Rs?

[97' GS-T]

OK. I know I post back and forth back and forth but, I found a deal online for a 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse RS for 3,500. It has 120,000 miles and they just put new brakes, plugs, wires, oils and its registerd and smogged. I know the RS is the LOWEST forum of a dsm but how bad is it? I was born in the 80's and raised through the 90's so I am almost immune to the roll up windows that nothing but whats all this fuss about side skirts and all that? I am in the business of modding the whole car so will an rs effect that? Please explain to me the EXACT differences between a GS or a RS and why I should or shoudlnt buy the RS. Thank you.

 

[Fabian972]

OK. I know I post back and forth back and forth but, I found a deal online for a 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse RS for 3,500. It has 120,000 miles and they just put new brakes, plugs, wires, oils and its registerd and smogged. I know the RS is the LOWEST forum of a dsm but how bad is it? I was born in the 80's and raised through the 90's so I am almost immune to the roll up windows that nothing but whats all this fuss about side skirts and all that? I am in the business of modding the whole car so will an rs effect that? Please explain to me the EXACT differences between a GS or a RS and why I should or shoudlnt buy the RS. Thank you.

Power is the same 420a motor the only thing you get with the GS is side skirts and power window ,locks,sunroof ,all disc brakes ..I have an RS mine came with power everything i bought side skirts for it the only thing it's missing is a turbo and spoiler also rear wiper

 

[BoostedTSi14]

If you have a 97 gst why would you wanna be an rs ?

 

[97' GS-T]

I dont have a 97 gs-t thats just the car I wanted when I first joined on here. So Your telling me the Rs doesnt have a rear wiper, power windows, power locks, or side skirts? If I am going to mod the side skirts anyway, it wouldnt matter right? Or do you have to have oem side skirts to put modded ones on? How hard is it to put power windows in? Locks I dont care. Power windows would be the really only noticiable thing. Is it really hard or expensive? Thanks.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

Um... I think it all depends on whatever options the original owner wanted at the time of purchase. My RS came with a spoiler and sunroof, but no power locks/windows... The only things I know that an RS does not come with for sure, are rear disc brakes, a power antenna, fog lights, painted door handles, rear wiper, side skirts, cruise control, and 16" wheels.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

You replace the stock side skirts when you put aftermarket ones on.

 

[97' GS-T]

OK but I am modding all that anyways. I am putting a full body kit on, 18" enkei rims, all that. My questions are, do you have to have oem 18"rims to put 18" rims on? Do you have to have oem side skirts to put modded side skirts on? I dont need fog lights, only thing I will eventually want are power windows, and painted door handels. The spoiler, side skirts, rims, will all be after market anyways. The only thing keeping it a rs is non disc brakes (the one main thing keeping me from buying it), non power antenna, and non power locks. I could care less about the fog lights, non power antenna. I need to know do I have to have oem side skirts and 18"rims to put modded side skirts and 18"rims on? How hard is it to install power windows? You have a shop do it right? Expensive? Painted door handels? Do the door handels come off? Can you paint them yourself? Brakes, how much is a cheapo disc brake kit and will they work on a drum brake car? So many questions so little time.

 

[Marc91GSX]

OK but I am modding all that anyways. I am putting a full body kit on, 18" enkei rims, all that. My questions are, do you have to have oem 18"rims to put 18" rims on? Do you have to have oem side skirts to put modded side skirts on? I dont need fog lights, only thing I will eventually want are power windows, and painted door handels. The spoiler, side skirts, rims, will all be after market anyways. The only thing keeping it a rs is non disc brakes (the one main thing keeping me from buying it), non power antenna, and non power locks. I could care less about the fog lights, non power antenna. I need to know do I have to have oem side skirts and 18"rims to put modded side skirts and 18"rims on? How hard is it to install power windows? You have a shop do it right? Expensive? Painted door handels? Do the door handels come off? Can you paint them yourself? Brakes, how much is a cheapo disc brake kit and will they work on a drum brake car? So many questions so little time.

Let me get this straight; You were trying to decide whether or not to get a 96 eclipse gs or 90 tsi awd for $3,000. Now you want to spend an additional $500 to get a 97 rs instead.

To answer your questions about the rims and side skirts, the answer is no you do not need oem 18s or side skirts to put aftermarket items on. You will be removing the OEM items to put the aftermarket items on. The only advantage to having the oem side skirts would be possibly selling them to some one who wants them.

Now I have to know why you want this RS instead of the gs. The GS comes with everything you want, has fewer miles and is cheaper. If you do not like the 2ga front bumper, well you are planning on putting a body kit on it anyways so it does not matter what bumper is on it. Plus you want have to worry about buying whole new doors because to convert to power windows you will need to replace the door not just the internals.

Sorry I am just a little

 

[VelocitàPaola]

OK but I am modding all that anyways. I am putting a full body kit on, 18" enkei rims, all that. My questions are, do you have to have oem 18"rims to put 18" rims on? Do you have to have oem side skirts to put modded side skirts on?

No and no. You don't need factory side skirts of 18" rims (factory 18" rims don't even exist) to put aftermarket ones on your car.

You can have your door handles painted, or paint them yourself using a color matched can of aerosol auto paint + clear coat (Google aerosol auto paints).

Finally, you can do a drum to disc conversion using salvaged parts from a GS/GS-T from a junkyard.
http://www.2gnt.com/www/files/reardisk.htm

 

[98RedDragon]

to answere your questions:
1. no you do not need to have oem 18" rims to put on aftermaket 18" rims, however, you will need to get your spedometer recalibrated for the 18" rims

2. no you do not need oem sideskirts to put on aftermarket sideskirts

3. you can do powerwindows yourself, not to hard if you know your way around a toolbox

4. the doorhandles come off the car, you cannot buy them from the dealership painted, and
yes you can paint them yourself.

5. you can buy a disc brake kit, however, it could be expensive with all the different parts you
may need, lines connectors ect....

in my opinion it sounds like you should think about a GS, after all these parts it will probably cost more than it would have to just bought a GS.

 

[98RedDragon]

wow beat me to it VelocitàPaola!!

 

[97' GS-T]

The Gs was sold. I decided that the turbo is to high insurance. I can always add a turbo later. So I wanted the gs, now the gs is sold so the only car available is the 97 RS and I was wondering if it was that bad. Brakes? Can you install disc brakes or is it really hard and expensive. If theres really all these problems Ill wait for another GS to come out.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

I got all the parts for my drum to disc conversion for under $50 ($30 for new disc e-brake assembly and calipers, $20 for miscellaneous stuff), plus the cost of rotors. If you buy OEM rotors from Napa, you can do the whole conversion for around $100 or so - if you buy Brembos or something, it'll be significantly more.

As for the difficulty level... read that article I posted; it'll tell you exactly how to do it.

 

[97' GS-T]

Article you posted about converting drum brakes to discs? Im lazy someone link me.

 

[Marc91GSX]

Article you posted about converting drum brakes to discs? Im lazy someone link me.

He already did about four post up.

 

[DSMcrazy3]

The RS also doesn't have the colormatched side mirrors.

 

[shiftdrift06]

RS is not the lowest trim level. The Base model is. However they are pretty close. Somethings that were overlooked that the RS differ from GS, just add to list
*Center Console does not come with Armrest lid cover
*Rear seats are 1 piece/ not 2 like GS
*NO REAR sway BAR
*Black Mirrors
*No dash Tweeter
*5.25 and 6.5 inches speakers/ Instead of 6.5 and 6x9

 

[DSMcrazy3]

RS is not the lowest trim level. The Base model is. However they are pretty close. Somethings that were overlooked that the RS differ from GS, just add to list
*Center Console does not come with Armrest lid cover
*Rear seats are 1 piece/ not 2 like GS
*NO REAR sway BAR
*Black Mirrors
*No dash Tweeter
*5.25 and 6.5 inches speakers/ Instead of 6.5 and 6x9

I have RS and my rear seats are 2 piece and I have the tweeters.

RS is the lowest trim level. I've never heard of the "base model" and don't believe that is true, but even if it were "base model" isn't a trim level. RS, GS, GS-T and GS-X are the trim levels, and RS is the lowest.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

No, there is a base model, they just aren't very common. The have even less features than the RS, like no tach. There's just a big blank space where the tach is supposed to be...

 

[shiftdrift06]

I have RS and my rear seats are 2 piece and I have the tweeters.

RS is the lowest trim level. I've never heard of the "base model" and don't believe that is true, but even if it were "base model" isn't a trim level. RS, GS, GS-T and GS-X are the trim levels, and RS is the lowest.

Well, I can understand that because your is an 95. It was standard on that. If you look here you scroll down, you would see that "split rear seats" in the "seat and trim". Also notice base model was not introduced.

http://research.cars.com/go/crp/res...myid=2708&section=features&mode=&aff=national

However, Now Lets look at the 96. Base model is an option.

http://research.cars.com/go/crp/res...=310&mode=&section=summary&mode=&aff=national

Now look down at the RS model, and you see the "Split folding rear seats" is no longer there. YET however now "split rear seats" option is on the "GS" model. This is evident in the newer years also.

As for the base model, they do exist, I can across acouple when I first purchase my car. They don't have any badgeing on the rear, And also do not come with a tachometer.

 

[97' GS-T]

I just got a insurance quote from Progressive. Progessive can get me basic "liability" insurance only for 115 a month on a 97' GS Model. Rs insurance does not differ. I can also get insurance from allstate for 85 a month for the GS. The GS-T at progressive is also 115. No Different.

 

[ashram]

yeah there is a base model, I have one. I think all bases don't come with rpm guages.

I also have power nothing, . Its cool though I'm used to it now. Its funny though because I always told myself my first car would be fully loaded.

I say go with the rs all you need is some nice wheels and a drop and you'll be turning heads everday.

 

[97' GS-T]

I just found a deal. Guys got a 97' RS With Pwr Windows Pwr Locks Front Disc Brakes all that 100,000 miles 3,000 even.

 

[president95]

I say go with the rs all you need is some nice wheels and a drop and you'll be turning heads everday.

However youll be doing so very sloooowwwly. J/K man. Why would you want an rs with that many miles for 3 grand? It better be spotless, and even so, talk him down.

 

[SoilentGreen98]

There IS a base model. It's the infamous N/T that lacks a tach.