New, Few ?s

I am researching for my first car. I am looking at the 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse/ or Eclipse Spyder

1. Which is better?

2. I heard the Spyder leaks when it rains is this true?

3. Should I get manual or automatic?

4. How many miles should I try to buy one with?

5. Whats the diff between the rs and gs and turbo?

Thanks

there are many threads about the different trim levels, and it is all personal preference. If you want a turbo buy a gs-t or a gsx...are you going to race? do you want a fast car? Get a manual, lol what kind of question is that?

Most of the people that i kknow with a convertible which is like 4.. dont end up keeping it very long... Especially since it get cold around here.. .Seemed like a good idea when they bought it...

PErsonally id go with a GST or GSX..

Dont know about the leak..

Get a stick if you really love drivin... Sitting in traffic makes me realize tat 95% of the other people on the road cant drive for shit.. Plus you might be one of those people who ends up starting threads about "How hard is it to swap a 5 speed into my automatic eclipse..

Save yourself a whole lot of wishing and just buy a GSX 5 speed from the very beginning...

Do not buy a nt if you want any sort of power.

Kind of like my first car...do not buy a v6 94 camaro if you want power or speed :p

Good car for cruisin, and ttops are nice though :D. Don't worry too much about speed and/or power for a first car. You'll save yourself some speeding tickets, repairs, and maybe your life! Learn to drive well on something slow and safe for a few years, then buy the turbo eclipse and enjoy it responsibly for many years :)

I don't care about the speed. So the rs and gs are different trim levels (as in outer apperance?)

Are both the eclipse and spyder good for small people (5'2")?

So why is a manual better? I can see it as worse, because you have to keep changing it.


Thanks

Don't worry too much about speed and/or power for a first car. You'll save yourself some speeding tickets, repairs, and maybe your life! Learn to drive well on something slow and safe for a few years, then buy the turbo eclipse and enjoy it responsibly for many years


:iagree:

If youre just learning how to drive, i agree... But if youve been drivin for a while, but its your first car on your own, then id say go for the turbo...

If you like drivin youll want a stick... if drivin is just a task to get you from 1 point to another then get an automatic..

Definately a car you dont have to worry about being to short for..

i'd be worring about insurance cowkiller. thats how i would be shopping for a car if i were you! that is if your younger then 21.

Is the 1997 eclipse very reliable (from what I have read, it doesn't look that great) ?

its all in how you drive it.

Surely, some cars engine and transmission etc. are better than others. It would be my first car and I would need it to be very reliable. I would not be racing or anything.

Thanks

nothing is 100% reliable. it's hard to say. i wish there was an easy was to tell you one or the other, but its solely upto you, and your wants and needs are. if you want somthing 100% you'll have to buy somthing with a warrenty. the 4g63 is a tough built engien. it sounds like you want low cost mainitance when somthing goes wrong. if im right, then stick with the more simple less complex drivetrain. go fwd gs. their are more things that can go wrong on gst or gsx. and they typicaly have been driven harder.

Are gs and rs the same ?

Are gs and rs the same ?

Not exactly. I will put them in order for you-

RS- The most basic you can get. Not many options tho. (power nothing, spoiler? cd?)
GS- Basicly a rs with power options and other "luxuries"
a sunroof came in all trims.
GS-T---would not recommend for what you are looking for
GSX----again would not recommend for what you are looking for
just my :2cents: :)

Do both the spider and regular eclipse have the same internals (like engine). I am wondering if one is more reliable than the other.

Does the moonroof on the eclipse cause any problems?

Does the spider top leak?

Should I get leather or regular seats? (arn't leather cold in the winter and hot in the summer?)

Spyder has a different engine, but you can't base reliability change on it.

Same as any moon roof, no, not usually.

No, not usually.

Leather seats are your choice, not ours. It's no different than any other car leather.

i heard somewhere that all gsx's came stock with leather seats? is this true?

I am really worried about the reliability. I found this site: http://www.deadeclipse.com/home.php

http://www.mitsubishisucks.com

Read it for a while, it really discourages me, but I am sad, because the eclipse is so cool looking and pretty cheap for a used 1997.

Thanks

OK that person does not deserve to live...
But hey at least the pic of the eclipse at the top is a 3g.

An eclipse is an amazing car!!

No seriously, if you need a reliable car... don't get a fast car. If you do a get an Eclipse, don't modify it either.

fast cheap or reliable
pick two :evillol:

I do not care if it is fast. I just want it to look sporty and be reliable. I wouldn't mod it and I would get a non turbo GS. So is this car not reliable?

yes the car is reliable. I've seen DSM's with 160+ thousand miles on them. rs's on up

there is acouple different spyder options ,
-there is a spyder GS (420a motor not good for speed)
-there is the spyder GS-T (4g63 motor good for speed)
im guessing that the top dosent leak because there are no recalls
same as for the moon roof, but its also not a bad idea to check the seal before u buy the car
leather seat are nice but its all about what u can afford
-and yes some leather gets hot in the summer and cold in the winter (but im not sure about the eclipse leather ,cuz i dont have it)

Sounds good. I guess if I searched, I could find people complaining about every car (am I right?). If I could find a nice cheap spider, I might go for that if it didn't leak.

Sounds good. I guess if I searched, I could find people complaining about every car (am I right?). If I could find a nice cheap spider, I might go for that if it didn't leak. I also just heard of crankwalking. Am I correct when I read that it happens alomost always with turbos?

It only happens to the 4g63 2nd gens, which are the only ones with turbos. It is completely unrelated to the turbocharger.

You confused me, I understood 4g63 2nd gen. To be : 4th generation, no idea, 2nd generation. What is it really? Is a Eclipse 1997-1999 GS non Turb. one of these?

Sorry so many ?s

I own a 97 Spyder GS.
The engine in the Spyder GS is not the Same engine that's in the Hardtop RS or GS. Spyder GS's have a 4g64 while hardtop RS/GS's have the chrysler 420a. I have no experience with the Eclipse Moonroofs. The Spyder tops DO leak in the front driver and passenger side corners of the top. Dependant on the condition of your weather seals and your top is how much they will leak. But at this age, ALMOST every 2g spyder you'll find will leak. It's doesn't leak THAT much, just a few drops, but if your gonna own a spyder, you might as well accept it, and deal with it. If you don't want leaking at all, than don't get a spyder. On the leather situation, i really wouldn't advice it for a spyder if you leave the top down in the summer, cause it's hot as hell leaving it in the sun, but it's all on preference there.

you confused me, I understood 4g63 2nd gen. To be : 4th generation, no idea, 2nd generation. What is it really? Is a Eclipse 1997-1999 GS non Turb. one of these?

Sorry so many ?s

4g63 is the Engine that was in the turbo eclipse. 2nd generation is the body type of the eclipse, which is the 95-99. So it was the turbo eclipses from 95 to 99. And Crankwalk didn't really happen THAT much to the eclipse, but it happens every so often.

0.05 percent of all 2nd gen talon/eclipses made had crankwalk who knows y dsms get busted on for it so much almost any motor can have crankwalk its just a fancy name for a bad clutch throwout bearing.

i got a 97 Spyder GST and i love it. the top does leak a bit... lol... no big deal at all, i kinda like it, you know, character ;) if you just want a fun car, go with a GS. but you will get the bug eventualy....

"get the bug" as in want a spyder????

If I can afford a 99 instead of a 97, is there anything really better except less miles maybe?

"get the bug" as in want a spyder????

If I can afford a 99 instead of a 97, is there anything really better except less miles maybe?

Bug as in modding it.

The only difference between a 97 and say a 99 if there was one, perhaps more color options (interior/exterior).

Just look for one thats in good condition for the price range your after. Heck you may find a 95 with the older body style that is in perfect shape converted into the 97-99 style for real cheap (thats what I just did), so don't leave those year models out from your search. (or you can always convert it yourself or add any kind of body kit you want, if say the price is low enough and it's worth doing)

Thanks, I am need to do some more research to make sure its reliable. Does it have good visablility? Someone said the back has tons of blindspots.

I also can't decide on manual or automatic. Is either one more reliable?

Aprox. how much is a professional paint job? ( just 1 color )

Thanks

Thanks, I am need to do some more research to make sure its reliable. Does it have good visablility? Someone said the back has tons of blindspots.

I also can't decide on manual or automatic. Is either one more reliable?

Aprox. how much is a professional paint job? ( just 1 color )

Thanks

Go test drive an eclipse. Find one for sale, take it out for a spin, and see how YOU like it. See what you encounter, because your the one that's gonna have to drive it. Honestly, nobody can say how reliable your car will be, because it's used. We can generally say eclipses are very reliable, but there is always a chance that ANY car you get can be a lemon. That's what i call the Honda syndrome. Kids hear that "Honda runs for ever...-", but didn't hear the "...if you treat 'em right" part. I know vaguely know 5 people who've all bought honda civics and told me they did because "they're fast, and they last a long time". Currently, 3 of them have blown motors, 1 has had so many random problems that i'da junked the car, but he insists on keeping, and has put down over 1,500 on a car he paid 1200 for. The last one is spitting oil out of the block. I think the dude said the head isn't sealed or something, but really didn't care to listen. Either way, the other thing in common between those 5 are they kicked the shit out of their cars, 2 i think buying their cars with 154k and 189k on 'em. One in fact had 45,000 on his engine when it blew.
Basically, we can tell you anything you want to here, but it's a very good chance that it may not apply to what you get. Test 'em out. Look 'em over completely. If you get one with low miles, treat it right, and mantain it, then it should treat you right. But if you just go on what we say, go looking for the first one of a specific model eclipse you can find, and don't take care of it, it prolly won't last long. It's all on you, buddy.

Ok, thanks. Whats generally more reliable spiders or eclipse GS? Are spiders cold in the winter?

LOL, am i going to have to smack you or something?!

Reliability is the same. Maybe a little colder, you will get a spYder if you like convertables. If you DON'T want a convertable, don't get a spYder.

i think the area inside is smaller so it heats up pretty quick. nice and toasty. and go with a manual if possible. less problems later on in life.

and quit asking reliability Q's. these are the most reliable cars in the world! why do you think everyone in this forum has one!

Ok, sorry I will stop.

Thanks-Sorry

Yes the Spyder and Coupe have the same drivetrain (engine,trans, etc.) I dont know about the moonroof but the top broke in my spyder which caused heavy leaking. I ended up replacing the whole top which cost a total of 2500 with parts and labor. If you do get a spyder i would go with cloth seats, leather does get very hot, especially when you leave the top down.

NIGHT of the LIVING DEAD!!! aaahhhh.....:eek2:

1995-1999 - Mitsubishi Eclipse/Eagle Talon All same style of car.
Trim differences:
Eclipse RS - Base Model of Car, No Power Options, power moonroof, No Wing, Non-Turbo 420a Dual Overhead Cam motor, not a good "engine modding" car, good first car

Talon ESI - Base Model of Car, No Power Options, Highrise "Thumbnail" Wing, Non-Turbo 420a Dual Overhead Cam motor, not a good "engine modding car", good first car

Eclipse GS - Luxury non-turbo model,power options, power moonroof, low-rise 3-piece wing, 420a Dual Overhead Cam motor, not good for modding motor, good first car

Eclipse Spyder GS - convertible, Luxury non-turbo model, 4g64 Single Overhead Cam motor, not a good "engine modding car", nice convertible car for a beginner, power options,

Eclipse GS-T - Front wheel drive Turbo model, power options, power moonroof, 3 piece low-rise wing or 1 piece turbo "high rise" wing. 4g63 turbo motor (very strong motor) very good for engine modding.

Eclipse GSX - All wheel drive Turbo model, power moonroof power options, 3-piece low-rise wing or 1 piece turbo "high rise" wing. 4g63 turbo motor (very strong motor) very good engine modding car.

Talon TSI - Front wheel drive Turbo model, power options, low "thumbnail" wing, 4g63 turbo motor (very strong motor) very good for engine modding.

Talon TSI AWD - All wheel drive turbo model, "thumbnail" wing, 4g63 turbo motor (very strong motor) very good car for engine modding.


CONVERTIBLES IN GENERAL!

convertible tops are made out of fabric material covering a steel "frame" or "cross-structure". fabric can not always hold out water in the event of a heavy rain. as in all cars worldwide, the older they get, the more subject the weatherstripping is prone to cracking or not sealing as well. have you ever noticed how in old cars, some windows leak?? that's exactly what goes on in a convertible too, except it's not 1 piece of weatherstripping leaking (weatherstripping against window), it's 2 pieces of weatherstripping leaking (weatherstripping against weatherstripping). if a leak does happen to occur, new weatherstripping should and most likely will get rid of any sort of leak, it's just are you for replacing the weatherstripping on your car? you have to answer that one.

LEATHER VS. CLOTH

in the summer leather gets hot and sticky, your back gets sweaty. in the winter, leather gets cold, but it also absorbs body heat quickly and warms up a bit quicker. some people think leather is more comfortable, and some think it's less comfortable, it's all personal preference, you make the decision.

RELIABILITY

The golden rule: Treat someone with respect and you'll get respect back. The same rule applies to cars. If you take care of your car and don't beat the living piss out of it, it will take care of you and not decide to randomly break down on the freeway some day. Before buying a car, doing simple tests such as a compression test, checking color of spark plugs, and also checking coolant color should give you an idea of whether the car was maintained decently. shitty coolant means it needs to be change and low compression means it might need new rings soon. reliability issues come with any car whether it's a '87 chevrolet celebrity or a '05 ferarri, you treat it with respect, it will treat you with respect. maintain it and don't beat the piss out of it, and fix simple problems when they occur (i.e. new serpentine belt), it should last you over 200k miles, easily.

Incase you guys didn't notice, this thread was from over a year ago.

:uhoh:

yeah i know. thats why i posted that above:eek7:

wow....i wasted a whole 1/2 hour lastnight trying to get that right and it doesn't even matter anymore...i feel like an idiot. threads should automatically lock after 3 months of no posting so this shit doesn't happen but you can still view them.

the car is a spyder and it leaks in the front on the driver and rarely on the passenger side what should i do

die thread....just die...