Article Comments - 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart First Drive and Full Test

10 messages, Last post on Oct 14, 2009 at 8:26 AM

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What is this discussion about? Mitsubishi Lancer, Sedan

First Drive: 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart - First Impressions: Maybe you can quit shopping for that used Evo.(more)

Full Test: 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart - Bottom Line: If you can't manage the price of an Evo GSR, the Ralliart will take you more than halfway there for about $6,000 less. (more)

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#1 of 10 Article Comments - 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart First Drive by KarenS HOST Jun 16, 2008 (11:38 am)
If this was a 2006 Lancer Ralliart, with its normally aspirated 2.4-liter engine and soft suspension, we might still be in bed right now. But this 2009 Lancer Ralliart sedan feels like it's a world apart (maybe two) from that car, and so we scald our tongue on gas station coffee as the twin-clutch gearbox grabs 2nd gear. When the road opens before us, the Ralliart's turbocharged 2.0-liter engine is full of life, revving to its 6,500-rpm redline with a fervor that's as exciting as it is familiar. First Drive: 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Replies to this message: aviboy97 (Jun 23, 2008 10:22 am)
#2 of 10 They've had this performance for a while by ofmachines Jun 17, 2008 (4:01 am)
My Stealth R/T (3000gt SL) has performance numbers quite similar to this car and it is from 1991. I'd be interested in the lateral G numbers on this car for handling, didn't see it in the article. Save some money to buy a decent-condition 3000gt or Stealth (preferably twin-turbo AWD AWS) that will easily rival this Lancer. Replies to this message: power6 (Jun 17, 2008 4:49 pm)
#3 of 10 Re: They've had this performance for a while [ofmachines] by power6 Jun 17, 2008 (4:49 pm)
Replying to: ofmachines (Jun 17, 2008 4:01 am) Oh please, that argument is tired and old. No new car is about "performance per dollar." A Pinto with a V8 swap will destroy your Stealth. Then you have the old vs. new w/warranty issue. Furthermore any real gearhead looking for killer performance in 1991 left the Stealths to the poseurs and bought an AWD Eclipse/Talon There is no perfectly new 17 year old Stealth. The 3Si cars had good performance in Turbo/AWD, but they weighed two tons, had a cramped interior and cost 30k-40k, try adjusting that for inflation! So in a way it's progress that the Ralliart could put up similar numbers and cost less, and it's not even the hot(Evo) model. Probably the best comparison from 1991 to the Ralliart is the old Galant VR-4. Add more power, better handling TC-SST, 3 LSDs, Recaros, etc. It seems like there has been some progress made.
#4 of 10 Re: Article Comments - 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart First Drive [KarenS] by aviboy97 Jun 23, 2008 (10:22 am)
Replying to: KarenS (Jun 16, 2008 11:38 am) 6.6 0-60. Sloooooow. The WRX and Mazdaspeed3 have the Ralliart beat by over a second. Not to mention the speed3 is over $3,000 less. If you are not in need of AWD, that would be a car to look at.
#5 of 10 Full Test available! by KarenS HOST Jun 23, 2008 (4:09 pm)
Full Test: 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart
#6 of 10 If you don't appreciate this car, you've missed the point by huyracing Jun 23, 2008 (7:46 pm)
Josh Jacquot summed it up well in "Second Opinions" of the full test.
#7 of 10 I agree with the suggestion to buy a used evo. by icole Jun 24, 2008 (6:17 am)
I was waiting for the evo x, but when I read that it was not as pure of a driving experience I purchased an evo ix mr with 4k miles on it. I paid $31k 1 year ago. The MR retailed for 8k more then the RS, and at least 4k over the standard evo ix. You can probably find a very low mile evo ix for less then this car. The evo ix will still have more of its 10 year 100,000 power train warranty remaining then the relliart 's 56k. If you are looking for something the wife can drive buy a 22k lancer GTS with the exception of acceleration it performs just as well, and sometimes better (braking lateral acceleration) then the ralliart. If you want performance this car is a disappointment, but it is better then the WRX. My last WRX cost $24,500 new. AT the time I dreamed of having $30k to drop on the STI edition. With an evo you get max performance bang for your buck, but this car is just expensive.
#8 of 10 by graphikzking Jul 03, 2008 (6:36 am)
NOT A FAN BOY - I LOVED the Evo IX - This car I think is about 200lbs heavy and 1500$ too expensive. A V6 camry will outrun this thing, return better gas mileage AND you dont have to put premium. I love the LOOK of them.. but the weight of the platform is just too much. A great competitor to this is the MazdaSpeed6 - NOT THE 3. I know the 6 is now extinct.. but at the time it costs, $28k and had 280hp and 274 torque.. 0-60 in high 5's low 6's and almost a full second (on some tests) faster in 1/4 miles. Higher lateral, better braking. Better handling.. AND a manual tranmission. It's ashame more people didn't adopt the Mazda. I loved them, but wasn't in the market for a car at the time, otherwise I would own one. Replies to this message: mugwomp (Jul 09, 2008 6:55 pm)
#9 of 10 Re: [graphikzking] by mugwomp Jul 09, 2008 (6:55 pm)
Replying to: graphikzking (Jul 03, 2008 6:36 am) In a winding set of roads there is no way a Camry could "outrun" or even keep up with the Raliart. But yes, it does get better gas mileage and runs on regular. But it also is in no way, shape or form a performance car... There's no way I'd get any sort of FWD economy car (Civic, Camry, Corolla, etc.) as an excuse for a sporty car. I don't care if they put a little "SI" or "S" sticker on it. Econosportcars always are disappointing unless you're strictly looking for MPGs.
#10 of 10 the "no suspension car" by tonysam Oct 14, 2009 (8:26 am)
The suspension is the worst you can imagine. CAn't absorb bumps - very uncomfortable; rear view awful, fuel economy very poor, front seat supports very poor. Look at my post under mits lancer sportbacks 2010 here on edmunds.com, consumer reviews and you'll get my full eval of this car which I bought with regret now.