Let me say those last two again! BRAND NEW FABRIC TOP and BRAND NEW LEATHER INTERIOR, (not naugahyde)!
This is, no doubt, the nicest Eclipse Spyder GS in the state. We bought it less than two years ago with all intentions of keeping it for my wife's driver, and then possibly passing on to the teenage daughter when she's old enough to drive. The interior was the ugly black patterned cloth and the top had a little leak, so we spent $2250 having the upholstery re-done in black leather and put a brand new top on it (Sept 07, have receipts). Needless to say, we wouldn't have done any of this if the car wasn't in perfect running order! It is a sporty, peppy, yet economical car. We hate to have to get rid of it after putting all that money into it, but the downturn in the economy has mandated it. So I guess our loss is your gain, as the Kelly Blue Book retail on the car is $10,900 to $11,300.
This car looks, runs, and drives beautifully. More pics, (as in 70 of them taken a few days ago), are at www.bqik.net/car $7995 OBO Call Bill 727-488-3717
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS
Ah, springtime. If you don't like the weather, wait ten minutes. In
many parts of the country, it's possible to have snow, warm
sunshine, and everything in between in the same week. In some
places, make that the same day. So
Spring is the perfect season to
test a convertible.
Any convertible is wonderful on a dry summer day with the top
down and wind in your hair. But how is it with the top up? Can you
see out, especially to the rear and rear sides? And how good is the
heater? Does the car leak in the rain? Does it creak and rattle
excessively as you drive on rough roads? In short, is it a car you can
live with year `round, or is it merely a summer toy?
The
Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is one of the most popular
convertibles, and for good reason. It combines the convertible
experience with style, performance, and even a reasonable degree of
practicality. Although best for two people, it will hold four when
necessary. The three-layer power-operated top insulates well and has
a glass rear window with a heater element for visibility and all-
season use. Unless you live in territory where the
Ice Age is not just
something studied in a geology class, and
four-wheel drive with
clearance is a necessity for transportation, the
Eclipse can be a real
year-round vehicle.
Mitsubishi offers two versions of the
Eclipse Spyder. The GS has
a 2.4-liter, 147-horsepower four-cylinder engine, while the GT has a
200-horsepower, 3.0-liter V6. I've been driving a GT for the past
week. That week started out with cold rain, and snow in the local
hills. Now it's sunny and 80 degrees. Tomorrow? Anything could
happen, it is
Spring, after all. But the
Eclipse Spyder can handle it,
with style and spirit, and in comfort.
APPEARANCE: The
Spyder was part of the original
Eclipse design
plan, and it shows. Top-down, its proportions are spot-on. Despite
its short hood and deck and long passenger area, the
Eclipse Spyder
has no problem looking like a sports car. Mitsubishi calls the
Eclipse's styling ``geo-mechanical,'' a unique combination of rounded
forms and angular edges, with prominent side strakes and flattened
wheel arches. With the top up, the
Spyder has a similar roofline to
the
Eclipse coupe, although the quarter windows and rear window
are smaller.
COMFORT: Let's get practicality out of the way first. The
Eclipse
Spyder is roomy enough to be an only car for singles or young
couples. The rear seat has as much room as those of many compact
sedans or medium-sized sports coupes - two medium-sized people fit
reasonably well. If the trunk is on the small side, the rear seat can be
used for soft luggage and other items. But practicality is not the
primary consideration in buying a convertible. Convertibles are
about open-air motoring, and there the
Spyder is in its element. Its
power top can be lowered or raised quickly, at the touch of a button,
and, with the top down, the front passengers are treated to just the
right amount of wind in their hair. Hats will not be lost. The front
bucket seats are comfortable for long drives, and visibility, top-
down, is unlimited. Top-up, use the mirrors and visibility is OK. The
instrument panel is as ``geo-mechanical'' as the exterior, but function
is not sacrificed to style. Plenty of climate-control system vents and
very good heating and air conditioning keep the interior temperature
just right in any weather.
SAFETY: The
Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is designed with a safety
cell around the interior and front and rear crumple zones. Antilock
brakes, traction control, and side air bags are available.
ROADABILITY: The old front-wheel drive
Eclipse Turbo was
practically the definition of torque steer. Depress the throttle pedal,
feel a strong tug at the steering wheel. The current
Eclipse has no
such problem, in fact the best way to tell that it is a front-drive car is
to look underneath the front end to see the drive axles. The
Eclipse
is a sports car, and has a firm fully-independent sports car
suspension with
MacPherson struts in front and a multilink design in
the rear. Ride comfort is good for a sports car - an all-day ride is a
pleasure, not an ordeal. The
Spyder's open-top chassis is reinforced
for extra rigidity, but it's still not as stiff as the coupe, no surprise
there. Chassis flex is about as expected in a four-seater open-top car,
and only a serious autocrosser or racer concerned with the last .001
second in lap time would find it detrimental. For everyone else, hey,
when the sun's out, put the top down, slather on the sunscreen, and
enjoy the convertible experience courtesy of
Mitsubishi.
CONCLUSIONS: The
Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder combines style,
practicality, performance, and the true convertible experience.
