youngTL

I sure don't. I see the aggressive commercials on TV all the time, but I don't see any on the road. I think they've alienated traditional Eclipse buyers.

dom

I think ultimately Mitsu will remain afloat. But the Eclispe will not be the reason

youngTL

Oh damn. I posted this in the wrong forum. Anyone wanna move it to car talk?

ali.ahmed

wasn't there a recall on the eclipse?

stangg172004

ya like the first week it came out...

cM3go

That thing is ugly as hell

youngTL

Not only that, there was MORE THAN ONE recall!

Minch00

The Eclipse is not enough to save Mitsubishi. None of their cars stand out in a crowd, and there are much better offerings in each category for all cars that they produce. It's sad to say, but the people that created the 1999 Eclipse GSX are not going to be around much longer.....

65 Fury Convert

It's too impractical on the inside - small and cramped - and it costs to much. They're screwed. The Evo is saving them.

Bdog

The US market won't pull them through. The Evo is the only thing in the states they have going for them and it's a car in the smallest market with only one other competitor, a WRX STi... a Neon if you count FWD.

GIBSON6594

Hasn't the eclipse been the number 1 selling import in the US since like 93?

CLpower

which is pretty common for first year models

aaronnn

just like CLpower said.. any first year model will be like that

go read all the recalls on the 350Z/G35C. massive problems. reason why im getting rid of the Z. a pain in the ass to be running around to dealers and dealing with the damn service department that never seems to get it right. whatever, it was a great first three months with that thing..

aaronnn

oyeah and that hideous thing they call eclipse, wont save mitsu from anything. its a total failure to the company.

m&b6speed

once they got rid of the turbo AWD, they were screwed.

you would think now with the increase in turbo/AWD import interest (WRX, Evo), they would come back with it.

i dont think i can name another mistubishi, maybe the Gallant??

m&b6speed

wow unanamous poll so far 34-0-0

aaronnn

totally agreed.

and the thing about gallant.. if only they brought back the VR4! instead of making everything into a Ralliart form.. which is lame.. i still dont know if people wil get the up'ed gallant ralliart.. which is supposed to compete with the mazdaspeed6, altima SE-R, etc..

m&b6speed

like the old saying, if it ain't broke-don't fix it

those VR4's were wicked. you wonder who decides to make these changes, makes me want to go mitsubishi and tell them "...ok do this, give me .05% of sales, and you'll be VERY, VERY happy..."

TSX 'R' US

Mitsubishi

youngTL

This is true. Maybe it's better they caught it before too many were sold.

youngTL

I think that title goes to the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord (it's a tough call to add up all those sales from 93 on).

1killercls

:junk:

te3point5

I think the only thing that could save Mitsu is outselling the STI's with EVO's All other mitsu cars don't stand out in their class.

GreenMonster

I've never liked ANYTHING from Mitsubishi EVER...

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (Subaru) > Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.

virtualbong

They have destroyed the look of the Eclipse. I am still in love with the 2nd Gen Eclipses (at least I think its the 2nd gen one).

dom

Where the hell did you ever hear that?

F23A4

Mitsubishi should have focused on making the Galant into something special rather than an 'also ran'.

As for the 4G Eclipse, like the 3G I think it's a victim of the success of the 1st two generations; both of which were great performing cars for the money which can be modded into complete street beasts. The 4G's styling looks as though Mitsu was attempting to do Nissan '1 better' when it came to over the top styling.

I've posted it before but, IMHO it'd be interesting (if not ironic, maybe poetic) if Hyundai were to acquire them, dump some models (Endeavor, Montero, Outlander) and make it their performance lineup: Evo (STi comp), Eclipse (upgrade the interior to be a little more upscale), Galant VR4 (Leg 2.5GT & MS6 competition) and maybe later on a roadster of some sort. Sidenote: Maybe then Hyundai could let the Tiburon dieoff and then reintroduce a next generation FTO as an I4 Turbo.

TheMirror

The big engine, front drive mystifies me.......especially in light of the 350Z's success. It essentially eliminates the aftermarket from embracing it. Duh......

BadBadNeil

Man I used to like the old school Galant and Diamonte they had in the mid to late 90s and I remember TONS of eclipse's on the road. Hell they even had the GT4000, even if marred with problems, was a good looking car. Then they self destructed.

One can only wonder what the executives where thinking with some of the recent moves.

te3point5

do you mean 3000GT?

I just spend 5 minutes googling GT4000

BadBadNeil

hahaha sorry bout that, yup thats the one. Was my favorite car in Grand Turismo 2 too.

GreenMonster

Maybe if you further qualify that statement with Number 1 Selling import in the US since 93 "among 16-24 y/o girls and gay men"

te3point5

I would have to give it to the Miata If you're grouping gay guys in there.

youngTL

Only in warm climates. Gay men usually have $$$ moreso than their straight counterparts (no woman to spend their money, and usually no kids to absorb any either).

I've seen guys come to the bar in S2000's and Miatas sometimes during the summer. But most of the time, I see Accords, Solara convertibles (!), lots of cheap ass Sunfires (I've actually said that I won't date anyone that drives a Sunfire or Cavalier heh), and lots of Jeeps and Lexuses (Lexi?).

boku

iTrader: (1)

I'm The 1 Vote.

I would have liked a couple more options on the poll but whatever.......

I think the 4G is back on track. I acually think it would have had much more success as the 3G and even more with a FR design. But still as much fun as drifting is, it all boils down to raw power and what u can do with it on the streets. The new eclipse although a little late still brings the car back to the hands/hearts of tuners and wile the tuners of this decade have EVO-lved they are still just young inexperienced drivers who like looking fast almost as much as being fast.

gsclifton

iTrader: (2)

gsclifton


LMAO

I am the vote for I have no opinion. I could not name another Mitsu car other than the Evo and the Eclipse.

youngTL

Like I said, Mitsu is FUCKED!!

Deity711

As far as the import thing, can the Camry and Accord classify, since they are built in the US? Maybe the stat only included cars imported from Japan, which sounds plausable considering how many G1 and G2 Eclipses I remember seeing, and you could include the Chrysler Sebring coupe, same car. Maybe then?

As far as the new Eclipse goes, it's a sports car for people who don't understand what a sports car is (i.e. teeny boppers, etc).

Mitsu should just pull out and build TVs.

youngTL

My bet is the majority of Eclipses will be bought for "daddy's little girl" type of teens/young women. It has very feminine lines. I've never seen a Sebring coupe in my life either. Not a single one. I've seen sedans and convertibles only. Back in 93 I still think the Accord and Camry were imported.

about the TV's though!

GalantT3

Well the verdict is in and...............

Mitsubishi always gets a lucky break back in 99 it was the Galant that saved Mitsubishi Motors of America, now it’s the 2006 Eclipse’s turn:



Mitsubishi Buoyant Over Eclipse

By Bill Visnic

WardsAuto.com, Aug 11 2005

Mitsubishi’s new Eclipse is selling well, and executives see an expanding market working in the company’s favor.


PORTLAND, OR – Better-than-expected sales of its all-new Eclipse sport coupe and a U.S. auto market turbocharged by rampaging Big Three incentives have officials at Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. optimistic the company may be starting on the road to recovery.

Rich Gilligan, MMNA president and CEO, says the Eclipse, which went on sale in late May, is exceeding sales projections by some 65%.

Eclipse sales for the May-July period are tracking at an annual rate of about 40,000 units, Gilligan says – double last year’s total of 19,361.

Gilligan says MMNA is finishing improvements for Eclipse throughput at the company’s Normal, IL, assembly plant to accommodate the welcome demand for Mitsubishi’s best-known nameplate.


’06 Mitsubishi Eclipse
He also says July was Mitsubishi’s best sales month since last August, and a new-product onslaught will give dealers “the best and freshest product portfolio they’ve ever had.” (See related story: Mitsubishi Launching Product Assault, Image Overhaul)

The auto maker is further encouraged by robust industry sales driven by the heavily promoted employee-pricing programs of General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group. Dave Schembri, executive vice president-sales and marketing, says all boats rose on the sales bubble the incentive programs created.

Schembri says July’s seasonally adjusted annual rate of approximately 22 million units will have positive long-term effects for the industry, noting the U.S. is evolving into a nation of the 3-car garage.

“We’re moving more towards a 20-million market than a 16-million market,” he says.

Schembri and Gilligan say Mitsubishi is well-placed to take advantage of the demand with six new products coming in the next 26 months.

Next up is the Raider midsize pickup Mitsubishi highlights here, which goes on sale in late September. A drop-top Eclipse Spyder follows next spring.

In fall 2006, Mitsubishi will introduce an all-new Lancer compact, a new version of the Outlander cross/utility vehicle and the Lancer Evolution X high-performance sport sedan, based on the redesigned Lancer platform.


’06 Mitsubishi Raider
Schembri says some of the new Eclipse’s success can be attributed to the Ford Mustang, which has re-energized the slumbering sport-coupe market.

“All the other manufacturers are trying to figure out how they can get back in the segment,” says Schembri of reports that other auto makers are scrambling to revive decommissioned plans for sporty coupes.

Among them, Chrysler Group reputedly is plotting a 2-door variant of its successful LX platform, and General Motors Corp. is rumored to be working on resurrecting the Chevrolet Camaro nameplate.

Meanwhile, Mitsubishi hopes the Raider – returning to the midsize-pickup segment after more than a decade’s hiatus – will bolster the brand’s image by offering plenty of truck for the money.

Based on the new Dodge Dakota, the Raider comes in three trim levels. It is the only import-badge midsize pickup to offer the option of V-8 power in the form of a 230-hp, 4.7L SOHC unit sourced from Chrysler. The Raider’s base engine is a Chrysler-made 3.7L SOHC V-6.

Mitsubishi does not provide pricing here, but says its new pickup will start at less than $20,000, while a V-8 powered Raider with all-wheel drive and the best of three trim levels will top out at about $30,000.

Schembri says Mitsubishi will make as many Raiders as the market demands.