The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

Hey guys I am really new to this (as you would see) and am hoping to get some good advice about finding a good quality but cheap wagon (I am thinking L-Series at this stage).
Is there a site or PDF or something I can look at to see the different model specifications from year to year?


Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Andrew

Hi Andrew welcome to the site if you have a look in members area then in photo gallery you will find pics in there or go into my car section members talk about there car and there specifications hope it helps

Jan

The best site to look at the general specs of model to model in all cars is redbook.com it will list the basics. After that its all about what you can find and how much of a project if any you wish to make of it.

Yea try Redbook, I think the address you're after is http://www.redbookasiapacific.com/au/home.php

How about considering about getting Liberty?
Cheers
AP

Thanks guys, I have had a brief look at redbook and will have a thorough look when I am not so tired. I haven't ruled out a liberty but have found that for a liberty in my price range (about 3-4) they have high K's.... (but as you can tell I have no idea of the benefits of getting a liberty or L series). I also assume liberty parts would be a bit more expensive to replace if something were to go wrong. However I am here to learn so if you have facts to sway me one way or the other then feel free to tell me.
I am not looking for a great project at the moment but am sure I might do some stuff to it a little bit down the line.

Cheers

Liberty has the advantage of much better engine (EJ vs EA82) - the L series and earlier were/are somewhat underpowered for the weight of the vehicle. The EA82 in particular combines the complexity of the EJ (overhead cam = timing belts) with the power of an EA81

Liberty also has much better brakes, more modern interior with more room, common 5-bolt hub pattern (the L uses the fairly obscure 4x140 pcd), better NVH...

The L series is not a bad vehicle (plenty of people on here have them), but based on your posts the Liberty is a better option.

If you really like the looks of the L-series, you could pick up a straight example for about a grand, depending on milage. This gives you plenty of breathing space for a freshen-up - 14" rims if you want them, new CV's (if needed), replace the timing belt (ditto), fix the heater (pretty common problem), and so on. The problem becomes you can spend another grand to get it up to a decent condition and it's still only worth what you paid for it...

Dean.

Colesy wrote:I haven't ruled out a liberty but have found that for a liberty in my price range (about 3-4) they have high K's....

hehe, my wagon was $3800 with 295 000ks. 5000ks later and is driving as well if not better then when I first got it. I'm not thinking of an engine conversion at all, so I'm prepared to risk the Ks for a car (which has a rep. for going the distance)

Ps: You could get an absolute shitter tho haha!

Colesy wrote:I haven't ruled out a liberty but have found that for a liberty in my price range (about 3-4) they have high K's.... (but as you can tell I have no idea of the benefits of getting a liberty or L series). I also assume liberty parts would be a bit more expensive to replace if something were to go wrong.

There are many subi's new and old with plenty of k's on them and on a sliding scale have no to few problems if they've been looked after.

There arn't any problems of parts for the liberty's, they're starting to pop up in pick a parts where you pay the same amount for an EA81 as you do an EJ20G if you could find one there (usually not as WRX's are picked up at the auctions by specialist wreckers for a premium).

Personally I prefer the look of the L over the Liberty. Personal choice though. If you want something fun, simple and old-school check out the MY's (model before the L's <1984)

Within each model (MY, L and Lib) there are model choices - DL GL and Touring wagon with summerwagon/enduro/sportswagon in the mix somewhere as well.

Happy hunting and I hope to meet you offroading sometime in the future

Cheers

Bennie

I don't believe there is much difference in parts prices for any Subaru model in general. They aren't cheap in general.

compared to what Dazz?

Compared to what I reckon they should be

fair enough.

the L series and earlier were/are somewhat underpowered for the weight of the vehicle.

All things are relative however, and while the L series is no ball of fire, I once had a car that weighed about 200 kilos less than my wagon, had a 3 cyl engine of 1 litre in size that produced about half the power of an EA82 (37 kw), and could barely maintain 110 up and down hills on the Queens high road!

Very economical however.......... more so than any other car I've driven(50 mpg) whatever that is in newspeak.

Thank you all. I do like the shape of the L-series a lot more than the liberty's of that age. I also like the fact that you can choose between 2WD and 4WD. but I think now I would be happy with a nice liberty or L series.