As a general observation, most convertibles look good but they're rarely as good at performing as even the worst full-bodied coupe, and the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is no exception.

The primary convertible selling point is "freedom" and buyers are usually willing to compromise on other important vehicle criteria in order to attain it. That's not a knock but a fact. There's nothing quite like zipping around the countryside on a still summer morning with your top down, the sun warming your skin and the wind tossling your hair. If you can do it in a convertible, all the better!

But once the vehicle's top goes down, all other solid vehicle characteristics usually go to hell in a handbasket very quickly. The top is an integral part of a vehicle's structure, preventing the body from twisting. Remember that outside of the stamped body structure, everything else is pretty much bolted in and as the structure flexes, it's going to put strain on fasteners.

The Eclipse Spyder carries forth the surface attributes of the Eclipse coupe, but does fall apart on the ride and handling front, as expected. Mitsubishi has done a great job at preserving the coupe profile when the top is up. There are the usual prominent ribs over the cabin, but the top flows smoothly into the rear deck. With the top down (by unlatching it from the windshield header and pushing a button for 20 seconds), the profile is fast, with a nice balance of passenger space to engine and cargo compartments.

Of interest is that Mitsubishi is positioning Spyder against roadsters such as the Mazda MX-5 and 4-seaters like the Toyota Solara. Over the former, it has the advantage of space but gives up nimble handling. Over the latter, it has the advantage of style but gives up some interior room and convenience.

The rear seat in the Spyder is tighter shoulder to shoulder than that of the Eclipse coupe, due to trying to fit the top within the body work around the seat. Getting in there takes a few contortions when the roof is up and there isn't a lot of leg room once the front seat slides back into position. Limit its use to kids under 12 and you should have few complaints.

Fitting an 8-inch sub-woofer between the rear seating positions eliminates the possibility of a pass-through to the trunk, and it could really use it. There's less room back there than in a Mazda MX-5, and at least with that one you only need to carry stuff belonging to two people. In the Spyder, you'd expect to at least be able to fit one overnight bag per occupant. As for golf clubs, you'd best rent.

Firm suspension settings ensure a lot of body shake over even moderately broken surfaces, while handling isn't as tight as might be expected. There's a fair bit of lean on sweeping corners and encountering a bump in the middle of corner really sends a shudder through the car. It's all slightly better with the top in place, but you're constantly bombarded with little stress clicks and moans. The other sore point is a turning circle that just is slightly larger than that of a Chevy Avalanche.

Power is entrusted to a choice of 162-hp 2.4 "four" or 260-hp 3.8 V6, both equipped with variable valve timing. Our test V6-equipped GT was fitted with a 6-speed manual. Smooth and positive with well spaced gears, it complements the engine's power band allowing progressive acceleration from a standstill to highway speeds. Although there is half-decent pull in 6th, gearing down to 5th makes for a quicker getaway.

However, it is thirsty bugger (unlike what we've come to expect from variable valve timed engines that boost power and improve economy). We managed about 12.5 litres per 100 km over an almost equal mix of city and highway driving. Compare that to the sub 12 mark we achieved over basically the same roads, in the considerably bigger Chev Impala, with a slightly larger engine.

Overall, the Eclipse Spyder is a really nice looking car with very little substance. Beyond useful power effectively controlled by a slick 6-speed gearbox, the car has nothing of relevance to make it memorable.

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