2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT 3.0 V6 from North America

Faults:

From order of precedence.

1. Driver side headlight went dim. I have to finagle the light every 2 months.

2. Trunk does not pop up like it's supposed to, and I have to lift while the key is turned.

3. Engine sounds rough when starting in the morning.

4. Wheels started to wobble; bought new tires and now they seem fine.

5. The car does not have consistent horsepower. It sometimes feels like a dragster and other times feels like a station-wagon.

6. Reverse is sometimes hard to catch.

7. I noticed on a lot of peoples' cars, including mine, that the front bumper gets scraped.

General Comments:

On the positive side, it handles very well even in the snow. I try to make the car slide, but because of the wide wheelbase and tires, it's not easy to achieve.

Also, 30 miles per gallon at least on the highway, It really lasts on those long trips with its 15 gallon tank.

I am used to going through a car each year, but I am driving the crap out of this car and it's taking it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 12th November, 2008

2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT 2.0L from North America

Summary:

A great car, but it needs to be faster, HELP!

Faults:

The brakes squeak after about a year. But I assume that's normal wear and tear.

The car drifts a bit to the left also.

The back seats are pretty useless for transporting adults. But that's the case in any sports coupe.

General Comments:

Very sharp bold looking vehicle.

I get very good acceleration with the V6.

The handling is great, but the turn radius is pretty wide.

The car gives the illusion that you are going slower than you actually are. I feel like I'm doing 45 when I'm actually doing 65!

However, I want to make this a faster car. Can anyone recommend a site about turbos and supercharger?

I would also like to know some ways to make this car lighter. People say that the major drawback to this sports coupe is that it weighs in at 2800+ pounds (just the coupe, the convertible is actually over 3000)

Also how much should the average turbo or supercharger go for?

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th March, 2006

26th Mar 2006, 19:09

Oops, I meant a 3.0L engine in the description.

2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT 3.0 SOHC V6 from North America

Summary:

Overall, great all around car with good looks, but have some money if you keep it beyond 120k miles

Faults:

The radiator blew at about 105,000 miles for no apparent reason.

The mass airflow sensor failed and had to be replaced at about 100,000 miles - a few hundred dollars.

I had to replace the front right wheel hub/bearing assembly at 128,000 miles.

At about 130,000 miles, the hood latch cable snapped and cost $200 to fix. (this can be prevented by lubricating the latch assembly every now and then ;)

Watch out for potholes because they will destroy the 17" alloy rims and you'll be pulling a few hundred out of your pocket to replace those.

Make sure that if you're replacing your brake rotors yourself, to match them up exact because it seems some of the after-market rotors for this car are thicker than they originals.

As a reminder, you are supposed to replace the timing belt at 100,000 miles and this is an interference engine so if the belt breaks during operation, you're screwed. I've made it to 132,000 miles without a new one so far (about $800 to get it changed at the dealer) but I don't feel good about it.

General Comments:

The interior is very nice and surprisingly comfortable. I'm 6'2 and, with the exception of a somewhat difficult entry, have enough room. Back seat is rather small, but if you want a big back seat, this is the wrong car to begin with. With the V6 and a manual transmission, it is indeed quick and a pleasure to drive in most conditions. It has about zero traction in snow, but I suppose that's expected. Handling is reasonable for being one of the heavier cars in it's class. Better tires certainly wouldn't hurt.

The upgraded Infinity sound system is actually pretty good in this car unlike some of Mitsubishi's other vehicles.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 19th March, 2006

24th Dec 2006, 01:45

This review is exactly right about that 120,000 mile mark; that is when I started to see actual mechanical problems. I already got new brakes and tires, which were both very expensive, but nothing actually started breaking until this week (car just hit 121,000). I had a few of the same problems. First the "service engine soon" light came on, and the car died whenever I came to a complete stop--it was the mass air flow sensor. If this happens to you, ask the mechanic to try cleaning it first, and see if that helps-it will save you $$$. Almost immediately after that, my radiator started cracking. If you see a thin layer of smoke coming from under the hood, anti-freeze spilled on things under the hood, and smell that 'maple' smell, your radiator is probably cracking. This all happened in the time span of 3 days. And I was told that I need new struts, but I don't think I need it that badly, and can't afford it anyway--it's $1200. I don't recommend buying this car at high mileage, because maintenance costs are high--everything is difficult to get to, and that adds labor costs. But honestly, I love the car, and it has been very reliable up until now. I don't regret getting it.