I heard there are some other differences in the rear suspension reflecting the cheaper price vs. the X, but maybe its the same as the IX. I'm just wondering how much Lancer GTS stuff there is vs. IX stuff. After all the target is is the WRX and not the STi from this year, last year, or the year before.

I hear ya. Me, too. That's why the intarweb is so much fun. We all get to fling it up there against the wall and see what sticks.

Man, don't worry about that stuff. This place is the equivalent of hangin around the ER. You hang around and get the idea that there are tons of people with very serious life threatening problems 24/7. For the most part it's a very unrepresentative sample. A lot of the people with problems are those who are pushing performance limits. They're gonna have more problems per 100 cars no matter what. The others you hear from because they a problem. Most of the people who aren't having problems aren't going to have extended threads about how few problems they have.

You want to avoid all possible hassles, wait a couple of years to buy. You want to enjoy your car sooner and deal with minor hassles the average owner is likely to have, don't wait.

Unless the Ralliart gets blindsided by the ugly stick right before it's released, it's already beating the WRX as far as I'm concerned.

What, you buy a car based on its looks? Me, I'm all about performance.... Yeah, you're right. And I saw an STi in person the other day and it was even uglier.

Looks mean a lot to me. Cars describe personalities IMO. Don't get me wrong... I wouldn't buy a ferrari body with a honda engine . It's both though, they go hand in hand.

I'm not thinking the performance will be an issue. Here's hoping.

Seriously though, if all that is different is the cams & turbo... I see the RA getting up to 300hp easily. 265+ would be very acceptable for me.

Making them similar should cut cost on building both cars. It's likely that the exhaust and intake systems might be more restrictive on the Ralliart. I doubt it, though, for the same reason (cutting cost).

God i cant wait... this sucks I'm so siked and we dont even have a release date yet. Already have the cash in hand for the Accolade front end Evo conversion (Front bumper and fenders), Evo Wing, Suspension, Volk RE30 and tires, and larger Intercooler and piping. Its driving me nuts.

Gettin this instead of Evo for the tranny and higher ability to "make it my own"

Hmmm, the rear portion of the exhaust system should be different, because of different differentials. The intake should be different because the battery is in the front.

Good point about the battery vs intake design. I didn't think that through... so obviously you won't be able to simply swap turbos between evo -> ra. I wonder what will swap... anything internal? ECU?

As far as I know the motors are identical. I vaguely remember that the ECU is also the same. If you do a search you will find what I'm talking about.

Well when you say ECU is same you mean same computer with a different flash?

Yes.

im thinking about trading my Lancer GTS for a ralliart when they hit..but i was wondering about the insurance costs on it...do you think just because its turbo'd thats gonna hop the insurance up a lot? like more in the area of a Cobalt SS insurance?