If I am looking for great performance, and reliability for a daily driver.

Should i go with the GT or GS (6 or 4 cyl.)

If I could get reliable 300 bhp out of the GT engine, all engine no FI then that would be cool.

But I am looking to buy an eclipse after the summer is over, so, what do you think, 4 or 6?


Edit: Thanks for fixing the title!

If you're looking for great reliability and performance, can you remind me why you want an eclipse?

I like my car a lot, it being the gt, but there is no way without considerable money spent you're going to get 300bhp out of it NA.

I know the people who have the 4 cylinder GSs seem to like them, and they're considerably easier to get power from because they were built better, but from what I understand they are only marginally better on fuel, and one of my favorite parts of the GT is it's sound, the fours not being as deep.

One opinion, you'll get plenty more.

Buy a turbo 2G if you want 300 anything.

I'd go the 4cyl. But I'd leave it alone if you want reliability out of any of the 3g's. I mean you can go forced induction on the 4cyls and they'll still be considerably reliable, but if you want the best, leave it stock and do minor engine mods.

But my opinion is the 4cyl cause the V6 I've heard of too many people having problems with and when you eventually do want to do the 300hp part to your car the 6cyl requires alot more work to get it up there and the 4cyl were built better and there are alot more options.

first things first. if you want reliability, find a eclipse that has had only one owner. then make sure the owner has receipts for the major work done on the vehicle. e.g. tune up work, normal interval preventative maintenance, any replaced parts that have gone bad.

if you can find that, and continue the great care taking of the vehicle you can buy either one, V6 or inline 4, V6 if you want power, but make sure to get the 5 speed, if you can find it.(that won't be easy)

as far as just finding a decent 3G eclipse, i would try and find a 5 speed GS Spyder. has a inline 2.4L 4 cylinder (which is rated as mitsubishi's best repeated highest mileage engines so far) its a manual, and its a convertible. not many of them are in bad shape. for one, the engine holds through a lot of abuse, and two because the car is a convertible, the owners tend to take better care of the interior and exterior.

if you cannot find either of these cars i just suggest you get a 5 speed 4 cylinder. the GS with the automatic transmission tends to get tranny problems at higher mileage. i'd rather just have to replace a clutch every 30,000 to 50,000 miles than have to have a tranny service done at 120,000 miles, then at 140,000 miles, and again at 160,000 miles, and so on and so forth.

heres the deal, 3G eclipse gt and gts good strong stock motor, awesome transmission, but pain in the *** to modify past intake and exhaust.

3G eclipse gt and gts 5 speed, they are quite simply hard to find, and harder to find for sale.

3G eclipse GS automatic, good reliable engine, great for boosting without doing internal work up to 15psi of boost, but transmission tends to crap out after 110,000 miles.

3G eclipse GS/RS 5 speed good reliable motor, great for boosting, half decent transmission that is strong up to about 350 HP. easy to get a hold of, because a lot more were produced and still on the road due to the incredible amount of stress, abuse, and neglect the engines can withstand. the great thing about manual transmissions is when its time to change a clutch, its time to do a trans fluid change. if you do a clutch replacement without doing a trans fluid change, i would suggest you just take a sledge hammer to the side of your transmission.

differences between the RS and GS is options they came with. RS is nearly bone stock, not real luxuries were offered in this model. GS come with options for anything, including convertible top (Mitsubishi famously named it Spyder)

Yay for me :grin: I've found a rare car! Lol

+1

I still don't get bhp... but okay.

Nobody does.

BHP stands for break horse power, it is measured through a water break hence the name. its actually a measurement of the engine horsepower at the crankshaft, i think everyone should call it CHP. people only offer that measurement out if they have a weak motor and want to try and make it sound better. doesn't 173 HP stock sound better than 150 for the 4G64 engine?

basic rule of thumb here is, you will most likely lose 15% HP from your crankshaft to your wheels. which is why people buy the light weight crankshafts, the light weight fly wheels, the stage 3 clutches and the super light weight under pulleys, the carbon fiber drive shafts, and the light weight rims, no it does not give you more HP to your motor, but it does transfer more HP from your crankshaft to your wheels. now of course when you are working with very little stock HP these modifications are not needed. however once you push into the 300's it tends to transfer enough HP to be worth the the cost to HP to the wheels translation. plus light weight engine components help slightly to lighten your car.

So so far the 4 cyl. Is looking more appealing, but say I have the money for forged internals. Would the 4 still be the better way to good for a turbo application, as opposed to the six?

I say if you have the money for forged internals buy a car that is actually a good platform to begin with.

Something with a curb weight under 3000 lbs would be nice.

DOODE THE 3g sorry to say was one of the worst gens power wise for mitsubishi
1st gen or 2nd gen spank on em all day,first they were DOHC,Turbo,fwd or AWD, And had Cast Iron blocks........ go 1990-1999 eclipse parts will work on em from any of those years motor tranny wise.

Dude punctuation. I can't tell what you were even saying, sorry off topic.

But they may have been the least power of any of the gens, but he wants to know 4 or 6cyl of the 3g's which would be better. He doesn't care about power it looks like otherwise he would ask what gen should I look for. But the 4cyl 3g is the best option for him since he is only looking at the 3g's.

well are 2gs honestly that much better of a performance option?

Because I love the 3g styling but performance would probably be the deciding factor for me.

sorry to be confusing.

also out of curiosity what car would be considered a good performance platform, that remains fairly cheap.

And sry on iPhone.

Uhh yeah the 2g has much more potential.

And an all wheel drive variation if that tickles your fancy.

The 1g is the best

i wasn't talking in lines of power. i was talking in lines of reliability and gas saving. yeah the turbo Gen one is a nice little zinger, but come on. i have yet to hear anyone tell me they have more mileage on their original engine than me without having to rebuild it first.

i mean for me, i think the 2G Eclipse GS-T Spyder might be the best looking Eclipse that Mitsubishi will ever make. granted the soft top looks like crap when its up. i mean any convertible soft top looks like crap when its up to me, but with the top down, come oooon? could the girls be wanting your crotch any harder than when you pass by in a 95-99 GS-T Spyder? probably not!!!! and you know that any guy watching you drive by with the top down wishes it was his car. those sad little BMW guys with their classy wifes are looking at you with the quivering lip thinking, " i want some stank *** ho's, where are my 19 year old side girls?"

i mean its got it all basically. good power, decent gas mileage, decent reliability, its a convertible, it looks awesome, and the car has very inexpensive after market parts for it. could you ask for more? probably, but then you'd be a greedy ****.

her take a good look at this link to one. http://home.adelphia.net/~liggy11/droppedfrontquarter800.jpg

Most people beat the $hit out the 1Gs and over boost which is why they are rebuilt.

I've still witnessed original turbos lasting into the 200,000 mile club.