2006 Eclipse

I leased a 3G 2000 Eclipse GT for 3 years and it was a great little car. But it lacked the power and performance that I wanted so when my lease was up I got a 2003 Nissan 350Z. I love the Z car but overall I have to say that I preferred the quality of the Eclipse. My Z has just 20K miles on it and already has numberous interior rattles that the dealer refuses to fix. My Eclipse was rattle-free after 50K miles. With that in mind I am very interested in the new 06 Eclipse. But what is the deal with the engine?!?! Mitsu can make a 276 hp turbo 4 banger for the Evo but yet they are going to stick an oversized 3.8 liter V6 that only makes 263 hp into the new Eclipse. Can anyone explain this to me? Or has this question been beat to death already? My Z has 300 hp from a 3.5 V6. I prefer a non-turbo V6 to a turbo 4 so I like that part but I just can't believe that Mitsu is introducing this brand new MIVEC (whatever that is) V6 and it is only going to make 263 horses. I would love some feedback on this.

-Plucky

mitsubishi already has one performance car. it doesnt want to make its complete line made for performance. yes the V6 is overweight and probably underpowered. give me a list of V6 coupes under $30k with the same or more power...

350Z
G35
and these cars arent even in mitsu's class.

mitsu is just looking at their competetion in their class and building a slightly more powerful car.

i dont think they did a bad job. but they could have made something with a turbo....but i dont see that happening again

Yes, a NA FWD car that goes 0-60 in about 6 seconds flat and the 1/4 mile in 14.4-9 with a trap speed of 101mph is slow.:rolleyes:

What people consider the ideal definition for fast in a power to price ratio never ceases to amaze me.

sarcasm noted. But by todays standards for a sport coupe 0-60 in anything more than 6 seconds is slow. No reason they can't take tweak that same 3.8 V6 to 300 hp and put it to the rear wheels. 2+2 hatchback that goes 0-60 in 5.2 would be more like it. I would consider the G35 but I am still afraid it will develop the same interior noise that my Z has.

Actually I heard from one review the 2k6 Eclipse GT can go 0-60 as low as 5.4 seconds while an other says that it is more like 6.8, which means if balanced out to a median of 6.1, which is not too shabby. And 14 second 1/4 mile runs is spot on performance numbers for a car that price, think of the Cobalt SS and RX-8.

The fact is though no one has done an all out test of the 2006 Eclipse's performance so nobody really knows.

Yes, a NA FWD car that goes 0-60 in about 6 seconds flat and the 1/4 mile in 14.4-9 with a trap speed of 101mph is slow.:rolleyes:

What people consider the ideal definition for fast in a power to price ratio never ceases to amaze me.

What is trap speed?

What is trap speed?

the quarter mile speed

I was watching espn and saw the new eclipse and saw the aspects then dropped a tear.........i love it.

[QUOTE=eclipsed4utoo]mitsubishi already has one performance car. it doesnt want to make its complete line made for performance.


So what is wrong with 2 performance cars. Wouldn't be any difference from when they had the 3000 VR-4 and the GSX/GST Eclipses

Dude, the vr-4 was a 320hp awd $45,000 machine. (more in range with a supra) The eclipse was a $26,000 210hp awd machine. Right now mitsu has 271-hp awd evo and 210 hp fwd eclipse. It wouldn't be the best choice range of cars to buy. The bar is raising (v6 - hondas, nissans, acuras, toyotas, hyundai's, and mazdas are making it a little harder for the eclipse to sell in this 4 gen of them. So I'm guessing thats why they tweaked the v6 to 265hp. So it out performs all cars in it class. The 90-99 models of the eclipses were supposed to be "import coupes". you know like the dom. grand am and the cavailer/sunfire. It out performed them as well. It wasn't supposed to be a "powerful" car like a vr-4, 300zx, NSX, rx-7, or supra. That is a different class. It was in with the mx-6, celica, civic, sentra, integra's and others.

I don't care what you say. Mitsu needs a sports car that can compete with the 350Z. PERIOD. Mitsubishi makes good cars and it's just a shame that their best performer is a 4-door 4-banger grocery getter that only my Mom would drive. I'm not trying to offend all the rally guys out there, the Evo has it's place. I'm just saying that Mitsu needs a small 2-door sports car that can hang with the competition. I don't want a 4-door box-on-wheels. I want a high performance 2 seater or a 2+2 hatchback sports coupe.

I know what you mean. We americans cried for the evo for so long. Now that we have it, we don't want it.

But what is the deal with the engine?!?! Mitsu can make a 276 hp turbo 4 banger for the Evo but yet they are going to stick an oversized 3.8 liter V6 that only makes 263 hp into the new Eclipse. Can anyone explain this to me? Or has this question been beat to death already?

you know, i was thinking the samething. But I guess its todays industry standards. I think in the near future a turbo may make a come back if the v6 doenst do so well. ANd if not a turbo, a affordable great v6. Lets hope by then we still have gas to power our cars.

At least they don't make a 3.8l V6 with 190 hp like the 99-04 'stangs...now that would be embarrassing

Mitsu can make a 276 hp turbo 4 banger for the Evo but yet they are going to stick an oversized 3.8 liter V6 that only makes 263 hp into the new Eclipse. -Plucky[/QUOTE]


I agree, with you. It is kinda odd that they can take a 2.0 litre 4 cyclinder and make it push out 276 hp and they out are pushing out 263 hp from the 3.8 litre V6. Just seems like there could be so much more potienal. However they did make a better attempt at 3.8 litre motors than both gm and ford both did. Hell gm put the supercharged 3.8 in the GTP Grand Prixs and some of the Monte Carlos and i believe they only have like 240 hp.

here is the main reason....THE ECLIPSE IS NO LONGER TARGETING THE YOUNGER GENERATION. IT IS TARGETING THE OLDER GENERATION. how many 40-45 year old people want a turboed car? none. Mitsu has the evo which is targeted to the younger generation. reason? the evo costs more so Mitsu will make more money.

Doesn't seem like a good marketing strategy.

The car the younger generation can AFFORD (Eclipse) doesn't put out the kind of performance they are looking for, and the car the older generation can afford (Evo), they don't want, because it's a turbo AWD rally machine.

Doesn't seem like a good marketing strategy.

The car the younger generation can AFFORD (Eclipse) doesn't put out the kind of performance they are looking for, and the car the older generation can afford (Evo), they don't want, because it's a turbo AWD rally machine.


Yeah i agree seems a little ass backwards too me!

Yeah i agree seems a little ass backwards too me!

thats mitsubishi for you

I would rather have seen mitsubishi put out a 3.0-3.2 turbo RWD v6 or something of the sort instead of a 3.8 to push out that 260 some hp...

In all honesty I don't see why they didn't take the 3g v6 eclipse and turn it into more of a performer. You already have the I-4 eclipse out there for the people who just like the looks and don't desire a hefty amount of power but multiple low performance trims of a car without a performance model just doesn't make sense to me... At least it doesn't make sense to me with the eclipse.


With the lancer there are a couple versions of the base model and a performance model, (base, oz rally and evo right?) I see plenty of the base lancers around and a few evos now and then so why not do the same with the eclipse?

Power wise, true it may not be that strong. But I'm sure that aftermarket companies can probably fix that with 3.8 liters to work with. I have a feeling that it's tuned down to it's hp rating. Appearance was an improvement though. First off, they got rid of the cheese grater doors or whatever you wanna call them, those giant slashes in the side. The front unfortunately resembles a Pontiac, and the rear wheels bulge out a little. But I think on the whole it's an improvement over the 3g. Personally I'd prefer if they made it even more like a 2g. IMHO that was the best looking out of the 3 (er...4) generations and the one that most people readily identify as being Eclipse.

If Mitsubishi had the funds, i am sure they would have done wonders for the eclipse line. They simply made the new eclipse a 2 door galant. I would bet that this new generation see's results (sales wise) similar to that of the 3G. The company has bigger things on thier plate- they are already working on, and probably finishing up the EVO X.

I'll tell you what Donny told me-"Mitsubishi didnt design this car (the 3G) to be fast. But what they did do is put one hell of an engine in it."

that should apply to the 4G seeing as to how the 4cyl at least is almost identical. The potential is there, it just needs to be tapped.

check out my web page...i work for Mitsubishi and let me tell you the car is very immpressive

http://photobucket.com/albums/v306/LaffTAF/CarsAndBikes/

those pictures are too small to see anything

yep tooo small. stll looked good tho

Is it just me or does anyone else think that the new eclipse looks like a mercury cougar from the side


http://photobucket.com/albums/v306/LaffTAF/CarsAndBikes/?action=view&current=69197846917_290_1.jpg

Yes it looks like a sebring,stratus r/t, cougar combined. With a little bit of grand prix

i think the front looks alot like the pontiac G6 coupe

that 4g63 motor found in the evo 8 has entirely WAAAY more potential than just 27X hp. i would definately drive it over any eclipse from 2000+. i think there is a pattern found from the head of mitsu/daimlerchrysler has anyone seen a 2 door coupe since the eclipse 2 and crossfire? and chrysler is putting a 4 door charger SEDAN on the market. AT least the eclipse has remained a coup and not morphed into a damn station wagon....i know its no dsm or awd for that matter...but at least it remains a 2door. =/

You, just like many others, underestimate the eclipse. the 4G64 and 4G69 have just as much, if not more potential as the 4G63.....The only thing it lacks is the DOHC, which, with the right tune/port work, etc., can be made up for.

otherwise, IDK or care about the door situation. the car can 10 doors and someone will buy it.

i dont underestimate anything. ive owned ecplpses and i can rem that i was strictly comparing 2 stock motors. not a 2.3, 2.4 strokers to a 3.8 i dont rem saying anything about those specialty motors. course im ONLY into the dsm so i dont know what motor that 3.8 is but i dont care any way because its not a dsm.

You, just like many others, underestimate the eclipse. the 4G64 and 4G69 have just as much, if not more potential as the 4G63.....The only thing it lacks is the DOHC, which, with the right tune/port work, etc., can be made up for.

otherwise, IDK or care about the door situation. the car can 10 doors and someone will buy it.

4G69?

i dont underestimate anything. ive owned ecplpses and i can rem that i was strictly comparing 2 stock motors. not a 2.3, 2.4 strokers to a 3.8 i dont rem saying anything about those specialty motors. course im ONLY into the dsm so i dont know what motor that 3.8 is but i dont care any way because its not a dsm.

if you dont care b/c its not a dsm, then why are you here? the 4G isnt a dsm and neither is the 3G

4G69?


isn't that the code for a 4G64 w/ MIVEC?

or its the engine that comes in the base lancers- OZ edition, etc....

the 06 gs is the engine from the 04 05 lancer ralliart

yeah its 4G69. i thought you were talking about the 4G 6cyl eclipse engine. my bad

I just saw it for the first time and almost called up the dealership to order one that second...but I figured i'd visit here first. I agree with what everyone said about Mitsubishi already having the Evo as the reason for the shortcoming power of the new Eclipse....but I would also like to see them bring a "real" sport coupe back. I've seen what you can do with the 2000+ V6 Eclipse engine...and i'm sure with the 3.8 there's a hell of a lot more potential. As for the looks, it looks not all that impressive stock, but again I can see a hell of a lot of potential...lowered (most important), rims, wing (or not), tint would be the first things on my list I think would make it look great. You can tell when a car would look 100% better when lowered just by looking at the car from above (which I saw on the commercial) and then looking at it straight on....straight on it looks like a stratus, avenger, G6 combo, but lower it and it wouldn't.

that 4g63 motor found in the evo 8 has entirely WAAAY more potential than just 27X hp. i would definately drive it over any eclipse from 2000+. i think there is a pattern found from the head of mitsu/daimlerchrysler has anyone seen a 2 door coupe since the eclipse 2 and crossfire? and chrysler is putting a 4 door charger SEDAN on the market. AT least the eclipse has remained a coup and not morphed into a damn station wagon....i know its no dsm or awd for that matter...but at least it remains a 2door. =/
Yeah, the 4G63 pushes alot more than its HP ratings. Most people still relate the North America version of the Evo to it's old Japanese HP ratings of 276. But that model originally pushed well over 300HP from the factory, but still kept its rating of 276. This goes back to the "Gentleman's Rule" that all Japanese manufacturers kept. If anyone remembers this, Japanese-manufactured cars had to be limited to 276 HP.

As for the new Eclipse, I think it's powertrain is just fine. 3.8L mated to a 6sp? Why not complain about the 3rd Gen's 3.0L that pushes 200HP? Compared to the old engine, this is a lot better. Mitsubishi also has limited funds to work with just as someone said earlier. And alot of horsepower will probably be unleashed for an upgraded trim in the future. Kind of like the 350Z. Anyways, I hope the new 4th Gen will help carry Mitsubishi out of some of its misfortunes. :)

I don't care what you say. Mitsu needs a sports car that can compete with the 350Z. PERIOD. Mitsubishi makes good cars and it's just a shame that their best performer is a 4-door 4-banger grocery getter that only my Mom would drive. I'm not trying to offend all the rally guys out there, the Evo has it's place. I'm just saying that Mitsu needs a small 2-door sports car that can hang with the competition. I don't want a 4-door box-on-wheels. I want a high performance 2 seater or a 2+2 hatchback sports coupe.

I will have to disagree with you, the Evo is a 4 door yes, but it cant be taken lightly. First of all it will KILL a 350z in every catagory except drifting(b/c the awd, if you drift in an awd, you'll fuck up your differentials.) Second of all, I would take an EVO over any eclipse. When it comes to performance, the eclipses will not touch an evo (except maybe a heavily modded GSX). But, I do see what your saying, A 4 door doesnt feel like a sports car. I get ya. But im hoping to get an evo soon myself. It seems like a better bang for the buck. Plus, the eclipses werent designed to be performance cars, well the 3g wasnt. It was a post-menapausal car for women( haha the spyder that is) and thats why i want to get a better handling, faster, car.

PS. Not many moms i know drive evos. wait, i take that back...NONE do.

http://forumpics.d-formed.net/galleries/post-wont-die/arniepants.jpg



http://forumpics.d-formed.net/galleries/post-wont-die/diestab.jpg

3.8L V-6 260HP 280 lb-ft
3583 lbs Curb weight
0-60 in 6.5 1/4 mile in 15
link (http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=100369)

Mitsubishi made an 04' Grand Prix. But I don’t think the it will sell as well as the Grand Prix, because the Eclipse is a coupe and
old people like sedans.:lol2:

THE ECLIPSE IS NO LONGER TARGETING THE YOUNGER GENERATION. IT IS TARGETING THE OLDER GENERATION.

Mitsubishi made an 04' Grand Prix. But I don’t think the it will sell as well as the Grand Prix
umm... you mean Pontiac?

No.....he ment Mitsubishi.

he was saying that with the 06 eclipse, mitsubishi put out a car that is compariable to the pontiac grand prix

oh, gotcha