Pros :
- Concept car styling.
- Predictable handling.
- Fairly supple ride for a sporty car.
- Entertaining V6 engine makes for decent acceleration.
- Emphasis on luxury amenities on the inside.
Cons :
- More of a heavy tourer than a sports car.
- Horizontal grooves on the doors are styling overkill.
- Low headroom, tight back seat and poor all-round visibility.
- Price is a little high for the performance offered.
- Manual transmission is too notchy for a so-called sports car.
Press Coverage :
The front and rear styling of the 2003 Eclipse has been redone, and the interior has been upgraded to convey a sportier feeling. A new halogen headlight arrangement is fitted to a revamped urethane front fascia with a redone grille air inlet. The molded front bumper now includes cavities for the integrated fog light arrangement on the higher-line GT and top-line GTS trims. It all makes for a cosmetic improvement.
All sporty cars are at a disadvantage unless they have good looking wheels, and the Eclipse doesn't disappoint here. The GT and GTS roll on new 17-inch, 5-finned spoke wheels.
There are optional new steering wheel sound system controls for the GS and GT. These controls are standard for the GTS.
The new GTS has all the equipment a reasonable person could want on this type of car. It also has a 210-horsepower version of the 3.0-liter 200-horsepower V6 found in the GT. Actually, the GT convertible also gets that higher-horsepower V6 and the more aggressive final drive ratio of the GTS because it's heavier than the Eclipse coupe. The extra power comes from a higher compression ratio and variable induction system that give this engine crisper throttle response.
The steering is quick, but a little too light, and Eclipses have a large turning circle than can be a pain in tight spots. Handling is good, but not in the sports car class. Still, the car can be pushed fairly hard without getting a driver into trouble.
The brake pedal is soft, but has a linear feel to help allow short stopping distances. The GT and GTS have an all-disc brake setup. Only the GTS is offered with anti-lock brakes, which comes with front side airbags.
The Eclipse has a good ride because of its supple suspension and fairly long 100.8-inch wheelbase for a small, sporty car.
All 2003 trims have either a slick 5-speed manual transmission or responsive 4-speed automatic, which has a manual shift gate on higher-line Eclipses. Order the GTS with the automatic and you get a standard traction control system at no extra cost. The GTS is pretty well equipped with such items as air conditioning, AM/FM/CD and power windows and locks. It even has leather upholstery.
The Eclipse is roomy up front, but the rear seat is best left to kids, pets or extra cargo. The cargo area is fairly large, and rear seatbacks easily flip forward to increase cargo space. As is usually the case, the coupe has more cargo room than the convertible. But the coupe has a big, heavy hatch lid that can be awkward to use. Also, the cargo opening on both the coupe and convertible is uncomfortably high. The front bucket seats are big and fairly comfortable. But they're low - calling for above-average agility when getting in and out. Doors also are rather long and bulky, making it awkward to get in and out in tight spots.
Visibility is marginal to the rear in both coupe and convertible models. And thick front windshield pillars partially block visibility during some maneuvers.
Carpoint.com
The fun starts with a clutch that's creamy in its takeup, a rheostat to get you off the mark. Then there's the exhaust music, more purr than snort, that rises and falls in time with your right foot. The 3.0-liter V-6 stays silky all the way to the 6200 redline. Acceleration is better than the group's average in all tests. And the behavior just gets sweeter as you push the envelope. The Eclipse slips reliably into understeer, and the steering response is relaxed enough that its path is not twitchy, even when the turn you're entering is blind and you're uncertain of its exact geometry. Corrections to your line are so easy, so intuitive. Back out of the power slightly, and the drift angle widens, scrubbing off speed while it tightens the line. Squeeze on power, and the rear tucks in. Then fine-tune your path with steering. Some credit must go to the V-rated Goodyear Eagle RS-A 17-inchers for these benign responses. The Eclipse is a sporting car that will cover for you when you're a bit imprudent.
Moreover, it's not a car that will goad you into injudicious ventures. The suspension feels relatively soft compared with the Acura's and Toyota's. The nose dives under braking, and the body rolls as the side forces build. That softness contributes to the generally pleasing ride, but some of our drivers felt it was a bit too old-ladyish for genuine sport.
Caranddriver.com
History:
2000-2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT
2,972 cc / 200 hp / 205 lb-ft / 3120-3241 lbs / 0-60 mph 7.1 sec.
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