I'm only wondering because we have a dog (Whippet) and the hatchback would be easier to get in and out of (I think), and winter driving be better with FWD?? What says you? I guess I could remove the seats in the back and whatever else I could remove and make it "for the dog"! Yea I know I could get rid of the dog, but my wife just got it for me for my Christmas present last year...

Thanks
Bruce

 

The 2006 eclipse has already had two recalls one to do with brakes yes the RX8 and the Eclipse are both cars but are two Engineering worlds apart .

Do some research you will come to your own understanding , just make sure you dont end up kicking your dog for making the wrong choice :p

Heres a link to the recall

http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/news/in...kes-105034.php

B...free
michael

 

Not to mention it is over 3600 lbs. If you need a hatchback & maybe some usuable back seats go for a Mazda 6 hatchback. If you are coming from an RX car, the Eclipse is going to feel like a pig.

 

Rx8 hands down. As far as a sports car goes, FWD sucks, and I'm willing to bet the eclipse has summer tires on it just like the 8 in which case both will totally suck in the snow. The 8 looks better inside and out, revs much higher which makes for a lot of fun, has 4 doors which makes the back seats useful for people too (not juse dogs). The new eclipse is a boat, plain and simple. It handles terribly in comparison to the 8 which is just much more nimble. The eclipse is a bit faster and has much more torque, but when its going to the front wheels that cuts back on a lot of fun. Winter driving and gas mileage on both these cars is about the same, but I can understand the hatchback for your dog, but I think the 8 wins in just about every other category. We dont even know if mitsu is gonna be around in a year or two...

I'll let you know right now I am a bit biased as I own an 8, but from everything I know about the eclipse I definately would never make a switch to one.

 

I bet your whippet could squeeze though the rear trunk pass through. Doggy bed in the trunk leave the pass through open.

Problem solved! It would get a little hot in the trunk though

 

there is NO comparsion besides they both have 4 wheels thats really all I can see

 

Ummm, let's see. The Eclipse TV commercial is prety nice.

 

dogs LOVE wagons

should get a Mazda6 wagon instead

 

The Eclipse rear seats may fold down, they did on my 1g and on the 2g so seems like they would in the current one. But if you need space for the dog and the RX-8 isn't going to cut it there are many cars I'd be looking at besides the Eclipse. Saab wagons for one (9-3 and 9-2), my friend just got a 9-3 for 234 a month on a lease and the deals are good til the end of the month. Subaru wagons (Legacy and Impreza), VW GTI, Mazda 6 wagon or hatch, or even a Mazda 3 hatch. Then there's the Dodge Magnum which if you can afford the RT model they're pretty damn fun to drive. More hotrod like than sportscar, but they handle pretty well.

If you really like the Eclipse I wouldn't let what others are saying deter you so much, lots of cars have recalls, go try and by an RX-8 right now and you'll see what I mean...

 

I have a Mazda6 Sportwagon as my company car. As a hobby, I show chihuahuas and Italian Greyhounds. My Sportwagon has been a GREAT dog show car - lots of room behind the rear seats for crates, dog show dolly, etc. And you can get 2, #200 crates in the back seats, facing each other.

Also, a pretty "fun" car to drive, for a wagon - nothing like the RX8, but still a real nice highway cruiser.

Just a quirky note: the Dodge Magnum creeps me out a little - looks a lot like a hearse to me!

 

I think it's the ugliest car next to the Subaru Baja. I saw a blue one drive by the other day and immediately thought to myself "who would buy such an ugly designed car."
Agh... mitsu is going the wrong direction... they need better designers.

 

He came here for our opinion and opinions have been made. Having problems of the magnitude of brake failure this early in a roll-out of a new model is quite a bit different than your average recall that has happened with the RX-8 ie. airbags and the tranny.

 

HEY!!!! Watch that tone here. I have a Baja Turbo and it will eat my RX-8 up off the line and in the 1/4 mile, just has a soft suspension on it.

I have a decal on it 'At least it's not an Aztec'.

--kC
(The Baja replaced our old Jeep. We needed something to haul crap around in and didn't want a 'full sized' pickemup truck... the Baja fits the bill perfectly.)

 

the back seat on the eclipse is TINY (I speak from an unpleasant experience)

the interior is pretty nice, but that's all it has goin for it. The 8 is faster, better quality, and nicer inside and out.

 

No No No...its Dogs Love Trucks! :p

 

You must have an Auto 8.

 

You must not know how fast the Forester and Baja XT can be.

 

So transporting a dog and winter driving are the only things that are important? How about a Jeep Grand Cherokee?


I disagree. Dogs can get in and out of the 8 by themselves (with the door open of course. Or maybe your dog is really smart). With the hatchback you'll need to pick doggy up and put him in. Or you could let him claw his way up your nice new bumper to get in. And is there enough room for doggy?

Depends. Winter tires like blizzaks will probably work great on either car.

 

my dog loves the rx8... but he likes the civic more cause he can see better.

 

Yeah, he could toss in some onions and carrots too :p

 

I'd really recommend checking out the 9-2x Aero Saab. The price of the vehicle right now is beyond outstanding. Your basically looking at a 28-30k car, thats selling for 19.4k without negotation, and as low as 16k if you fight the dealer to the death, or are able to ****** up a bunch of crazy coupons.

Its currently "THE" best buy in terms of overall vehicles. Subaru drivetrain, chassis, engine...saab exterior, interior, warranty...and its a wagon, so has tons of room for the dogs. 227 bhp, AWD.

The 8 is a fantastic car, but it doesn't really seem the right choice for 4 legged friends.

 

Yeah i was thinking the samething its got some looks and has the fun factor not as much as the 8 but it is the way to go in your case.

 

if you're wanting a winter doggy mobile just pick up a used truck or wagon, if this is a daily driver and not a second car then I'd look into the Saabs and Subies like some folks mentioned, plus they do have Jeeps with hemi's now. And as far as this forum goes, you will get the same crap anywhere you lurk, there's always going to be people on these boards that are right no matter if they're right or wrong, same lesson applies in life in general, you just have to try and read through and after a while you'll figure out who gives you valid info, and who gives you useless banter and buries you in "my <insert car here> here is the shizzy yo!" Good luck with twhatever you end up with and don't let a few bad apples spoil the bunch

 

My step father works at a dealership that sells the new E's he said that when he drove one (V-6 auto) that the torque steer on the car is so bad he almost went into the ditch. He also said he did not feel comfortable in the car going past 80. I like the way they look myself but I damn sure don't want something that is always going to slide off into the woods when I put my foot on the floor.

 

this was a joke right?