If you can't wait for the new 2006 Eclipse..
Written: Jan 17 '03 (Updated Jun 07 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good highway manners, Unique design.
Cons: Price, Still could use more power.
The Bottom Line: The Eclipse GTS does have it's downfalls, however its unruffled attitude should be very appealing to many consumers.
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Until the 2000 model year (when this car was reinvented) I was an avid fan of Mitsubishi's little pocket rocket known as "Eclipse." The pre 2000 Eclipses might have been more harsh on the road, smaller, and required more skill to drive, though they packed much more of a fun factor punch. Times have changed however, the Mitsubishi Eclipse has grown to be more of a sedate sporty looking cruiser versus the hardcore Japanese speed machine it once was. For 2003 10 more horsepower has been added to an all new trim line, titled "GTS." 10 extra horses (up to 210 in GTS vs 200 in GT) is a novel increase in power, but does 10 extra horses make this car more fun to drive?
For the 2003 model year the Eclipse Coupe comes in 4 trim levels; the RS, GS, GT, and the top of the line GTS (tester). 2 engines are available, a 2.4 packing 147 horsepower in the RS and GS trim, and a SOHC 3.0 V6 standard on both the GT (200 hp) and GTS (210 hp), variable induction is featured on the GTS resulting in 10 more horses over the GT according to Mitsubishi. Transmissions include a standard 5-speed manual, a 4-speed fully automatic, and a 4-speed Sportronic automatic transmission (a $1,300 dollar option equipped in tester).
Driving Impressions:
Despite an increase of 10 horsepower, the Eclipse GTS Coupe did not seem any quicker off-the-line than the 2002 Eclipse GT Coupe I test drove last year with the 200 horsepower rating. The 2003 Eclipse GTS does offer strong acceleration, just not the type of strong acceleration offered from many cars in the Eclipses price range; i.e. Ford Mustang GT, Subaru WRX, etc. If you are looking for head snapping acceleration you'd best look elsewhere. On take-off I also found the 2003 Eclipses exhaust note to be a bit placid, this could be a good or a bad thing depending on what you like to hear coming from your car's tailpipe. Personally I would have liked to have heard a more husky exhaust note coming from my sports coupe. My Eclipse GTS Coupe came with the optional 4-speed Sportronic transmission ($1,300). While not a big fan of the 24V SOHC V6 unit in the Eclipse GTS, this optional transmission is definitely on my list of excellent auto trannys; shifts are extremely precise, quick, and smooth even under full throttle. So what about torque steer? Like most powerful FWD vehicles the Eclipse does suffer quite bit from torque steer on take-off, though I experienced much more torque steer from some of the less powerful FWD competition, i.e 2003 Nissan Sentra 2.5 LE, not to mention the non AWD turbo powered predecessor Eclipse's.
Despite feeling a bit large in turns, the 2003 Eclipse GTS keeps with the tradition as a great handler. The steering is direct and precise, which makes the Eclipse extremely easy to drive fast on twisty roads. While not exactly impressive in this department, (some of the cheaper competition does just as well on tight corners) the Eclipse remains a competent handler that should satisfy most drivers. Low profile P215/50 VR17 tires come as standard equipment on the GTS which help aid in good grip and composure.
Note: Traction control is available at no charge so long as your GTS is equipped with the 4-speed Sportronic transmission. Traction control is not available with the 5-speed manual.
Unlike the pre 2000 model Eclipses the 2003 Eclipse GTS is a fairly smooth cruiser. If you are an owner of a pre '2000 Eclipse and are upgrading to a 2003 model, you'll definitely find the ride more forgiving, especially when cruising at high speeds and when driving over rough surfaces. The ride is a bit soft, although not too soft allowing for a sporting driving experience most people will be able to live with. Despite not being exactly fast off-the-line, the Eclipse GTS offers excellent passing power. Thanks to most of the Eclipses power being readily available at a relatively low rpm, the Eclipse is quick to accomplish passing maneuvers, and does an excellent job tackling steep inclines. Unlike much of the 4-cylinder competition, i.e. the Toyota Celica GTS, the Eclipse is a smooth cruiser even through mountainous terrain. Never once did the transmission have to down-shift to accelerate, nor did the engine get overly fussy; I like this!
Braking is excellent. Standard on the Eclipse GTS comes 4-wheel disc brakes coupled with 4-wheel ABS ( a braking set-up that should come on all cars). No fade was experienced whatsoever enabling this braking set-up to bring the Eclipse GTS to a full stop with little effort.
The EPA rates the 2003 Eclipse GTS at 21/28; a pretty fair EPA considering the fun factor of this car. If you can't live with the 21/28 (premium gasoline is required), but want a 2003 Eclipse, the 4-cylinder powered trim lines offer a marginally better rating at 23/31 (requires regular gas) but with an extreme compromise in the power department.
Interior Accommodation:
Most recently I have had some major gripes with the quality of Mitsubishi's interiors, from the Lancer to the Outlander, Mitsubishi has continued to disappoint me with materials used throughout their cabins. The 2003 Eclipses interior could use some lessons in the refinement department, however is not a major complaint this year. Plastics feel solid, the leather feels rich, and the dash looks great. The Eclipse offers good ergonomics, the HVAC controls are a bit too low, though the clock display above the dash and radio controls are in easy reach of the driver. A major positive of the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse GTS is the simplicity of the switchgear, while offering more than enough amenities, everything is kept simple, not giving the driver an overwhelming amount of gadgets and buttons to deal with.
Unlike many cars with sporty intentions, the 2003 Eclipse GTS Coupe is loaded with standard features. Some noteworthy standard amenities on the GTS trim level comes power everything, a decent sounding 7-speaker 210 watt Infinity 6-disc in-dash sound system with audio controls featured on the leather wrapped steering wheel, dual front and rear side air bags, power sunroof, AC, cruise control, and much more. Mitsubishicars.com has a complete list of standard and optional equipment available with the GTS trim.
Seating is good and should accommodate most drivers. With extreme bolstering all the rage, the Eclipses seats offer just enough so they will accommodate both small and large drivers. Cars like the WRX have excellent seats, however comfort can be limited to thin people due to extreme bolstering. The Eclipse GTS comes standard with 12 way adjustable driver seat adjustments with 6-way power seating. The leather used on these seats (leather is standard on the GTS) also surprisingly feels good to the touch, something I was not expecting from Mitsubishi.
Storage throughout the cabin is about what you'd expect to find in a sports coupe. Like most small sports coupes, the 2003 Eclipse Coupe is not going to cater to hauling large items in the cabin. The center console is small, (hardly enough room for a CD) and the glove box is also relatively small. The cabin might offer limited storage, but the hatch offers plenty of storage for most items, i.e a weeks worth of groceries. The seats are 50/50 split which further the Eclipses ability to store luggage etc.
Exterior Innovation:
Little has changed with the Eclipses design since it was reintroduced back in 2000. The rear tail lights have been updated to a semi see through effect theme; not so sure this improves the design. I do prefer the styling of the current generation's predecessor, however the new Eclipse is still definitely a looker, and by no means is hard on the eyes. The only major gripe I have with the Eclipse GTS are the rims. Mitsubishi has a very uniquely styled rim for the GTS, though they seem dated, unattractive, and look out of place on such a modern looking car. Also adding to my gripes is the alloy fuel door. Despite being an option, most of the dealers I have been to have decided that every Eclipse on the lot should have one, I feel this particular car looks much better with the standard color keyed fuel door.
Pricing/Warranty:
Base price for the Mitsubishi Eclipse RS starts out at around $18,000 with the standard 5-speed manual, add $800 for the 4-speed automatic, and options and you get close to the same price range as a fully loaded GTS. The MSRP of my tester was just over $27,000, this was with no options (besides the Sportronic transmission), and before taxes. Mitsubishi quotes the MSRP of GTS trim line with the 4-speed Sportronic automatic transmission at $25,474, however these are not the prices I have been seeing at dealerships. If anything happens to your new Mitsubishi Eclipse GTS, Mitsubishi offers an average 3 year 36,000 mile bumper-bumper warranty, and a 5 year 60,000 mile powertrain warranty.
Final Thoughts:
The Mitsubishi Eclipse GTS Coupe is not a major improvement over the GT Coupe I drove last year, however I do give Mitsubishi a thumbs up for addressing the fact that more power is needed, even if they didn't increase it enough to make a noticeable difference. I still would like to see the Eclipse gain at least 20% more power (with no increase in price). In this world of $25,000-$30,000 powerful sport coupes, the 2003 Eclipse just doesn't seem to stand out in the fun factor department. For the MSRP of the Eclipse GTS more power should be offered. My final recommendations for this car go out to those looking for a sports coupe that is simple to drive, easy to live with, and not going to break the bank at the pumps. If you are in this market the Mitsubishi Eclipse GTS Coupe is worth a test drive.
If you enjoyed reading this review, you also might like to read my review on the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
- Happy Car Shopping
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 27,000
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