Really low to the ground... scrapes.
I absolutely think this car was one of the best cars I have ever purchased! I haven't had one problem with this car and if you put a little extra money into this model, it can be a powerful little car.
Like I always say, pure power, but don't get too comfortable in it=)
My parents recently purchased a used 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse RS. The reason my dad bought it was because it had absolutely no miles on it, and I guess he wanted me to have something to drive (He's got strict rules for it, trust me). At first we didn't like the the TINY wheels and tires, so we found the 16 inch five spoke wheels at a salvage yard in New York. Let me tell you, the new wheels make the RS look like a new car. We then got the side skirts from the Mitsubishi dealer (the service there was impecable, I might add). So we had those installed. Then came the Euro tail lights. Oh, baby, those things look good. The center piece is crap, so we kept the original center piece. We also installed a chin spoiler to go around the front of the car. Looks real good, I recommend it, just go to MachV.com, and they can hook you up (for 180.00). The next thing that is coming are new fenders. All in all this car gets the looks, and it's become a part of the family now. Sorry for boring you with my life story. Hahaha...
Did you purchase the original side skirts?...if so, how much were they at the dealer?
Hey. I was wondering if any one can tell me if the a 1998 Mitsubishi eclipse RS is a good first car? I will be getting my license soon and I am wondering about this car. I have heard that it is to low to the ground and they don't last long. is this true? I like the way they look and the way you can make them sound. if you get time please write me at chillin4life03@yahoo.com. thanks.
Lol, you don't buy a car for the way it sounds you buy it cuz you like it. and yah its kind of too low, I'm getting my license soon and I'm working for payin my 1998 eclipse too, but I've test drived it, serious power man, I'm sure it could beat some other stock cars easily, hot car, but if you want to make it look real nice you gonna spend some buckz man so think it twice.
PS> this is more a toy then a car this aint a car for going to work daily and things like that...
This car is not safe at all is side impact collisions!!
Last year in jan I was pulling out of my driveway on a busy road and I didn't see any traffic comeing so I backed out and was t boned by a chevy cavalier that was going about 35-40 mph. the passenger seat which thankgod was not ocupied was crushed against my body... and I was twisted so I was flat against the driver side door. my right arm was badly broken and stuck inside the dash/stering weel. 3 ribs were broken and my collor bone, pelvis shoulder were all shatterd and had to be reconstuted. I had to be extricated from my eclipse and airlifted. the driver of the cavalier was fine and walked away with brused knees from hitting the dash. this was my first car and I would advise parents that are thinkging of buying a car for there childreen not to get this car becuase of the way teens drive... besided this I had no other problems with the car in its 3 yr life.
I feel sorry that you had to experience such a bad car accident, and I know the side impact ratings suck on Eclipse's. It's a small, light Japanese sports car, and the majority of small Japanese cars (even Honda's) have little to no support against a side impact crash. I own a 93 Eclipse and its just as bad as yours since I can pull out dents in my front driver side quarter panel by hand. Its even easier to dent the panels and the doors also.
However, that's the price you pay with a sports car. You sacrifice some safety for performance and fun.
I do not recommend the Eclipse for a teens first car, but I do recommend it to anybody who wants a fun reliable sports car.
I bought mine when I was twenty, twenty-three now, so it has been through some damage. Still runs very strong though.
Lowering the car is a pain because of the scraping, but a careful driver can keep the facia intact.
Minor upgrades can make the car just that much more fun. Free up the air flow, increase the electrical current (hyper-ground wires, better plug wires, battery etc.), and you can beat a lot of cars on the road. NEVER BEEN BEAT BY A HONDA!!! A title I am proud to flaunt.
I am not into turbos, I like to have the power here and now, but I have heard the GS-T is a fantastic ride.
I'm 16 and I just got my license 7 months ago, and the cars I were looking for were an Eclipse and a Camaro Z28. I'm into cars and such, so I know what to get, but it kinda all came down to gas prices, so I got the Eclipse RS; it's a 1998 and it's a stick, and its been all good for me.
I have a vibrant performance exhaust on it, AEM intake, and I haven't lost a race yet... I recommend this car, but only if you take care of it, like change the fluids and such, just take care of it.
All my friends think my car is slow, but they haven't beat me yet. I've beat a 08 Civic Si with a nuespeed exhaust and I wasn't even power shifting.
The Eclipse is a great car and the performance parts are cheap for it.
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