Going from top up to top down takes just 19 seconds, and the power-operated cloth top folds completely away under a tonneau cover just to the rear of the back seat to give the car an elegant look when in convertible mode. The completely redesigned coupe was introduced last summer as a 2006 model, and the Spyder convertible version arrived in March as an early 2007 model. The Spyder is the second new entry in the Eclipse lineup in less than a year. Sometimes, those arrangements create a convertible that shakes and shimmies on every bump. The new Eclipse chassis was designed to accommodate both a coupe and a convertible, so this is not a case where the manufacturer built a coupe, then chopped its top off later to create a convertible. The convertible’s body structure is designed to be nearly as rigid as that of the coupe, Mitsubishi says. Engineered to drive like a sports car, the Spyder has four-wheel independent suspension, which gives the car “both sporty road manners and a compliant, comfortable ride,” the company said. That V-6 engine is quite responsive, giving the car impressive acceleration even on uphill freeway ramps. The GT was a blast to drive on some twisty Hill Country roads, and the short throw of the six-speed’s shifter allowed for quick gear changes as we put the car through its paces. Our tester came with the manual gearbox, the choice of most driving enthusiasts for a sporty car such as this. A four-speed Sportronic automatic is offered for the same price with the four-cylinder engine. Mitsubishi says the V-6 engine and six-speed gearbox combination can GT can go from zero to 60 mph in under seven seconds.Ī five-speed, Sportronic automatic transmission with manual-shift feature is a $900 option on the GT model, and might be the best choice for those who have to do a lot of city driving. That’s 98 horsepower more than you get with the four-cylinder engine of the base GS version ($25,389 plus freight), which comes with a five-speed manual. That’s especially true for the uplevel GT version that we tested (base price $28,269 plus $625 freight), which comes with a 260-horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6 engine and six-speed manual transmission. And when it’s cool enough or the sun isn’t so high in the sky, the Spyder is even more fun with the top down. The recent 100-degree-plus weather over much of the country has made it too hot for convertibles at times.īut even with the top up, the all-new, 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder ragtop is fun to drive.
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