Was this any good?

"Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman." (ryanwacker02)
08/14/2013 at 14:20 • Filed to: None

The Lancer Ralliart. The one that was like 60% Evo X 40% Evo IX 100% Parts bin special. I remember wanting one really badly, and now that it looks like I'm going to be staying stateside Ill be needing a car again.

DISCUSSION (14)

AddMustard > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/14/2013 at 14:21

I think the one we had state-side was a FWD poop-box Lancer. My opinion of this car is henceforth skewed.

Saracen > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/14/2013 at 14:22

Friend of mine has a black Ralliart Sportback. He seems to like it, but he is not of the enthusiast variety. I've never driven it so I can't say, but from the passenger time I had I was never impressed with the level of quality.

DocWalt > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/14/2013 at 14:26

It's essentially a baby Evo X. Less power (smaller turbo and weaker internals) and doesn't have the fancy torque vectoring, but it has the twin-clutch trans. Terrible interior, the dash is pretty much a giant sheet of hard textured plastic that reflect all of the sunlight back at the windshield so you can't see all that well.

I still loved my Evo X...

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > AddMustard
08/14/2013 at 14:26

The US got a nice turbo AWD one for a few years

nataku83 > AddMustard
08/14/2013 at 14:29

I think the GTS was FWD and had a 2.4 rather than the base 2.0l - the ralliart was AWD and turbocharged.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/14/2013 at 14:37

If only it had looked as good as the concept...

TurboSloth > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/14/2013 at 14:51

I have the Ralliart. If you have the money, I suggest going after the EVO tbh. I much prefer the manual over DSG. However, the DSG isn't bad. Its actually fun in the city. If you get a ralliart, everyone will still ask you if it's an evo. Happens all the time.

Basically the engine and trans and interior (minus the recaros) are from the X, the AWD is from the IX. The turbo was much smaller than the X's, and my Ralliart puts out 240awhp stock. The evo is around 291 iirc.

As for drivability. Its actually good. It's not great, but Its not horrible. Surprisingly, you can corner very fast in this thing.

TurboSloth > TurboSloth
08/14/2013 at 14:52

Also, its great in the snow.

Lets Just Drive > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/14/2013 at 15:20

Sadly, the Ralliart badge has gone through a few different iterations. For a while it was nothing but a bin special, badged car - still an underpowered FWD box and not "Ralli" inspired at all.

That said, my buddy has an 09 Ralliart, which is basically the de-tuned Evo complete with around 230 HP, AWD and a DCT. He loves it. I don't. I respect the car, but I don't fit inside of it comfortably and I think, personally, the styling is too Japanese for my tastes but, all that aside, it was a really respectable car for the price once upon a time.

Stef Schrader > AddMustard
08/14/2013 at 15:25

Depends on the year. The older Ralliarts are the FWD one. The newer ones are a detuned, narrow-body Evo X with AWD and the twin-clutch flappy paddle gearbox from the X. They're pretty badass.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/14/2013 at 15:28

I love the way they look, but there's no M/T available.

AddMustard > Stef Schrader
08/14/2013 at 15:43

Sounds fun. I didn't know they made newer ones.

Stef Schrader > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/14/2013 at 15:51

I can vouch that this body is built like a tank now! Heh.

So, if it's this Ralliart, it's the pretty good one. I'm not a fan of the visual disconnect between the angular body and the rounded "Sportback," but it seems kind of cool. Other wagons would give you less slope and more space, and TBH, in this bodystyle, I prefer the sedan. But—there's not a lot of wagons over here anyway, so there's that. :o(

AWD. Pretty much a detuned Evo X engine with a smaller turbo. No Recaros, which is a bummer because those are comfy, but flipping the headrests on the front seats makes them considerably more helmet-friendly if you plan to hoon it. Twin-clutch tranny only, but it's a good one. Very quick, almost instantaneous shifts. It also lacks the fender flares and wider wheels from the Evo X, too, but more power + narrower wheels can be a hoot.

I like it. Stef approves.

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > Stef Schrader
08/14/2013 at 18:41

They did, for only two years I think, have the Recaros as an option. If course I'd go for those. It'd be quite be search to find one!