth. The CVT transmission cops a lot of flack, but I honestly have never had a problem with it and my wife, as representative of the general, not-interested-in-cars public, will never know what it was or wasn’t.

For a while I enjoyed using the paddle-shifters, especially on downhill mountain runs. Until I read that perhaps I should be more mechanically sympathetic, just in case of complete and expensive failure.

The car will happily tow a light trailer and does so with heart, if not speed and surety.

The economy has not been exceptional, especially compared to more modern engines, but it’s not terrible by any means and certainly not so bad that I have ever been moved to measure it.

There isn’t an overwhelming amount of tech on board.

My car came with an aftermarket head unit which features a graphic equaliser capable of pulling a respectable sound experience out of what I assume are the original speakers. Cars, even most base models, have come a long way in the last decade.

I live in a mountainous region in south-east Queensland, surrounded by some truly wonderful roads and excellent opportunities for dangerous misadventure and speeding fines.

The Subaru is right at home and is relatively smooth and composed over the many surfaces presented by the underperforming, overstretched council.

It has excellent visibility, with lots of glass and mirrors not compromised by thoughts of style.

Like myself, it has never felt or been accused of being sporty, it is on the softer side and perhaps showing its age with associated rattles and groans. It is not quiet. But it is sure-footed and confidence-inspiring in the wet or dry, not rolling around like a juicy whale or jittering like a tense and nervous ute.

It finds a nice middle ground with whatever it does. I have been impressed with it and appreciate its workmanlike utility and Japanese heart.

Research, buy & sell with confidence

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