$tart $aving now.

 

thank you very little.

 

Yes, and the MS3 also gets better mileage, because it's a front-wheel drive car -- if there weren't any sacrifices to be made for all-wheel drive, then every car would have it. The fact that the Edmunds article mentions FWD-vs-AWD exactly once, and only with reference to sharp corners on a dry track, doesn't exactly scream comprehensive coverage.

 

WHat matters the most is this....

The 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, however, puts up a genuine fight with a good overall driving experience and lots of amenities. If it cost $1,000 less and had better tires, the Ralliart would win this contest hands down.

Go Go

 

good vid. As soon as the power is unleashed in the Ralliart its lights out

 

Maybe if you're talking about a stock MS3. I'll be surprised if the power levels people get from modifying the RA-SST will substantial enough to say "lights out" on a modded MS3. Especially given the additional 350 lbs the RA has to carry around without the benefit of AYC. Even as long as the X-SST has been out worldwide, I think the most people have gotten out of it is an additional 75 bhp and I expect the RA will be more limited the smaller turbo. The RA-MT may be a different story when it comes out next year.

 

agreed, the ms3 is not too far away on the 0-60 but its not because the ralliart, its because the ms3 traction problems being fwd. On the street, rolling starts are more typical and thats where the ms3 will run near evo-speeds.

 

The MS3 gets up quite well for being an overpowered FWD. I llaunch harder than WRX's and rape em from a dig or roll.

 

The RA will drive right by the ms3 when the it pops out of gear.

 

its not a civic si, its a mazdaspeed 3.

 

I know of at least 2 ms3's that pop out of gear... Your right its not a civic!

http://www.mazda***********.org/foru...r-pop-out.html

 

None of the 10 MS3 owners I'm personally aquainted with who have that problem. I might have seen one or two posts of the thousands I have viewed that deal with this issue. Hardly widespread as your sample suggests. In fact, I'd say this issue is one isolated to the driving habits of your friends.

 

It could be exactly the driving habits. Both are autox'rs and since that is my pier group it could be that its more common in those circles.

Autox'r represent such a small community in car ownership that it probably doesnt even blip the registers. But thats not the same as saying the car doesnt have a problem. It would be akin to saying the car has a miss at 110mph but since the majority of drivers dont drive 110mph then the problem doesnt exist...

Autox'r's shouldnt be confused with the myriad of people who detonate clutches because this is their first manual trans, that blame a car. These are people that have years of hard driving experience and when the car has a problem I believe them.

Personally I really like the ms3's. I despise FWD cars but respect them on the whole. I was disappointed to here about this issue.

 

its likely due to the cable shifters and motor rocking. But many cars encounter worse issues when put through stresses such as auto-x or drag. The civic si remark was refering to people on the street that have the gear pop-out problem. But were getting offtrack. Still think the ralliart is a good buy, just wish it was a bit cheaper or offered without the tranny. If it was 23-24 base, no options, manual tranny, then I would have considered it along with the ms3, other than the poor mileage. But otherwise the new lancer is a good car, roomy interior, great looks, decent performance. I think the ralliart will appeal to many.

 

Fair enough, autocross is tough on a car. I would have hoped the car would be tough enough to take but I guess it's not a shock. That would be one problem the RA-SST would not likely have if it's cable related. It'll be interesting to see how well they hold up when people start to compete with them. I know my times would have benefitted from having a computer do the shifting.