Off-beat Sport Compact Three-Way Beat-Off

"Camry-Into-Canyon" (Camry-Into-Canyon) 04/24/2014 at 17:30 • Filed to: None

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Normally the sport compact cars people think of are the GTI, WRX, SE-R and Civic SI. However, I decided to do things a little differently. Welcome to my Off-beat Sport Compact Three-Way Beat-Off (sorry, I had to). Where three quirky pocket rockets battle it out for top spot. Let's introduce the contenders.

Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart

Our first challenger is the baby Evo, the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart. The earlier Ralliarts were mediocre impersonations of a B15 SE-R. They were decently punchy, but didn't give you James May's Patented Fizzing Sensation. However, in 2009, Mitsubishi unleashed a proper sport compact. They gave the Evo a smaller single-scroll turbo and a couple of other bits and called it a day. The result was amazing. Car and Driver clicked off a 5.4 second 0-60 run and a 14.1 second quarter-mile in their long-term tester after 40,000 miles.

Inside, you got a proper fat steering wheel and hip-hugging Recaro seats. You could even get it with a 710 watt Rockford Fosgate Stereo.

And it sounds pretty good with a Borla exhaust. In fact, there were only two problems with the car. It debuted at the beginning of the recession at a price north of 30K, enough to ward off people who cross-shopped it with a WRX. Secondly, instead of fitting a proper manual in the car, Mitsubishi gave it a twin-clutch. The TC-SST transmission wasn't that bad, but it didn't connect you to the car like a manual.

Volvo C30 T5

In 2007, Volvo dropped a bombshell on the automotive community by creating it's first ever hot hatch. And from a first glance, they got it right. A 227-horse turbocharged 5-cylinder engine mated to a slick manual gearbox was the start of it. Volvo then wrapped it in a body that makes more expensive cars jealous. It may not be the showiest face in the world, but one you went around the back

Damn, if this little swede wasn't sexy. On the inside, Volvo's trademark flying remote center console was present, as were comfy and supportive seats.

And once you uncorked that T5, it sang!

Acura CSX Type-S

One upon a time, a group of Honda employees got completely wasted off of blow and decided that it could make even more money off of the Civic. This terrible-sounding idea came up with a brilliant little car - a loaded Si four-door with a little class. It got a helical diff, the high-strung 2 liter four and a close-ratio manual. It had identical suspension tuning to the Si, which means that it went down the road nicely.

It had everything on the inside and it was well-trimmed too. Just don't un-cork the exhaust or you'll sound like a ricer. This car shares one of it's two problems with the Ralliart. It was $33,400 when new. Let that sink in for a bit: 34 grand for a fancy Civic Si. Also, it was a Canada-only model so it is a unicorn in the U.S.

So, Opponauts. Which one of these would you buy?

Which of these would you buy?

Mitsubishi Ralliart

Volvo C30 T5

Acura CSX Type-S

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jkm7680 > Camry-Into-Canyon 04/24/2014 at 17:34

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I'd have to say the Ralliart.

The C30, I'm a fan of. I'm just not sold on the interior looks.

The Acura, I dislike Acura. But I do like Honda, who know their place. It looks nice, but I prefer the Mitsubishi still.

Saracen > Camry-Into-Canyon 04/24/2014 at 17:36

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C30.

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > Camry-Into-Canyon 04/24/2014 at 17:40

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Definitely the C30. Its a little more mature than the Ralliart, and I've never been a huge fan of how Lancers look... though I love how they drive. Also, I have a huge soft spot for hot hatch things and the C30 just looks so good.

As a general rule, I don't like Acuras. This is no exception to that rule.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Camry-Into-Canyon 04/24/2014 at 17:42

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Gimme dat C30! One of the cars on my must own list.

Dunnik > Camry-Into-Canyon 04/24/2014 at 17:42

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The C30 T5. Fast, handles well for FWD, good visibility, brakes, great seats, hatch versatility.

The Lancer is still a Lancer, the CSX is a Civic Si that needs to go on a diet.

Camry-Into-Canyon > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) 04/24/2014 at 17:47

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Not even this?

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > Camry-Into-Canyon 04/24/2014 at 17:58

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I think that falls into the "huh... thats actually not bad" range of things. I wouldn't necessarily buy one, but if it was a crazy deal I'd at least consider it.

Jake, Yes, wearing khakis > Camry-Into-Canyon 04/24/2014 at 18:03

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Having owned a C30 T5 (2008 v2.0 to be exact) I have to go with that. It handled tremendously well in stock form especially with the 18 wheels. And even the automatic trans was nice. It ran like a top and i never had an issue with it. Put 70k on it in 2 years and I'd do it all over again. And your right about the seats, could have used a bit more on the bolsters but we're very comfortable. And the staties loved me around MD. Once got two separate speeding tickets in one stop in this thing...

eddy_a > Camry-Into-Canyon 04/24/2014 at 21:06

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For me it's the C30, no question. Before I bought my car the C30 was one of the only other cars I was considering, I just happened to find a dealer who made a better deal on the WRX than the C30.