FUN FUN FUN !!!

This review is for my 2001 Eclipse Spyder GS, purchased on 12/30/00.

Overview:

This car stickers at $25,527. I paid $23,995 plus tax and license. The standard features are: 2.4 4 cyl engine, front disc/rear drums, 4 layer power top, 7 speaker Infinity CD system, keyless entry w/ alarm system, power windows/locks, fog lights, 16 tires and wheels, rear spoiler.

Looks

What can I say? If you don't like the looks of this car then don't bother reading on. I think the styling is very crisp and not gimmicky. I especially like the fact that there are no goofy plastic styling elements such as on the Mustang.


Build Quality

Overall, this is a very well put together car. The paint is glossy, all of the body panels line up nicely, the doors slam shut solidly, the interior plastics are of good quality, and the convertible top is very well constructed. My major complaints are that the leather seats are not that luxurious feeling or looking. Maybe some leather cream will improve their appearance. Also, the interior carpeting is very cheap looking and feeling. However, the standard floor mats are nicely made. I am also impressed by the lack of rattles and squeaks in this car. I can hear only a small rattle that is coming from the seat belt mechanism. However, there are no rattles or creaks from the body.

Seats

The front seats are nicely sized, but they are flat and could use more padding. The driver's seat has adjustable lumbar support, but I am probably going to buy a lumbar cushion. I haven't even tried the rear seats. Heck, if you need to transport more than 2 adults, then this is definitely not the car for you.

Interior Space

I am 6 feet tall and I have plenty of leg room. The interior is actually very comfortable except for the flat seats. This is a car that can be used as a daily driver and also for long drives. In terms of storage space, there is a good sized glove box, driver and passenger door panels, a small center console, and a couple of cubbies on the dash.

Engine

I purchased the GS model. This version has a 2.4 4 cylinder engine with roughly 150 hp and 155 ft/lbs of torque. Every review I have read on the internet criticizes this engine. All I can say is take a test drive before you rule out this engine. I am 110% satisfied with the performance of this engine. It is very torquey, revs smoothly, and pulls strong all the way to 85 mph. I saved $2,500 by going with the 4 cylinder rather than the 6 cylinder. Unless you are a speed freak or plan on driving over 85 mph, the 4 cylinder is the way to go. Also, the 4 cylinder can run on regular gas, while the 6 requires premium.

Transmission

In one word, Outstanding. I think that the main reason that this car accelerates quickly is due to this wonderful tranny. This is the best automatic transmission that I have owned. The shifts are crisp and are almost imperceptible. Also, this car features a Sportronic transmission. Basically, the Sportronic is a automatic and clutchless manual transmission. I have not used the manual shifting feature yet.

Ride and Handling

Overall, the ride is on the stiff side, but not uncomfortable unless you travel on pothole infested roads everyday. Since this is a topless car, potholes or bumps will cause the chassis to shudder. I find that the car shudders more with the top up than down. The handling of this car is more like a sedan rather than a sports car. I would label this car as a sport tourer or cruiser rather than a pure sports car. The handling is quite good, but the steering feels very disconnected from the road. If you are looking to carve canyons, then buy a Miata. This car is meant to be driven more leisurely.

Brakes

The GS features rear drums as opposed to 4 wheel discs on the GT. The braking is good, but again not up to sports car standards such as the brakes on a Miata.

Convertible Top

Fantastic! The top is extremely easy to operate. Just undo 2 latches and press a button. The fact that the top is so easy to put down, makes you want to put it down more often. Also, the construction and design of the top is excellent. It does a good job of isolating road noise and does not buffet at freeway speeds. I have not yet tested my top for leak resistance. On a side note, the boot for the top is also designed well. It is a one piece unit and takes only 5 minutes to install.

Trunk

There is not much trunk space in the Spyder. Certainly, far more than a Miata. However, the Miata has a cloth boot, where as the Spyder has a hard boot that takes up almost all of the trunk space. Also, the trunk cannot be released with the keyless remotes. This is very annoying.

Stereo

This car features a standard 210 watt, 7 speaker, CD only, Infinity sound system. This is a good quality stock stereo and is powerful enough to be heard at even 75 mph.

Summary

The Spyder is a great touring convertible. The top goes down easily, there is plenty of interior space, there is minimal wind flow in the cabin even with the top down, and it has competent braking, acceleration, and handling. Buy this car if you want to cruise and just take your time to enjoy the scenery. Buy a Miata or MR2 roadster if you are interested in sheer performance and handling. For the sticker price of $25.5, you will be hard pressed to find any other vehicle that offers so many standard features and such good looks.

All I can say is that I am in CLOUD 9 !!!