Spent some time over at some SpecV forums tonight, reading around out of curiousity. Many of the people there have written off the RA completely as not able to compete with their car. Hrm. Most reference that not-so-flattering SCC article that based on the RA due to its lack of a LSD and crap-*** tires. It was an interesting read, though there was a lot of ignorance as well.

 

yeah, they use that article like it's their Bible over there...haha. But yeah it seems they have complete disregard for the ra as adequate competition, well they got another thing coming to em.

 

i bought my 03' Spec-V brand new in 2002 for like 16,500. At that time WRXs were too new (thus too expensive), EVOs weren't even here yet, SRT-4s were nonexistent, Mazda had no rotaries and the Z was just too pricey. As for the Ralliart, it probably had just started product testing. So at that point in history the Spec-V was the sub-18k NA dominator. It's only competitors were the Si and the RSX. Times have changed. The new Spec-Vs are hideous after abandoning thier Skyline face and seats (although the aftermarket has exploded for them). D1GP has more people wanting FR cars and AWD is the current car craze. Despite all of this the Spec-V and i have stuck together, i remedied her weaknesses and exploited her strengths but in the end FF still has it's limits. After she is paid off the Spec-V gets traded up to something with drive on all 4 wheels and turbo. i'll be sad to see her go though

not having an LSD on a performance FF car is a joke. With all of the goodies they put on the Ralliart to leave it with an open differential is a slap in the face the Ralliart brand and Mitsubishi, please put some decent tires and a rear bar on that thing. That is just based on my test drive like a month ago. Granted i am coming from my cars fully built suspention and grippy Azenis so it's not really a fair comparison.

 

Well dang then, I should beat my friends Spec-V then, hes got a injen intake and I've got RRM CAI,downpipe,exhaust,and B&M short throw shifter. what do yall think?

 

I'd say its a driver's race cuz those mods still are not going to be a big, drastic change in performance with respect to the spec-v. They still out run us in the quarter mile, but not by much. i'd say with those mods you could keep up. From there its all about hitting your shifts. I'm no expert, does anyone else got opinions? I know they have around ten or so horses more stock than us and like 20 or so pounds of torque more but they don't put it to the wheels like us. Also, they are lighter and six speed with lsd. It's too close to call. Straight performance I think they got us stock, assuming exact conidtions and driver etc.

 

spec-v has 175 bhp and 180 ft/lbs torque but like you said it doesn't put it to the ground like the RA. On the dyno they are about the same. The spec-v has better tires but they have an extra shift (6 speed). The lsd helps a lot around the turns but won't do anything to help in the 1/4. We are talking about 10ths of a second time difference in the 1/4. Good tires are enough to make up the difference. Like it has been said a hundred times before "Its a drivers race".

 

Huh? How will the LSD not help you in a drag? Two tires grip better than one tire, so the SpecV would have the launch advantage.

 

You > Him

 

my understanding of the lsd is that it transfers power to the out side wheel when going around a corner so that you can corner faster and in a smaller radius. It might help a little in a straight line but I have got both my tires to spin comming off the line. I always thought of this as a good mod for track racing more then drag racing.

 

well, it is, since track has corners while drag has um... a straight road. But it might help since it does "some" work for traction (better traction better start???). So ya, LSD is more for track than drag. Spec-V's are 6-speed so they will have better acceleration (gear closer together)?

 

well hey guess what!! I beat the Spec V but then after the race I wrecked my car.

 

^^^ wth happen? post pics!

 

I sent you a private message. I just hurt the front bumber,wheels destroyed,and suspension bent real good.

 

how the hell did you do that?

 

The Spec WILL have the launch advantage but ONLY if he has installed the Energy Motor Mount Inserts. Otherwise the front wheels hop VIOLENTLY from all the torque, this is exponentially worse when modded. Trust me, i tore my MAF apart racing without mounts. On top of that Spec Vizzels have very low RPM ranges and you have to shift like a millisecond before the rev limiter to make the most of her powerband. She's a great car but like any she has her weaknesses.