2009 Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart

Executive Evo? Not by a long shot.

Torque steer isn't as bad as that in a 3.8-liter V-6-powered Mitsu Eclipse or a Pontiac G6 GXP, but it can still get pretty annoying. The hot Galant is plenty quick, particularly once you've gotten moving, although the five-speed automatic can be a bit wishy-washy at times. The ride quality can be fairly choppy, too, but the Ralliart is still completely livable as a real car, moreso than some of Germany's factory hot rods. That's a good thing, since the base Galant is supposed to be a Camry-fighter, and that model is without a high-test version like the Ralliart.

Overall, I didn't find this car to be very fun, unfortunately, thanks in large part to its numb steering, heavy curb weight, and high-horsepower, front-wheel-drive setup.

That said, I love the sweet-lookin' wheels, and the squishy dashboard material is a welcome change of pace, even if the other materials in the cabin leave something to be desired.

Who knows? Maybe in twenty years this car will be a sought-after kitschy collectible, along the lines of a 1991 Dodge Spirit R/T ...