So my wifes dream car is a Mitsu eclipse convert, and we happen to find one that looks great. A 98 GS with 94xxx miles on it. My question is, are they good reliable cars? What are big things I should look for?

Looking for any help here cause last time I bought a used car it was a total lemon and I can't afford that hassel and headache again

Thanks

This post has been edited by Jeremy1210: Apr 17, 2006 - 8:05 AM

my buddy at work has one and hes hasnt had ne problem with his that i know of, but i think they are reliable cars, but dont take my word for it lol

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i know 3 people that have eclipses of that body style, two of them have constant problems with the car, the other has never had a probleme with it. A girl i go to school with has a gs convertable 97, and she spent i think 6k buying it, and has spent over 2k repairing stupid things on it. My friend from high school has a 98 GS-T which is just a turbo'd GS, but his is a coupe, and ive seen him on the side of the 101 3 times in this just past week. he also has spent way to much in repairs. The other person i know, was a old co - worker, and she was all about cars. she knew EVERYTHING abnout ethe eclipse, she said, the only eclipse worth getting of that body style thats reliable , is the GSX, the all wheel drive + turbo'd one. she said it was basically a completely different car and it never had any problems compared to the gs and gs-t's. so i dunno if that helped at all, but yeah thats what ive expereince
i have also noticed, 7/10 eclipses have front body damage, so if you live in a area with hills or alot of speed bumps its probabbly not the best car becuase stock, its really low and rubs up on alot of things and cracks the front bumpers.

The interior of the car is also not thought out very well, its very tight, for the driver and passengers.

i hate to sound like im bashingf on this car, cuz, i personally think the car is bad ass looking, but reliable? not so much from what i have experienced

hope everything goes well with your decision!

its a mitsubishi, nuff said
dont mean to bash but there not known for being the most reliable cars. But then again going to anything else besides another toyota is going to be a step down in reliability.

I've heard about reliability issues too
but with proper care any car can be reliable

Eclipses were the other cars i was looking into back when i was looking for a car. I couldnt find one that was in good shape in both looks and performance. I hear these things give so many problems. If you have the money, check out one of the new ones, they look sick.

They are a PAIN to work on.

I will never own anything with the name mitsubishi associated with it again. They should change the name to "piece of ****zi".

But if you like spending big bucks on repairs, and working on it more than driving it, Mitsubishi is the way to go.

This post has been edited by gas65: Apr 16, 2006 - 12:37 AM

the generation you speak of is notorious for crankwalk. Crankwalk, or "the walking crankshaft", happens when the crankshaft starts moving around its housing. This causes the crankshaft to, at some point or another, wear into the thrust bearing heavily. This will cause the crank to eventually move a plate that will smash into the crank angle sensor, break it, and shut the car down.

Many people take the 6 bolt engine out of the 1st Gen Eclipses and put them in the 2nd Gen eclipse, removing the 7 bolt engine and pissing on it. The 6 bolt never had the crankwalk issues.

Just put "Crankwalk" into google, you should be able to make your decision there..

we have two in the family, sister's and brother's. My brother lives at home, i work on it constantly. I've changed head gaskets on both 2 times each. We should've never bought them is about as basic as it gets. (both GS's, one manual, one auto)

Thanks for all the helpful insight. We are DEFINITELY not getting one. I read many horror stories, and did not know they it was a chrsytler engine and drive train, plus the convert tops leak like all hell and break.

Anyone know if Chrystler makes 01+ engine and stuff?

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Well they are branded Mitsubishi, but I don't know if it is Chrystler internals and all the other junk.

just stay away from mitsu in general. they dont make realiable cars in any of the years.

Yeah I'm staying away from mitsu.

So the wife really wants a convert, any idea on a good one thats not a piece that is a 2000+?

Thanks

This post has been edited by Jeremy1210: Apr 17, 2006 - 8:06 AM

I have a 2000 MR2, dealership killed it once, brought it back to life, and now its dead again, the wrist pin loosened up, piston slammed into head and that was the end of that. I am pretty sure my car was just freak accidents but its kinda lead me away from the 1zz and 2zz's...

S2000
350Z
Crossfire
Z3
Z4
Kompressor

Just a few I can think of, mainly just because I am looking at buy'n one of those now.

DTE

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Did the dealership give you your money back?

They dont want to give me my money back basicly, so they are offering me any car they can get in my price, hence my little list, In a way for the same price I am moving up alot in the car world so I am ok with it.

PLUS I have a rental ford Tarus that is being beat to all hell, and has set a new record of 9" of air.

DTE

V6 mustang...thunderbird...VW Bug

Toyota Solara vert ftw.

2002


This post has been edited by Supersprynt: Apr 17, 2006 - 12:38 PM

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Agreed. It will need springs though - those cars are so squishy.

My g/f has a 95 eclips with the new front and rear, But she hasn't had any problems with it at all. Has 102k on it.

Whoever said V6 mustang convert--best option. That's the ultimate barbie-mobile. Your wife will love it.

Or why not a 6th gen convertible?

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Its not new enough for her. Right now shes looking at the Damn MR2 spyder, so I gotta deal with the magic that the car has "the vanishing oil" trick

Theres a Mustang, so I might try her to get that, but I gotta read up on its relibility

BTW have you guys ever been to www.carsurvey.org ?? Its a pretty cool site where you can write feedback and stuff about all cars

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good find. www.edmunds.com is a good site with lots of info including editorial and reader reviews as well.

Chrysler Sebring 2001+ are good cars. They changed the body style in 2001 and also started making them in America instead of Mexico = better quality. My dad has one.

did you try the miata?

mr2 spyder for the win

The new miatas are hott.

Miatas are too small. my head hits the top when it is up and we gotta get a car that both of us can fit in

Might be the MR2... I'm weary of buying and chrystler products

How bout the new Pontiac Solicstice? Or the IMO better looking Saturn Sky. New but probably not TOO expensive.