I don't really consider the Eclipse a coupe but a hatchback just like the Integra/RSX, or Scion tC. They aren't really coupes IMHO. However, it is the next best thing since it does have coupe like lines ande 2 doors plus 1. I would be more accepting of a twp door hatchback being called a coupe than any 4-door car being called a coupe.

 

You're counting out a lot of cars as coupes than.
Firebird/Trans Am, Camaro, Celica, Supra, 240SX. Just to name a few. Two door passengers vehicles are coupes in my opinion so long as they're not convertibles.

 

Don't forget about size. I consider the Eclipse more of a Solara, Accord coupe, Altima coupe competitor now.

In descending order from 4th to 2nd:

Wheelbase 101.4 in (2575 mm)
Length 2006-08: 179.7 in (4565 mm)
2009-: 180.4 in (4582 mm)
Width 72.2 in (1835 mm)
Height 53.5 in (1360 mm)
Spyder: 54.4 in (1383 mm)
GT Spyder: 54.7 in (1390 mm)

Wheelbase 100.8 in (2560 mm)
Length 2004-05: 176.8 in (4491 mm)
2000-03: 175.4 in (4455 mm)
Width 68.9 in (1750 mm)
Height 2001-05 Coupe: 51.6 in (1311 mm)
Spyder: 52.8 in (1341 mm)
2000: 51.8 in (1316 mm)

Wheelbase 98.8 in (2510 mm)
Length 1995-96: 172.2 in (4375 mm)
1997-99: 172.4 in (4380 mm)
Width 68.3 in (1735 mm)
68.5 in (1740 mm)
68.7 in (1745 mm)
Height 1995-96: 50.2 in (1275 mm)
Convertibles: 52.8 in (1340 mm)
GSX: 50.5 in (1283 mm)
1997-99: 49.8 in (1266 mm)

 

You are right, I would count them out as Coupes. But certain year Camaro's and Celica's and 240s were Coupes with 2-Doors and a trunk and not hatches.

 

Yea some were not hatches and some were an option.

 

since the last turbo model in 99, the eclipse has been a waste of space.
i understand that they were seeing hte evo about to hit this country so they didn't want a direct evo competitor within their own lineup so they ahd to move the eclispe into a different direction.
it still sucks because not everyone can afford a 32+k evo but a 25k turbo eclipse would be affordable.
90-94 eclipse turbo are still the best!

 

First, it is a Mitsubishi.
Second, it is FWD.
Third, it uses a NA V6 engine.
Fourth, it is not light weight.
Fifth, it is not good looking.

Why should we care so much about this car?

 

I don't get how they manage to get only 263hp from a 3.8L V6 while even the 2007 Sienna have 266hp from a 3.5L...

And get this, the Eclipse's 0-60 is 6.8 while the Sienna also does a 0-60 in 6.8... I'd take a Sienna any day. lol

Oh I've got a Eclipse before, it's a 97 turbo awd, and its turning radius is unheard of... on a road with 4 lanes I can't even do a U-turn. Plus, almost everything have broken at least once.

 

Yeah I remember with the last gen their purpose of putting a V-6 in it was to get older more mature buyers but that was a boneheaded move.

 

It's not a bad looking car, but for the price there are others to consider.

The Eclipse is a fairly heavy car that really doesn't do anything that well. I DO like the look of the convertible with the factory body kit.

 

Mitsubishi's big mistake (and they still haven't admitted it, after 9 years), was to drop the turbo and AWD versions of the Eclipse after 1999. The third-generation Eclipse, with a FWD N/A 4 and V6, lost much of the widespread enthusiasm that the second-generation model had, especially with the tuner and caps-on-backward crowd. They also stopped making the Eagle Talon and Plymouth Laser versions that Mitsubishi also profited from....it could have been transfered to a Chrysler nameplate (like the old, Mitsubishi-derived Chrysler Conquest) when those divisions folded.

The crowd that had embraced the turbo and AWD second-generation (1995-1999) version complained bitterly when they were dropped, but Mitsubishi marketers didn't listen. Now they are paying the price.....the car has been long forgotten.

 

Bingo.....you hit it. The loss of the AWD version was also a factor,

 

I remember in the 90s two friends both got Eagle Talons (basically rebadged turbo AWD Eclipses) and they were AWESOME cars!

 

my friend (who's a real crazy ****) had the old eclipse in nitro yellow green.

he had a whole mess of mods with flames shootin out of his exhaust.

a few guys in a mustang tried messing with him on the highway and laughed at him and cut him off.

he got pissed and cut them off, stuck it in neutral and shot the 3 foot flames right at their front bumper.

The look on their faces were priceless lol

needless to say, they slammed on the brakes and disappeared.

 

Agreed. The only real problem with those cars was the poor quality control and manufacturing techniques at the Normal, IL, Diamond-Star plant that Mitsubishi shared with Chrysler. I've talked about those problems in detail in other threads.