Naturally. The Eclipse hits a different market, and will have the ecomony versions available too. Like the car or not, it sells. It's practical, sporty, and will be powerful. It's not Mitsubishi's flagship, so I'd hope it wouldn't be anywhere near as nice as the RX8. However, when a non flagship vehicle is putting out 260hp, it may be yet another reason for Mazda to push up their HP a little bit, and make this car faster. That's really all the rx8 needs to destory the competition in every way.

 

I liked the 1st gen Eclipse/Talon. They did a nice job on it and sold a ton of em. I liked the 2nd gen Eclipse even more. The turbo AWDs were some of the best cars of the 90s. When the 3rd gen hit I just thought "yeech". They may sell a ton of them but if Mitsubishi keeps making cars that 9 out of 10 people say "yeech" to, they won't be around much longer. So many companies made a turnaround and are making hit after hit. Look at Nissan. Mitsubishi seems to be in a downward spiral and needs a visionary leader to make THE RIGHT things happen. They clearly don't have that person there now.

 

No worry of crankwalk, no screwy ECU, and no puny turbo. That's what makes the first couple years of the 1gs the best Eclipses/Talons by far. Bigger turbos, easier to tune, more reliable, and the best looking IMO. With a couple free mods the early DSMs were quite a bit faster than anything in its category and were very fun to drive with the AWD, nothing even came close. Mitsubishi is doing something similar with the Evo now, it even has the same engine. But today the ecplise has become something that's just supposed to appeal to the masses and there isn't anything special about it. It's a real shame because I will always love my DSM and the more recent Eclipse doesn't even deserve the same badge.

 

You are right about that. People forget the Eclipse of old is just that. OF OLD. They changed the meaning of this car, and it's ultimate purpose. From an enthusiast standpoint, it's a failure. From a general consumer market standpoint, it's not. I don't particularly like the looks of the Eclipse either, but it's a mass produced practical sports hatchback. I'm completely bias, but the day Mitsubishi stopped making the STARION, is the day I stopped liking Mitsubishi. To me that car is the vehicle I wanted to see evolutionize. IN looks, no Eclipse compares. When the Eclipse ultimately replaced it in 1990. that pissed me off. I still own that car, and plan on restoring it. I know the Starion was a failure, but it's failure was mechanically, certainly not looks and performance. COME ON MITSUBISHI. BRING BACK THE STARION.

 

I loved the Starion and Conquest, but the Eclipse/Talon were an improvement mainly because they actually ran. :p

 

Yucky! The concept was alright looking and also had that cool electric motor to save gas/add extra horses. I think with extra electric motor, it would have given this 4G Eclipse a bit of an edge/novelty (kinda like our rotary engine). But no ... it's just a plain old 6 banger.

I will take a 2G GSX anyday over this. Heck I even considered a used GSX instead of the 8. Lucky I chose the 8.

 

i'd rather have a FWD...i hate the tranny problems on the AWD. but i have had both and i liked the FWD better for all around driving. but it also had about 387hp to the wheels...my AWD was still BPU.

 

i dont think the eclipse will ever get out of the shadow of its former self for many enthusiasts. Honestly... the styling for that car could have been for almost any other car and i think many of us would have liked it

 

so pretty...i miss her so much. but just look at her curves.

 

I have to painfully agree on that. Instead of improving the Starion/ Conquest, they decided to replace it. That car was a pure headache, and still is. However there is no denying the looks and the performance. I took an 88 Starion and modded it a few years back, and sold it to buy my STI in August. That sucker hauled serious ***, and had incredible torque. On the highway the car I built would have taken my STI no doubt about it. However, the little problems kept adding up, and it really cannot be used as a daily driver anymore, unless you are willing to put serious money into a car that is now worth nothing. Lets not forget about the Plymouth Laser.

 

don't forget the stock FMIC on the starion!!! did the conquest have one too...i can't remember?

 

I just read on the Eclipse board that someone attended the LA show and got the specs on the V6 model. Loaded with all available options, 18" wheels and automatic, it's going to weigh 3471 lbs.

I figured it'd be around 100 or so lbs. lighter than the GTS Galant.

 

^ If that's accurate it's not going to be as fast as some people here thought. A 6+ second 0-60 car?

 

Ford Cougar? I think it a bad try to copy the 350... And the *** of it looks huge!

 

I had one too...95-99 were the best

 

yeah i out a lot of time and money into that car. that was just before the big 16G was put on. looked stock except for the exhaust tip, FMIC, and lowered a bit.

 

I'm guessing LOW 6's.

The Galant is heavier, uses the same engine with 30 less HP, no MIVEC, a 4 speed auto, and wears 17" tires instead of 18, and even it can hit 60 in the high 60's. It's a good bet the Eclipse is going to be pretty quick.

 

Chick, and hairdresser cars :p

 

looks even more like a girl's car than the previous generation.

 

ewww, it looks like something i **** out .

 

Damn!!!!!! is that thing 3' off the ground :D What is that, the off road version??????

 

Haha. Captain Murphy. Give me my Mingus Dew! :D

 

yeah people always sadi i drove a b!tch car...but i was pretty comfy with 387fwhp!!

 

Looking a little better with the fancy lighting and less wheel gap...

http://www.mitsubishicars.com/06eclipse/

 

Looks like they tried to take all the best features out of the 350Z and 8 and come out with a "fresher" package. But the exterior styling isn't doing it for me at this point.