Eclipse looks good, acts good, missing something

It may seem odd, but after a week with the sexy, unblushing, in-your-face Mitsubishi Eclipse coupe, I couldn’t help but think of it more as a year-round commuter and less as a straight-up sports coupe.

First, though, let me address the sports coupe part because some of that DNA definitely flow’s through the Eclipse’s blood.

The look of the fourth generation Eclipse was designed specifically to appeal to the tastes of the North American car market, though it seems Mitsubishi also took into account North Americans’ taste for unadulterated power. The V6-equipped Eclipse produces a copious helping of power (263-horsepower, 260 lb.-ft. of torque), and though its specification sheet says that you really need to get the tachometer climbing before you feel any of that power, the vehicle itself tells a different story.

Tap the throttle at low speeds in any one of the first three gears and this coupe will gladly leap forward, ready, willing and able to do its master’s bidding. When racing isn’t necessary and you want nothing more than to traverse city streets with low speed limits, leaving it in third around just about every turn is no problem for the Eclipse. That’s not to say that it’s a chore to shift in the Eclipse; quite the opposite indeed. The shifter feels (and looks) like a tiny baseball in the driver’s hand and quick shifts are a cinch, whether you throw like a girl or not.

The downside to all this power is that, being a front-wheel drive coupe, it’s much heavier up front (62/38 front-to-rear weight distribution) so expect much torque steer and squealing of tires when you drop the hammer in low gears.

Although the sport-tuned suspension keeps the car from leaning around corners, the vehicle still feels hefty, and the large turning circle doesn’t help things much. The front seats are very supportive though, so fear not being tossed around.

With so much focus being put on car interiors and technology all the time, I’m surprised with how little the Eclipse offers once you’re sitting down. Why can the top-of-the-line 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS - which tops out at $21,000 before options - be equipped with a Bluetooth phone kit, an auto up/down driver’s side window and a FAST-key entry system, but the Eclipse can’t?

It’s by no means all bad inside though. The Rockford-Fosgate sound system that comes standard on the Eclipse GT-P easily drowns out the wind and road noise that creeps into the cabin, and the leather that covers much of the interior surfaces feels great and fits perfectly with the sporty, aggressive exterior of the car.

Getting in and out of the low-ridin’ Eclipse takes some getting used to, but once set in the cockpit, it’s easy enough to get comfortable and stay comfortable thanks to a 6-way power adjustable driver’s seat and tilt steering wheel. Those over six feet will need to be wary of their noggins though, as there isn’t much room up top.

The biggest thing going for it is that it really doesn’t have a lot of direct competitors. It’s tempting to pit it against a coupe like the Nissan 350Z, but the Eclipse technically is a 2+2 seater. And though there are plenty of those around like the BMW 6-Series and the Porsche 911, those are much more expensive than Mitsubishi’s offering. In other words, it seems Mitsubishi may have carved out its own little niche.

It’s not perfect, but the Eclipse is worth a look for someone in the market for an affordable sports coupe that can be used year-round in not-always-balmy climates. A sports car enthusiast may scoff at its being front-wheel drive, but a driver in Winnipeg who is traversing snow-blanketed streets for half the year (or more) will love the fact that it’s not rear-wheel drive.

The ride is very forgiving and there’s even room for several grocery bags or a golf bag thanks to a decent-sized trunk, and fold-down rear seats no less.

The Eclipse isn’t an all-out sports machine like Mitsubishi would like you to believe, but maybe that’s a good thing.