Liberty GT to Accord Euro

*ANNOYED*

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Originally Posted by shane

1. The drivetrain snatch. Compared to the Liberty, as soon as I lift my foot off of the accelerator a little (I'm talking about the manual here), the Euro engine brakes quite a bit. Then when I press down on the accelerator again (ever so slightly) the car seemed to jerk forward. The Euro never wanted to cruise and the ride felt very "on-edge".

2. The droning sound. This could have just been due to the particular car I drove but even with decent revs on board (over 4000rpm) the engine and exhaust just droned. It never sounded very nice at all. Also when engine braking, the same sound appeared. There was none of that boxer growl for certain (yes I know the Euro engine is in-line).

Also wondering about torque distribution in the wet. I reckon I would loose the front wheels often.

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I think you need to adapt your driving a little. I remember when I first got the Euro it wasn't so easy to drive smoothly. After a few days once you are used to the clutch, throttle and gear shift it is as smooth as silk. Sometimes it is scary smooth and I lose track of where I am in the rev range.

Re the droning sound - something isn't right with the car you drove. Perhaps thethe intake was modified or the exahust.

Wheel spin in the wet isn't a huge problem if you have decent tyres.

When I saw the bit where this guy talks about there's 'none of the boxer growl' I instantly stopped and thought he has no clue about cars.


The Liberty GT doesn't even have unequal length manifold like the WRX/STI, and most certainly doesn't have ANY sound resembling a boxer note at all, in fact the Liberty GT's exhaust sounds raspy.

WHAT BOXER NOTE?



The Euro is slightly more throttle responsive (jerky) than a Liberty GT because the latter is a turbo - its designed so it doesn't run as much Ignition Timing when you suddenly floor it, but to compensate for lack of throttle response/timing, the turbo will spool up and and then that's when it accelerates. The last time I drove a Pulsar 1.8 or a Magna 3.5, now THOSE cars were much jerkier than the Euro. Like I said, the accelerator on the EURO is BMW style like, you got to know how to use it.

Anyway, I just think this person's just too picky - especially if he can 'hear' a non-existant boxer growl on the liberty.

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Originally Posted by shane

1. Brakes. Virtually no feedback through the pedal. Felt like I was pressing on air and had to visually judge how hard I was applying the brakes. Drove me absolutley nuts. The NRMA review of this car stated that the brakes were disappointing also - I guess this is what McKinnon meant.

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A little bit.

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Originally Posted by shane

2. Seemed to be twitchy - stiff sway bars? I also lit up one front wheel while cornering without trying which concerned me. The stability thingy was ON at the time. I considered the Euro twitchy (quick to change direction without driver intention) eventhough I have stiffer suspension on the 2.5i than standard.

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Not too sure what u meant but I find my Euro pretty good at cornering.. the March edition of Wheels had the Euro at 10th/21st position for lateral G test.

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Originally Posted by shane

3. No trip meter - not a major issue but there really should be one. Is there in the new model?

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That was a shame, wasn it? But fortunayely, it's included in the 06 model.

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Originally Posted by shane

4. I have been told that it's difficult to drive at a constant speed in traffic as if the drive by wire system is too crude. I didn't notice this but sure I would have picked it up in time.

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Yes, the drive by wire thingy took a bit of getting used to. I'm ok with it now. But why dont u use the cruise control if you wanna go constant?

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Originally Posted by shane

5. Too much chrome.

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LOL. That was one of the X factors for me to go for the Euro rather than Mazda 6. A matter of personal preference I guess..

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Originally Posted by shane

6. Seats hurt my arse badly - twice. Couldn't explain it! Probably just me.

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Ermm... I find it ok...

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Originally Posted by shane

What was good -
The gear change - scarey smooth
Engine pick up - easily accelerated cleanly up the SE freeway in Adelaide in 5th gear from 100 to 140kph.
Dual Climate control

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Funny.. I find the gear shift not as smooth as I've expected it to be..

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Originally Posted by Omotesando

When I saw the bit where this guy talks about there's 'none of the boxer growl' I instantly stopped and thought he has no clue about cars.


The Liberty GT doesn't even have unequal length manifold like the WRX/STI, and most certainly doesn't have ANY sound resembling a boxer note at all, in fact the Liberty GT's exhaust sounds raspy.

WHAT BOXER NOTE?



The Euro is slightly more throttle responsive (jerky) than a Liberty GT because the latter is a turbo - its designed so it doesn't run as much Ignition Timing when you suddenly floor it, but to compensate for lack of throttle response/timing, the turbo will spool up and and then that's when it accelerates. The last time I drove a Pulsar 1.8 or a Magna 3.5, now THOSE cars were much jerkier than the Euro. Like I said, the accelerator on the EURO is BMW style like, you got to know how to use it.

Anyway, I just think this person's just too picky - especially if he can 'hear' a non-existant boxer growl on the liberty.

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Above 3000rpm in my manual 2.5i Liberty, the growl the Liberty makes is obvious. Easily heard by the driver. Above 4000rpm it's even more obvious. How about that? This sounds doesn't come the tailpipe - it's carried through the cabin. The Euro engine sounded dull.

I was comparing the drivetrain snatch of the Euro to the 2.5i (non-turbo), which has none. This was by far the greatest difference I noticed between the cars. When taking my foot off of the accelerator, the Euro would immediatley engine brake much more than the 2.5i at equivalent revs. Then when putting my foot back on the accelerator - *no matter how gently* - the car would jerk forward.

To me driving the Euro feels like a computer game - gear selection is clunk clunk without feel, acclerator is very on/off.

The Euro does corner well though straight off the showroom floor and I like the firm suspension. Prefer the dash of the Euro too to the 2.5i.

I wasnt a fan of the gear box in the liberty it felt notchy compared to the euro gear box I like the clunk clunk feel but I guess each to there own, would be interesting to see how the new liberty 2.0R goes

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Originally Posted by shane

Above 3000rpm in my manual 2.5i Liberty, the growl the Liberty makes is obvious. Easily heard by the driver. Above 4000rpm it's even more obvious. How about that? This sounds doesn't come the tailpipe - it's carried through the cabin. The Euro engine sounded dull.

I was comparing the drivetrain snatch of the Euro to the 2.5i (non-turbo), which has none. This was by far the greatest difference I noticed between the cars. When taking my foot off of the accelerator, the Euro would immediatley engine brake much more than the 2.5i at equivalent revs. Then when putting my foot back on the accelerator - *no matter how gently* - the car would jerk forward.

To me driving the Euro feels like a computer game - gear selection is clunk clunk without feel, acclerator is very on/off.

The Euro does corner well though straight off the showroom floor and I like the firm suspension. Prefer the dash of the Euro too to the 2.5i.

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Wow - all this knowledge you have accumulated about how the euro drives from one short test drive? lol. The clunk clunk from the gearbox is from you forgetting to press the clutch pedal ;) The engine braking is your left foot on the brake by accident. :DAnd the computer game feel is the vibrating seat function you turned on (2006 model - lol). :wave:

But seriously - jokes aside - take the car out for another test drive and maybe you might change your view about the clunk clunk gearboxl, dull engine sound etc as it has no correlation to the car I own.

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Originally Posted by shane

3. No trip meter - not a major issue but there really should be one. Is there in the new model?

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Do mean trip computer? with fuel usage, and range remaning etc? Cause my 03 Lux has definitely got a dual Trip Meter...

That was my third hourish test drive through the adelaide hills. On the first drive I liked the gearshift feel but now it feels a little dead. The lib's is much nicer. Initially it was too notchy when new but after 30,000kms it's just right. Minor detail really anyway.

I cant remember who mentioned on this forum but apparently the 06 model throttle has been revised

Oh ! Well that would change my opinions somewhat! Hmmmmm Might have to do a fourth testdrive.

shane ...seriously..you think the liberty would be quicker through the twisties than a euro...paaahhhleeeasssee.....
awd cars are full of grip yes but that doesnt mean they handle well...too much understeer push over steer...how do i know ?? because i have owned a lancer gsr ,liberty rs turbo and a forester gt...
i seriously considered a 2.5i when i was searching for a new car and even though it is very refined and well built it was also had a very low rent interior and not nearly enough power to ever need awd.. so say what you want but truth is the 2.5i never beat the euro in any comparison...btw the euro pulls more cornering gs and outbrakes a liberty gt...nuff said.
also i would put the libertys gearshift on par with the mazda 6 which doesnt say much.