I think people who buy RA's are people who don't like or know how to drive stick. These type of people are a different breed than the EVO drivers, esp. GSR drivers.

I don't understand people complaining about driving stick, such as stuck in traffic, whatever. I drive in SF with major hills and traffic is hell, but don't like to drive an automatic.

RA customers are a different type of customer, most people who shop for the EVO are not going to cross shop with the RA - the STI and WRX, but not the RA.

 

Because the 4B11 lasts alot longer than 3000 miles between replacements unlike the WRX. NASIOC has a list going of 2009 WRX engine failures I believe it's almost up to 30 VIN confirmed failures and more added to the list every week.

 

Does the RA have AYC?

 

They say that the only stupid question is the one you don't ask, but asking if the RA would have been a better choice is pretty stupid, especially from evo owners.

the RA is a pig on fuel consumption too, so I don't see much advantage unless you want the SST and cheaper tires.

 

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/20...-ralliart.html

$500 brings the horsepower to the same level as a GSR.

 

Interesting article...

 

I was reading this thread last night and thought I would chime in with a different point of view. I don't own a X or a RA, but I am looking at getting a X pretty soon.

Originally I was looking at all the usual suspects under $30,000. Cobalt, Raliart, MS3. WRX, GTI..etc..If you have read all the reviews and comparisons, you know that the best bang for the buck is the Cobalt. I didn't even need to test drive it after sitting in it..I just could not fathom driving this car no matter how fast it was. The GTI is a great car and with a $500 ECU flash makes it even faster, but it is still slow. The Raliart felt great but something still felt missing. The real contenders to me were the 09 WRX and the MS3. The WRX interior sucks, but it is AWD and fast. In the end, the MS3 seemed to have the best combination of speed, interior and price. The car is a total blast to drive, and on top of that, it has a ton of room. The multitude of comparison tests seem to echo what I felt. The car is just hard to beat for what you get even though it really hasn't changed in 3 model years.

My main point is really this. To a lot of people that are looking for a car in this "segment", the Ralliart isn't on the top of their list unless they just REALLY want to have a Evo like car.

Now things have changed since the X has such great deals and 0% financing puts it in a place that makes it anywhere from $50 to $100 more a month then the rest of these cars in a different segment. To me, it was a no brainer. And that is why I am looking at getting a X now.

Obviously this is all my personal opinion so take it as you will. But the Raliart wasn't even in my top 3 cars to get BEFORE I even went to wanting to get the X.

 

i got my base gsr for less than 3k above a ralliart's msrp. talk them down and fight for your price. mitsu dealers are trying to move cars. they get a bonus if they meet certain targets. i'm not entirely sure my dealer took a loss on the car, but they definitely didn't make much money directly from the sale, it's all in the final total sales numbers where they get a bonus. i paid 28k even plus tax and title/registration. came out to just under 30k with 7% tax in jersey.

what you get in the gsr over the ralliart for the extra few k is definitely worth it. i think the ayc alone will justify the cost (in my mind anyway since it's the first usdm with it). I also drove a used 08 MR with the sst which was selling for the same price as a new gsr with 4k miles and just couldn't do the sst transmission. I used to think that i could settle for a double clutch over stick as long as the shifting was as promised, but (and i think i am one of a few) i wasn't all that impressed. maybe it was overhyped for me as far as how fast it shifted but i definitely detected a certain lag time from pulling the paddle to getting the shift in super sport mode. it's a great car for daily driving but i think for this car stick is the only way to go. my 2cents

 

The Speed3 was/is an awesome car ...so I won't disagree with you on that. I loved the MS3 when i still had it.. I was so ready to hook it up with thousands of dollars worth of aftermarket parts but.... the more I thought about it ..there was always something that kept me from making it happen.

No matter how much money you put into it to make it faster, or handle better, ETC..... It is still a Front Wheel Drive car. Had the Speed been an AWD car, it would be soo awesome. I'm not sure if you own one or not, but taking sharp turns in a speed with the wheel turned sharply to one side..and you will either get some serious torque steer or the torque limiter will bog it down.

Plus, once you get to around 5500 Rpms....it runs out of breath...seriously. Having said all that...i do miss the speed3 every once in awhile, especially the trunk and the 6th gear.

 

I've test drove the RA twice now and the GSR once. I originally thought that the trick tcsst and lower entry fee would seal the deal for me on the RA. No question, it is an awesome transmission, like no other car that I've driven to date. But shifting the nice 5 spd in the GSR put a bigger smile on my face, the extra power and improved suspension, breaking, and chassis didn't hurt either. The X's differences more than make up for the extra now approx 3k base price tags between the cars. The RA is an awesome DD, no question. Has a slightly more attractive interior than the evo, imo. But that soon fades out of thought as you pull through gears in the X. Just another word, don't take all of the magazine reviews ect as the word of god, go out and do your own review. Stop thinking and contemplating and just do....... Hope this helps.

 

I had an 04 RalliArt and loved it. At the time it was perfect, more power and performance than the base lancer and it was affordable. I never did any performance upgrades on it. Not because I didn't want more performance, but more because I didn't feel it was the right car to throw money at like that. Then the news started coming about the new RA in 09, AWD with turbo, it was really going to be the answer to the WRX. I was pretty excited, it would come at right about the time I would want to upgrade. It would be perfect, a good taste of what makes the Evo so great for a nice discount.

Then over time as details were released, I started to become disappointed. First there was not to be any manual trans to speak of. Next the price was going to start in the mid $20k range. It just wasn't going to end up like I had envisioned.

So when the time came, I just couldn't even bring myself to option an RA. Too expensive, too underpowered for the weight, skinny tires. So I spent the difference and got a GSR and I have no regrets. Heck I even already have a Cobb AP and a short throw shifter, things I probably would have never considered on an RA.

It is possible that Mits intentionally priced the RA high to push more people like me into an Evo. I think though it is more because they want to push the new trans technology. If a RA came with a 5spd and started at low $20s this could have turned out differently.

So thanks to the RA being as it is I am a very happy Evo owner. EVO FTW!

 

not really true at all.. if people who drive SSTs are a different breed than Evo Drivers then why are there so many MR owners? arent they evo drivers too.

 

the RA is a nice car but the evo is a all around better car and exactly what some people said throwing a grand into a evo you can get some serious number and think of the handling you get with the evo

 

Almost an all around better car. The RA is much better for daily driving. When i test drove the X it was wayy to stiff for me to deal with a daily basis.

 

In Australia, the automotive media is pushing the RA. It's like they didn't get the memo about how the RA is not a de-tuned evo and is more of a Lancer. they sort of suggest the opposite by omission.

Their price differences might be greater than ours (especially with discounting on 2008's), but it goes to show that advertising money will always corrupt to some degree.

Maybe they will figure out the US market and bring a $22k dollar 5 speed manual RA.