New guy looking to buy a RA

[dimsum2]

Hi all,

I'm Ken from Sydney, currently looking to buy a RA.

Looking for some info but will post in the 'Thinking about buying a lancer' section.

Hope to meet you all soon.

Cheers

[Peter1979]

Welcome

[D]

[VRX_08]

Welcome to Club CJ!

[belle_tb_ES]

Welcome!

Hope to see you at a meet soon

[RokEvoX]

Welcome

[turbogirl]

Welcome!

[squala]

The Ralliart is a great car, so there's no reason to have to think about buying one, hehe.

Seriously though, it's an underrated, unappreciated machine. It has loads of potential, and tuners on the east side (Merlin, Beeble and Megatron) can literally transform it. It looks good, can kill a big six, and is good for daily driving.

You'd want to buy something built from 2011 onwards though, as several 2009 and some 2010 models have had gearbox issues, which involved replacing major parts or even the entire transmission. If you're buying something with more than 50K, make sure the SST fluid and filter have already been changed.

Any other questions, please ask and a lot of us will be happy to assist.

Happy purchase!

[the sam]

Youd want to buy something built from 2011 onwards though, as several 2009 and some 2010 models have had gearbox issues, which involved replacing major parts or even the entire transmission. If youre buying something with more than 50K, make sure the SST fluid and filter have already been changed.

Not true. While the gearboxes are ever so slightly different, there is no evidence to suggest they are any more susceptible to failure than any other SST. I have had mine as well as 3 other 2009-2010 I tuned recently beat on without failure. It's a random failure and it happens to all year models.

In regards to SST fluid changes, 20k km is the maximum interval I recommend and even at 13,000km on the Boostin' Juice Tuning ralliart, the oil was black and the external filter was clogged. I also replace the internal filter every 2nd fluid change.

Alan is very knowledgeable and helpful as well, but I can help you out with everything from servicing and modding to tuning. I had an '09 in on the weekend which made 183kw with just a tune and a 3 port. It's all in how you tweak them. Also put supersport and launch control on it and tuned the SST to shift like a champ.

[squala]

Not true. While the gearboxes are ever so slightly different, there is no evidence to suggest they are any more susceptible to failure than any other SST.

If you read more closely, I said several 2009 and some 2010 models, not all of them. Most of the cars around the forums with the SST failure are 2009 models. That said, some cars of the same age may have survived without problems, perhaps the ones you claim you've tuned, and hopefully your own as well.

Maybe it's fair to say that there's lower probability of the SST going awry if you have a newer car. Happy with that?

[Ozzy08]

I personally know people who have bought 08 and 09 Ralliarts. the only reason that the SST would be failing is because it hasn't been serviced properly.

Build up of metal particles can seize everything.

I know people who service their SST Transmission more regularly then they should.

I have been told before I buy one to service the SST every 5000 to 8000kms

Maybe someone else can confirm.

[sleeper]

its very expensive @ about $900 a pop if u get mitsu to do it so 5 to 8 kk`s is a bit of overkill, unless your tracking 50k is enough

u can do it cheaper with ford oil though.

i have an 09 RA btw.

and no, it was a firmware problem that caused the boxes to fail imo.

[Ozzy08]

It depends on how people drive. There are after market fluids that can be a fair bit cheaper.

Some of these 08 ad 09 Ralliarts that I have been looking at haven't even had the SST Service done on them :-/

[efod3]

I'd steer well clear of any 08 or 09 RA that hadn't had the fluid changed. And I agree with Sleeper, 5 to 8k is overkill, maybe every 30 to 35k.

[Ozzy08]

Yes I do apologise the person I was speaking to was talking about track work. I thought I would double check.

If you thrash the Ralliart (Which I hope people don't do too often) that 25-35k would be good.