Driving Impressions
reviewed by
A sport coupe worth the name has got to put its power down effectively,
and the Talon/Eclipse range proves it has the go-power to back up its aggressive
styling statement.
The non-turbocharged 140-hp four-cylinder in the base cars is a terrific
little engine that takes maximum advantage of the standard five-speed stick.
Closet Andrettis will get an adrenaline rush from the excellent throttle
response, especially from a standing start.
If you really want to light the afterburners, though, the turbocharged
engine is the way to go, with a capital G. Allied with the all-wheel-drive
system, this engine gives the Talon--or Eclipse--serious sports car capabilities,
with grip to match.
This is a point-and-shoot kind of sporty car with the terrain-following
confidence of a cruise missile. With four drive wheels all scrabbling for
grip at the same time, the turbocharged engine making sweet music at full
song, well, for the driving enthusiast, it just doesn't get much better.
Especially for this kind of money.
Spirited driving, you ask? Positively angelic. Galvanizing handling
prowess across the lineup is due to double-wishbone front arms with coil
springs and shock absorbers and multi-links, coils, and shocks in the rear.
All anchored to a chassis that's rigid enough to make it all work.
The Talon is low to the ground and handles crisply when engaged in high-speed
transitions. The speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion steering is a bit
numb of road feel but control authority is still first-class.
There are front-drive coupes that carve their way through corners with
a little more authority--the new Honda Prelude comes to mind--but not many.
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