Talk me back from the edge...Liberty CRD...

[Ol'TrailDog]

The Subaru wagon has 152K on it and probably is going to develop some drive train issues down the road. I know I can get 200k without a problem.



However, I have been seriously considering getting either a Toyota Tacoma to replace the car as the commuter and daily driver. Today I drove a Liberty CRD and really liked the pep, handling, and of course the diesel purrrrrrrrr. (my Subaru also has a purrrr, but it seems to be the drive train and not a diesel)



It seems folks either love the Liberty CRD or hate the Liberty CRD, especially the Liberty side of the combo. Folks love the power, pep, and mpg. The Liberty has 70000 on it, but is clean as a whistle inside, outside, underneath, and under the hood.



So, my choices: 1) Liberty CRD 2) Toyota Tacoma or 3) Repair the Subaru and keep on running until it is dust... which is what it will be worth at 200K.



Remember I am holding you entirely responsible for my decision.

 

[VicR]

Agreed - folks either get a good CRD or a lemon. We have a great one - just over 51k. Wife drives her 2005 pretty hard and regularly gets low 20's with 100% around town driving in the winter. Not hard to break 30 on the highway with summer blend fuel. L. O. S. T Jeeps Offical Web Site - For Jeep Owners has about the best CRD info I have found. My wife loves hers and won't ever willingly part with it. Hope this helps - let me know if you have any specific questions. -Vic

 

[BILLUA]

Liberty CRD

We have a 2006 Liberty CRD.

It has been through all the recalls including the BS F-37 which derates the power somewhat... Overcome with a ecm reprogram.

I raised it about 2 inches with OME springs and Rancho shocks/struts. I Also put a size larger set of Revos on it. Rides and looks awesome.

We now have 47K on it and am still getting 25mpg in town.

The little diesel is a torque monster and a blast to drive.

The trans needs some tweaks, which I have done. A B&M shift kit does a lot of good. It is about to get a Suncoast torque converter on it and it should be good to go.

If you get a good deal, a '06 Liberty CRD is a great little vehicle to own if you are willing to put a grand or two in it to correct factory deficiencies. .

 

[SRadke]

My buddy had an early one. 05 I think. That damn thing was a rolling check engine light.

 

[MLee]

Well ol'traildog, what did you get? Its been a month. Or are you still Hibernating with the bears?

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I have to decide tonight. Been busy checking jeep forums on how to unhook the nasty stuff, e. g. EGR, ESP, MAF, and etc.

 

[fishabit]

Keep the Subaru till it fails, you may be underestimating its lifespan, use the money saved to upgrade the diesel which you can then use as a jeep recovery vehicle, with the huge sum of money you make off that buy the toyota

 

[Tinman]

We love our libby. I can't wait for it to get about 200K on it so my wife will let me have it. I'm gonna lift it this summer.



If you get it, you'll wanna check out green diesel engineering. Name is Keith. He is the Marco of the CRD world. Get his reflashed ecm, that'll take care of the egr and it'll run right. ( I wish Keith and Marco would collaborate. I think each would benefit) Anyway. The other thing to do is open the CCV. Since it's used, check the IC and hoses for oil - from the closed CCV. The IC might need a good cleaning.

 

[SMorneau]

I don't know much about the libertys. But I have a friend who has one with a bad motor and they, according to him, little or not parts available for him to rebuild the engine. Again, I don't know if the CRDs are all the same but I recall him saying it was italian made.

Anyway if parts availability is a concern you should research further.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Well, I made up my mind last night. Like fishabit partly suggested, I decided on #3 - keep the Subaru running until it is dust.



But, I finagled another "test" drive in the Liberty this afternoon, just because I really wanted to drive it again and see if I could resist signing on the dotted line. I love that vehicle. The diesel simply purrrs, it has amazing git up and go, the four wheel drive functioned (and even two wheel drive) very well on the snow and slush packed mountain road, steered and handled very well even considering having the heavier diesel in the front end. The interior, under the hood, and exterior was immaculate and everything worked, except the front windshield washer.



Why didn't I get it?

• It is a SUV and I really am more interested in a small pickup to augment my keeper 98 CTD for commuting and blitzing out to the trailhead to take the dogs for a bike/hike
  
• They only come with an auto and I am a stick person, and so is my wife
  
• All the reports of the window regulator failures and how expensive it is to fix made me wary
  
• As excellent as this one owner vehicle was (I talked to the previous owner) I was concerned that it could conceivably started nickel and dimeing me to death
  
• If it did start nickel and dimeing me to death, it could be hard to resell and probably at a very big loss, i. e up side down
  
• I thought why get a vehicle that may or may not have a problematic drive line, when you could purchase a Toyota Tacoma that you could be confident would be rock solid for putzing around off-road
  
• I really wary of the direction the Oconomy is heading and being out of debt sounds like a better position to be in
  
• If I stuck with the small Toyota pickup plans it would be a much more commodious vehicle for the dogs and me to sleep in the back as well as pack building materials, bike, and fencing
  
• Perhaps most important... if I spent the money on a well, septic system, and quonset shop building on our retirement land, I probably would be wearing a smile that would make you just want to slap it off

So for now, it is the Subaru... until I see a Tacoma that I can refuse. Why, Oh Why, didn't-don't the auto companies make a real jeep and small pickup with a manual transmission and a sweet running four banger IN THIS COUNTRY

 

[Skydiver]

You did the right thing.