I watched today as my dealer ordered me a Rotor Glow (Orange) Ralliart with the "Premium" trim, on Mitsubishi's online ordering system (so definitely no BS). They say they expect them to arrive in Canada in mid-September, but they still don't have the MSRP. The following is what I got from reading off the screens of the online system (for Canada):

- two distinct trim levels: Ralliart and Premium Ralliart

- several colours, definitely including: Rotor Glow Orange, Octane Blue, black, white, Apex Silver, and red (sorry, didn't write them down, there was at least one other choice, probably graphite grey)

... and that's it -- no word on whether the 'premium' Ralliart comes with Recaros, though I'm assuming it must, and also no word on stereo/nav, though it really has to come with sunroof/moonroof and 650W stereo, given their other trims and what buyers expect in the Canadian market -- very, very likely to come with the HDD/nav/Sirius satellite package, given the Canadian GTS and Evo premium packages.

 

Congrats on your purchase.

 

Yea canada always offers either basic *** stuff or fully hooked up

 

Any idea if that was the phantom black or tarmac black?

 

another teaser about RA equipment, this was in last Saturday's newspaper:

http://www.wheels.ca/article/258641

(last paragraph):

"For those enthusiasts who can't pony up the cash for the Evo, Mitsubishi will introduce the Lancer Ralliart later this year, which, for lack of a better description, is an "Evo-lite." It will have a less-complicated version of the Evo's AWD system, and will sport a detuned version of the 2.0 L turbo, putting out 237 hp. It won't have the Evo's fender blisters, but will get its own aggressive snout with HID headlights. Expect it to be priced in the low $30,000s."

The wait is agonizing

 

Yes the wait is killer.

I think the author is off on his price estimate though. When you get into the low $30,000's you're getting into GSR territory, the RA, even fully loaded, should just barely break the $30,000 mark.

 

I think he is quouting Canadian currency. I don't know the exchange rate but I believe low 30k Canadian is 25-27k US. But I completely agree with you. I think the base price is what is going to drive demand for this car. I think anything over 26-27k US will persuade many enthusiasts to keep their car or go with another. Or jump to the GSR ... but we'll see as nothing has been anounced.

 

Yeah that would make sense, thanks for clearing that up.

 

Its not the currency (as US and Canada have been roughly on par for the past 6 months).

Its the fact that cars on average cost about 10-15% more in Canada. Depending on the brand...sometimes more.

 

Most cars in Canada cost well over that 10-15% premium -- in fact Mitsubishi is one of the best by holding it to 15-20% (Toyota used to have 30-40% premiums, not sure where they are now). The Canadian dollar went up very quickly last year (it's virtually equal to the US dollar now, and has been for some time), and it caught the Canadian dealerships off-guard -- they can't drop their prices to compensate for the dollar, because they'd lose thousands of dollars on each leased car they get back. Luckily for them, the manufacturers and Canadian government have been all too happy to keep Canadians from buying cars in the US, by inflicting us with ridiculously bureaucratic rules.

[favourite silly rule -- Since Sept. 1, 2007, all Canadian models must have ignition immobilizers to prevent theft, as most US models also do... but every model has to also have passed a test to withstand five minutes of attempts to defeat the immobilizer, and most US models have never been put through that particular ridiculous test, so they fail the test by default -- even if they have the exact same part as the Canadian model!]

 

^ how do you conclude that mitsu holds to 15-20%? evo in the US = 33,000$ evo in Canada =43,000. That looks like 30% to me.

 

Including the package that the Canadian one comes with standard, the prices are much closer, and if you also add the standard charges (which favours the US), then

2008 Evo X GSR (US): US$35665
2008 Evo X GSR (Canada): Cdn$42993

That's a 20% premium -- well, OK, 20.5%, but I stand by my comment. Mitsubishi does far better than the competition (current premium on a fully loaded G8 GT = 28%, and US manufacturers are generally pretty good by comparison to say, Toyota).

 

What's the cost break down? Are you guys sure that canada doesn't have any other tarrif's or taxes on imported japanese cars? Might make up for the difference (aside from the value of the canadian to us dollar). In other words, blame your government for taxing you up the ying-yang, and not mitsubishi.

Is GST included in that 43K Canadian dollars?

 

Yes, there is a 6.3% import tax (or something like that) on Japanese auto imports to Canada, and no, the GST isn't included in the price, because I was talking about the difference between what manufacturers and dealers charge, not the difference in the actual price. Actually, the import tax just makes Mitsubishi look even better by comparison to others.

The difference exists even for vehicles manufactured in North America (no import duties) that were introduced since the dollar went up (in the past year) -- certainly appears to be pretty blatant price fixing within the Canadian market, intended to keep prices high. They have even managed in many cases to bar the import to Canada of vehicles manufactured in Canada that are practically identical to the Canadian models. In most cases the manufacturer will point out minor accessories as justifying huge price differences (got to get me one of those $10,000 block heaters or heated mirrors!)

 

The expected arrival date for a Ralliart at port (in Western Canada) is September 21, according to Mitsubishi Canada's dealer system. That puts mine here in early October, which is right about what I've been expecting.

My Ralliart has an order number, for what it's worth, but still no VIN, so no real idea what the manufacture/ship status actually is -- seems very unlikely to be here in Canada sooner than Sept. 21 if that's what Mitsubishi's predicting (still, lucky dogs in Vancouver).

[our local dealer finally got an Evo X MR in, with the premium package -- very nice car, but I'm glad I'm getting the Ralliart for basic driving]