Thanks! And I will!

I need to get my Eclipse done. This cold weather that keeps trying to come back is delaying my build. And when i sit around with nothing to do I start looking at craigslist and thinking about buying something with AWD and a 5 speed... I need to keep myself busy so I dont worry about those things... lol

Really want to get this car turbo'd so I can stop talking about doing it and just get it done...

 

Well since I am buying a manual RA Ive been giving some thought to what I want to do with the auto one after the new one is turbo'd and running. I thought about selling it. But then I thought about all the trips me and my GF like to take and we always end up taking the RA because its has more room than her beetle.

So if you were going to make an RA more comfortable and more utility based what kind of things would you do to it?

Ive thought about putting the stock suspension back on so its softer and rides a bit higher again. Also remembered another member who lifted the rear of his car to match how high the front sat. And it looked really good IMO, plus I figured it would be pretty practical.

Also thought about getting a roof rack, a quieter muffler, removing the VG and big wing, putting the rain guards back on, trying to trade the seats for one from an OZ rally.

Is there anything else you all could think of that would make the RA more of a comfortable, practical, road trip car?

Or maybe I should try selling it and getting a SUV. Maybe a 4g69 Outlander w/ AWD lol

 

i'm gonna have to do the same thing with my rear bumper lip. it has been zip-tied to death since the day it got hit (people need to learn how to parallel park more efficiently aka not hitting the car in front and behind you lol). would 3M window weld hold up the lip to the bumper? i lost most of the clips and i'm not sure how it'll stay on or if it'll stay on. zip-ties have worked wonders for me and my RA lol...

 

the first thing that popped in my head when you asked about a more comfy ride was to get smaller rims (maybe 14" - 15") so you get meatier tires which will definitely absorb more shock from the road. plus a softer suspension (maybe stock springs and struts will work?). OH! and get those memory foam seat cushions! they are amazing man. i use it on ANY chair when i play games *cough* league of legends lmfaooo!

just a few ramblings which i hope will help!

 

Well Ive been giving some thought to how to make the Auto RA a utility and travel vehicle if I keep it. Here are some of my ideas feel free to leave thoughts on them, or add anything you can think of.

Raise the suspension (stock height up front, raised rear)
Double DIN stereo conversion (reverse cam, movies, games?)
Add a GPS (maybe integrated w/ radio?)
Clean radar detector install
GOOD cell phone holder install
Swap seats from an OZ (more comfy)
Stock wing back on
Roof Rack
Hitch? (would make small custom trailer)
Custom made bumper bar?
Add a sub? (maybe replace stock speakers)
Put the trunk back together
Move battery back to front?
Mini Air compressor? (saw in an outlander build)
Make cargo/grocery hooks for trunk area
Replace rear ashtray with AC outlet
Put full sized antenna back on
Put rain deflectors back on
Quieter muffler
Brake upgrade? (mainly for it I do end up towing anything)
Outlander AWD? (someday maybe, hopefully Don will figure it out for us)

 

Just sell the auto Ralliart and go buy a 10 year old Lexus/Toyota sedan if you want a comfy road trip car.

Problem solved

Seriously though, it looks like a ton a work for not that much gain. The Ralliart is a sport compact. If you want both utility and better roadtrip car, it might be cheaper to cut your losses and find a car that fills both those requirements far better than the Ralliart ever will.

 

Yea Id been thinking about that too. Kinda trying to weigh out my options. Have 2 RA's manual one for play and the auto one for trips and comfort. Or keep the manual, sell the auto, and try to find a small SUV or something more versatile. I was thinking about an awd outlander or something. I dont know. It will be a little while before anything happens. Just been daydreaming on what could be. :P

 

My wife has an Outback I think that is one of the most versatile cars you can find. Truck like space with the seats folded down, AWD, decent gas mileage (~20-25), and very comfortable on the highway due to the long wheel base.

 

return everything to stock mate just a decent stereo thats all you need

 

I agree...I test drove an OZ before I got the Ralli...I did NOT like it...


Josh, we're tall-ish people, and the RA seats are nice and low...the OZ seats are border-line minivan

 

+1
IMO just put everything to stock(suspension-wise) and bump up the stereo...it's a pretty good travel car as it is...aside from the not GREAT gas mileage...
you'd think it's not too comfortable, but it really isn't bad in stock form...i'd call it comfortable(not as much ads our vw tho but quite comfy anyway)

take it from me, I drove many a road trips in my RA and including a ~20hr trip(should've taken about 8hrs) back from the jersey shore(not the show...) in cruise control going 25mph because of 5 inches of snow chasing me back to MI...when i got to PA i was able to go ~40mph tho....and when i got to MI the roads were clear so i was able to go 70mph+...

and my RA was all but stock..(only shifter bushings and a SRI installed)

if you want any other goodies that's fine...but i wouldn't suggest messing with the suspension to raise up the rear...i'd suggest replace all the control arms first like i did(replacing all the hard working bushings in the back) and see how you feel about it after...they really did smooth out the ride some and lifted up the rear end alsmot to match the front(tho it was still a bit higher up front)

 

LOL! "border-line minivan"!

 

@SLC - Eww... Subaru... LOL jk Ive heard good thinks about the outbacks might have to look into that.

@347 - Yea if I sell it thats probably what Ill end up doing. Then maybe have a part out on here.

@Crans - I drove a friend's OZ I didn't like it either. But man the seats were soft! LOL And your right at my height I was bending over to keep from scrubbing my head on the headliner...

@nekkid - I probably do need to replace a lot of bushings. Im sure Ive given them one helluva beating over the last few years. And your right it probably would improve the ride quality. If I keep it i'll definitely look into doing that.

@mike - Yea it really is... There is a world of difference between the RA and OZ. LMAO

Overall though I guess I still have quite a bit of time to think about it. Afterall my immediate priority is to get the Eclipse out of the garage. Then the tear down and turbo build on the manual will begin. Once that is running then I'll have to make a decision on what to do with the auto RA. But I keep having this idea of twin RA's sitting in my driveway and I really like that idea for some reason HAHA!

 

Taking the car to an autocross race this weekend. Going to need to switch my wheels, change my oil, clean out the car, and break out my helmet now. Maybe get some runs in to stretch her legs, and see if I can do anything with my tune to give it more Oomph! Maybe lowering the Mivec activation point will help a bit.

 

good luck at the races...