Are the 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST Reliable?

[Xyro]

I am currently considering trading my 94 Integra in for a 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST. I know for sure that the Mitsubishi Eclipse will cost me more when it needs repairs and all that. But I was wondering aside from crankwalk, is the car reliable? Is it a practical everydy driver for a 20 year old? I go to school but I feel I make enough money to maintain the car. I was planning on doing the regular maintence like any other car, and if crankwalk occurs I will replace with a 6bolt 4g63T motor. So mainly I would like to know for a daily driver that wont be on the track all too often, and will sustain only minor mods being front mount intercooler, cold air, exhaust is it worth it? And I know alot of people say the fun of the car and the looks are well worth the price. If that is your answer, how much money in repairs will i be expecting? Thank you.

 

[SmalltownDSMer]

I am no person to turn down a jackass in daddys automatic 300C or Pontiac G6, whether I win or lose.
Sounds like your set on buying it, good luck man. Anyways just do what you did with your integra in regards to having the dealer giving it a twice over when your in there getting work done and you should be just fine. And like everyone else said, don't neglect it and you enjoy many fun filled years.

 

[Jdog]

As long as you keep the maintenance up a DSM can handle about 350-400 horsepower pretty reliably....once you get over that you are talking about breaking tranny's and engine components pretty often....moreso the tranny than anything. But have fun with it, these things were made to be driven

 

[LD25Delta9]

Yeah, that's why I cut that little part out of the quote. There was no need for it.

 

[slickers111]

Yep, as long as you dont beat on it, and keep it maintained good, she will be a beauty.

 

[dsmeclipsex]

the first car i ever owned was a 96 eclipse gst. Probably the best car i ever owned. Fast, comfortable, and reliable. As long as its maintained itll last you forever. Mine ended up with .2mm of play in the crank even though i kept it babied and maintained. Its just luck o the draw with the 2gs.

 

[chico904]

. Will it handle the minor beating it may get from time to time? with only minor mods? They are great cars I know, but how fun can they be under 3000rpm all day every day?

Once again. too many variables. What shape is the engine in, what is your compression, what are your supporting mods, is all your maintenance up to date...etc..
And how fun under 3000 rpm's every day? Probably not that fun. You will not see full boost until at least 2000 rpms. So if you plan on driving your car under 3000 rpms "all day every day" for whatever reason you have for doing that, then you will not be able to see the cars true potential, and I would start looking for a N/A car.

 

[keltalon]

the body of the car has 114,000miles. But the engine was replaced, and cuyrrently has 80,000 miles on it. Im assuming it had crankwalk. I am not too worried about crankwalk, because for 1500-2500 I can get the 6bolt installed and perfect. But I will do the needed things, all belts, all fluids and probably plugs and wires. But aside from the initial tune-ups and get ready business. Say in the course of 1 year, what kind of schedule should I be on with it, and how much money am I looking to spend in that course of time.

The 2g eclipse is my favourite car, Ive wanted one from day one, but I am also a realist when it comes to cars, and at my age I dont need every luxury of the exact car I want, so even though this is practically my dream car(and what i can do to it) I want it to be a good DD. And like I said in the first post. Either wheb/if crankwalk occurs, I replace with JDM6bolt then pump the bigger turbos and rebuild into the equation. But thats something im looking into next summer.

so you can at least expect 34,000 more miles out of the new engine

 

[brainlessher0]

+1... Fun starts around 4500 Rpms and ends around 7000 ... Every day all day

The 4G63 is our favorite, my 7 Bolt 1998 Eclipse GS-T is by far one of the most enjoyable cars I have ever driven (given the price $4-10,000)

Beating older guys in turbocharged 911's... Priceless