says who? at the end depends on the driver skills, road condition and shape, weather and guts. The car alone wont do it all.
What I find interesting also is that perfomance wise its about the driver + the car, but when it comes about tech features, comfort features, safety features, its all about the car, so if the car u choose has more or/and better stuff in that department, all day long, every minute will have the advantage.
Its not we are worried about the looks of the wrx, I dont find any reason about that, why should we be worried about it?

 

Biggest downside of any WRX is lack of SST! Getrag FTMFW!!

 

Those things only matter if you care about features over performance. Personally, I don't. I'd be happier if my car didn't have a sunroof (more helmet room) and complicated seats (so I could more easily change them).
It seems like the arguments used in defense of the Ralliart have flip-flopped over and over again. At one point the argument was "oh it's the better performer". Now we know that's not the case so the argument is "oh, performance isn't everything". What's going to happen if the WRX comes loaded with features in 2010 (say HIDS, Nav, quality sound system)?

 

damn.
this thread is going back and forth.

The 09 WRX will beat the 09 R/A. That's it.
The numbers are there. We shouldn't even get all worked up over it.
I mean...look at the arguments that are going on.
You got people who want each car for either a DD or a track car.
If your getting a DD, the R/A is a very sensible choice, although it's not limited to just a DD.
If your getting a track car, the 09 WRX is your sensible choice. Although for some drivers, the don't mind having this type of car as a DD.
The pricing for each is also a major concern as well.
265hp @ 25k(if that is the real price) for WRX
237hp @ 27k for the R/A
I mean...each person has their own agenda with each of these.
Will it end?
Of course not. Everybody has a different agenda.

Why don't we just all go an puchase an Evo or a STI?
Forget the middleman, forget the speculations, just go big or don't go at all.

I am going for the R/A, for a DD. I have a CSRT4 with a 6speed GETRAG tranny and it's str8.

 

As far as performance goes we should reserve judgement until production cars are compared by more than a handful of publications. RA 0-60 times have varied wildly from 5.5, 5.6 to 6.7 and so have skidpad numbers. We don't have any test data from the 09 WRX although Edmunds said from their test drive the car still has more body roll that an MS3.

You're assuming that Mitsu would sit with their thumbs up their rear while the competition improves their offering? We know they could easily up the power of the 4B11 with a simple tune/boost increase and the RA already has a more sophisticated AWD system (EVO IX system of three differentials compared to the WRX's single center differential) so handling could be easily teaked towards better performance with suspension calibration.

 

To expand on this, Mitsubishi has mentioned that the chassis tuning was influenced by the tires they chose -- the suspension had to be somewhat compliant to match the tires. All they would really need to do is firm up the suspension, change the tires, and maybe change the brakes up a bit. Power gain is easy, and they could bump the GSR/MR up to give the Ralliart more room. If Subaru can make the changes they made for the '09 WRX without a price increase, why couldn't Mitsubishi do the same?

 

There are currently a few published reviews for the Ralliart and the 09 WRX.

http://www.subiesport.com/2008/08/2009-wrx-what-a.html
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...hotopanel..1.*
http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews...rx/engine.html
http://jalopnik.com/400448/2009-subaru-impreza-wrx
http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/bl...ement-is-back/
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...eview/(page)/1
The major problems Mitsubishi have are the price is already pretty high (roughly $30K), they can't risk eating into Evo sales and the car is pig heavy. If they make major changes, the price could go up without a massive increase in performance. Only offering the SST is a big gamble for them, it could either go really well or just destroy the platform.

 

I sure hope mistu does light mods on the 09 release due to the fact thats when im looking to buy my car... all they need to due is retune it and open the 4b11 up as for it has huge potential that has been proven with the GSR's.

So lets cross our fingers and hope that Some one has the right idea to push back the release a month or 2 and make it right the first time unlike the 08 WRX's.. Because if they have any common sense they should know if they just boost the power and fix the breaks i cant see why any1 would even consider a WRX unless they where true die hards...

 

So what if it gets close to the Evo in power its not catering to the same costumer... If they wanted an Evo they would wait and save up another K

 

the reason they are pushing to sell the TC-SST is to recoupe the costs of the investment into the twin clutch auto tranny, if they only offer it on the MR they wont have enough sales, so they add/force it on the RA for now to sell more (also here in AUS it is a $5000 option on the GSR model)

if they want to make good sales with the RA, they will have to offer a manual, coz thats what im holding out for, no matter how good the TC-SST is i need a clutch and stick ... im over the car shifting for me(invecsII sport shift tranny)

 

It's a very similar market, it's not like someone with $40K is going to go "hmmm....I could get the MR which is faster, more agile and just as luxurious as the Ralliart but I'd rather get the Ralliart", if you have the money, you buy the evo just like if you have the money, you buy the STI over the WRX. Anyone who has driven the STI knows why. It's not something you can see on paper but you sure as hell recognize it behind the wheel.
A lot of people will consider the WRX over the Ralliart. The fact is that Mitsubishi isn't that big of a company in North America, especially in Canada. Only a few people knew what the evo was before the X appeared and trying to lure people away from a trusted brand like Subaru (everybody's Grandma knows what about Subaru here) isn't going to be that easy.

 

good points here.
Also seems to me the Mitsubishi is getting more and more spot light , because the evo.
I mean all over on the net . Before the Evo those eclipses and 3000 gt or the VR4 , did't make this much news. They where great don't get me wrong , but still.
So the past 5 years the evo is moving along pretty well. So it might will help for the RA selling. Specially because have the "evo" engine in it.
So i'm not so worried about the subi. Pretty much less then 5 years the evo pushed the STi back. And the Mitsubishi didn't even had anything like the WRX. The easier reachable car for tuners.

 

Very few consumers read online reports/reviews like we do and those that do aren't generally looking up cars like Evo or the STI, they've made their decision on which is best well before they do their research. As an obvious example, how many evo owners on this board spread false information about the STI based on what their friend said?

 

this fair enough.
But i think who actually looking for cars, they do a little research , before they buy anything.
And as is stand today, those are who knows WRX's, they know Evo's as well. Which wasn't a case 4-5 years ago.So those buyers or leasers they know more today.

 

If this is true, even if a high rpm dump is needed, I'm thoroughly impressed. Not that I'm into drag racing or anything.