Let's see here,
1. The car isn't a "daily driver", that's what the Lancer was designed for. I love how people try to dress the car in every costume out there. When they want a daily driver, they label it a daily driver, when they want a track car, they label it a track car, when they want a canyon carver, they label it a canyon carver. The Ralliart was designed to compete with the WRX and fit between the base, economical Lancer and the ***** to the walls Evolution.
2. The car isn't cheap.
3. The car isn't fuel efficient.
4. Insurance will kill you (18 with a 237 HP turbocharged car, good luck).
5. You're buying into an expensive money pit, imagine what will happen when you want to move out and you're faced with running a car like a Ralliart (fuel, maintenance, insurance).
If you want a good starter car, the GTS is a hell of a bargain. It has decent power, a lot of fun features and it's economical.

 

Exactly, it's pretty incredible some one is willing to do that. Those rent and tuition prices are just flat out ridiculous. I didn't realize that people could be paying 1,000-2,000 dollars for full time status at a 4 year university per semester. I was paying 10 times that much despite a 40k grant from the District of Columbia

Well... I may stand corrected- someone can theoretically actually do it. I still think, however, that its ill-advised to say the least. 19k loan in school for something as unnecessary as a sports car just spells trouble. No offense to you though. I'm quite impressed you've taken on responsibility like that. If it were me though, I just wouldn't do it.

Why am I getting harassed for recommending a suby? This thread is about finding a good car for the OP, not just promoting a particular brand. Subaru is an awesome brand and their older base models absolutely play with the older base lancers like they were toys. Not to mention AWD, a nicer interior, and a similar price tag. Here, I'll make you feel better- I think the new STI looks like crap

Also, this is all ON-TOPIC because it relates directly to people new to car ownership and the processes associated with it. It may not all be directed are particularly the Ralliart, but it can be directed toward the Ralliart's price tag and the financial situation most young people find themselves in. In fact, conversations like this are far more beneficial to would-be car buyers than mundane discussions of "Civic vs Lancer... who would win!"

 

If you want a fun sporty ride thatt sits with the ***** out EVO and runs better numbers then a stock evo then GET A RALLIART.

If you just want a car to commute back and forth then don't even get a GTS get a corolla, even a TC.

I telling you the RA is the best of both worlds its perfect for a guy going into college.

gas wise

Ralliart = EPA city/hwy fuel econ 17/25 mpg
GTS = EPA city/hwy fuel econ 21/28 mpg

not a big diffence at all.


If you have the money then you don't have a problem. you can walk out of the dealer in your new RA for about 230 ish a month with 8,000 down. (best bang for your buck)

insurance for a new car no matter which one is going to be high but if you want it then go for it.


GTS = 160 hp RALLIART =240 hp (MUCH MORE DECENT POWER) + Recaro package and if you ever want to mod it will be cheaper to mod ra then GTS.

 

It doesn't run better numbers that a stock Evo, you have to mod it which doesn't count (and is even more bad advice). It also doesn't "sit" with the Evo, it isn't even the top performer in it's class.
Check the insurance for a Ralliart and compare it to a GTS for an 18 year old male. I bet you the difference is staggering, it certainly is here.
Stop giving terrible advice, this isn't about which car is the better performer, it's about which car is better for a new, young driver. An 18 year old going to university doesn't need power, he needs reliability, fuel efficiency, safety and fun. A GTS is plenty.

 

I'm sorry Amby but that first statement borders on moronic lol. Just because a Lancer is a DD doesn't mean another upper level car isn't a daily driver. A Ralliart is NOT a sports car, A sporty car yes but not a sports car. The fact the Ralliart has AWD imo makes it more of a DD then Lancer, at least for Canada. It's a good handling car with AWD, insurance isn't going to be much more then a similar level car. I pay about $8 per month more then my 04 Tiburon (and I increased my coverage or it would've been the same or less). Gas isn't great, but it's not THAT bad (unless your driving like a maniac all the time). Maintanance is going to be on par, maybe a bit more then most other $40k cars (Canadian money here). If you polled most people here I bet MOST would say it IS their DD (If you have enough money to have a RA as a toy your most likely going to opt for the Evo X.

 

Just to give an idea on insurance costs, I just plugged the numbers in for an 18 year old male and got quotes from 5203$ to 15476$.

 

The car doesn't fit the bill as a good daily driver. Let's face it, if all we did was drive to work and back, cars like the Ralliart and WRX are terrible. They're not economical, they're not exactly refined and they're not cheap to own/buy. There is a difference between a DD and a good DD. My car is a DD but I can list at least 10 cars that could do it better if that's all I was concerned about.

 

I think the moding part was already mentioned in an earlier post. stock evos run 13.6ish stock RAs run 14.0 - 14.1s .4ish seconds from an evo MR.

WRX is not at all close to the STI stock.


If you can do it DO IT you will be so satisfied I'm telling you.

 

There is no question that insurance will be high.

Hes either going to afford a new car or not. Regardless if its the RA or GTS.

 

Yeah for where? So many factors go into it that it's ridiculous. I have mine here at James Madison University (Yes it is a 4-Year :GASP and I have never had anything happen to it, don't see how that's even a concern.

 

Really, so a sub-5 second 0-60 isn't close to the STI time of 5.X? Moreover, a modded Ralliart isn't an Evo, it doesn't run with Evos, it's still just a modded Ralliart.

 

same as a modded WRX is not an STI

 

And who said it was? I know a modded WRX isn't an STI, it's irrelevant.

 

I'm not saying its an EVO I'm saying it sits with the EVO.

Do stock EVO's run with AMSes modded RA. IDTS.

 

Drows is absolutely right. It's a sporty car not a sports car but you can make it a sports car for cheap. Same as WRX