Let’s face it - convertibles have to be cool. That’s the only reason they exist. They’re not meant to be practical or reasonable

Roof up... (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

or even economical (although some have tried). So when Mitsubishi chopped the top off their Eclipse coupe and painted it Sunset Pearlescent orange, things were starting to look pretty good. Still, it’s easy to get a crowd’s attention when you go topless – the hard part is earning their respect.

Even on a dull rainy day, this car stands out from the pack. The colour definitely helped. Built with some unique outward styling and interesting, intricate lines, she can give you a come hither glance that’s hard to resist. Round, womanly shapes hint at Porsche or Miata type influences, but just barely. Since it is not a classic two-seater, it bulks up where you’d expect it to. Skinny and slight, it is not. However, like the buxom beauties we see in old movies, it doesn’t need to apologize for its well placed curves. It only gets sexier with the top down which, if you will remember, is kinda the whole point.

My

....or down, the Eclipse Spyder is a great looking ride. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

potential love affair however, was interrupted here. When I slid behind the wheel, with the top still up, I felt swallowed up by a big black bathtub that came up to my shoulders and imprisoned me with a hilly front dashboard and only a tiny mail slot of a rear window from which to peer back out at the world. In fairness, I often feel this way when surrounded by black interiors and extra dark roof headliners, but overall I didn’t like feeling small and encapsulated.

My claustrophobia subsided greatly when I put the top down, which was as easy as lifting two roof clips and pushing a button. Some magical mechanical movements tucked the ragtop (complete with rear glass window) nicely into its own rear compartment and secured it without a problem. It was perhaps a little noisy as it went through its paces, but not much more so than other vehicles that flip their lids (Porsche included).

Taking a good look

A nice, simple, straightforward setup and ultra-comfortable seats. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

at the dash, it appears modular and minimal with good effect. Sporty looking dials at the driver’s side are done in typical Mitsubishi style and, at times, are a little hard to read. This particular GT-P model didn’t come with steering-wheel controls, which I missed, but the main console was stylish and well laid-out. I don’t care much for the little one line display readout in the middle of the dash that does duty as a clock/radio/temperature readout, but I really liked the glowing blue effects that light up the cabin at night. Ground control to Major Tom – here I come.

When you sit back and relax a bit, you realize just how comfortable the seats are. Big and bucket-y, they do their job nicely, especially when you play with the adjustable six-way driver’s side buttons and heat controls. Still, while some people enjoy riding low, I honestly felt like I couldn’t see over the dash. At 5 feet 8 inches, I’m not short, and I do enjoy riding high in the driver’s seat, but this car seems to have only two settings, namely first floor and

Centre stack works well, and features a unique design. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

basement, and bringing a big phone book to sit on just didn’t seem practical.

The back seats however are another matter entirely. Now maybe Mitsubishi was just following trend (because they aren’t the only ones doing it), or maybe they genuinely know some Lilliputian-sized people, but calling this car a four-seater is like calling your broom closet “a spare room”. The only thing smaller was the car’s trunk, and neither one could fit my golf clubs. I guess it all sounds good on paper, but in reality it just ain’t happening.

Truth is, I actually sat in the back for a quick ride around the block, but in order to squeeze in the front passenger seat was compromised so badly that it just wasn’t safe for either of us to continue. I did get a good look, however, at the large rear Rockford Fosgate subwoofer which quickly sent me scrambling back up front for fear of being blown out by sound waves. It’s big, intimidating and would easily impress rappers like Jay-Z.

Ladies and gentlemen - start your engines. A nice little note purrs out upon ignition as I climb back behind the wheel and give her a rev. Very cool. The GT’s 260-horsepower MIVEC-enhanced V6 is ready to go as I throw it into the first of six gears… and we’re off. Guess what? The love is starting to come back.

Right from the start, this car shows off its power. It shifts smoothly at long intervals and really packs a punch. It feels like a little rocket launcher and a true sports car at this point and seems to have a lot in reserve. Nice clutch action

While small and uncomfortable for adults, the rear seats are useful for smaller kids. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

and big torque (258 lb-ft to be exact) are easy to feel. In fact, I had a hard time even getting it out of third gear when driving at city posted speed limits. Mostly, I just showed off revving her high and fast off the mark at intersections and loving every minute of it. Even on the highway, I only managed sixth gear once or twice, and I had to exceed the speed limits to get there. Clearly, this applies only to the V6 which could easily challenge others for the best of breed in this class.

Handling was an unexpected surprise too, although not necessarily in a good way. After having so much fun off the starting line, I was a little disappointed in its cornering potential. Forgetting it was a front-wheel drive was my first problem, but due to its extra weight and awkward distribution it was a little like steering a big concrete block. Unlike the rear wheel drive sports cars that I’ve spent more time in, there was no natural flow or lean as the Eclipse grabbed at the road in long high speed curves and damn near bucked on tighter hairpins. Call me crazy, but the tires actually felt all wrong even though they were regulation and safe for use. Call me a sports car snob if you must,

A cool looking convertible for the money. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

but somewhere along the line I realized that I was driving more of a sedan and less of a roadster than maybe I first expected. Yes, the reality that the Eclipse’ chassis and drivetrain is based off of that in the Galant sedan and Endeavor crossover SUV is fairly noticeable here.

On the whole, there is a lot to like about the Eclipse Spyder if you let it be what it was intended to be, which is fun-in-the-sun at a budget price. And, in usual Mitsubishi fashion, they back it with a great warranty and offer it at a pretty reasonable price. Full load will run you in the mid $30,000 range, which can still be intimidating to some, especially since it’s better suited to be your second, or weekend getaway, vehicle. It can easily do its duties on a daily basis if you want it as your one and only, but just don’t look to it to do much else other than get you from A to B in style.

Good news is that you don’t have to throw caution, or too much money, to the wind in order to spice up your ride. A trendy range of colours, some very cool sound options, and the freedom to feel the wind in your hair make for a very tempting offer. The tempting offer issue brings up why we’re bothering to cover a 2008 Eclipse this late in the season, when the slightly revised and racier looking 2009 GT-P model is already out. Mitsubishi still has some 2008 Eclipse Spyders in stock, so go ahead and work your best deal... it might even become a practical decision if the price is right. Then again, driving a convertible isn’t always about being practical, it’s just about deciding how much to take off the top.

Specifications (2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT-P Spyder):

• Price Range (Eclipse Spyder GT-P MSRP): $37,298 – $38,458
• Price as Tested: $37,298
• Destination Charge and PDI: $1,495
• Body Type: 2-door convertible
• Layout: front engine, FWD
• Engine: 260-hp, 258 lb-ft of torque, 3.8L, 24-valve, SOHC V6
• Transmission: 6-spd manual (opt. 5-spd auto with manual mode)
• Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS
• Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 4,565 / 1,835 / 1,389 / 2,575 mm (179.7 / 72.2 / 54.7 / 101.4 in)
• Curb Weight: 1,575 kg (3,472 lbs)
• Tires: 235/45R18
• Trunk (max): 147 L (5.2 cu-ft)
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 13.3 / 8.1 L/100 km
• Observed Fuel Economy: 12.0 L/100 km
• Warranty (mo/km): 60/100,000 comprehensive - 120/160,000 powertrain
• Competitors: Chrysler Sebring Convertible, Ford Mustang Convertible, Pontiac G6 Convertible / Solstice, Toyota Camry Solara Convertible, Volkswagen Eos
• Web Site: www.mitsubishicars.ca

Interior

Exterior

Mechanical

Safety

Dimensions

Misc

(M03) Premium Paint: Sunset Pearlescent

(P36) Premium Paint: Rave Red