Of course....a four-seat convertible with an A/T option targets a somewhat different buyer than a two-seat model that comes with a 6M only and a pretty stiff suspension. The V6 Eclipse is fast, but not a sports car, but I think some people who buy it think of it as a hardcore one.

I think your raison d'etre is to go around on here and post just to be cantankerous.

 

S2000 you noob, wtf are u thinking? if you dont get the S2K i will surpriz buttsechs you when you least expect it.

 

My "raison d'etre" is to battle the forces of stupid.

 

Between te cars you listed; it's kinda hard for me because I am biased in that I don't like converts anyways

Eclipse: Good car with plenty of power, but has a little funky styling for me. Not to mention pretty poor safety ratings. And too many kids drive them

S2000: I love 'em but being 6'7" I don't even come in close to stuffing in one. Too small.

Soltice/Sky: Both are practically the same car, just look different. They have a joke of a trunk- tiny as all hell. Too plasticy and too typical GM qualitly.

I would say Miata- the new one is larger than the S2000 by a long shot. I can actually fit with some degree of comfort in one

 

Ok, now you can show me your source for poor safety ratings on the Eclipse.

 

Ike:

Turning circle has a lot to do with the steering rack, often cars with very quick and responsive steering have a larger turning circle.>>

Nonsense! It has to do with how far the wheels can be turned in, and on an FWD car, that allowance is cut dramatically to allow for drivetrain width.

Aside from that, here are my personal choices:

1)S2K
2) Solstice/Sky
3) MX-5

 

Ike:

My "raison d'etre" is to battle the forces of stupid.>>


Don't do us any favors. Thanks.

 

I'd love a Miata or a S2K as a second car.

 

I say get the Eclipse. It seems like you're just looking for something to cruise around with so I think it's a damn good choice. And if the Eclipse is 25K and it comes w/ the 650 watt stereo, that's even better. DO IT!!!

 

Give me a break, most of the cars with the tightest turning circles are FWD.

 

I would think the smaller the car, the easier to have a smaller turning circle. The Yaris has a 32.6 feet turning circle. The latest Miata is around 30.8

 

Wheelbase is certainly a factor as well. But, if the steering rack lock to lock doesn't allow a tight turning radius then suspension and wheelbase won't make a car have a small radius.

 

Words of wisdom (so we can chuckle, chuckle) time (Oh no!)

"It would be nice to be sure of anything the way some people are of everything."

IOW...

"People who think they know what they're doing are especially annoying to those of us who do."



We can ALL appreciate THAT!!

 

the insurance highway institute has published data on side-impact rating for the eclipse models. and, as i recall the eclipse was the worst in its class if not only marginally better.

[QUOTE=Ike;1908218]The previous model scored fairly well in safety ratings.

 

Seriously Mitsubishi has nothing going for it besides the Evo, all their other cars are total garbage compared to similar priced vehicles.

 

Wheelbase is certainly a factor as well. But, if the steering rack lock to lock doesn't allow a tight turning radius then suspension and wheelbase won't make a car have a small radius.>>

Wow, Ike, you mean the wheelbase is a factor too? Where would we be without you???

 

This bad boy has a 360° turning radius....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ory=50377&rd=1

 

[QUOTE=Detrich;1908416]the insurance highway institute has published data on side-impact rating for the eclipse models. and, as i recall the eclipse was the worst in its class if not only marginally better.

I actually took the time to go to their Website and look.

The new Eclipse did Good (top rating) in offset and side impact.

 

The Eclipse is heavy, FWD, handles like mashed potatoes, and looks like a shoe. If it were my money, I'd get either an S2000 or a Mustang GT Conv. You seem to like heavy things, raw HP, and four seats, so that learns toward the Mustang, which has the added benefit of RWD and 40 extra bhp. But you've already stated you don't like it. Fair enough, though it seems to have what you're looking for. Instead there's the S, which has the power and style but also possesses lightness (800 pounds lighter than the Eclipse! 800!) and much better performance. Only two seats, though, but as Jeremy Clarkson put it, the only person who looked good in the back seat of a convertible was Hitler.

You've also got the 350Z Roadster, which combines the power of the Mustang with the handling of the S2000 in a convenient phallic package. If you're not hell bent on performance and want a comfortable drop-top cruiser, you've got options like the Pontiac G6 Hardtop Convertible Coupe (i might get flamed for that one) that comes with the benefit of a solid roof and an optional 260-hp engine, which has similar characteristics to the Eclipse in a more practical and civilized (and in my eyes better looking) package. Or you could spring for a used base model Boxster or any of the MX-5 generations.

Just please, for the love of god, don't buy that Eclipse. The last two generations have been poser cars for The Fast & The Furious wannabes. It's got a big goofy fat ***, you can't see out of it, the interior is hideous, and it looks like something that's become infected and swollen up. Some will point out that, yes, it is decently quick in a straight line, but it fails in all other performance categories and if drag racing is your interest there are better cars to buy.

 

they must've seriously overhauled it then. if u look at the data for previous model years, the crash test performance was very poor.

 

Cuz it was a totally different car.

 

Even when it was a totally different car the safety ratings were not bad.

 

too funny ... you sure know how to turn a phrase.... I love it

 

sorry, but if me i would just go buy a used S2k or a used current gen miata. the eclipse is just to ugly looking IMO.

 

If you don't mind used cars, S2k, BMW Z or 3 series are better choice over Eclipse IMO. I really like the look of current Eclipse, but I think the older one (with AWD & turbo) is better.