ILIV48

One of my designers is looking for a new car, so yesterday afternoon we went out for a couple hours to look at the new Liberty GT 5 speed manual and Liberty 3.0B 6 speed.

Both are great looking cars in the flesh. The interior is also nice but a little on the bland side. I have to say the sound system though sounds brilliant!

After all the hype I have heard about the GT I was itching for a drive. I have to say I was very disapointed, the turbo lag was awful. Whenever I put my foot down we just sat there waiting for something to happen. When it did power certainly came on in a rush but it was not the acceleration I was expecting.

The 3.0B though is a different story. That was a very nice car to drive, the Bilstein suspension is fantastic and the 190kw 3L 6 cylinder certainly has some getup & go. Cornering grip is eye opening but I found myself using too much steering input as I found it to be pretty light without much feedback. I was suprised to find on the freeway in top gear both these cars struggle to accelerate from 100.

I did find myself liking the 3.0B very much and thinking I could drive this... Until I climbed back into the RX8. Driving both those Liberty's has really given me a new found appreciation for my car again. Just the feel of the acceleration through 1st & 2nd out of the dealership had me forgetting about the Liberty's, the nice weight of the steering and the feedback it gives and boy... our brakes WOW. I never realised just how good they are and the instant bite they give until the first time I stepped on them after leaving the dealership.

The real funny thing was though — and even the salesman commented on it — the amount of attention the rx8 recieved outside the dealer. I parked right by the doors of the building and most people who came into the dealership spent more time looking at it than the Subaru's inside :D

Moral of the story is go out and drive some similiar priced vehicles to the 8 and you will be suddenly reminded to the fact of just how well thought out and just how great/fun a drive it really is.

Is it the best car out there... not by a long shot, but for the money I spent I do appreciate it a whole lot more after yesterday!

takahashi

Try the MPS 6 later on and tell us what you think... it will be very close I believe.

Yeah we are getting a lot of attention with our cars. They were amazed when I hold my baby daughter out from the rear seat :D

Gomez

Very close to the Liberty......I mean it weighs over 300kg more than the RX-8!

Scotty

I was looking to get the Liberty 3.0R B-spec 6-speed late last year but after a test drive and talking to the dealer I decided the RX-8 was for me. (the dealer seemed to think that because it was such a "great car" he didn't have to negotiate the price - righto!)
Liberty - Nice 18" wheels, fast, 4x4 handling, nice leather seats, good stereo.
RX-8 only misses out on 4x4 but traction control makes up for it, and great looks more than makes up for it.

I have had a Liberty before and was very happy with it but its a 4 door family car with some nice bits added. (I had a 99 Liberty RX 2.5 with leather, 17" alloys and Bilstein suspension) Everyone used to say I must have been thinking about settling down and having kids with the Liberty, but now they say that I am having an early mid life crisis with the RX-8.

Got a great price on the RX-8, don't look like I'm a family man, have a smile on my face every morning and every evening doing the 30km drive between home and work. :D :D

timbo

The Liberty GT was on my list, but only available as an auto at the time. I liked the Subaru.... but the RX-8 is better. The dealer I bought from sells both, and even the Subaru salesman was punting for the 8.

For a different time and needs, I'd probably look closely at the 3.0B

Lock & Load

Taka having read various articles on the Mazda 6 MPS i think he will be dissapointed .The CAR uk januay 2005 Magazine had an article that said the car was good however nothing special.

cheers
michael

ILIV48

And what about the looks and those wheels. I really like the look of the Mazda 6 but I just think with this MPS they have taken a step backwards.

Before buying the 8 I was thinking of waiting till this came out, but after I first saw pictures of it I quickly decided the 8 was for me. It might be the designer in me but I do like the car I drive to be able to hold my interest visually as well. Even now I still find myself looking out the office windows at my car.... Damn I just caught myself doing it again

RXE16T

I'll probably be one of the first (from this forum) to drive the MPS6, so I'll promise to write a review whenever Mazda sends me the invite........

NickG

Thanks for taking the time to post the review ILIV. Interesting comments.
Each new Liberty's been a significant improvement on those past and they have always offered very good material and technical value relative to the Europeans. I guess we couldn't really expect it to match the agility and steering feel of the RX-8 though, given the weight disparity, massive ( no doubt) difference in centre of gravity, and corruption of the steering mandated by the AWD. A decent sport SEDAN then, but not a true SPORTS CAR.

I find I can't get enthused by any of these AWD devices. Yes they can generate impressive levels of grip. Yes they're undoubtedly super safe in the wet and in the snow. But I'd rather trade some grip for impeccable balance, greater adjustability in corners and fluid steering that lets you explore the car's limits at speeds that aren't necessarily totally ballistic. Well sorted RWD cars seems best suited to delivering this.

EZZY

let me know when, i'd book in for w test drive

kiwimeat

I'll be taking one for a test drive - my original plan was to choose between a 6MPS and an RX-8 but when the 6MPS became sedan only that became a non-starter as I don't like the 6 sedan shape. I much prefer the hatch. Never-the-less I'll still be taking one for a spin.

RXE16T

I'm not talking about taking it for a 'test drive' around town, more like around a track..........