Ralliart Sportback: Ride quality & comfort

[tipoytm]

My wife has lately been having this urge to swap her roadster for a new ride that is more family friendly. As some of you already know, I've always liked the Ralliart and not shy about expressing it LOL... so it's the car I'm trying to push for her to testdrive. But the problem is, she is not a fan of the Sportback's exterior styling & the interior quality.

So we took a look at other cars, even test drove a Jetta TDI (she didn't like the engine noise that much, etc.). She's really interested in the Subie Outback (6 cyl), but it costs like $35K OTD, so it's kinda priced too high. I tried recommending the WRX, but it turns out the automatic model only has 225hp =X (just for comparison, she drives a Z4-si w/ 255hp, so she wants about the same power or torque)

So now, after she test drove the Jetta TDI (a bit disappointed) and rulling out the automatic Rex, I tried to talk her into giving the RA a second look... showed her videos, reviews, etc. So she asks me "Is the ride going to be as harsh as your car (EvoX)?" I wasn't sure what to say to her so, I'm asking any of the new Sportback owners:
1.) Ride quality = she likes it soft, but with minimal bodyroll... how "soft" is the ride quality compared to say a Jetta, Civic, Corolla, and other compact cars? How do you compare it to the X to whoever has driven both?
2.) Seats = how comfortable are the regular seats? I don't think she'll want the Recaros cuz the ride height is too low and you can't adjust it.

I'm not that excited to get another car, cuz we just got the X 6 months ago (not another car payment LOL). But when the wife is unhappy, she can drive me nuts. The good thing is if she likes the Ralliart, it's easy to find a good deal on one with Anaheim/Southcoast just 3 hours away. And I already have a tactrix cable, so flashing the car for a healthy amount of additional hp is already a given :-)

Would appreciate any feedback.... thanks in advance!

[nsk_tigz38]

i recommend that she gets another car besides a lancer.
you already have the x, the car is basically the same besides whats under the hood
if you want a strong used car, try a tl or a g35

[billyboy1]

I bought my sportback as my wife drives it as well along with our puppy Hugo who chills in the back. the wife loves it as it's very practical (very easy to flip down the rear seats for extra storage) and she is quite partial to the sst. the Bluetooth is great with her iPhone as well. the seats are comfy and the ride quality is ok (mine is pretty firm as I have coilovers)

the practicality of the hatch plus the sst made it a winner for us

[boondoc]

I drive the sedan RA but they have the same set up so i will give you my input. Ride quality i would put it on par with the Civic Si, the suspension rides smooth and does have some firmness but not as much as the Evo. The seats to me are probably 2nd in comfort next to the 07 MS3. I like them better than the Recaros (no offense). As for body roll, there is a bit but from reviews of the RRM springs much of it is eliminated and still maintains stock like ride quality. With the flash and boost pill she will forget about the Z4, lol so no worries there.

Try to convince her to take a look at it in person. Like billyboy said the cargo room is huge so it is great grocery getter and when u need to go to Home Depot for supplies u can have fun with it too.

[RA173]

I test drove the X and RA and the RA is way more comfortable, like the person above mentioned, it is not as soft as the cars you mentioned but more like a civic si. It does not feel like you are floating on a cloud but your kidneys won't be killing you after a 4 hour ride in it either. It will give you the best of both worlds for a dd performance and comfort.

[jazket]

take her for a test drive... your wife deserves that 3 hour drive to the dealer!

If I was you I'd try to work out a deal on a sportback with Navi, I bet she'll appreciate that. Forget the Recaros, the standard seats are confier. But make sure the one she test drives has a Navi!!!

[awilli1715k]

dont get her the sportsback rally just get the regular 09 one.

[Fourdoor]

The sportback is uber practical! It has a firm suspension setup, but not as harsh as the EVO. I consider it to have a lot of body roll, but I just came out of a 05 EVO RS and 08 EVO X MR so my perspective is a little off from normal Here is how I would describe the suspension feel: The difference between the VIII RS and X MR is the same magnitude as the difference between the X MR and Ralliart. VIII RS very firm, a bit harsh ------> X MR very firm but smooth -------> Ralliart firm but very smooth. This is not a handling comparison, just suspension feel comparison.

You can probably get a killer deal on an 09 if she don't mind having a car that looks almost like yours, personally I love the sportback practicality and the sleeper effect it gives me.... everyone knows the EVO don't come as a wagon, but regular Ralliarts get asked "is that an EVO" all the time.

Good luck,

Keith

[tipoytm]

Thanks for the feedback guys, I had an 03 Civic Si and it also had a firm ride (I'd say almost the same level as the X). Keith, I've never driven an 8 or 9, so I wouldn't be able to distinguish the harshness... but can imagine the difference. The Z4 when we got it had run-flat tires stock, and it was the harshest ride I've ever driven. I had to change them to regular tires on the first week cuz she swore she'll have the car traded in LOL. It was much more acceptable after the tires were swapped, and has about the same ride quality as the X. Can you get leather as an option w/ the regular seats?

She keeps telling me she wants a Lexus-quality ride (without having to pay for one LOL) and sporty/decent hp at the same time. I told her such a car doesn't exist till she's willing to shell out $50K for a car.

I like the 09 ralliart styling, but much prefer the sportback for extra practicality (esp. on long trips) and different looking than the X.

By the way, anyone out there who has an RA, but want to trade for a roadster? PM me... hehe

[tipoytm]

Went to the Mitsu site and saw the leather option for $1600+, darn that's quite expensive... I thought they'd only be about $1K =X Sportback is also $1.4K more than the 09 sedan, prices seem to be creeping up every year /sigh

[UT_Evo]

Inflation is a wonderful thing.

There's plenty of cars out there I would look at over the Lancer for decent ride, but for a good price she's going to have to sacrifice somewhere, and the best place would be power. Look at the V6 TSXs. They have 260 hp, and I loved my ex's 2004 TSX. Wonderful change of pace from the Evo, especially for the price. And I didn't mind it lacked power, it had enough, and handled pretty damn good to boot.

[tipoytm]

^ She's mainly looking for a wagon, small crossover, or 4-door hatch (auto trans only) for the extra cargo space (and we have a large dog). Seeing Acura doesn't make one, so that is out of the game. She's constantly eyeballing the Mercedes GLK RWD... cheapeast we could find is over $40K OTD so that's kinda too much. I'm really looking hard at the Passat Wagon (2.0T gas) too, the 2009s are at 0% APR right now, but don't know if she will like it considering the Jetta TDI failed to impress her.

[krnkimchi702]

have you looked into the subaru wrx?? its exactly like the ralliart but from what i have heard, its softer in ride and more "wife" friendly.. and unlike mitsu, subaru has perfected the hatchback imo

[tipoytm]

^ Aye, I did take a look at it... as stated on my first post. The WRX w/ automatic (2.5GT Premium trim) only has 225 hp and more expensive (close to $28K base, 3.9% apr)... if they used the same powertrain as the WRX265, I would really push her to test drive one. We went to the local Subie dealer last week so she could take a peek at the Outback, it doesn't sound like they are giving away discounts, etc... so my haggling "skills" won't probably help. Mitsu right now has 0% APR on the sportbacks, and ca dealers are known to price under invoice.

[krnkimchi702]

the impreza wrx has 265hp... and its only 24k probably for a base on the subaru website..