All you have to do is get a EcuTek tune and you got your 50 more hp on a evo x.

 

The problem is that the Ralliart doesn't perform at the same level as the WRX, it's close in a 0-60 test but once the speeds get higher, it's left in the dust. The same happens on track where the Ralliart's weight and handling seriously hurts it. If you mod the Ralliart to make it perform better, you throw your warranty out the window. Considering the recently released cost of the TC transmission in the GTR (20000$), the TC-SST in the Ralliart won't be cheap and if it was me, I'd want to preserve the warranty as long as possible. Aesthetic mods on the other hand do not affect warranty. You'd be surprised at how much better the WRX looks with different rims and a revised grill. You'll also notice that it seems the car performs so well that looks aren't even mentioned in some reviews (like the R&T comparison).

 

I think most of you are taking stock performance figures too seriously. Who keeps a factory turbo'ed car stock anymore these days? Rhetorical question.

EDIT: I guess the high price of the TC-SST might be a deterrence. I personally did not care for my warranty on the IX since Mitsu is notorious for bad warranty coverage to begin with. I don't regret my decision since I've not yet had a major issue with the car that required me to use the warranty.

 

A lot of people keep their car stock. Read my above comment again, would you mod a car that has a transmission that cannot be serviced or upgraded? If you want to mod, I think the Evo GSR would be a better investment (since the 5-speed is virtually bulletproof).

 

"(since the 5-speed is virtually bulletproof)" ya unless you don't know how to drive stick and you smoke it.

Ambustom01 is right though, I would get a GSR is you want to mod it. But then again if you were going to get a Ralliart and add 50 HP and bought a GSR instead, you would be at the same HP and have a Evo. You wouldn't need to mod it.

 

Adding coilovers and changing tires isn't going to void any warranty unless your dealer is an absolute scumbag in which case I suggest you go elsewhere. Each and every review has stated that the factory tires on the RA are garbage and directly responsible for poor braking, handling and slalom numbers and need to be replaced. I believe it was the Edmund's review that said "replace them the day you buy it". You can add that into your price difference argument unless you manage to sell the stockers.

I think the difference in track times that have been played up throughout this thread would be much closer with a simple tire change, and completely negligible with spring/shock or coilover replacement. Subaru had to tighten up the ride after the 08's soft ride agitated everyone, Mitsubishi is making a first attempt here and obviously it's soft from the factory.

 

Coilovers would definitely void the entire suspension warranty and they could extend that to other areas as well (like the body since the car sits lower). Coilovers are a major modification and unfortunately people tend to set them up wrong or buy them when they don't actually need them (ie. they slap them on and don't actually use the adjustability). R-Comp tires could void the warranty as well since R-Comp tires can corner so hard that you can actually deprive the engine of oil in longer turns.
I agree that the tires are a major issue but don't forget that the Ralliart shares the same body and suspension as the GTS thus limiting how wide you can go. According to one of the threads on here the max is a 235/40/17 tire with an 8" rim which isn't actually massive considering the weight of the car. In stock form both the Evo and the STI run 245 tires.
I'm sure if you put better tires and a better suspension setup on the WRX it would also show a marked increase in handling and would continue to stay ahead of the Ralliart. Maybe it's just me but I find it crazy to buy a car knowing you'll have to mod it to make it acceptable.

 

Like a body kit, rims, grill?

 

Considering most reviews don't even notice the looks, I doubt people would really find it that bad. You'll notice bad acceleration and lackluster handling far more than what the car looks like when you're walking up to it.

 

Just alittle . I'm curious, since you liked the Ralliart so much and had defended all the way. Why didn't you buy it? Why did you buy the GTS instead?

 

I think the biggest you can go on a GTS/RA is 235/40/18 on 18x8.5 +44 wheels without rolling the rear fenders (Subi/Wheeldude is actually selling a nice set for this purpose in the other forum ). Robi managed 17x8.5 +35 with 245/40/17 with some rolling.

 

Could you possibly explain why you feel the WRX will "continue to stay ahead of the RA" if they both have similiar suspension/tire/wheel upgrades?

Manufacturers give us a product that we, as enthusiasts, like to modify to our own tastes. Why do Evo and STi owners buy those cars only to mod them? Arent they acceptable from the factory?

I'm hoping with some coilovers the RA will fit some 245s or 255s.

 

Easily, there is no argument that the 09 WRX is a better performer than the Ralliart, it posts higher numbers in basically any category. Logically, if coilovers and tires increase the performance of the Ralliart by X units, they should increase the performance of the WRX by X units or more as well since they work in the same fashion (by allowing the car to corner harder than it can stock).
Manufacturers do not make cars to be modded, you're nuts if you think that. There is a reason why manufacturers do not warranty modded cars.
As said, the widest people have gone without rolling are 235s, that comes directly from a performance shop. From what I remember the issue is clearance with the struts.

 

You'll be able to fit 245s with some minor rolling, which isn't a big deal, just rent the tool from autozone or whatever you local parts chain is and do it right (don't use a bat or any dumb **** you might see suggested)

 

Rolling fenders adds cost and isn't something you can reverse. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I'm just saying.