Initial Impressions
I’ve owned many a car in my day ranging from BMWs to Hondas to something you couldn’t get a homeless guy to sleep in. Recently I acquired a 2010 Lancer Ralliart Sportback to evaluate, modify and market.
Mitsubishi is looking to gain a stronger foothold in Europe where wagon/hatch vehicles like the WRX, VW or Mazda wagons are already very popular. Enter the 2010 Ralliart Sportback there, and now stateside as well. The one I wound up with was an Octane Blue Pearl, with the Recaro and Tech packages.
A quick walk around and you notice it’s not your typical lancer. Exterior styling is greatly improved with the standard euro styling front fascia and a duel exhaust in the rear. It has stylish lines from the vented bonnet to aero side skirts to the sleek spoiler over the hatch. Over all, it was more then I expected. But a wagon….
I thought it might be a challenge to get into the whole “idea” behind the Sportback. For me, a wagon was for soccer moms or traveling vacuum cleaner salesmen. That stigma quickly flew out the rear hatch after climbing in. Once seated, I found a very familiar interior to that of my other Mitsu with regards to the controls, updated display, paddle shifters and snug Recaro seats.
Once on the road, the car has pep! It pulls just like my old Audi, but with with greater responsiveness and a greater sense of “substance,” leaving me quite happy to ignore the suggested speed signs on corners. You really feel like you got a lot more then what you paid for with the Ralliart.
So, I settled into the car on the way home, but it wasn’t until a few days later when I realized the diabolic nature of “wagon lifestyle.” You have room, and lots of it. The car comes with a huge trunk. (I mean, “duh, it’s a wagon, right?”) But then I quickly realized just how useful “space” can be. But then the space kept going. It went up…to the ceiling! No more wrapping twin around a trunk lid for me…. And the seats folded down….FLAT. The seats in my M3 won’t do that which makes it very hard to transport anything larger then a suitcase. I have room to take my whole family to the mountains, bags, people and skis (well the skis will wind up on a roof rack) but you get the idea.
Suddenly I found myself putting all sorts of stuff in the car, just to see if it would fit. Cooler? Check. Oddly shaped holiday packages from the post office? No problem. Extra set of wheel and tires? There’s room! Seriously….this is awesome! And suddenly I realized I have a car with performance, styling and usefulness for everyday life to boot.
So let the mod’ing begin.