New Mitsubishi Eclipse: Ehhh mediocre Options

[turbohcar]

For whatever reason Mitsubishi has decided to bite its own tail again. Sources inside the plant tell me one of the new concept Eclipses went down the line just a few days ago. Styling is supposed to be it's strong point. It was reported that many of the employees were very happy with the car aesthetically, which is pretty close to that of what was seen at the auto shows. However, power is where they are lacking. They will NOT have the AWD platform with a hybrid gas in front electric in back power plants. No turbos either. No Mitsubishi would rather eat itself into debt farther by simply replacing the V6 in the current Eclipse with a larger displacement (3.8L) power plant. Yet again I am dissapointed with Mitsubishi's poor judgement. It has been said over and over again by enthusiast and factory employee alike, people bought those cars (90-99) because they are a poor mans Porsche (sometimes better) and because of the organic, animal-like styling combination (95-99). You put performance and a hot body together and you've got yourself a winning combination. One without the other is simply a quadrapeligic, you're getting nowhere fast. Even the 1G cars are somewhat good looking. I hope sooner or later the realize what they're doing wrong. Oh and production is supposed to start early next year.

[Larz]

God the 2000 to present ones were enough of a dissapointment. I was hoping that the smooth curves of the 95-99 would come back, along with awd and turbo. I don't think people consider gas and electric something that means performance. It says economy car, that still tries to please the kid in you. The same was done with the RX-8. "It's sporty, but it also...."

[SCCA Stang]

I agree, they should bring back the AWD and turbo, I guess they are trying to make people buy an EVO if you want the power.... I think they will have to drop the price cause $30,000 is just too much damn $$$$$

BTW.... larz, nice video in your signature

[Larz]

I agree, they should bring back the AWD and turbo, I guess they are trying to make people buy an EVO if you want the power.... I think they will have to drop the price cause $30,000 is just too much damn $$$$$

BTW.... larz, nice video in your signature

Why thank you. My non computer owning or knowing @ss got it from another site. I can't wait to get out so Kidd and Ryan can teach me how to do things besides use the internet. I agree with you on the Evos being the current flagship for mitsu performance. In this day and age too much is centered on making all consumers happy, so the performance guys have to deal with getting a part sports car, part grocery getter.

[ncgalant]

Dad said he saw the first of th new eclipses run down the line a week or so ago. He said it looked very tiburon(sp). He also commented on the club 3g guys that come in. He's not into speed, but said they were all show no go.

[turbohcar]

"people bought those cars (90-99) because they are a poor mans Porsche"

"so the performance guys have to deal with getting a part sports car, part grocery getter"

we want sports cars not family sedans, power without the four doors. Thats what sells sports cars not the versitility of being able to take your family with you. So build a sports car d*mnit! But build it with some balls!

[ncgalant]

look at it from Mitsubishi's point of view. 90% of the eclipses they sold 95-99 were non-turbo. In 2000 their sales went through the roof. They take that to mean the turbo cars were hurting them. Personally I'd love to see and eclipse VR-4 though

[natedogg]

I kinda like having 4 doors. Evo's are surprisingly spacious on the inside. Unlike Eclipses, you can fit 4 people comfortably in them. Look at it this way, if the missess and I go out with another couple, which car do you think we're taking?

[turbohcar]

I agree, 90% of the cars sold from 95-99 were nonturbo but, the people that had turbo cars, even people that weren't car nuts, loved how quick and sporty they were. In my opinion, people bought the nonturbo cars because they couldn't afford the higher sticker of a turbo car and settled for a car that just looked like it. I'd like to think that if the 1G and 2G cars had been delayed a couple years they would be contenders with (and hopefully better than) Dodge against the SRT-4. IMO, the SXT Neon is just like the nonturbo 2g cars, it just kinda looks like their bigger, more powerful version.

I'm not saying that EVO's aren't great for play time, its just when I hear the phrase "sports car" the EVO isn't the first one to come to mind. IMO a sports car is defined by a short wheelbase, compact, lightweight, two door, two seater (if they did have four seats they were so small they were useless), with plenty of power to rip through the gears quickly. Not that an EVO couldn't be considered a sports car, but I consider it to be a family sedan with a sports car motor dropped in it much like the SRT-4. When I hear sports car, I think of the Mazda Miata, Porsche Carrera, etc.... cars of that breed. The Eclipses to me were on the heavier, slightly less agile end of the sports car band.

Take some chances Mitsubishi, you've got nothing to lose. Sacrifice some of that styling for more power and handling and keep the price close to $20k, it wouldn't hurt to try.

[JMoushon]

I'm not sure I would even mention the EVO and the SRT4 in the same sentence. Those two are worlds apart, all they share is the number of doors. Having driven both, there is no comparison. In every category except price, the EVO walks on the Dodge. That said, I agree with the opinion that Mitsu should be a bit more ballsy with the next gen Eclipse. I think they are worrying about staying in business more, though.

[zacd]

my step dad works at the mitsubishi plant and he said that the 3.8L puts out 230 horse as it is now, but they will probably get it up to around 260 for the eclipse version. they currently put the 3.8 in the galant and endevor. the galant has the best 0-60 time in its class among the major japanese 4. the thing about the 3.8 is that it make a ton of torque. yes the horse power is lower than most things comparable but it blows them away in the torque department, causing it to get up and move a lot quicker.

thats just what he said a few minutes ago when i showed him this post...

[Justincredible]

I kinda like having 4 doors. Evo's are surprisingly spacious on the inside. Unlike Eclipses, you can fit 4 people comfortably in them. Look at it this way, if the missess and I go out with another couple, which car do you think we're taking?

uhhh the grand am? LOL!

[natedogg]

I agree, 90% of the cars sold from 95-99 were nonturbo but, the people that had turbo cars, even people that weren't car nuts, loved how quick and sporty they were.  In my opinion, people bought the nonturbo cars because they couldn't afford the higher sticker of a turbo car and settled for a car that just looked like it.  I'd like to think that if the 1G and 2G cars had been delayed a couple years they would be contenders with (and hopefully better than) Dodge against the SRT-4.  IMO, the SXT Neon is just like the nonturbo 2g cars, it just kinda looks like their bigger, more powerful version.

I'm not saying that EVO's aren't great for play time, its just when I hear the phrase "sports car" the EVO isn't the first one to come to mind.  IMO a sports car is defined by a short wheelbase, compact, lightweight, two door, two seater (if they did have four seats they were so small they were useless), with plenty of power to rip through the gears quickly.  Not that an EVO couldn't be considered a sports car, but I consider it to be a family sedan with a sports car motor dropped in it much like the SRT-4.  When I hear sports car, I think of the Mazda Miata, Porsche Carrera, etc.... cars of that breed.  The Eclipses to me were on the heavier, slightly less agile end of the sports car band.

Take some chances Mitsubishi, you've got nothing to lose.  Sacrifice some of that styling for more power and handling and keep the price close to $20k, it wouldn't hurt to try.

Maybe you should read more about the Evo's. I suggest the SCC mag that pits the Evo against a Porsche 911, a BMW M3, and Audi S4. Here's the link. http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/features...many/index.html

Better handling? You can't get much better from the factory. Certainly not for 30 grand or less. Same goes for power. I'm not saying its an all out sports car in what most people accept to be the definition of the term, but I definitely wouldn't call it a family sedan. Not when the chassis has been specifically stiffened just for better handling. Its a purpose built 'race' car from the ground up based on a long standing rally racing background. You'll know that if you drive one, get a ride in one, or even sit in one. IMO, cars like the EVO, WRX, and SRT4 are changing the definition of the modern sports car.

[natedogg]

I kinda like having 4 doors.  Evo's are surprisingly spacious on the inside.  Unlike Eclipses, you can fit 4 people comfortably in them.  Look at it this way, if the missess and I go out with another couple, which car do you think we're taking? 

uhhh the grand am? LOL!

The grand am's 2 doors, smartass.

[awd4kicks]

As far as the defenition of a sports car versus what the EVO looks like...I have to agree with turbohcar.

The EVO is awesome and hands down the best handling car I ever driven. If you think about it though it does seem a bit backwards. We now have the EVO body style as the flagship 'sports car' and the the 'swoopy' Eclipse as the mediocre step between all out economy and the flag ship. I mean if it were not for rally racing's rules or a difference in them Mitsu could have easily beafed up a different chassis such as the Eclipse or FTO. Wait a second the new Eclipse kinda sounds like the FTO with the sleak lines and the V6 engine...

Just think if Ferarri or Lambo changed their flag ship sports cars to more boxy four door versions....uuhhg!

[natedogg]

I'm not arguing the fact that the Evo doesn't look like what most people consider a sports car. I thought I made that pretty clear with this statement out of my previous post.

I'm not saying its an all out sports car in what most people accept to be the definition of the term, but I definitely wouldn't call it a family sedan.

I think its 4-door boxy look is one of its strengths. Its different, non-conforming, not what people expect.

I was more disputing 'the family sedan with a sports car motor dropped in' comment and putting it in the same category as an srt-4. Marcus, you of all people should know its much more than that. Now I'm not saying its the most amazing, ass-kicking car ever built. But much like dsm's were when they first came out in the early 90's, its alot of performance for a relatively small price as far as new cars go.

Btw, if any of us could afford a lambo or ferrari, we probably wouldn't be having this conversation, cuz we probably wouldn't care too much about an Evo.

[awd4kicks]

Hahaha...you don't have to try to clear anything up...I gotcha.

It is a general trend by some automakers of late and your nail-on-the-head comment of 'redefining the sports car' that set my fingers to typing. I can appreciate different styling for the purpose of rigidity or being different but I never want the age old sports car design to die.

[natedogg]

Ahh. Its one of those old person things. I see...

Seriously though, I agree, the smooth, muscular, intimidating lines of American sports cars and older import sports cars are very inticing, as well as tried and true.

Anybody see the pics of the Toyota Volta concept car on the last page of the most recent SCC mag? That's what a true sports car of this decade should look like.

[Justincredible]

[quote=natedogg,Jun 24 2004, 09:20 AM]
uhhh the grand am? LOL! [/QUOTE]
The grand am's 2 doors, smartass. [/quote]
haha dang. I forgot/ never really payed that much attn.

[turbohcar]

"But much like dsm's were when they first came out in the early 90's, its alot of performance for a relatively small price as far as new cars go."

"I think its 4-door boxy look is one of its strengths. Its different, non-conforming, not what people expect. "

I am starting to see your point of view Natedogg but something is still yet unclear to me, what is your argument why the SRT-4 and the EVO are in different classes? Both have that sports car feel but room for the family, four cylinder turbocharged powerplant, both are the higher trim of their respective models, SRT-4 is just over 20k, EVO is 30k?. Why shouldn't they be in the same class?