2000 - 2004 Eclipse info

Need some help learning about these cars (being I know nothing whatsoever about this car.) I am figuring on getting my son a 00-04 in auto for his 16th.

I would like to know which engine is the most dependable and what model you all feel is the most dependable etc.

Please tell me what to look for on one that may have issues etc when looking at a used car.

Is there a AWD version in the 00-04?

Should I be looking at 96-99 models instead?

List me the good and bads of the models, Thanks.

Any help and info on these appreciated.

Do you not want him racing?

2000+ never had AWD. They eat gas also.

I street raced growing up. What he does behind my back is on him.

The wife was just thinking awd for winter months.

I do like the looks of the 2000+ better, but there is some nice 99- for sale too. Just seems the 2000+ would be more dependable too?

Newer never means more dependable.

My 91 Miata has over a million miles on it and it runs fine.
If you take care of the car it'll last.

Only the top of the line models 96-99 came AWD. Trim is GSX
200hp turboed 4banger.

IF you can find a GSX make sure it's running correctly. Most owners tend to beat on these cars and don't perform proper maintenance.

Personally I'd ask him what he wants.
If he's interested in drifting, and if your willing to let him go to the track and drift legally get him something RWD.

Already ask him. He just wants a car with decent mpg in a auto to go back and forth to school in basically.
That he can fix up and make look cool without messing with the power train. Left stock on the PT in other words.
Said he is not interested in hop ups or racing it. But we all know how that goes.

We even have a race track down the road that gives road course lessons, etc. Mid-Ohio.

Go for the GSX plenty fast for his age.
Decent MPG. Easy to repair yourself.

GSX are great cars but they are getting harder and harder to find, especially if you are wanting one that is not beat up and dont wanna have to rebuild it from the ground up. If he is just wanting to have something that look nice the with a decent powertrain then I dont think a 3rd gen GT or GTS would be a bad car. He is not going to be able to get a ton of power out of it if he does decided to go the performance route and also there are pretty decent amount of aftermarket body kits avaiable for him to choose from it he wants to dress it up

Now for a stupid question. I assume the non-gsx ones are front wheel drive?

yep

Well when I turned 16 which was last year too this exact date I got a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Gt. And from what I've read and experienced they are very dependable and they are actually really good in the winter in my opinion. I drove it the whole winter without getting in a wreck or ditch, ect.. and I hardly ever slid. Some of them are front wheel drive and that is what you want to get. I had never driven in snow before until I got the eclipse and drove on my own in it and it worked out good. I hope I helped.

Looked at a 2003 with 2.4 auto with 104K miles and $4K could have bought the like new looking ride.

Read that the timing belts etc are suppose to be changed every 60K and they could NOT provide documentation on it every being done or warranty the car till done or knock cash off to cover same.

So what is your guys take that know about these 2000-2005 and the timing belts. First hand I know a a friends daughter has one and the timing belt broke with 70K+ and locked the motor up. So I am a little apprehensive about these cars now.

I didnt buy the 2003 because the timing belt kit and then labor to install everything was close to the $600 range. Is this about right also?

If the belt breaks get ready for another car cause it'd be cheaper to buy one then fix it.