Hooniverse Asks: What are the best and worst Eclipse cars ever made?


There’s an Eclipse out there today. You don’t see one everyday, but from time to time you might catch a glimpse. No, I’m not talking about the once-in-a-century solar eclipse that is running from coast to coast in North America today, I’m talking about that car from Mitsubishi!
I want to know what you think is the best Eclipse ever made. I don’t just mean stock, because we all know the answer lies somewhere in the 1990 through 1994 first-generation cars. It can be any modified Eclipse under the sun (even if that sun is obscured by the moon).
Also, show me the worst Eclipse examples you can find too! Sound off in the comments. 
[Image courtesy By IFCAR – Own work, Public Domain, Link]

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15 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: What are the best and worst Eclipse cars ever made?”

  1. GTXcellent Avatar
    GTXcellent

    Sadly, there are no longer any in existence – they’re now just memories (I hate you F&F), but an UNMODIFIED, ’97-’99 GSX is the best Eclipse – end of the argument
    http://images.automotive.com/review_images/99eclipse.jpg

    1. Smaglik Avatar
      Smaglik

      I’d have to agree with this. They got the proportions perfect on this one, imo.

    2. bv911 Avatar
      bv911

      I’ll agree with this chassis/model being the best, but it’s hard to root for stock, when there’s dudes like AMS Performance around…
      A runner up: I believe HKS did this show car for Mitsubishi, had good visuals, and 400 horses to back it up!
      http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z-yTYL_oKAE/S8XtqsNh2KI/AAAAAAAAAqY/ahLi4Af4IVY/s1600/2006-mitsubishi-eclipse-r-5_800x0w.jpg

  2. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    I can’t take credit for this, but the worst Eclipse is Bonnie Tyler’s, as every now and then it falls apart (although I suppose that’s standard DSM).
    I don’t know if it’s just what I’m more familiar with (as we didn’t get Mitsubishis in Canada until 2000 or so, around the time the 3rd gen came out), but I prefer the Eagle Talon (especially the late 2nd gen).

    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      And there’s nothing she can do about it either. Sounds like a solid case for more mechanical education.
      Either way, I didn’t know Mitsubishi was so late to enter the Canadian market. What were they afraid of?

      1. Maymar Avatar
        Maymar

        I assume it must have been a non-competition agreement with Chrysler, as most Mitsu products were sold as captive imports until around ’98 when Eagle was phased out. Either that, or because there was already a wide dealer network in place selling the exact same cars, it would’ve been too much of a risk.

  3. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    The best Eclipse is the 1990-1991 GSX model with turbo and AWD. I didn’t like the wedgey exposed headlights on the 1992 facelift. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b9b66bedc4db8a0458cd66f2e08eaa4304747e79f10d8ff7f73633d158ec2c0c.jpg
    Here’s the worst I could find – a wrecked 4th-generation fatso model. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4607ca045fa3182f6dd57338773e415176af75b7056b2a2dfd4cf029022e49df.jpg

    1. JayP Avatar
      JayP

      Total(ed) Eclipse.

  4. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
    SlowJoeCrow

    The only Eclipse I have experience with is my tank bag
    since I goofed the image embed, see below for a new one and imagine it fade to a dark gray from 25 years of UV exposure.

  5. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    AMC Sundancer was certainly more rare than a Mitsubishi Eclipse, but there are probably more of them left these days.
    http://hooniverse.info/2015/06/07/oddball-convertible-weekend-the-amc-sundancer/
    Same with Honda Del Sol.

  6. cap'n fast Avatar
    cap’n fast

    for any statement of qualities, one simply must have a list of requirements. even if the qualities are for the worse or the best of something. so, on the list of qualities for “best” we should have “proportion”. available colors, comfort-not really an objective observation as beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder- and wheels/tires which do not protrude into the other lanes. add more as you see fit.
    for the qualities of worse thru hideous one can always start by identifying those vehicles with any sort of wing or aero device which extends above the roof line, beyond the side of the car, or a wing which has so many airfoils that when generating downforce(or lift for those who put them on wrong) that it generates drag in excess of what the bare car body would have had without such accoutrements.
    the 90-91 GSX meets the requirements for “best”. 97-99 GSX is merely “good”.

  7. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    The forgotten Diamondstar car, the Plymouth Laser RS Turbo AWD.
    http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/comment-image/99482.jpg
    Probably the rarest of the Eclipse, Talon, Laser crowd.

  8. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    I have no good memory of the Eclipse. I recall riding shotgun in an AWD one that had impressive acceleration but was basically an unsteerable bullet. It didn’t strike me as something I’d want to drive. In fact, I was looking endearingly to the 60s after that ride.

  9. Conor Richards Avatar
    Conor Richards

    They were all fucking terrible. I’m a former Mitsubishi technician. Ugh.