A factory "upgraded" car is different from one that is modified with aftermarket parts. For one, a factory car is an actual indication of what you get off the showroom floor. It's not Subaru's fault that they actually responded to the reviews and quickly revised the car. It's only right to compare an 09 model to an 09 model. Moreover, I have posted this up before, if you actually compare the 08 WRX to the 09 Ralliart, the 08 WRX still wins many of the performance categories.
It's also possible that Mitsubishi is simply circulating the same car around to reviewers. Edmunds redid the review and the car didn't have the RE050s on it anymore.
If they complained about the price and it had standard seats, how do you think they feel if they had paid the extra few thousands needed to get the Recaros? It's not like the car would skyrocket up the ranks.

 

Ya ya ya, lets hope Mitsu does some work on the 2010 RA and not go cheap on some of the current stuff especially the tire/wheel combo and either shed some weight and give a little power boost, but I doubt it, this is Mitsu we are talking about, they are eggheads sometimes. Hopefully 2009 is a learning experience for them if they want to still compete with the Ford, oops Subbie WRX. But nonetheless the RA still did perfom up to par of almost all the cars in the Motor Trend test.

Maybe not but those were the biggest gripes Motor Trend had it is too bad Recaros are in a pretty crappy package.

 

Being an average performer is nothing to rave about.

 

Thats what she said

 

I vote that we all trade our Ralliarts in for WRX's so we have a car that came in mid pack in the comparison, or even better trade them for cobalt SS or MS3s so we'll be a couple of steps better than the WRX.

 

Please take a look for yourself. Forester 2.5X ($20,690) Vs. CR-V LX 4WD ($23,115) and Escape XLS 4WD ($24,120). And b4 u said u would pay more for the AWD not about the same. Why are u changing up now?

 

Well you'd end up with the fastest car of the group.

 

I said that if you compare the Subaru to the comparably equipped competition (ie. AWD), they should be about even. However, you can obviously get the non-AWD equipped competition for less.

 

Those are the comparable equipped AWD/4WD versions and they are definately not even as u can see. The numbers i posted were directly from the US Subaru website. They choose the direct competition for u. Take a look for urself.

 

Whats so average about it in the Motor Trend test(performance wise and not peoples opinions on seats or overall package), in overall performance the only thing to beat it was the WRX by a few tenths of a second, and not to mention its a pain in the *** to launch it to get those times as been stated many times by people that have it and many testers. Tied for second in the quarter mile with the Cobalt SS at 14 sec. flat, that is not average, average in that test was closer to 15 sec. Average skidpad on that test was VERY close to the Subbie as well 2 hundreths off. so if thats the case than I guess the WRX is average as well in the handling department.

 

And according to what I posted, my argument makes perfect sense.

 

I have both the Car and Driver and the Road and Track comparisons in front of me. I'll start with the Car and Driver review.
In handling categories, the Ralliart performs horribly. It's dead last at the skid pad, dead last in the lane change test and only avoids dead last in the braking test by 1 foot. Hardly a stunning turnout. In the 0-60 test, it pulls a 5.4 which is decent but fairly average for the group. This is 0.7 of a second off the leader. In the 1/4 mile, it pulls off a 14.2 which is average as well.
Now for the Road and Track comparison. At the skid pad it's dead last, its slalom speed is the lowest, its braking distance is the farthest, it's 0-60 is average and its 1/4 time is average.
The Motor Trend test you're referring to is with a RE050 equipped Ralliart. How many Ralliarts on the road today have RE050s straight from the factory? Hell, lets slap new springs and sway bars on some of the cars or give them a reflash or exhaust and see how it goes.

 

What are u talking about its average in the Motor Trend test it came in second fastest in the quarter mile at 14 sec. flat tied with the SS(unless they misprinted the results for the magazine), well if it came in dead last than the WRX must not handle that great if it is only 2 hundreths Gs better than the RA.
Ok I bet if we put all that on both cars it would be damn good race, just look at the results so far in the reflash and they never hit torque protection either and hitting Evo numbers on tune alone and has a potential to be a great handling platform given the right equipment.

 

OK Amby whatever u say.

 

Again, if you're referring to the Motor Trend comparison that I'm fairly certain you are, the Ralliart was equipped with RE050 tires which are not standard equipment. Of course it will perform better with better tires.
I suggest you look at the threads on NASIOC, the WRX is performing very well with just a reflash as well (surpassing Evo numbers easily). Mod for mod, the WRX will be faster. If you start with more power, you'll generally stay ahead.
So far we have no idea what is going on in regards to torque protection. TTP has encountered it with both the Ralliart and the MR. AMS has indicated that they haven't, yet.