"As the day went on we were really able to put on the pressure, the car just got faster and faster, and the team did a great job - the car feels brand new.
"I just have to do it again tomorrow!"
Pedder's second placing was even more impressive as the sole Mitsubishi factory driver was still suffering the after-affects of a serious flu-bug, leaving him with blurred vision in the day's early stages.
"Early in the day I was not well at all but I gradually began to feel better... and today's result sure makes me feel a lot better," Scott Pedder said.
"The car was strong all day and I think if I'd been feeling sharper early on, we might have got there. It was that close.
"It's a great result all 'round, I'm very happy for the team and Mitsubishi."
Chasing his second straight Championship, Crocker was the day's early pace-setter before being reeled in by rivals Bates and Pedder.
"It was an incredibly tough day being first car on the road," Cody Crocker said.
"We were basically sweeping the gravel off the road as we went; we knew the others would attack as the day went on but it was more important to get the car home.
"My car was great today, there were no problems, and we've still increased our lead in the championship."
Subaru's Dean Herridge finished fourth after the Heat's 10 stages.
Veteran Ed Ordynski celebrated his return to rallying, in a one-off appearance for Toyota 30 years after his Australian Championship rallying debut, with a strong run throughout the day.
Fastest in Special Stage 3, Ridgetops 1, was a sign that the 50-year-old was not yet ready to hang up his helmet.
Ordynski finished tenth overall, gaining more confidence with every stage.
Pre-event fancy Simon Evans' day started strongly but things quickly turned, the Victorian Toyota ace fastest on this morning's first Special Stage before hitting a bank in High Eden, puncturing two tyres.
The time lost, plus a penalty for having an extra tyre brought to him, put Evans at the back of the field and he later withdrew, saving it for Sunday's second Heat.
Crashes also accounted for two young guns, Will Orders and Benny Tirant.
Orders rolled in spectacular fashion on the High Eden stage, leaving his Subaru heavily damaged and out for the weekend, while Tirant lasted 'til Special Stage five, Goldfields, before spinning off the road and into a tree, also putting his Subaru out of the action.
Tomorrow's second heat of the Toyota RallySA will see a further 10 special stages contested to decide the fourth round of the Globalstar Australian Rally Championship.
