CTC Review: 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

[CD_Editor]

2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Photo Gallery


Day 1:

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Well, better late then never, as they say.  This week I get to cruise around in the 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT-P.  Although the weather has turned a little on the nippy side here in Ottawa, I'm sure I'll manage to enjoy some top down driving throughout the week.  More ....

[sirAQUAMAN64]

What a gorgeous car!

I see this CTC review was featured in the centre section of CD too 

I think this car is much better value than originally thought when introduced... did they drop the price significantly for '07MY Eclipses or am I just imagining things? One hot car. Not that it's a chick car, but I could see my mom behind the wheel very easily (she has an '00 Celica now that she loves, a '99 Tiburon SE before that which was totalled).

[SpeedyNeon]

Are you kidding me? good value? what is this car good for? Who wants a FWD convertible??? This car drives like a truck, it's heavy, and it clearly shows that they did nothing to stiffen the (already weak) body when they chopped the top off. This car is a disgrace to the great AWD Eclipses that put Mitsubishi on the map in North America. Also, who the heck wants a weak V6 these days when supercharged or turbocharged 4 cylinders are available (from Mitsubishi!) with more power?

[Stuff]

Responses like that turn these boards into troll central.

[Bullet Blue]

At least they didn't put the steering wheel from the Endevor on it.

[Snowman]

Responses like that turn these boards into troll central.

The concerns could have been better articulated without being so confrontational. What a nOOb.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Are you kidding me? good value? what is this car good for? Who wants a FWD convertible??? ... Also, who the heck wants a weak V6 these days when supercharged or turbocharged 4 cylinders are available (from Mitsubishi!) with more power?

I looked and the price has dropped on the coupe V6's to a much more appealing level for '07MY (by about $3,000). Also, pricing is right in line (actually, better IMO) than the Camry Solara coupe and convertible. And weak V6?? Since when is 263hp and 250lb-ft of torque weak? So it's a head turning cruiser instead of an AWD corner curver? Not the Eclipse we knew but still doesn't mean it's a bad car outright.

[Spec5]

C'mon guys, SpeedyNeon has some great points. They had a chance to really win back a lot of customers with this car. But with an overweight FWD beast like they've got... I mean, sure it probably goes down the road nice - it weighs ... holy crap! Over 3500lbs! (for the coupe) The convertible will definately add a couple hundred almost to that! Its going to need that 260hp to get it down the road with any speed. And speaking of power... At 3.8L it better be making north of 250hp. That's a HUGE v6 - no wonder it weighs so much. (probably iron block too) With one of their turbo 4s they could have made similar power and saved a few hundred pounds in weight. It would have made it a much more desireable car to their target audience - and it would have gotten a lot more on-screen time in movies because tuners would surely have flocked to it more then they have.

I mean, $32,000 for a 4cyl fwd convertible?! Thats crazy! Especially from a company like Mitsubishi that is trying to win educated car enthusiasts back after all their recent (and past) blunders. (Internal conspiracies to cover up recalls, brutal warranty for Evo customers, etc)

Almost $38k for a 260HP FWD convertible? Lets see what else is in that league... Ohhh, Ford Mustang GT Convertible for the same money anyone?! A solstice is literally $10k cheaper and will turn a LOT more heads. Not to mention the Sky. I mean heck, a Solara V6 is only about 2-3k more then the 4cyl Spyder. Even the G6 GTP Convertible is a couple thousand less!

Sorry, but I don't see any "value" in this vehicle either. You'd have to be a pretty die-hard Mitsu fan to buy one of those cars to begin with, let alone the convertible - at least at that price.

[Giant Dwarf]

But aside from the Cdn market, Mitsu doesn't need to attract the die-hard car enthusiasts to the Eclipse, it's got the Evo for that.  The new Eclipse (both coupe and Spyder) are great (though heavy) boulevard cruisers.  They have eye-catching styling and with the V6, plenty of grunt too.  Comparing the Spyder to the Solstice is silly -- they're not the same class -- the Mitsu can actually be used for more than just a weekend toy with having 4 seats and a trunk. 

Personally I wouldn't put my money into one for a number of reasons, but suggesting it it's a horrible value and just the worst thing to ever be produced is off by a long shot... not to mention the silliness of suggesting it's underpowered in its V6 version.

[Arthur Dent]

I think the styling promise something really sporty where as it delivers something more in the Solara/old Sebring conv style. Its not bad as such (certainly not for me) but with the mis-matched style and performance its might miss out on its target customers.

[Snowman]

C'mon guys, SpeedyNeon has some great points. They had a chance to really win back a lot of customers with this car. But with an overweight FWD beast like they've got... I mean, sure it probably goes down the road nice - it weighs ... holy crap! Over 3500lbs! (for the coupe) The convertible will definately add a couple hundred almost to that! Its going to need that 260hp to get it down the road with any speed. And speaking of power... At 3.8L it better be making north of 250hp. That's a HUGE v6 - no wonder it weighs so much. (probably iron block too) With one of their turbo 4s they could have made similar power and saved a few hundred pounds in weight. It would have made it a much more desireable car to their target audience - and it would have gotten a lot more on-screen time in movies because tuners would surely have flocked to it more then they have.

I mean, $32,000 for a 4cyl fwd convertible?! Thats crazy! Especially from a company like Mitsubishi that is trying to win educated car enthusiasts back after all their recent (and past) blunders. (Internal conspiracies to cover up recalls, brutal warranty for Evo customers, etc)

Almost $38k for a 260HP FWD convertible? Lets see what else is in that league... Ohhh, Ford Mustang GT Convertible for the same money anyone?! A solstice is literally $10k cheaper and will turn a LOT more heads. Not to mention the Sky. I mean heck, a Solara V6 is only about 2-3k more then the 4cyl Spyder. Even the G6 GTP Convertible is a couple thousand less!

Sorry, but I don't see any "value" in this vehicle either. You'd have to be a pretty die-hard Mitsu fan to buy one of those cars to begin with, let alone the convertible - at least at that price.

I think were not debating the content, just the delivery. The Spider will not be on my radar for the same reasons you have mentioned.

[G0dspd]

Starting price: $31,998.00
Eclipse Spyder GT-P: $38,093.00

That much money for an old Eclipse in a new dress .... no thank you!  Mitsubishi is in the financial ditch in Canada.  The new Lancer better be one hell of a winner if they want to remain here.

Mitsubishi as announced that the Evo X will be available in Canada in 2008-2009 ... or whenever it comes out.  Sounds interesting!

Subaru Impreza STI on its new Legacy chassis VS. Mitsubishi Evo X on its Caliber/PT Cruiser chassis   

[84im]

I'd love to catch up to one of these while driving the monster! 

[AVToller]

It WOULD be fun to watch. 

[safristi]

What is with all the rag tops having those tiny rear windows and huge blind spots..hell even my old MGB had plastic rear side windows..it is ridiculous in this day and age to allow such lack of vision,...if it's for apperance sake they should be called BLING SPOTS!!!!!

[haris]

Since yesterday I've seen two Spyders and it was on DrivingTelevision.
It gets a  big meh from me. I can see how some would find the looks appealing. It reminds me of a bodybuilder. Looks strong, big and mean, but it suffers from lack of actual strength that can be used in real life. It is a big improvement over the last one though. The last one was fugly.

[Giant Dwarf]

What is with all the rag tops having those tiny rear windows and huge blind spots..hell even my old MGB had plastic rear side windows..it is ridiculous in this day and age to allow such lack of vision,...if it's for apperance sake they should be called BLING SPOTS!!!!!

The vinyl 'windows' you could stick all over the top if you wanted to.  The glass requires enough clearance all around it to fit into the cubby where the top needs to sit.  Glass windows are all about the bling, Saffy.  Well, that and not yellowing out after 2 years... and having the luxury of a rear defrost element.

[safristi]

"THAT" woz a GIVEN.....but they can't OVERCOME it...we shall NOT OVERCOME !!!!  Imagine if Mdx Hardtop engineers had Pontiac 1/2 square foot TRUNK VISION...same thing eh!!!........oh we have to sit this teeny TRUNK/Headroom/Rear Window in existing sheet--rock......na na na.....somefings stinks in Sodbury Denmark and it's the designer/engineering divisions.....

[Giant Dwarf]

"THAT" woz a GIVEN.....but they can't OVERCOME it...we shall NOT OVERCOME !!!!  Imagine if Mdx Hardtop engineers had Pontiac 1/2 square foot TRUNK VISION...same thing eh!!!........oh we have to sit this teeny TRUNK/Headroom/Rear Window in existing sheet--rock......na na na.....somefings stinks in Sodbury Denmark and it's the designer/engineering divisions.....

You show them folding glass and they'll show you bigger windows in soft-tops. 

[agroal]

I agree with speedyneon. I bought a '90 Eagle Talon TSI AWD 5 sp. new in Dec. '89. Fastest car I've ever driven or rode in. 0-60 in 6.3 sec. A little turbo lag but once that slingshot fired, look out.  Great in the snow, but limited by ground clearance of course. At the time I bought it the only other cars that offered: dohc 4 valve per cyl., turbo, and AWD were priced way above the approx. 17K I paid for it. Only exotics not counting the Celica All-Trac that was a few K more than the Mitsu. The should have never abandoned this market but what do I know!