Lancer Ralliart vs MS3 vs WRX vs Cobalt SS (finishing order 4th-1st) R/T

[Raza]

Bentleys get you poontang, VWs, well don't. Look at Raza.

Yeah, the only thing I get regularly is Minpin's mom!

[Minpin]

Yeah, the only thing I get regularly is Minpin's mom!

I was a testube baby. Have fun with that...uh...test tube. 

[Raza]

I was a testube baby. Have fun with that...uh...test tube. 

I do.

[Minpin]

I do.

PIITTT


(Put It In The Test Tube)

[S204STi]

Fuck you, motherfucker. 

As I've said, my standards for interior quality aren't very high.  But I think the Cobalt gets ripped on more than it deserves.  Perhaps the Impreza's interior is nicer (and perhaps I can't get over how shit the car was to drive), but it's definitely better than the Lancer's. 

Sure, there are cheap plastics, but they fit together well enough.  If the quality of the plastics is the number one concern, then the Mazda3 isn't really head of the class either. 

lol wow, chill man.  I don't think the Cobalt is aweful, but neither is it outstanding.  Same with the Impreza and Lancer, really.  Comparisons based on interior quality are basically a wash with these, it comes down to preference. I would like to point out that the leather seats found in lower end GM vehicles are truly lame.  They are really just bonded leather which ends up cracking, and the finish is poor.

[SVT666]

lol wow, chill man.  I don't think the Cobalt is aweful, but neither is it outstanding.  Same with the Impreza and Lancer, really.  Comparisons based on interior quality are basically a wash with these, it comes down to preference. I would like to point out that the leather seats found in lower end GM vehicles are truly lame.  They are really just bonded leather which ends up cracking, and the finish is poor.

The leather seats in the SS are phenomenal.  They're Recaros.

[S204STi]

The leather seats in the SS are phenomenal.  They're Recaros.

Oops, my bad.  Thanks for correcting that.  In that case, the seats blow the WRX out of the water.  Those are made for fat americans used to vinyl bench seats or something...  No adjustable lumbar support, either.

[S204STi]

The 09 WRX should be hitting dealers any day now... info here: http://www.subaru.com/shop/overview.jsp?model=IMPREZAWRX&trim=WRX&command=overview

Oh, and base price? $24,995.

[S204STi]

MotorTrend just reviewed the 09 WRX here.

Cliffnotes: 0-60 in 4.8 seconds, 1/4 mile 13.5 @ 101.1 mph.

People think 08 WRX buyers got screwed, I think STI buyers got screwed.

"Out at the track, the new and improved WRX launches hard; all four tires spin as the car leaps forward as if it were rear-ended by a bus. A mere 1.6 sec pass before 30 mph is reached, a time on par with the new BMW M3 and Cadillac CTS-v. Sixty mph comes in 4.8 sec, and the five-door, five-passenger hatchback we tested covered a quarter mile in 13.5 sec at 101.1 mph. That's near a second faster than last year's model and just a tenth slower than the 2008 STI. Consider the $10,000 difference between the base WRX and the homologated rally car, and you'll be asking yourself, "STI why?" "

[The Pirate]

Yeah, but you can't outrun ugly...

[the Teuton]

The NASIOC folk don't seem to think that the WRX and STI are in the same league still.  And by their predictions, Subaru should give the STI a horsepower bump and a tighter suspension.

But as Lancer people don't like to admit, the Subaru, either one of them with their softer suspensions, will crush a current Evo offroad.  It might be a mistake to singly give the STI one firmer suspension just because STI people are too cheap to buy a set of coilovers.

[S204STi]

Meh, both cars were underwhelming in the face of competition, so I imagine that now the bulk seller is fixed they'll fix the STI soon too.  As it stands the only reason to buy the STI is for panache and the 6spd.  Otherwise, save a few grand and buy a nicely equiped WRX.  Too bad you can't get leather anymore, because then it would be like adding insult to injury.

[the Teuton]

Meh, both cars were underwhelming in the face of competition, so I imagine that now the bulk seller is fixed they'll fix the STI soon too.  As it stands the only reason to buy the STI is for panache and the 6spd.  Otherwise, save a few grand and buy a nicely equiped WRX.  Too bad you can't get leather anymore, because then it would be like adding insult to injury.

Leather was just reintroduced to Australia, as per NASIOC.  It could be coming.

On another note, 2008 WRX prices are dropping like a rock.  No one is bidding on $18,000 WRXs on Ebay.  It's sad and funny at the same time.

[S204STi]

Leather was just reintroduced to Australia, as per NASIOC.  It could be coming.

Yeah, that was nice to see.  The leather in the new cars is actually quite a lot nicer than what came in mine.  Mine is clearly bonded leather.  It is wearing nicely though!

[MX793]

Leather was just reintroduced to Australia, as per NASIOC.  It could be coming.

On another note, 2008 WRX prices are dropping like a rock.  No one is bidding on $18,000 WRXs on Ebay.  It's sad and funny at the same time.

Local dealer still has a new '08 WRX on the lot with $29K+ on the sticker.  Good luck moving that one.

[LonghornTX]

lol wow, chill man.  I don't think the Cobalt is aweful, but neither is it outstanding.  Same with the Impreza and Lancer, really.  Comparisons based on interior quality are basically a wash with these, it comes down to preference. I would like to point out that the leather seats found in lower end GM vehicles are truly lame.  They are really just bonded leather which ends up cracking, and the finish is poor.

I personally think the interior of the SS is quite awful (sans the seats of course), even when compared with the competition. Of course, I have yet to drive the car (I only sat and looked around it), and by all sources it seems to be a rocket, but that interior might keep me from buying the car, despite its incredible performance. It just looks, feels, and appears, cheap to me.

JMO

[S204STi]

I personally think the interior of the SS is quite awful (sans the seats of course), even when compared with the competition. Of course, I have yet to drive the car (I only sat and looked around it), and by all sources it seems to be a rocket, but that interior might keep me from buying the car, despite its incredible performance. It just looks, feels, and appears, cheap to me.

JMO

Yeah, it certainly isn't going to win a comparison with a Honda or VW.

[Raza]

Local dealer still has a new '08 WRX on the lot with $29K+ on the sticker.  Good luck moving that one.

I wouldn't pay half that. 

[The Pirate]

I rather like the MS3, I'd consider one to replace the Proteg?.  Shame you can't get a sunroof on it, though.

[SVT666]

I personally think the interior of the SS is quite awful (sans the seats of course), even when compared with the competition. Of course, I have yet to drive the car (I only sat and looked around it), and by all sources it seems to be a rocket, but that interior might keep me from buying the car, despite its incredible performance. It just looks, feels, and appears, cheap to me.

JMO

It's no worse then the Mustang's...in fact it's better.

[Raza]

I find the Mustang's visually more attractive.  I like the black dash better than silver.

[SVT666]

Visually, the Mustang's interior has more character, but the Cobalt's is definitely better quality.

[LonghornTX]

Visually, the Mustang's interior has more character, but the Cobalt's is definitely better quality.

I disagree, especially on the plastics front. Granted, the S197 doesn't have the greatest materials, but I was astounded by how bad they were in the Cobalt.

The difference between the two is especially evident when the S197 is purchased with a the premier trim package.

But then again, how did this turn into a comparison with a Mustang? Me thinks you are aiming for a pseudo ad-hominem attack here 

[SVT666]

I disagree, especially on the plastics front. Granted, the S197 doesn't have the greatest materials, but I was astounded by how bad they were in the Cobalt.

The difference between the two is especially evident when the S197 is purchased with a the premier trim package.

But then again, how did this turn into a comparison with a Mustang? Me thinks you are aiming for a pseudo ad-hominem attack here 

Dude, nobody loves the Mustang more then me.  But I found it funny that you complain about the Cobalt's interior and say that it would be a deciding factor for you, though you bought a Mustang.

[LonghornTX]

Dude, nobody loves the Mustang more then me.  But I found it funny that you complain about the Cobalt's interior and say that it would be a deciding factor for you, though you bought a Mustang.

Well, one, the Mustang is an immeasurably better looking car inside and out, with many more aspects of the vehicle appealing to me than sheer vehicle dynamics and performance (as is the case with the Cobalt), so obviously my choice to purchase that car is quite a bit different of a situation than the hypothetical statement I posited earlier (that the interior of the Cobalt might keep me from buying it).

And two, though the Mustang does not have the greatest quality interior in the world, it is certainly nicer to me than the Cobalt, which looks slightly better than the Cavalier it replaced. Especially so with the premium interior options checked on the Mustang.

[omicron]

MotorTrend just reviewed the 09 WRX here.

Cliffnotes: 0-60 in 4.8 seconds, 1/4 mile 13.5 @ 101.1 mph.

People think 08 WRX buyers got screwed, I think STI buyers got screwed.

"Out at the track, the new and improved WRX launches hard; all four tires spin as the car leaps forward as if it were rear-ended by a bus. A mere 1.6 sec pass before 30 mph is reached, a time on par with the new BMW M3 and Cadillac CTS-v. Sixty mph comes in 4.8 sec, and the five-door, five-passenger hatchback we tested covered a quarter mile in 13.5 sec at 101.1 mph. That's near a second faster than last year's model and just a tenth slower than the 2008 STI. Consider the $10,000 difference between the base WRX and the homologated rally car, and you'll be asking yourself, "STI why?" "

That's incredibly rapid. All it needs now is the body of the previous model and the interior of the Liberty (Legacy), and we'll be in business.