Some cars belong, and some make do with looking like they belong. This third-generation Mitsubishi Eclipse debuted for 2000, based on the Galant for the third time. (The fourth arrives late in 2005.) Can Mitsubishi make a decent family sedan into a great sports coupe? It has before. But then, the old Galants were smaller, and engineers always took steps to installing go-fast parts as Eclipse-exclusive options.
So much for that policy. The most recent Eclipse is a made-over Galant, period; its source is 1999's car, not the fresh one. The platform, suspension, and engines are all shared, but delve enough into detail and discover that no two Eclipse models are identical. The Eclipse's horsepower stands at 147 on the ULEV-rated, 4-cylinder RS and GS. The V6-powered GT (premium fuel required) gets a nice, round 200, and the GTS gets blessed with 210 thanks to a higher compression ratio. A 5-speed manual is standard across the board, while all models except the RS get an optional "Sportronic" 4-speed automatic that can be shifted at will. The RS's automatic does without this feature. Wheels are 15x6 (15 inches in diameter, 6 in width) on RS, 16x6 on GS, and 17x6.5 on GT and GTS. The RS has no rear stabilizer bar, the GS's is 18mm, the GT and GTS's are 19mm. Those who live under cloudless skies also have the option of the top-dropping Eclipse Spyder, which comes as a GS or GT.
Equipment builds predictably. A 2004 Eclipse RS starts at $18,994, and at least includes air conditioning, a CD player, power windows and locks, and alloy wheels. The $20,044 Eclipse GS adds a rear-window antenna (replacing whip), leather steering wheel, keyless entry, cruise control, folding back seat, and a 10-way driver's seat. Most of the extra cash in the $22,244 GT goes to the extra cylinders, but also a few token items like fog lights, ground effects, and chrome exhaust tip. Finally, the $25,244 GTS gets a leather shift knob, alarm, rear wiper, 12-way power driver's seat, leather seats, a 210-watt, 7-speaker Infinity stereo, side air bags, and antilock brakes. The fancy stereo, leather, and sunroof are available as "Sun & Sound" packages on the GS and GT, but the safety features are, disturbingly, GTS-only items. Side air bags have been proven to make a life-or-death difference, and antilock brakes couldn't hurt. There are plenty of opportunities to be stingy; this probably isn't the best.
Nor is the Eclipse the best at what it advertises. A family sedan shrunken in length, dropped in height, ribbed-for-your-pleasure on the sides and placed in a fast-looking body, is still a family sedan. The Eclipse's styling may not remind onlookers of Galant genes, but the driver will never forget. The Eclipse is said to down the road ponderously and sedately, without drama. Not-too-eager steering, out-of-its-league weights, and ordinary sounds deserve some blame. These days, the Eclipse isn't so much a Celica as it is a Camry Solara dressed up as one. That's fine, but at least the Solara doesn't make pretensions it can't back up and retains passenger room for five, while the Eclipse is almost a two-seater as far as adults go. Why put up with impracticality for nothing in return?
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