New, Few ?s

[cowkiller6]

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

[gstclips]

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?

[RattlesnakeGST]

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...

[Misundaztood]

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

[joemathews]

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

Good car for cruisin, and ttops are nice though . 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

[cowkiller6]

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

[RattlesnakeGST]

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

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..

[scottsee]

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.

[cowkiller6]

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

[scottsee]

its all in how you drive it.

[cowkiller6]

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

[scottsee]

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.

[cowkiller6]

Are gs and rs the same ?

[drewh4386]

Originally Posted by cowkiller6

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

[cowkiller6]

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?)