If the thought of driving a convertible down a scenic highway with the top down, radio blasting and wind blowing in your hair (and hopefully not bugs in your teeth) appeals to you, Mitsubishi has just the car for you: the new 2007 Eclipse Spyder GS Convertible. The Spyder GS has a base price of $26,014 ($26,914 as tested), and comes with Mitsubishi’s 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty and an EPA estimate of 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway (auto), 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway (manual).
First Glance: Beauty and the beast
Larger photos: Front -- side -- rear, top up -- rear, top downMitsubishi completely redesigned the Eclipse sport coupe for 2006, making it undeniably one of the most attractive vehicles on the road today. The Eclipse Spyder convertible is new for 2007, and it takes that stylish theme to a new level. I’ve driven a wide range of vehicles over the last few months, and few turned as many heads as the Eclipse Spyder. I didn’t meet a single person who wasn’t impressed by the Eclipse Spyder's looks. The curvaceous, sleek exterior design of the Eclipse is even more pronounced with the convertible, whether the top is raised or lowered.
Like it’s hardtop stablemate, the Eclipse Spyder comes in two trim levels: GS and GT. The GS model (which I tested) comes with a standard 162hp 2.4 liter engine, while the GT offers up a powerful 260hp 3.8 liter V6 and some extra bodywork, additional options and other accessories. In terms of external features, the GS is nicely trimmed out with standard 17-inch alloy wheels, an integrated rear decklid spoiler, chrome headlight accents and bright parabolic fog lights.
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In the Driver's Seat: Elbow room
Like most small, sporty vehicles, you don’t simply sit in the Eclipse Spyder, you drop in, as the driver’s seat sits low in the passenger compartment. Even with the road-skimming driving position, the dash and center console wrap comfortably around the driver, which gave me good access to the controls. Both front seats were firm and comfortable, although adjusting the steering wheel to a position that allowed me to see all the gauges was a bit tricky.
My Spyder GS tester came with a 4-speed "Sportronic" automatic transmission, which shifted smoothly under acceleration. The plastic housing surrounding the gearshift (link goes to photo), however, was cheap and wobbly, and looked like it belonged in a plastic model kit. The rest of the interior fit and finish was commendable, with a pleasing black, silver and gray interior color combination. The Eclipse Spyder's full complement of standard safety features includes antilock brakes (ABS) and front- and seat-mounted side (torso) airbags – but electronic stability control (ESC) isn’t available, and traction control is optional only on the GT trim level.
The space behind the front seats is tiny, more so with the top up, and is best left to preteen children and cargo. Attaching our toddler's car seat to the LATCH anchor points in the confined space provided took some work. With the child seat removed our two oldest boys could bend and twist themselves behind the seats with ease, but I wouldn’t recommend this location as a seating option for adults or teenagers.
On the Road: Dr. Jekyll, meet Mr. Hyde
I spent a week with the Eclipse GS, and did a fair amount of driving with the top up and the top down. If you’ve never driven a convertible before, the duality of the experience is something to keep in mind.With the top up the small cabin feels claustrophobic. As with most convertibles, the design of the Eclupse Spyder's fabric top limits visibility to the rear and sides while doing little to limit road and wind noise from entering the cabin. Given the lack of the extra structural rigidity that a metal roof provides, the car tends to flex and bounce around over rough sections of road.
Opening the top is a straightforward: unhook a pair of latches that hold the top in place, hold down the top open button, then watch as the rear metalwork opens to swallow up the top, which folds neatly into the available space. Putting up the top is a quick reverse of the procedure and both operations take about thirty seconds.
With the top down, the car comes into its own. The driver and front seat passenger are kept relatively free from buffeting at highway speeds, and the acoustics are such that it’s possible to carry on a conversation without screaming at the top of your lungs.
With the top up or down, the Spyder handles reasonably well, with only a light touch of the steering wheel needed to change direction. My tester's combination of 4-cylinder engine and automatic transmission led to somewhat sluggish performance, as I occasionally had to floor the accelerator to merge into traffic.
Journey's End: A solid value
The Eclipse Spyder does have lots of competition in the segment, starting with two-seat, budget-priced (and diminutive) roadsters like the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. The Nissan 350Z Roadster and Ford Mustang convertible are a bit more expensive (and both feature standard V6 engines), but offer more power and performance – as does the Eclipse Spyder GT. For those who don't want the drawbacks of a soft-top, the Volkswagen Eos is a good -- if expensive -- alternative.
The 2007 Eclipse Spyder GS is an impressive vehicle, especially with the top down and with (hopefully bug-free) wind blowing through your hair. The cheap interior plastics, poor top-up visibility and the relatively anemic 4-cylinder engine are weak points, but the gorgeous exterior styling and sporty handling more than compensate. While many of us have to deal with snow shovels and icy roads for half the year, a sporty, topless roadster like the Eclipse Spyder serves as a constant reminder that summer is always just around the corner. -- Jeff James
