1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Driving Impressions Review at Automotive.com
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1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Review: Road Test

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1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Review

Performance, performance, performance.
Driving Impressions
The payoff for the tight quarters is big, however. Performance, handling, and braking are phenomenal and the

Eclipse scores a thumbs-up on all fronts. Our front-wheel-drive GS-T test model was equipped with the standard

5-speed manual transmission, by far the most entertaining combination.

There's nothing that makes the heart of an automotive enthusiast sing like the sound and feel of 16 valves and

210 ponies, all purring in perfect, turbocharged, road-gobbling synchronization. These ponies allow the Eclipse

to accelerate quicker than the Prelude.

But be ready! Punch the throttle from a standing start and the front-wheel-drive GS-T shoots forward like it

was shot out of a cannon. When the car first begins taking off, the steering wheel pulls to the left, which can

catch an unsuspecting driver by surprise the first time it happens. This phenomenon, known as torque steer,

occurs when massive amounts of horsepower are sent to the front wheels of a front-wheel-drive car. It's not a

problem once you know it's there and it arguably adds to the fun of driving this highly entertaining sport coupe.

Torque steer was quite common on front-wheel-drive cars in the 1970s, but manufacturers have been able to engineer

most of it out--on lower horsepower cars, that is.

Those who don't want torque steer in their lives can do one of two things: Order the less powerful normally

aspirated (non-turbo) Eclipse or--a better solution for performance enthusiasts--order the all-wheel-drive Eclipse

GSX. Torque steer is absent from both of these cars. Ordering the automatic transmission on the GS-T is another

way to reduce torque steer.

The all-wheel-drive GSX has the additional advantage of offering incredible grip and roadholding in slippery

conditions, whether those conditions be rain, snow, ice, mud, sand or wet leaves. Even on dry pavement, the GSX

is much easier to drive fast than the GS-T. The all-wheel-drive system on the GSX features a center differential

and viscous coupling with an optional limited-slip rear differential. When the GSX encounters slippery conditions,

power is automatically apportioned to the wheels with the best traction. All of this happens seamlessly as the

driver rockets around a corner in control.

We're happy to put up with a little torque steer, however. The front-drive Eclipse GS-T is the most entertaining

among the Eclipse lineup and, on a dry race track, it's the fastest. We recommend it to anyone who appreciates a truly high-performance sport coupe.

Fortunately, the Eclipse comes with high-performance handling to go with the high-performance acceleration. It's nimble and precise when blasting down twisty roads. Hats off to the designers of the speed-sensitive steering, which subtly decreases the power-assist as engine speed increases--resulting in more graceful handling at lower speeds and more confidence-inspiring road feel at higher speeds. Next Page



1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse