Subaru Problems

Subaru's concept for the soft-roader was simple, brilliant even. Of the light-duty four-wheel-drives available, the Outback and Forester offer the best blend of city manners and bush brawn.Model watchThe Forester was launched here in 1997. It was based on the underpinnings of the Impreza passenger car, but didn't look much like its family-car cousin. Its four-door wagon body gave it a new look.The Forester was primarily powered by Subaru's familiar single overhead camshaft flat-four boxer engine, in this case a 2.0-litre unit developing 92kW and 184Nm.When pressed it would accelerate from rest to 100km/h in a little over 11 seconds and do a 400m dash in a respectable 17 seconds.For more zip Subaru released the GT in 1998 and that came with a turbocharged, double overhead camshaft four-cylinder engine, boasting 125kW and 240Nm.  Buyers could choose between a five-speed manual gearbox and a four-speed auto trans, both sending the drive to all four wheels.The Forester's system is a four-wheel-drive system, with drive going to all wheels, all the time, unlike other soft-roaders which have a part-time system, with drive primarily going through either the front or rear wheels.  And it works well on road or off.Subaru offered three main variants of the Forester — the GX Wagon, RX Limited Wagon, and GT Wagon.  The GX Wagon had steel wheels, colour-coded bumpers, roof rails, power steering, cruise, power windows, mirrors and central locking; the RX Limited Wagon had all of that plus dual front airbags, air-conditioning and self-levelling suspension.At the top of the Forester range sat the GT Wagon which had alloy wheels, velour trim, leather steering wheel and hand-brake knob, metallic paint, central locking, and, from 2000, a sunroof and heated front seats.In the shopThe Forester is not showing any serious weaknesses.  Generally, the Subaru mechanicals are solid and reliable and little goes wrong with them. The flat-four engine has stood the test of time and shows nothing that is likely to cause a headache later on.A word of caution on the GT with its turbo motor. While the Subaru turbo has few problems and survives some pretty tough punishment in the WRX, it's worth going to the trouble of having an independent check on the GT, just to be sure it hasn't been given a hard time by an enthusiastic driver.Check the engine oil and look inside the oil filler for sludge that might suggest a lack of servicing. Turbo engines, in particular, need more servicing, and more frequent oil changes than a normally aspirated engine.Although these cars tend to do little off-road work it's worth having a close look underneath for signs of bush-bashing. Look for damage to the underbody, brackets, exhaust, suspension and steering. Walk away if you suspect it has spent a lot of time off the black top.Crunch timeSubaru's all-wheel-drive system gives the Forester decent primary safety, allowing you greater ability to escape a potential crash situation so the Forester gets good marks for primary safety.  ABS wasn't available on the GX, but was standard on the RX and GT adding to their primary safety package.Likewise airbags were not available on the GX, but the RX and GT both had dual frontal airbags making them the preferred choice for secondary crash protection.Rating15/20 Good round-town manners with the ability to go places off-road make the Forester a sensible buy.Subaru Forester 97-02Look for Signs of damage from heavy off-road useGood resale valueCheck for evidence of regular servicingHandles dirt roads and bush tracks with easeReliable engine and transmission

The Liberty, released in 1989, was front-wheel drive – a transition model for the company as it made its way into an all-wheel drive future. The Liberty was a medium-sized sedan or wagon suitable for most families, even though it wasn't as big as the cars coming from the local manufacturers.It was cleanly styled with neat, simple lines forming a wedge shape with plenty of glass to give the interior an open, airy feel, and good visibility. Inside, there was generous leg, head and shoulder room, even for taller occupants. The shape of the rear seat made the Liberty essentially a four-seater, but there was room for five if really needed.Vision was clear with plenty of glass and well-designed pillars that didn't interfere with the view from the driver's seat.All the controls and switches were laid out sensibly and drivers were generally able to find a good driving position with plenty of seat adjustment, allowing everyone to establish a comfortable relationship between wheel, pedals and seat.The Liberty's performance was adequate without being particularly sporting. A 2.2-litre fuel-injected four-valve, horizontally opposed, four-cylinder engine provided sufficient performance with particularly good mid-range torque, giving it the sort of flexibility that makes for a comfortable driving experience. When asked for its best, the Liberty's engine would produce 100kW at 6000revs and 189Nm at 4800revs.A pleasant and efficient five-speed manual gearbox transferred the engine's output to the front wheels. In normal use, the Liberty returned quite commendable fuel economy with 10.5-litre/100km on average. The Liberty's ride was comfortable and compliant with plenty of control to swallow bumps without disturbing the inner peace, while the handling was predictable and precise with good road-holding when pressed through corners.The LX provided the entry point to the Liberty range and it came with a decent amount of equipment with tilt-adjustable steering column, illuminated vanity mirrors, cup-holders, remote boot release, power mirrors, AM/FM radio cassette sound, and driver's seat height adjustment.The Liberty enjoyed an enviable reputation for build quality and reliability and came with a three-year 70,000km warranty, which was unusually long for the time. But remember, the Liberty is now up to 15 years old and that means it must be approached with caution and the understanding that you're buying an old car that is nearing the end of its useful life.Use of galvanised steel in the body meant it was resistant to rust. But listen carefully for engine rattles and knocks during the test drive and have someone follow you to observe if there's smoke from the tailpipe. This may suggest an engine rebuild is needed.Check the condition of the oil. If it's dark and dirty, it hasn't been changed in a while, which will be indicative of the level of servicing that has been done.No airbags here, so it's down to good old sheetmetal and belts. In surveys of road crashes, the Liberty is rated above the average for occupant protection.Check seatbelts for any sign of wear.It's not a bad idea to replace the belts as a precaution, particularly if you're putting your kids in the car.