Mazda or Subaru..

[RATT]

Hello again,

Just a quick question:
If you had a choice between an 2005 Liberty 3.0 H6 (Flat 6) 6spd manual with over 70000km, or a 2007 Mazda 6 Sports auto with 14000km for the same money. What would you buy if it were for a family car?

I'm curious as to what you guys think.

[Polyal]

Im guessing the Subie would use a bit more fuel?

Id go the subie, AWD I wouldn't really need but what the heck, better brand value and I think its better appointed.

If it was the 09 Mazda then I would take that, great looking car, the new Liberty looks like a KIA.

+1 Subaru

[cs123]

For a family car the Mazda. It's newer, less KM, auto (well you did say family) and probably cheaper to run

[Fev]

Subie, and if you ever drive it down to Melbourne the head tech at STI will dyno tune it for you for a really good price. Something like 300-600 or and it's still under warranty

My brother took is 09 Liberty 3.0l down there last week and came back with +9awkw and a shedload more torque from 1500rpm

[FPV+fteT3]

For me it would be the man. subie with awd gives added safety and adds to the driving experience IMO. I have an impreza and it has been excellent and has cost me nothing but regular services now has 130k's. Note the subie will need a belt at 100k that will cost about 1k for that service but if the belt fails its a new motor.

[tranquilized]

Family car doesn't have to mean boring car.
The Mazda 6's are good cars and all, but to me its not a difficult decision - FWD auto vs AWD manual????

+1 Subaru

[Ibrox90]

Id go subaru there indestructable

[Martys-Bionic-XR]

subie all the way. the H6 is a sweet donk.

[XR6_190]

I'd go the Subaru here, AWD + Manual FTW!

That said, if I were after a new one, it would definitely be a Mazda 6, manual of course. Subaru have gone all ugly with their newer cars.

[demondan]

Subby all the way
I've had 4 Libertys in the last few years including my current MY09 (old shape now) and the things are bulletproof.
The 6 cylinder engine with the manual tranny is a ripper combination and the Subby drives like it's on rails.

[Fordman]

The Liberty is more spacious and despite having more click's it will be reliable. That being said the Mazda is practically brand new. I'd personally take the Liberty for the space, and fact it's a better car in a higher class.

[PepeLePew]

I like the Subie but 2yrs and 56000kms is a decent gap...

[Wretched]

Mazda for me.

[mash85]

Having sold new Subys for a few years i can tell you the good and bad points.

positive are:

excellent build quality
confident handling - nicely tuned suspension plus awd
well spec'd
5 star safety
3ltr suby engines sound awesome, they love to rev and offer pretty decent performance
decent size boot - its level too, none of this lumpy crap like in my ba, though back seats dont fold down.
you sould have no problem selling it once your done with it.
macintosh premium sound is awesome, puts fords "premium" sound to shame.
the 6 spd manual is a beauty. short shift, really snickity snick from slot to slot. same as the ones they use in the sti imprezas. the 6 spd they have in the new model my10 is rubbish by comparison.

bad points


not the greatest rear seat room - if you have kids or are planning kids, try a baby seat (the type you lie down for new borns) in the back. its comical, you need to move the front seat forward so much u can barely fit a front seat passenger in. kids/friends will complain on long journeys
shocking fuel economy. ive seen territorys get better fuel economy. the 6 cyl requires premium too.
check the service history. cannot stress this enough. suby engines, in particular the 3ltr 6 wont tolerate missed services and will start chewing oil like a gen 3. a full history, preferably from a suby dealer, no worries. but missed services or long gaps in between and id walk away.
if its black, walk away from it, suby's black paint is very "soft" and its susceptable to blemishes from bird droppings and marks easily. (we almost ended up in court over the condition of a new black car delivered to a customer).

[Polyal]

Funny you mention rear space, thats what stopped me getting a 2000 gen lberty; the AU has heaps more.

[mash85]

yeah, its pretty bad. i spose its a "medium" car and not a large. going on test drives id be sitting in the back obviously uncomfortable. i lost a few sales to it.

the new model is vastly improved. more room in the back than my ba.

[XDV800]

Yep, good points made by mash85.
Rear space in Liberty is a bit tight for overgrown adults.
That soft touch treatment on some interior trims is bad for wearing away at frequent touch points, makes for a shabby look.
But otherwise a stunning vehicle to drive and probably the best looking iteration of the Libs.
Look after the clutch as he flywheels are easy to warp and are expen$ive to replace.

[cosmo20btt]

My pick would have to be the 6, handle pretty good for what they are 122kw at 1200ks, maybe not as torqey as the subi but every bit as good. I give the mazda the thumbs up on this choice.

[sarrge2001]

+1 for the Subaru.....

[CPOCSM]

Originally Posted by mash85

Having sold new Subys for a few years i can tell you the good and bad points.

positive are:

excellent build quality
confident handling - nicely tuned suspension plus awd
well spec'd
5 star safety
3ltr suby engines sound awesome, they love to rev and offer pretty decent performance
decent size boot - its level too, none of this lumpy crap like in my ba, though back seats dont fold down.
you sould have no problem selling it once your done with it.
macintosh premium sound is awesome, puts fords "premium" sound to shame.
the 6 spd manual is a beauty. short shift, really snickity snick from slot to slot. same as the ones they use in the sti imprezas. the 6 spd they have in the new model my10 is rubbish by comparison.

bad points


not the greatest rear seat room - if you have kids or are planning kids, try a baby seat (the type you lie down for new borns) in the back. its comical, you need to move the front seat forward so much u can barely fit a front seat passenger in. kids/friends will complain on long journeys
shocking fuel economy. ive seen territorys get better fuel economy. the 6 cyl requires premium too.
check the service history. cannot stress this enough. suby engines, in particular the 3ltr 6 wont tolerate missed services and will start chewing oil like a gen 3. a full history, preferably from a suby dealer, no worries. but missed services or long gaps in between and id walk away.
if its black, walk away from it, suby's black paint is very "soft" and its susceptable to blemishes from bird droppings and marks easily. (we almost ended up in court over the condition of a new black car delivered to a customer).

It is even worse in the mazda - lesser of 2 evils would be the Soob.

Fuel economy is not THAT bad - it is bad when people try to drive a H6 like a Mazda 3 - it is designed to get you to where you are going leisurely and will pull tree stumps out. Mazda 6 has to be worked to get up and go...

Safety-wise it is the Subaru all the way. I am biased as I own Soobs so it wouldnt be a contest for me. Totally agree with Mash in that the Soobs will BITE if they miss a service...I busted a timing belt on mine - non interference but still when you break the passenger side one on an L series - you stop dead as you lose your dizzy. All fluids need to be routinely checked and replaced regularly. The AWD eats tyres for brekky but rotate them to get the best out of them

Premium sucks but hey - 11 cpl more isnt going to break the piggy bank and they can run on 95ulp but not very well - you lose a bit of range and personally you are best off using the ultimate as preferred by Subaru.

++1 for the soob

[Pedro]

Once Subies get some Ks on them they are dogs.
Buy the Mazda mate, you won't be sorry.

[RATT]

Great feedback people! Thank you.

[mikestp]

Subi!

[YOOT]

+1 Subaru!!

I am biased I have an MY07 Turbo Forester.

Mazda is a great car, can't go wrong with either of them really.

Suby is much more prestigious and you'll thank yourself everytime you drive it, especially in the rain.

5 star crash rating and highest crash avoidance rating (abilitiy to avoid a crash) will give you the warm fuzzy feeling when you send you wife an kids off in it, knowing they are safe as they can be.

Resale is a god send come trade up time!

[Mick K.]

Presuming the Mazda is a hatch and the Subie is a sedan, you're going to have a lot more family cargo room in the Mazda. It is has also low kms and factory warranty. The Subie getting up to the 100K with potentially difficult to service flat 6 layout - I'd be looking into service costs for the next couple of years. Either way they are the best of the mid-size Japanese class.

Good luck.

MK

[Snake Bite]

Go the Mazda 6, Ive got the Wagon and it is a choice car, goes great and look good!

[Windsor220]

Go the Mazda. With those Kms and newer. Dont worry about brand names. Subarus are the poor mans prestige brand.

[BFZ Wagon]

+1 for the Subaru.

It has the safety of AWD and it's a manual. In my opinion, Subaru make solid cars and they are very reliable. I'd look at a newer one myself if I had the money.

Mazda loses coz it's FWD.
For me, the only way I'd ever go back to FWD is kicking & screaming. :voldar02:

No car out there is perfect, but as long as they're looked after, you can get a long and happy life out of them.

[MITCHAY]

The Subaru no question. Apart from it being a better car auto + FWD is not for me. Give me my AWD manual anyday.