Motoring | Reader's Drives
Total Eclipse of the heart
I’ve owned my zippy little 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT Spyder for just over a year now. It was love at first sight and we got married after only the first date (test drive).
- By Simon Bechus
- Published: 20:09 June 21, 2009
- Image Credit: Wheels
I’ve owned my zippy little 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT Spyder for just over a year now. It was love at first sight and we got married after only the first date (test drive). It’s a quick car but not too rapid, it’s served me well in terms of reliability but best of all, it makes a great sound when pushed hard.
The styling is sexy, but I have to admit that the day after I took the younger and sexier 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse out for a test drive, my poor baby’s battery died and had to be replaced. She must’ve been jealous.
Mitsubishi has rolled out the new 3.8-litre V6 in this model, which boasts 265bhp, pushing all the power through the front wheels. Even though, it handles like a true champion. The wheel spin it sometimes generates is safe and ultra fun, producing a slight veer from left to right under acceleration. This adds to the overall excitement of the drive.
I waited for the UAE traffic to die down and sneaked out of the house at around midnight. I had the new Eclipse parked round the back so my own little number wouldn’t see. I got in and immediately gave the interior a once over: Nice plush leather seats, hand stitched leather on the gearstick, a new modern touch on all the buttons and gadgets, electric seat adjusters, everything you need. After sliding the key into the ignition a lovely purr is emitted from the exhaust.
The awesome sound system made my drive into the night all the more thrilling. The Eclipse blows your horn with a 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate premium audio system with MP3 playback capability and a six-disc changer.
With power steering and ABS it sticks to the road like bees on honey. Cornering is ultra fun, stopping is steady and although the traffic was at a minimum I could still feel the envious eyes of fellow motorists fixed on my ride.
The 2009 Eclipse is a fantastic little car. It’s quick, handles well and, most of all, looks gorgeous. And that’s surely the point of a sports coupé.
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