HELP - Purchase of first Mitsubishi

[Hurricane 2K1]

Hi, My Names Anthony. I currently own a Camaro Z28 and I live in Pittsburgh. My Camaro is just getting to be a pain in the butt, gas gauge broken, wiring is terrible, obviously Pittsburgh snow doesn't help causes either. Now don't get me wrong, I love the car, but looking for something with better gas mileage and looks good. I came across this Eclipse for a start. 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS Coupe 2D I know it has 144k but I'm 21 and on my fourth car already. I've had two cars over 140k and haven't really had problems with them. So, I have a few questions:

+My cousin has a 2000 Black Galant, and the clearcoat starting to chip and the paint is fading, I've not just seen it on his car but several other Galants. Is this going to be a problem for my red Eclipse?


+I went to look at the car yesterday but got their a little to and the sun went down and really didnt get a good look at the car. It seemed to drive good but I'm going to look at the car again today, What specific things should I look for?

+Anything else about Eclipse's I should know? Thanks for your help guys.

 

[Zdrummer15]

From what I've seen, DSM's don't have issues with paint chipping or fading any more then the average car that age, but you are talking about an 11+ year old car so you can't expect it to be perfect.

 

[Hurricane 2K1]

Sorry, what I meant was that extreme sun damage. If you look on the top of his trunk, there is all these blobs of white because its where the paint just completely went away

 

[Fabian]

that car looks absolutely unmolested! You might have found a keeper! When you look at it again, make sure the transmission shifts smoothly, I wouldnt really baby the car when you test drive it, but try to beat on it a little bit and see if you notice anything out of the ordinary. Any kind of smoking when it idles, any funny noises, check all the electronics, make sure the windows come up and down like they should. Things like that. Any kinds of leaks you can spot, does the motor look like he had it cleaned? or does it have dirt on it? Most of the time people will spiff up the car before selling it so nobody can see its faults.

 

[Hurricane 2K1]

that car looks absolutely unmolested! You might have found a keeper! When you look at it again, make sure the transmission shifts smoothly, I wouldnt really baby the car when you test drive it, but try to beat on it a little bit and see if you notice anything out of the ordinary. Any kind of smoking when it idles, any funny noises, check all the electronics, make sure the windows come up and down like they should. Things like that. Any kinds of leaks you can spot, does the motor look like he had it cleaned? or does it have dirt on it? Most of the time people will spiff up the car before selling it so nobody can see its faults.

The car was previously owned by a 73 year old lady. The interior looks like a muddy foot never touched the floor. The interior is is excellent condition the exterior has your basic dings and what not but no rust and no dents, never been wrecked. I drove it and it seems to shift normal, I stopped it and let it idle and it rumbles a little but it sounds fine to be but I'd have to drive it again.

It passed emissions last month and is good till 9/2010, but he did mention something about a small leak at the back of the motor. I just don't see a car passing emissions if it was that serious because I owned a 94 Camaro that leaked oilso bad I had to sell it.

 

[gsx7707]

if you are just going to drive it great but if you plan on modifying buy something else and about once a month spend 8 or 9 hundred dollars on something else you want goodluck

 

[Fabian]

PA emissions dont require your car NOT to leak anything. Im a service writer for an inspection station. Now if the car is leaking badly enough the mechanic doing the inspection can choose to refuse the car until you have the leak fixed...But if its something small, get the car and fix it. Try to get it for a lower price because of the leak. I hope you're not planning on modding this car at all. Cause if you are, just find yourself a turbo car and spend the money.

 

[Hurricane 2K1]

PA emissions dont require your car NOT to leak anything. Im a service writer for an inspection station. Now if the car is leaking badly enough the mechanic doing the inspection can choose to refuse the car until you have the leak fixed...But if its something small, get the car and fix it. Try to get it for a lower price because of the leak. I hope you're not planning on modding this car at all. Cause if you are, just find yourself a turbo car and spend the money.

I want gsx eclipse but really don't have extra money to spend right now, I just need something that is a daily driver. But now that I know what you told me about the leak, I'm thinking of staying away from it.

 

[DSMunknown]

$3500 for a '98 automatic non-turbo with 144K+ miles?! HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Others would be lucky to get that with their AWDs & their mods bolted on.

 

[Hurricane 2K1]

I might just keep my Z28 then.

 

[kneipperk]

i had a 420 eclipse non turbo hahahaha i would never do that again , sure enough the rear main went and it went bad! took a spill all over the driveway! from personal experience i would never buy another dsm unless its 4g63 awd! but then again i live in colorado

 

[Hurricane 2K1]

i had a 420 eclipse non turbo hahahaha i would never do that again , sure enough the rear main went and it went bad! took a spill all over the driveway! from personal experience i would never buy another dsm unless its 4g63 awd! but then again i live in colorado

I've had a 1994 Camaro V6 and the intake leaked oil, both window motors were broken, heat didn't work, TTOPS leaked. Yet, I found myself buying another Camaro but a step up with the Z28. I'm 21 years old and just want something normal to drive daily.

 

[bluegs03]

If you want a reliable daily driven car that will NEVER fail you, go buy a toyota camry or a honda. If you really really like the look of the eclipse save up some money and buy one as a project street/strip car. That way you can drive it on the street but if it breaks down no biggie. Im 21 years old myself and i went through your situation a while back at 18. I had a 03 eclipse which was my daily, i slapped a turbo on it and started breaking stuff. In the end i took the turbo off converted it back to stock and bought an 90 gsx to make into my turbo toy. Also the gs model is pretty weak i mean at least go for a gs-t. They arent that much more and that one is overpriced no matter how good condition it is in. Its still got 14x,xxx miles thats alot and things are gonna go wrong.

 

[Hurricane 2K1]

The problem is I cant even find a working GST or GSX is Pittsburgh.

 

[kneipperk]

i dont know if you have the time or would even want to but i got both of my last good model eclipses from out of town, almost out of state. check out the classifieds for other cities and maybe take a trip. I got a 90tsi awd for $700 and now my newest 95tsi awd for only $2000 take your time and look around a gs isnt worth it trust me, the chrystler 420a is garbage!

 

[eazy2g]

Hi, My Names Anthony. I currently own a Camaro Z28 and I live in Pittsburgh. My Camaro is just getting to be a pain in the butt, gas gauge broken, wiring is terrible, obviously Pittsburgh snow doesn't help causes either. Now don't get me wrong, I love the car, but looking for something with better gas mileage and looks good. I came across this Eclipse for a start. 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS Coupe 2D I know it has 144k but I'm 21 and on my fourth car already. I've had two cars over 140k and haven't really had problems with them. So, I have a few questions:

+My cousin has a 2000 Black Galant, and the clearcoat starting to chip and the paint is fading, I've not just seen it on his car but several other Galants. Is this going to be a problem for my red Eclipse?


+I went to look at the car yesterday but got their a little to and the sun went down and really didnt get a good look at the car. It seemed to drive good but I'm going to look at the car again today, What specific things should I look for?

+Anything else about Eclipse's I should know? Thanks for your help guys.

Do not buy a black Mitsu that is more than 10yrs old. The paint is defective... look at my pics. It is a very common problem with the black cars.


If you want something for snow and better MPG look for a GSX or talon TSI