- coupe
- 564 below average
- 2,995 good
- Egg Harbor Township, NJ
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- autoshopper.com
- 564 below average coupe gasoline black automatic
2003 mitsubishi eclipse review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Style, fun, performance and value. introductionmitsubishi says the eclipse symbolizes what the brand is all about: style, fun, performance, and value. Eclipse comes in coupe and spyder body styles, the latter with a soft convertible top. Their styling is bold and distinctive, suggesting a supercar, like a ferrari. the gt and gts models back up this statement with a superbly smooth and powerful v6 engine. The ride is smooth and comfortable, but doesn't isolate the driver. eclipse does all this for a compelling price and that's why it's so popular. This is one of the most reasonably priced sporty cars on the market. The fun per dollar quotient is high. . lineupmitsubishi builds the eclipse as a sleek hatchback coupe or as a two-door convertible. The coupe is available in rs 18,167), gs 19,077), gt 21,277), and gts 24,247) trim. The rs is the entry-level eclipse, but it comes with a plethora of features that make it attractive: 15-inch alloy wheels, power windows and locks, multi-adjustable front seats, folding rear seat, an interior air filtration system and a 140-watt am/fm/cd stereo. gs comes with a higher level of equipment, including 16-inch alloy wheels with 205/55hr16 tires for more grip, a rear stabilizer bar for sportier handling (less understeer), fog lamps, power mirrors, cruise control, remote keyless entry, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, lumbar support added to all those seat adjustments, a rear spoiler, and a split folding rear seat. The gs spyder is equipped even better than the coupe, with a 210-watt stereo and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. gt steps up to a substantially higher level of performance. The gt coupe comes with a 24-valve v6 that delivers 200 horsepower and 205 pounds-feet of torque. The gt spyder uses essentially the same engine, but with higher-compression pistons and mitsubishi's new variable induction management (mvim) system bumping output to 210 horses and emissions down to the ultra low (ulev) range. Integrated fog lights, chrome exhaust tips and color-keyed ground effects add image to the gt's performance image. gts adds abs, side-impact airbags, 12-way adjustable leather seats, a six-disc cd changer and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. The gts coupe gets a sunroof. Gts also gets a slightly more powerful v6 that benefits from variable induction and higher compression pistons. a five-speed manual transmission is standard in all models. On gs and gt the automatic 1000) sportronic manual override. Leather trim is optional for the coupe gs and gt 1780) and spyder gs and gt 600). . walkaroundmitsubishi eclipse has been mildly re-styled for 2003. The front bumper, front and rear light clusters, and alloy wheels on the gs, gt, and gts are new. some have described the exterior design as sleek, slippery, cutting edge. Mitsubishi calls it 'geo-mechanical,' a term used for the original sst design concept shown at the 1998 detroit auto show. To us it looks sort of retro-contemporary. This arch theme is carried through, from the a-pillar to the c-pillar. Three strakes in each door begin at the front bumper where they resemble the brake cooling vents of a race car. A round fuel filler door adds to the racy theme; an aluminum alloy lid for it is available as a dealer-installed accessory. With the top down, it looks rakish yet handsomely finished, thanks to black rubber folding boot cover that conceals the retracted top. Eclipse interiors are now available in two color-coordinated themes that mitsubishi calls midnight and sand blast. The former is primarily black with dark blue accents, the latter black with taupe accents. The leather sand blast (beige) seats in a 2003 eclipse coupe we drove were nice, but the hard plastic on the dash looks like hard plastic. The silver trim around the shifter matches the door trim okay, but the hard interior materials are mediocre. the gauges have been redesigned for 2003, making them easier to read. the center stack has an unusual look with readouts for the radio, temperature and compass in an information module atop the dash, just above the controls. If the two were closer together, the eye would do less rushing around, causing less distraction from the road. It's easy to see and read, however, better than those for a mercedes-benz. The audio controls for the infinity stereo are excellent, big clearly marked buttons and knobs for changing stations, volume, seek, track, etc. located just below the stereo controls are three rotary dials for heat, ventilation and air conditioning. The controls look like they came from a compact, though. The spyder has a quite bit more headroom than the eclipse coupe (yes, with the top up). Like most sport coupes, the eclipse is not the ideal car for picking up dry cleaning. However, a hook on the driver's side works okay for a few items, which drape well over the front of the rear seat. the spyder surrenders back-seat space to the coupe. It loses less than an inch of leg room, but more three inches of hip room are consumed by the top and its storage well. a more serious drawback to the spyder is a shortage of luggage space as the folded top and its operating mechanism intrude into the cargo bay. At the same time, it keeps the driver feeling connected with the road rather than feeling isolated. When turning the key we were immediately struck by the sporty exhaust sound of the v6. This is a truly flawless engine, as smooth running as an electric dynamo. The gtx induction system gets a little extra boost from variable induction and higher compression pistons. A dual-path intake manifold switches from longer to shorter intake runners as engine speed increases, improving efficiency at all engine speeds. This yields a 10-horsepower increase. Peak torque remains 205 pounds-feet, but arrives at 3750 rather than 4000 rpm. The v6 delivers about as much power as we want for a front-wheel-drive car. Stand on it and the eclipse is at the threshold of wheelspin. Any more power and the eclipse would need all-wheel drive, which is not available. The clutch take-up and smoothness of the five-speed manual, much aided by its heavily counterweighted shifter, is incomparably fine. An excellent selection of gear ratios helps the five-speed make the most of the engine's power. A low roll center, combined with pillow-ball links to the front anti-roll bar, contribute to its flat cornering attitude. The suspension lacks sophistication when it comes to handling big bumps, however. power rack-and-pinion steering is speed-sensitive, and feels very light at low speeds. Large ventilated discs with dual piston calipers cover the front wheels while solid discs watch over the rear wheels. with the t. AM/FM✔ Power Windows✔ Power Mirrors✔ Cruise Control✔ CD Changer✔ Leather Seats✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Air Conditioning✔ Alloy Wheels
2,995 Egg Harbor Township, NJEgg Harbor Township, NJ at autoshopper.com