Buying an Eclipse..?

[Techeun]

Hello!
This is my first post, but I’ve been browsing for weeks, doing research and admiring builds.
I’m thinking about pickin up an eclipse, I’m just not sure which to go with. There aren’t many for sale around me, mostly in other states 100+ miles away, which isn’t an issue.
I’m just not sure what Eclipse I should start with. I’m in love with the 95-99’ model, and plan on modifying it pretty heavily under the hood, since this will be my weekend car, not my daily.
Thoughts, suggestions?
Thanks

 

[joemamma]

you not going to get many response due to SO MANY article on this. It is all just preference.

 

[Murdertalon]

what do you want the car for? as in track or Street?

personally I'm more of a street person, and occasional track when I want to see if things are changing for the better.

how much do you plan on putting into the car? well I partly ask this because you might be in the predicament that I am facing.. I don't mind putting a little more into my dsm, but you won't get the money back out of it easily and or of its in an accident insurance isn't likely to be too generous.

my next car that gets money into it will be something that if it gets hit will also provide an insurance pay out. I like the thought of having a weekend car, but also want something that's just a backup dd as well. the evo fits this a bit better.

just some things to think on, if your set on a weekend dsm grab one. it's best if it's not something you have to rely on as main dd.

 

[Vegas Smith]

If you have money and are willing to do mechanical and electrical work then they are great cars. They are very often abused by broke-ass previous owners so you will spend a lot of time installing correct parts and diagnosing electrical issues or projects. If you enjoy that stuff and have the money or time then yes, go ahead and get one because they are very fun, beautiful cars.

Also, if you feel like you don't have the space to work on the car or don't have the ability to do projects yourself then I would pass. If you have to take these cars to shops to get work down then you will be in a world of hurt financially. If you can do it yourself, you'll be ok.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Get one then you'll learn a lot about cars that' how i learned bought one and taught myself, my first car a 91 in 94 .

 

[Brembo]

I love my dsm. I like to drive it. It dont break as easy as some people might want you to beliave, its just that it is old. These cars are not hard to work on but some parts are hard to find. I second on getting an evo. Do this, test drive evo 9 and I mean evo 9 and go test drive a dsm. Come back and let us know. Make sure you punch them bought.

 

[Boomdeeze]

I love my dsm. I like to drive it. It dont break as easy as some people might want you to beliave, its just that it is old. These cars are not hard to work on but some parts are hard to find. I second on getting an evo. Do this, test drive evo 9 and I mean evo 9 and go test drive a dsm. Come back and let us know. Make sure you punch them bought.

I'm sorry but this comparison is horrible, the price of an Evo 9 is two to three times the cost of a 95-99 DSM.

 

[Brembo]

Get rid of dd and here you go. Make the Evo the dd.

Look at it this way. Buying a dsm, repairing a dsm, moding a dsm, insurance for a dsm and a dd. Add that together and you will see that's en Evo is not that expensive.

Oh and you don't have to be sorry your just expression an opinion. I am not mad. Thats usually how people talk.

 

[hharper1321]

If you're dead set on a DSM, get one. Just be very picky about which one. I would (and did) find one as close to stock as possible. Previous mods might sound good, but nine times out of ten, you'll spend a ton of time reversing other peoples mistakes. Even if you want to go full tilt boogie on the mods, I'd start from as stock a platform as possible. That way you know things are done to your standards (whatever they may be). And yes, these cars can (and I do) be daily driven. Just be prepared to work on them if needed. They are getting to be twenty years old plus now. That said, DSM's aren't voodoo. They are cars, fairly simple ones, compared to newer cars, and there is a wealth of knowledge and Youtube vids to help you get most anything fixed or replaced. You get to learn and take pride in a job well done when you do it yourself. These cars are just nuts and bolts. There is a procedure for everything. Do it right, torque it to spec, and set the clearances correctly. Oh, and have fun. I love mine, and it still makes me grin like it did the day I bought it.

 

[Bo0sTeD 4G63]

If you have money and are willing to do mechanical and electrical work then they are great cars. They are very often abused by broke-ass previous owners so you will spend a lot of time installing correct parts and diagnosing electrical issues or projects. If you enjoy that stuff and have the money or time then yes, go ahead and get one because they are very fun, beautiful cars.

I agree with Vegas Smith completely. Most of these cars have been abused by other owners so make sure you are picky. Also I would probably go with a GSX if you can find one in good condition. They are very fun cars and you will definitely learn alot if you put the time into them. Good luck I hope you find a good one out there and keep us posted.

 

[Murdertalon]

I was actually thinking an evo x as dd, you can get a used one for 20k.

I'm sorry but this comparison is horrible, the price of an Evo 9 is two to three times the cost of a 95-99 DSM.

I wouldn't even consider anything other than an evo x. the evo 8 and 9 are too old to secure low interest rate loans on, they are also not going to get a decent pay out from insurance if the car is totaled. the evo 8 and 9 are over priced, likely won't come down much either, but you will be lucky to get half what they are worth from insurance because of age and milage.

 

[Brembo]

I don't know much about the x. I do like the fact that they can run some low offset wheels without poking out but I am still a fan of the 9. I also took a personal loan to pay for it ten years ago because Mitsubishi wanted 11 percent interest and that was for a new car. I guess they knew that it will sell anyway. A little crazy. I was able to get like 4.25 back then. As far as pay out from insurance I have never ask. Maybe I should next time I will call. But in the end it's personal preference and if you can afford a newer car or have 2. From my personal experience to have both insured the dd and a toy on regular policy's gets expensive. I need to find some cheap historic policy.

 

[dustyboner]

Get one then you'll learn a lot about cars that' how i learned bought one and taught myself.

I did the same thing.

 

[Murdertalon]

I did the same thing.

if I had known I was going to have to spend the time and money on working on my dsm that I will never get back idk if it's been worth it. it's easy to get in over your head with these cars.

I bought it with full intentions of not using it as a dd. I have a regular do that's a 08 Lancer. every time the fwd slips or I pull up next to any other turbo car driving around I'm just reminded that my awesome dsm sitting at home isn't getting any use because I don't find it particularly encouragingly reliable.

 

[Boomdeeze]

I like how people say these cars are unreliable when it is as reliable as you build it. I've personally seen these cars at 230,000+ miles with the original stock block and transmission. Yes when you start to mod the car the chances are higher that something will break but it is like that with any vehicle. I have no hesitation to DD my GSX and it is a 10 second car. If you are modifying the car or replacing a stock part, buy a genuine part that will last. Do the install the correct way and you won't have any problem with the car.

 

[jinscho]

I like how people say these cars are unreliable when it is as reliable as you build it. I've personally seen these cars at 230,000+ miles with the original stock block and transmission. Yes when you start to mod the car the chances are higher that something will break but it is like that with any vehicle. I have no hesitation to DD my GSX and it is a 10 second car. If you are modifying the car or replacing a stock part, buy a genuine part that will last. Do the install the correct way and you won't have any problem with the car.

My Spyder GS has 198k on the clock.. fires right up even in the 8 degree morning's we've had in NE PA lately. Any car can be unreliable, reliability isn't something that just happens with a car. It's all about maintenance!

 

[Murdertalon]

I like how people say these cars are unreliable when it is as reliable as you build it. I've personally seen these cars at 230,000+ miles with the original stock block and transmission. Yes when you start to mod the car the chances are higher that something will break but it is like that with any vehicle. I have no hesitation to DD my GSX and it is a 10 second car. If you are modifying the car or replacing a stock part, buy a genuine part that will last. Do the install the correct way and you won't have any problem with the car.

I have ran into a laundry list of issues since I got my dsm, It took me time and money to get it to run properly in stock form, I have been able to fix the issues due to my automotive experience and monetary ability luckily. The fact is the time and money I have into my car I will never get back out. While that is fine and it is what it is because I enjoy the platform, I would trade it all for a used stock EVO X in a second. I have a perfectly reliable "oil changes, brakes and tires" 08 lancer that needs zero attention to anything ever, its nice to just have a car you know isn't going to have issues or need anything additional into it.

My DSM runs, I can go drive it right now. Do I think I would take it on a cross country trip tomorrow problem free? IDK about that. It might do fine, it also might not. It probably would, but do I trust it? IDK. I wouldn't hesitate to take a stock evo X on a cross country trip or daily or whatever. I don't hesitate to drive my lancer on 2k mile trips (used to take it to work in the oil fields) It never had any issues.

Let me preface this with I think the lines and physical design of the 2g dsm's are some of the best in automotive history. Performance and design per dollar was amazing.

DSM potential issues: Winter time your door handle/s are likely to brake off, Summer time your car may overheat, turbo isn't feeling well it might just let the seals go, cold outside? the computer might just decide to randomly flood the engine and good luck starting it then, salt on the roads- did you remember to seal the metal in the wheel wells and under carriage of the car so it doesn't rust so bad? ABS working well, oh then randomly one of the sensors stops responding and the whole system shuts down, running a slightly better cooling loop to minimize overheating chances and car will CEL and go into open loop mode tanking gas milage, door automatic lock solenoid stops working? the part is going to be non existent and require replacing the door latch assembly or if your creative enough you might be able to rig up an aftermarket actuator. Shifting hard? your shifter linkage might decide to just let go of the main weld holding it together in heavy traffic. Smell gas? maybe your gas tank seal decided to pop out and start leaking, oh you want to fix that seal so one of the hard lines on the fuel pump hanger twists and you have to take it to a fabricator and have that rebuilt. Want a working gas gauge? maybe the gas gauge works when it feels like it. Did you happen to get gas from a semi sketchy gas station? car runs poorly. Live in a state where 91 octane is the highest available that's good for a car originally meant for 93 octane. You like a smooth ride and decent suspension? well 20 year old suspension isn't going to hold up so replace that. Brakes seem odd? well they haven't been changed in 10 years so you might break random bolts or parts changing them. Ride seems odd at high speeds like on the freeway well all 4 rims are bent from the prior owner so your better off replacing them.

Its a love hate relationship. I love my DSM, I hate that someone will probably hit me and total it and I will likely not be able to afford another car with the work mine has into it just to run near perfectly stock.
If you want one get one. I always wanted one, now I just maybe think I would be happier with a stock evo X. Maybe you can find one that was much better taken care of than the one I ended up with. It is an amazing platform.

 

[Boomdeeze]

@Murdertalon My main point is you are comparing a 20 year old car to a car that is less than 10 years old and worth about three times the cost. Also look at the cost to mod that lancer compared to the DSM, not even in the same book.

Honestly it seems like you bought a car that has major problems. I have bought a few of these cars and haven't had any of the issues you spoke above besides the routine maintenance being neglected. As soon as I swap the ethanol sensor in my car, I wouldn't hesitate to drive it across country as I know it is built right. The OP stated he is looking to heavily mod the car so he will be going through everything. It would be up to him to go through and check all wiring and sensors when freshly building a car (if you are smart).

OP- If you like the platform, buy it. There will always be people who love and hate these cars and you will hear every problem that someone had with the car. Search for the car you want and don't rush in to buying someone's rigged car that they are just trying to dump. If the deal is too good to be true, usually it is. Take someone with you that is familiar with these cars and it could save you a lot in the end.

 

[motomattx]

Any modern STOCK car, Lancer included will be reliable, this has nothing to do with Eclipse vs Evo or anything else, thats just ridiculous. Wait until your Lancer is 30 years old and lets see how reliable it is if it has been hacked by ten different hight school kids with cheap Autozone parts. I have personally had at least two Dsm's that were mostly stock that I put over 300,000 miles on trouble free. Evo door handles break, Evo abs sensors go bad, Lancers rust waay worse than any dsm I have ever seen, you just dont see many Evo owners driving the Evo in salt and then not washing it off like people did with dsm's simply because of the cost of the Evo,owners cant afford to use them as winter beaters, for that matter how many 1990-1999 Cavaliers or Honda's or Hyundai's etc etc do you see in the snow belt that ARE'NT rusty?? These cars rust no more than any other car if you actually take care of them.

I have my car because I like it, I dont consider any time spent on it time that I would rather be doing something else, its my hobby and I enjoy modding it, if you dont then you dont need to have one, you bought it for the wrong reason obviously. The dsm is pretty much the same car as the Evo as far as the driveline is concerned, the Evo sadly is built upon a cheap Lancer grocery getter platform, and the overall car is cheaply made compared to the dsm, the Evo interior is plain junk, they threw some seats and a steering wheel in it to dress up a pig to justify asking 40k for it, that simple, its a cheaply made car compared to the dsm's. As far as insurance is concerned, you can purchase insurance to cover your cars actual value, the same as a person driving a 1985 Ferrari or a 1957 Chevy would buy, so thats up to you how you want to insure your stuff. The Evo X would be out of the question for me period, that car is an abomination, very little aftermarket support compared to the Evo 9, and its plain butt ugly, it looks like every other car in Mitsubishi's lineup including the suv's with that craptastic front end, and if thats not bad enough it has the Chrysler/Hyundai/Mitsubishi aluminum 4b11 in it. The only reason that the Evo8-Evo9 has held any value is due to movies, video games, and urban legends that taint young pre-pubesent minds, the Evo has been riding high for a few years, but as the prices on GTR's continue to plummit, they are about to take a dive!

 

[skunkprodigy]

awd 5spd is the most fun ive had in these cars but be prepared to learn to fix all kinds of stuff on your car and it will happen very quickly . but man is it fun spanking built rwd cars off the line and racing low power street bikes

Also, if you feel like you don't have the space to work on the car or don't have the ability to do projects yourself then I would pass. If you have to take these cars to shops to get work down then you will be in a world of hurt financially. If you can do it yourself, you'll be ok.

yep learned tisthe hard way payed out the ass for my first turbo fwd talon .started to fix everything on my own and never looked back . it made me a better mechanic on all my other cars too . live and learn

 

[boostjunkie92]

get an AWD set a power goal and start working your way toward it. DONT skimp on maintenance

 

[skunkprodigy]

get an AWD set a power goal and start working your way toward it. DONT skimp on maintenance

Man I check out my car almost every single day even when it's running great I still got the hood opened and cleaning messing with stuff . Just like the big sponsored cars if your gonna race it (around town) make sure it's gonna be safe 4 whatever you do