Another LGT vs MS6 Comparo

[melayout]

From http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384,17537995-21822,00.html :

 

Wednesday was enough to give a turbo emphysema and melt road tyres off their rims as the Mazda6 MPS and Subaru Liberty GT waited for their track time at Oran Park.

We were there to answer a question that's splitting buyers and motoring journos alike: can the Mazda, a new player in the market, top the old favourite among grown-up performance sedans?

Both cars feature all-wheel drive; turbocharged, 190kW four-cylinder engines; the same Bridgestones; and cost around $50,000.

But behind the wheel, they couldn't be further apart.

The GT runs Subaru's acclaimed permanent AWD system — with front and rear wheels each receiving 50 per cent power.

The MPS employs an Active Torque Split system that drives only the front wheels when the car's cruising, sending 50 per cent power to the rear wheels when the computer decides it's required.

Sunday CARSguide enlisted John Boston — racing driver, Ian Luff Motivation Australia instructor and top bloke — to decide which is the best of the big boys' blown toys.

 

 

The track DIVING hard into the turns on its first lap, the GT — with its long overhangs and standard suspension — pushed through the corners with body roll and predictable oversteer.

"It's easy to predict, and not prone to understeer or push like a typical AWD," Boston said.

"Thrown into corners, it's neutral enough. You need to be aggressive to get the back out, and even then it's controllable.

"The gearing is great — it revs right up through seven grand. But I'm not so sure about the brakes."

The Liberty lasted eight laps before the brake pedal sank to the floor. Subaru said this was possibly a result of the heat and the Liberty's standard brake fluid (as opposed to

the performance fluid used in the WRX STi).

Indeed, after a cool-down lap, the brakes returned to normal and showed no further signs of fade despite the 40C-plus day.

The MPS was also feeling the heat, its lap times becoming progressively slower.

Unlike the Liberty, the MPS has a stability control program (DSC) that is subtle in its corrective methods when the car loses grip — although one big throw into a corner confused its electronics enough to trigger limp mode (an engine protection system that limits output, allowing you to "limp home" without risking further damage to the engine).

The Mazda's Active Torque Split technology is understated in its application; there's no way of knowing the point when the front wheel default setting goes AWD.

"There's a lot more initial push into a corner, a little more understeer," Boston said. "Perhaps it's the different system creating that.

"The Liberty seems to turn in better at first. The MPS has more grip from the tyres (18-inch over the GT's 17s), and sports suspension stops it rolling so much.

"But the six-speed gearbox over the GT's five-speed requires more shift work."

After eight laps, there was nothing between them time-wise: 53.19 seconds for the Liberty, 53.44 for the MPS.

 

The slalom

"THERE'S no doubt that the weight transfers to the rear," Boston noted as the Mazda

launched itself off the line, nearly dragging its backside on the tarmac.

With stability control off, the big sedan slid through the corners with minimal body roll, its AWD system engaging the wheels and pulling back at loss of traction to allow the tyres to gain grip.

The MPS flowed through the slalom, appearing tame next to the GT, which lurched into slapping oversteer by the end of each line of hats.

"The Subie has a lot more pitch; it's a result of the softer suspension and less grip," Boston said.

"You just have to be a bit smoother on the throttle. It's more chuckable than the MPS, but the Mazda has a more direct steering feel and launches better out of the corners."

The MPS felt more planted, but the Subaru's centre differential kept torque flowing to the appropriate wheels on turn-in.

The MPS clocked a best time of 21.86 seconds on its first run, with the Liberty GT managing a 21.85 on its third.

 

Emergency wet lane change

AWD sedans aren't impervious to slippery surfaces. Carrying 110km/h into a wet emergency avoidance test in either car resulted in witches' hats being flung across the skid pan and some spectacular spins.

At a more realistic 95km/h, it was the GT that lost its rear end more readily, avoiding the first barrier but slapping sideways into the second.

At the same speed, the MPS crept past the second barrier, only to immediately spin 360 degrees. But with traction control on, the Mazda was almost boringly neutral.

 

At the pump

FREEWAY cruising usually engages only the MPS's front-drive system.

At 1639kg, it's 200kg heavier than the GT; in a hard day's freeway and track driving, it used 23litres/100km — slightly less than a Ford XR6 Turbo we tested earlier in the year.

The permanent-AWD Liberty turned in a very respectable figure of 16.3litres/100km.

 

The verdict

ON this matter of AWD systems, Boston and I are agreed: we can't agree which is best. It depends on what you want from a turbocharged sports sedan.

Subaru already has an AWD performance sedan in the Impreza WRX and its STi variant, so the bigger Liberty GT was always going to be just that — a grand tourer.

On the open road and in the city, the GT is the pick for gearing and economy, requiring less shifting despite its inherent turbo lag and the MPS's torque advantage.

The GT is a refined ride, a wily wolf in sheep's clothing — clothing that needs a few wrinkles ironed out of it.

The MPS is a blunter instrument. It's aimed precisely at those who want a car that can be lived with, but are willing to sacrifice some degree of comfort for performance.

With no auto option offered — unlike the GT — the short-throw six-speed manual is great for burning up and down the gears, but makes for more work in city traffic.

The over-sensitive clutch pedal needs constant cajoling too.

But the MPS is an extremely impressive vehicle — a capable cruiser that lowers its bum and launches on command. It left us splitting hairs on the track, on the skid pan, and all the way home on the freeway.

Ultimately, both these sedans will do exactly what you want: they'll do everything.

 

The Sunday Telegraph

[john_knoxville]

a day late and a dollar short melayout

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24286

[IwannaSportSedan]

From http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384,17537995-21822,00.html :

 

The GT is a refined ride, a wily wolf in sheep's clothing — clothing that needs a few wrinkles ironed out of it.

The MPS is a blunter instrument. It's aimed precisely at those who want a car that can be lived with, but are willing to sacrifice some degree of comfort for performance.

 

 

It is kind of funny about the MPS reference. "willing to sacrifice comfort for performance"

 

Yet every statistic they cite, the Legacy is a hair faster, if even too close to really call. Except for the Liberty sliding sideways, where the MPS held on slightly longer, then spun completely... which is safer, there?

 

It doesn't sound like the MPS is gaining any appreciable performance for it's "sacrifice" on the comfort front. Just a comment on the conclusions the author comes to... Seems based more on the authors subjective impression, rather than the gathered information.

 

The braking thing is not particularly good news, though... but not unexpected.

[melayout]

a day late and a dollar short melayout

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24286

 

O RLY

[PhilT]

Unlike the Liberty, the MPS has a stability control program (DSC) that is subtle in its corrective methods when the car loses grip — although one big throw into a corner confused its electronics enough to trigger limp mode (an engine protection system that limits output, allowing you to "limp home" without risking further damage to the engine).

 

Take a corner too fast and limp home ? Talk about Nanny State !