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Long-Term Test: 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT

Road Test

Long-Term Test: 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT

Introduction

Published Sep 28, 2005

    0 Ratings
    Things have been a bit rocky at Mitsubishi lately, and the Japanese automaker has a lot riding on the flashy new 2006 Eclipse sport coupe. We gave the car a mixed review this past May, complimenting its sharp handling and distinctive styling, but knocking off points for excessive torque steer and a noisy cabin.

    Rather than settling for a week in a press car that may or may not be representative for the breed, we requested a long-term test vehicle we could ring out for a full year. Mitsubishi complied, and in early August the company delivered a spankin' new 2006 Eclipse GT.

    Loaded with Sunset Pearlescent Orange paint, a two-tone orange-and-cream interior and the Premium Sport Package, the newest member of the Edmunds/Inside Line long-term fleet is loaded for bear and sports a $27,694 price tag. Not cheap, but still reasonable for a comfy-yet-capable sport coupe.

    So far, staff members generally seem to enjoy driving the car. Road Test Editor Dan Kahn was pleasantly surprised by the Eclipse's combination of comfort, style and speed.

    "I'm a die-hard rear-wheel-drive fan, so I wasn't expecting to like the Eclipse," Kahn says. "But the 3.8 V6 is buttery-smooth, makes a great exhaust note, and pulls really hard. Of course 263 horsepower makes torque steer a major issue, but I learned to deal with it. I also really enjoyed the comfy seats and the car's incredible Rockford Fosgate stereo. Overall a great road trip car, maybe even better than the faster-but-harsher Nissan 350Z."

    Senior Feature Editor Joanne Helperin appreciated the Eclipse's smooth clutch and powerful engine, as she taught herself how to drive a manual transmission in the car.

    "I will always have affection for the Eclipse because it is the car that got me 'over the hump' when I was learning to drive a stick," Helperin says. "After trying four other cars and feeling like I might never get it, the Eclipse's clutch, in particular, made it possible. I found the clutch very forgiving, allowing me to get moving without stalling. The interior is roomy, and I like the interior color arrangements — particularly on the seats. I also like the details, such as the door handles. It's a cool-looking ride, something I would actually buy if I didn't have kids."

    Not all reviews were golden, however. Several staffers complained about excessive road noise and unruly torque steer, while a few commented on the car's aggressive styling and unusual color scheme.

    "The first time I saw the Eclipse, it took my breath away, and not in a good way," says New Vehicle Reviews Editor Jeff Bryan. "The color combo shocked even my color-blind eyes. I basked in the attention of frightened tourists. The suede seat bolsters are a nice touch, but I wonder how good they'll look after a year of wear and tear. Also, I noticed the Eclipse has quite a bit of road noise, especially at higher speeds. The rear hatch requires a healthy slam to close tightly, and the doors lack a reassuring thud when being closed."

    After a scant six weeks of service, the Eclipse is proving to be quite the controversial little sports car, and after a few more months of steady use its true colors will certainly come shining through. In the meantime, sales have far exceeded Mitsubishi's initial goals for the car, and its unique lines and comfortable cabin may give the Nissan 350Z and Mazda RX-8 some unexpected competition.

    Current Odometer: 1,382
    Best Fuel Economy: 19.2 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 14.6 mpg
    Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 16.5 mpg
    Body Repair Costs: None
    Maintenance Costs: None
    Problems: None

    Road Test

    March 2006

    The wheels of our long-term 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT have rolled many a mile since the car's last update. More than 9,500 miles have been added to the odometer between the introduction of this vehicle back in October and the present.

    Senior Automotive Editor Brent Romans accounted for much of the mileage accumulation while driving the car near his home in Fresno. After nearly a month behind the wheel, he had plenty to say about it. "I love the exhaust note," he starts. "From 3-5 grand it has a nice snarl. It eggs you on to go faster and makes the Eclipse seem faster than it really is."

    Apparently, the Eclipse doesn't just sound fast. Brent's subsequent logbook entry explains how he started his Valentine's Day on the side of the road, receiving a speeding ticket from a California Highway Patrol officer. Alluding to its Sunset Pearlescent paint job Brent adds, "[This is] one of the dangers of driving a bright orange sport coupe."

    Brent's extended seat time in the Mitsubishi gave him some insight into the challenges inherent in the use of this car as a daily driver. "Outward visibility is poor, not unlike many sport coupes. For people who like to use head-checks for blind spots, the rear three-quarter view is challenging." The turning radius was also an issue Brent noted in the logbook. "I never encountered a situation where the car ran out of room, but it's very noticeable that there is not much room for the wheels to turn. Maybe because of that big V6 under the hood that's transversely mounted?"

    Road Test Editor Brian Moody, like much of the Inside Line staff, is all too familiar with rush-hour traffic on that artery of anxiety commonly referred to as the 405 freeway. Since our long-term Eclipse has a manual transmission, it is all the more important when he notes that "1st gear is tall enough to leave it in for the 405 grind." As our resident sultan of stereos, Brian is impressed with the sound system in the Eclipse and describes the rear storage area as "large enough to hold groceries and some stuff, even with the big subwoofer." For those looking for sports-car handling from this coupe, though, he feels that the Mitsubishi is "a sport coupe that drives more like a sedan."

    During this extended tour of duty, the Eclipse required a few stops at our local dealership for maintenance and repairs.

    The "service engine soon" light first caught our eye and led us to Mitsubishi of Santa Monica at around 6,800 miles. It turns out that a misfire in the No. 3 cylinder was the culprit, so parts were ordered and the light reset. Since it was already at the dealer and time allowed, the Eclipse's prescribed 7,500-mile service was also performed. This service comprised a tire rotation, battery service, brake adjustment and oil change. The cost was $108.08 for parts and labor.

    An encore appearance of the "service engine soon" light precipitated the arrival of new spark plugs and an ignition coil at our local dealer. The car went back to the dealership, the parts were installed under warranty and the light was reset. Issue resolved. No charge.

    With nearly 10,000 miles on our Eclipse, it was a mystery that the car was still in need of a front license plate bracket. With this in mind, we made a third visit to the Mitsubishi dealer. The cost was $49.45 for the bracket and the labor to mount it, which required drilling holes in the front bumper.

    Edmunds.com's editor in chief, Karl Brauer, summed up the consensus of the editors when he noted, "It's really interesting how Mitsubishi maintained the spirit of the Eclipse after all of these years." He continued, "I wish there were a turbo all-wheel-drive version available, but even as it is I enjoy the fun-to-drive aspect that its engine and handling provide."

    Current Odometer: 10,950
    Best Fuel Economy: 32.7 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 11.8 mpg
    Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 19.6 mpg
    Body Repair Costs: None
    Maintenance Costs: $108.08 for regular maintenance service: tire rotation, battery service, brake cleaning and adjustment, oil and filter change. Install new front license plate bracket for $49.45.
    Problems: Replace faulty spark plugs and ignition coil under warranty.

    Road Test

    May 2006

    Read the Mitsubishi Eclipse's real-time logbook entries.

    Since our last update, we've added 2,500 miles to our long-term 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse. During that mileage accumulation, the Eclipse was trouble-free (no additional engine problems, as detailed in the previous update) and didn't require any visits to the dealer. We shuffled the Eclipse among a few different Inside Line and Edmunds.com editors who used it for a mix of daily commutes and longer drives.

    For much of April, our V6 coupe was once again in the care of Senior Automotive Editor Brent Romans. For his semimonthly trips to our Southern California offices from his home in central California, Brent again found the car to be a pleasing companion for the four-hour, one-way drive.

    "I'd certainly recommend the Eclipse GT to someone interested in a sport coupe that's going to be used for long-distance drives," Brent wrote in the vehicle's logbook. "The driver seat is comfortable for multihour stints and the suspension is compliant enough to keep most highway irregularities damped out." He also commented favorably about the car's audio system, noting how its prodigious bass output is good for rock music and the CD changer comes in handy since there's no auxiliary jack for an MP3 player.

    According to Brent, the only major negative for long-distance driving is road noise. He says it can be a nuisance during sustained highway speeds. But he did temper his comment with this observation: "Of course, one has to keep in mind that this is a sport coupe and not a luxury coupe. From that perspective, road noise isn't as much of an issue."

    Many parts of California received heavy amounts of rain in April and Brent found himself frequently driving in wet conditions. Though he noted how wet roads humorously limit the car's ability to accelerate — anything more than part throttle in the lower gears has the V6 breaking the front tires loose — the Eclipse's Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires provided decent water removal to prevent hydroplaning. The wipers were also easy to use and kept up even during heavy downpours.

    For Easter weekend, Brent and his wife used the Eclipse to head to Orange County to visit his in-laws. He was happy to be driving something pretty stylish, and the car earned a "Shoot-dang, this car is sweet!" comment from his 22-year-old sister-in-law. The attraction seemingly encouraged Brent to be a bit of a hooligan, as he related the story of how he took her out for a drive and had the Eclipse blasting off the line on more than one occasion.

    After his stint, Brent handed the car to Edmunds.com Editor in Chief Karl Brauer. Karl noted that, as a Japanese car goes, "it's rather unrefined, heavy and lacking in build quality. Yet it's also torquey, comfortable and generally unabashed in its nature. It's as close to a Japanese muscle car as you can buy, which is a unique position in this marketplace."

    Finally, Senior Content Editor Erin Riches appreciated the car's "properly tuned steering and a natural driving position."

    Not too shabby for a front-wheel-drive coupe costing a third of the price of a Cadillac XLR-V. Should no more durability problems arise, our long-term Eclipse is shaping up to be a favored vehicle as it nears the final quarter of its one-year program.

    Current Odometer: 13,569
    Best Fuel Economy: 25.8 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 19.0 mpg
    Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 19.6 mpg
    Body Repair Costs: None
    Maintenance Costs: None
    Problems: None

    Read the Mitsubishi Eclipse's real-time logbook entries.

    Road Test

    Wrap-Up

    Why We Bought It
    How It Drove
    Inside the Cabin
    Summing Up
    Changes to the Mitsubishi Eclipse Since 2006
    Ups and Downs
    Recalls and Problem History
    Dealer Service Reviews
    What Consumers Say

    Why We Bought It
    The Eclipse has always been Mitsubishi's signature vehicle. Just like Ford's Mustang or Chevrolet's Corvette, the sport coupe is the face of the brand, in both good times and bad.

    Of course, the newest iteration of the Eclipse, introduced earlier this year, landed at a time when Mitsu's bottom line was bathed in red. Although we gave the 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT a mixed
    review back in May, we decided the all-new sport coupe was worth a closer and longer look, a yearlong look. In 12 months we would know if the Eclipse had what Mitsubishi would need to climb out of its dark times.

    Our shiny, new Sunset Pearlescent Orange 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT long-termer arrived at our offices loaded up with a premium sport package that included orange-and-cream faux-suede trim, 18-inch alloy wheels, and heated front seats and mirrors. At $27,694, it wasn't cheap but undeniably well-equipped.

    How It Drove
    With six gears, a throaty V6 snarl and 263 horsepower, it's no surprise that the Eclipse quickly became a favorite in-town runabout. Senior Content Editor Erin Riches said, "The shifter feels firm and precise through the gates, and clutch engagement and take-up are progressive. It makes the Eclipse more fun than you'd expect to drive around the city.… In many ways this gearbox is just as satisfying as the ones in our long-term BMW 330i and
    Mazda MX-5." Erin also appreciated the car's "properly tuned steering and a natural driving position."

    Try making a U-turn on tight city streets, however, and that's where you may run into some trouble. "The large turning radius detracts from the car's otherwise nimble feel," Erin complained.

    "I never encountered a situation where the car ran out of room, but it's very noticeable that there is not much room for the wheels to turn," Senior Automotive Editor Brent Romans said. "Maybe because of that big V6 under the hood that's transversely mounted?"

    For a sporty coupe, the 40-foot turning radius is incongruous. "It's a sport coupe that drives more like a sedan," Road Test Editor Brian Moody observed.

    Before we returned the Eclipse, we ran it through its paces one more time at the test track. In the slalom, its sedan tendencies disappeared with a 62.7-mph slalom speed, a number competitive with the Mazda RX-8 and Nissan 350Z in our sport coupe comparison test. It also accelerated from zero to 60 mph in just 6.6 seconds and stopped from that speed in a very good 124 feet.

    Inside the Cabin
    Where the Eclipse failed to impress was during long-distance road trips. The editors didn't have as much of a problem with the stiff ride quality and limited interior space as they did with the Eclipse's road noise. It was an issue that repeatedly came up with every editor who cycled through the coupe.

    Brent had no shortage of things to say about it. With every road trip he took, there was always a new blog post about the volume of road noise. "The Eclipse wasn't particularly enjoyable for the 450 miles of highway driving. The amount of generated road noise was tiresome," he said in one post. In another: "After taking it on a five-hour highway drive last week, I'm finding myself less willing to tolerate its elevated amount of wind and road noise. The Eclipse's constant road noise during this most recent long-distance drive reminded me of the similar droning sounds one encounters while being on an airplane."

    Brent qualified this complaint with, "Of course, one has to keep in mind that this is a sport coupe and not a luxury coupe. From that perspective, road noise isn't as much of an issue."

    It was surprising that despite the ample road noise, the Eclipse's optional Rockford Fosgate stereo was still able to garner many compliments from the music lovers on staff, with its volume cranked up of course. "When the mood strikes (as it did when I popped in U2's Boy) you can fully enjoy the 650 watts of power this baby puts out. The sound remains clean, even at ummm¿juvenile volume settings!" gushed Automotive Editor John DiPietro.

    Erin concurred, "I listen to harder rock and metal, and the subwoofer-equipped Rockford Fosgate has been optimized for that kind of music."

    When the Eclipse first entered our fleet, many questioned the durability of its orange-and-cream faux suede interior. "The suede seat bolsters are a nice touch, but I wonder how good they'll look after a year of wear and tear," one editor pondered.

    And yet, near the end of its term with us, we were impressed by the interior materials' resilience. "The leather that drapes its seats has turned out to be remarkably durable, with nary a scratch despite the countless torsos it's cradled," Content Editor Warren Clarke marveled. "The dash has somehow managed to dodge scuff marks. Even the floor mats are still looking good as new. But the biggest surprise is the suede that trims its seats. I would have bet money that this would be frayed by now, but it still looks as rich as it did the day the car first rolled into our garage."

    Summing Up
    After an eventful year of many citation near-misses (and an actual speeding ticket) attributed to the cop-magnetic orange color, a mysteriously persistent "Service Engine Soon" light and more than 20,000 miles racked up on travels around California, Mitsubishi retrieved its 2006 Eclipse GT, leaving us conflicted in our feelings toward the car.

    In its last blog entry, Erin summed it up: "On the one hand, I like¿the low-end torque of the 3.8-liter V6 (and the deep exhaust note), the gearing and precision of the six-speed manual transmission, the generally comfortable highway ride and the accurate steering. On the other, I'm annoyed by the car's huge turning radius¿lousy rear visibility and surprising amount of road noise (prompting me to crank the Rockford Fosgate's volume and equalizer settings to deafness-inducing levels)."

    Although Erin was fond of the car, she "couldn't buy an Eclipse GT in its current form and be happy with it. For this kind of money ($27,694 as tested), there are too many other good cars, namely the Mustang, the Mazda RX-8, even the Civic Si."

    True Market Value at service end: $22,411
    What it sold for: N/A
    Depreciation: $5,283 or 19% of original paid price
    Final Odometer Reading: 20,278
    Best Fuel Economy: 28.1 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 11.8 mpg
    Average Fuel Economy: 20.2 mpg
    Total Body Repair Costs: None
    Total Routine Maintenance Costs (over 12 months): $280.55
    Additional Maintenance Costs: $49.45 for front license plate bracket installation
    Warranty Repairs: None
    Non-Warranty Repairs: None
    Scheduled Dealer Visits: 6
    Unscheduled Dealer Visits: None
    Days Out of Service: 1
    Breakdowns Stranding Driver: None

    Changes to the Mitsubishi Eclipse Since 2006
    2007 — An anti-theft system is now standard on all Eclipses, while the Sun and Sound Package (power sunroof, 650-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system, auto-dimming rearview mirror) makes its way to the GT's option roster, providing a cheaper way to get these popular items without purchasing the pricey Premium Sport Package.

    Ups and Downs
    Ups: The leather and suede interior are remarkably durable. With a firm and precise shifter as well as a throaty V6 snarl, the Eclipse is a fun car to drive around the city.

    Downs: Loud road noise is a nuisance during sustained highway speeds. A stiff ride quality and limited interior space make the Eclipse an undesirable companion for long road trips. Huge turning radius for a sport coupe.

    The Bottom Line: Once you reconcile with the fact this is a sport coupe and not a luxury car, shortcomings melt away, revealing a fun and affordable runabout.

    Recalls and Problem History
    Recalls:
    1. Service brakes, hydraulic. Certain passenger vehicles may have been fitted with a defective brake booster assembly.
    2. Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder. On certain passenger vehicles, one of four seals inside the master cylinder may have been installed improperly. As a result, the master cylinder may unexpectedly bypass hydraulic braking force pressure and allow a longer than normal pedal stroke.

    Problem History:

    1. Recurring problem with the "Service Engine Soon" light coming on. The first time was attributed to a misfire in the No. 3 cylinder, so parts were ordered and the light reset. An encore appearance of the "service engine soon" light precipitated the arrival of new spark plugs and an ignition coil at our local dealer. The car went back to the dealership, the parts were installed under warranty and the light was reset. Issue resolved. No charge.

    Dealer Service Reviews
    Mitsubishi Santa Monica, Santa Monica, California
    November 2005
    "Service Engine Soon" light makes its first appearance. The light went off on its own but we had the dealership check it anyway as we already had the appointment. A diagnostic inspection deemed it a misfire in the No. 3 cylinder. The system was checked as OK and the code was cleared.

    December 2005
    Correction of the "Service Engine Soon" light appeared again and was once again diagnosed as a misfire in the No. 3 cylinder, so parts were ordered and the light reset. The 7,500-mile service was also performed, which comprised a tire rotation, battery service, brake adjustment and oil change. The cost was $108.08 for parts and labor.

    January 2006
    An encore appearance of the "Service Engine Soon" light precipitated the arrival of new spark plugs and an ignition coil at our local dealer. The car went back to the dealership, the parts were installed under warranty and the light was reset. Issue resolved. No charge.

    March 2006
    With nearly 10,000 miles on our Eclipse, it was a mystery that the car was still in need of a front license plate bracket. The cost was $49.45 for the bracket and the labor to mount it, which required drilling holes in the front bumper.

    March 2006
    "Service Engine Soon" light clicked on again. The code read as a misfire problem similar to previous occasions with this car. This time the dealer reprogrammed the main ECU. Hopefully this solves the problem. Under warranty — no charge — one-day dealer trip.

    Fresno Mitsubishi, Fresno, California
    August 2006
    15,000-mile service (even though the Eclipse was about 2,500 miles past due). Had the required regular maintenance, which included an oil and filter change, a tire rotation, an inspection of the brakes and a replacement of the cabin air filter. The final tally for our 15K service was $172.47 after a small discount.

    What Consumers Say
    "I have put about 4,500 miles on the car. The slap stick is great and it's nice to just slip into drive when in heavy traffic. The car is great except for the 'back seat.' It is just for show or to punish your kids. Its handling is excellent. Its steering is very quick. This is a sports car for Dad. I have found that the car runs best on 93 gas. Favorite features: the looks, comfort and performance. Suggested improvements: All-wheel drive." — Mike Soffer, October 5, 2006

    "This vehicle completely lacks any sort of quality and Mitsubishi is not standing behind their product. The problems we have had with the vehicle include: 1. All four brake rotors warping by 9,000 miles, had to be resurfaced; now the brakes grind and squeak 2. The car has three rattles. We understand this doesn't affect the operation of the vehicle but it is disheartening to spend so much money and hate to drive your vehicle so much. 3. Paint chipping off and fading, all over the car. Mitsubishi says we got behind a rock truck, two body shops say the paint job is cheap and defective. 4. Two brake recalls, both of which could cause a crash. We were only notified by taking the car in for an oil change. Favorite features: The looks. Suggested improvements: Mitsubishi needs to just go out of business. They are well on their way, building cars that completely lack any quality."
    — Lauren Bell, August 19, 2006

    "I bought the '06 six-speed Eclipse GT, and this car can move! I really like the fact that the car can accelerate to a high rate of speed so quickly. I have the aero kit, and it sets the car apart from the others out there; all of the ones I've seen did not have the kit. The Eclipse is a lot of car for the money. It is a better value than Nissan's Z; it is faster overall than Honda's Accord; and has a much better warranty than Ford's Mustang. What else needs to be said? Favorite features: The stereo is the BOMB! It has surround sound settings! Stage, live, hall and normal settings give the music different sound qualities. I also like the heated seats; it comes in handy at night with the sunroof and windows open. The looks of the clear rear lights: the blue instrument panel lights. Suggested improvements: The two things that this car lacks are basically the same; there need to be interior remote hatch release buttons for both the fuel door and the rear hatch. There is one for the hood of the car, but someone forgot the other two. Also, can someone say satellite radio?" — Kina K., July 4, 2006

    The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes
    of evaluation.

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    speeddemon1 says:

    11:23 PM, 01/15/2010

    I own a 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT (6M). I bought it brand new and now have 48,000 kms. on it; HARD kms, I might add. I drive that car like I stole it most of the time and I have to say, I have not had a single problem with it in the almost 3 years I've owned it. I live in Edmonton, Alberta so road conditions are very bad and still that car has held up to everything and still runs like the day I bought it. In fact I had it parked outside for the 1st year I owned it and it sat all night in temperatures of -35 Celcius without the block heater plugged in and it started everytime. I just hate it when people cut vehicles up and give false specifications. I bought a G-TECH pro performance moniter and my best 0-60 mph time was 5.995 seconds, and a quarter mile of 14.5 @100.9 mph. There is a big difference between 6.8 sec. 0-60mph and 5.995 sec. 0-60 mph. I just wanted other readers to know that the Eclipse GT is a very solid, dependable car and it is quicker than some of these guys say. I will agree that the back seats are not very useful, but they are there if you need to transport a couple x-tra bodies(my 2 kids aged 10, 7 don't mind the back seats). I will also comment on the drivetrain; the gearbox shifts very smoothly, however Mitsubishi really should have used an all-wheel drive. With all that torque it really is tough to launch that car hard without burning the wheels and banging off the rev-limiter(unless you drive with the traction control on)! I only use that in the winter and it is by far the best traction control system I have ever experienced. Anyway, I am not trying to cause kaos here, and not all my comments are directed at this particular post. I see alot of negative reviews/opinions and I feel this car deserves better. I just want people to hear my opinion because I owned many cars in my life and this has been one hell of a ride! After 3 years I still love to drive it. This really is a fun car.

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