Mitsubishi Eclipse GT

PerfectCreature

So, I ended up giving the car to my brother so that he would have a car to drive. So he now owns the Grand Am I used to own.
I ended up purchasing a 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT. It has the 3.8L MITEC engine. I think it is the 4 speed model, but I am not sure. Anyway, it has a few minor interior blemishes, and a couple paint nicks here and there, but overall in great shape. It is missing the rear deck lid that covers the contents of the trunk, but those are cheap.
The dealership sold it to me with 85,567 miles, I have a 100,000 (Roughly 15,000 left) miles or 10 months warranty (Ends 8/10/2013) whichever comes first, so that was nice.
Total price paid, out the door was $11,000. Taxes, title and warranty.
I feel I got a pretty decent deal, not a fantastic one by any means, but one that doesn't make me feel like I got shafted by the dealership.
I have regular maintenance records from the dealership, and shows that several front end parts were replaced under warranty, and that several recalls were also replaced. It has front rotors replaced, and the rear rotors look fairly new. The A/C was recharged and blows ice cold, and the tires are pretty new (Dunlop Signiture). It does need some power steering fluid, but no big deal.
It is already debadged by the person before me and it was tinted to allow 50% of VLT, the law says I can have 35%, I think I will keep it as is anyway.
Here is a photo from when I picked it up.
I am going to give it a good clay, then wax it up to make it shine. I will also be cleaning up the interior a little better, as they did not do a fantastic job since the vehicle was taken in a "wholesale" trade.
What do you guys think? Good deal or no?

Clipdat

Congrats! Looking forward to pics after the clay and wax treatment.

It might just be the angle of the pic, but it looks like it's begging to be lowered!

PerfectCreature

Yes, Mistubishi gave this car an enormous amount of wheel well space, it has a good amount of space between the ground and the vehicle.
I am hoping to get it done tomorrow if I can find where all my cleaning stuff went....

TNJoe

I own an 03 Eclipse and a 08 Lancer. I work as a mechanic for the city of Nashville and many other mechanics ask me why I own Mitsubishi's. I always tell them they've been the most reliable cars I've owned. Everyone else is constantly working on their Chevy's and Ford's. If you look at the wiring and sensors,etc they seem more "put" together then "thrown" together like domestics. I may have been lucky with my two, but looks like you got a good looking car there. Just don't take much from the big name reviews who are obviuosly paid by the companies they are promoting, becuase you'll never see Mitsubishi up there.

Glowrdr

That's a heck of a price. I've always been a fan of the older style Eclipses/Talons - but either way, sounds like a fun little car. Mitsu's always seem to fly under the radar for some reason

mdaudioguy

$2K more and I would have sold you my '09, 6-speed, with the same mileage. :razz: But, I actually like it, so I wouldn't have sold it to you. Maybe... Sorry, but I think the automatics are a drag.

PerfectCreature

Well, with the automatic, I have the sport mode, which is nothing like a manual, but close. I was toying around with it, it was kinda fun to use it.
The manual option got worse MPG on all road tests I reviewed, so I am fine with the auto. Eitherway, the car hauls when I press the gas, and it gets lots of attention. It is not a car you see a whole lot of where I live.

mdaudioguy

I hope MPG wasn't one of the reasons you bought it. Btw, you know it requires premium fuel, right?

Vette C6.r

mdaudioguy wrote: »

Btw, you know it requires premium fuel, right?

Oh boy does that hurt everytime we fill up. Luckly I don't drive mine much but when I do "ouch"

tonyb

Congrats on the car, for me.....too many blind spots. Definately a step up from a Grand Am though.

Syndil

PerfectCreature wrote: »

It has the 3.8L MITEC engine. I think it is the 4 speed model, but I am not sure.

3.8L V-6 engine has a 5-speed automatic. Only the 4-cylinder 2.4L had the 4-speed automatic. And yes, the 3.8L requires premium gasoline.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/****/bymodel/2006_Mitsubishi_Eclipse.shtml

PerfectCreature

I didn't buy it for fuel economy. I bought it for the power it had. I'm content with the 20mpg it gives.
I really just like the way it looks.

mdaudioguy

PerfectCreature wrote: »

I didn't buy it for fuel economy. I bought it for the power it had. I'm content with the 20mpg it gives.
I really just like the way it looks.

It's a fun car! I hope you enjoy it! I've always fancied the looks of them, too.

PerfectCreature

Yeah, it looks sharp all waxed up. I tried to take a photo, but it started rain as soon as I got done.
On a side note, the care plan I purchased looks to be paying off. No more then 3 days I have had it and the car is in need of replacment parts.
Had to have the power steering fluid flushed, because it was running low and hadn't been flushed not once. There was a sensor/solenoid in on the intake runner that needed to be replaced, it has a 5 page schematic sheet on where it goes and how to hook it up, so I bet labour on that will not be cheap, on top of that, the windshield wipers quit working when I was driving home about 11:30 at night when itr was pour out and pitchblack. I must say it was a good feeling to know that I drive those roads twice a day everyday for the last 10 years, so I knew where to go and when to turn.
I also have an enourmous amount of black soot on the exhaust tip, which makes me wonder if the o2 sensors are bad, and the spark plugs need replacing.
For a car of this price, you think the dealership would have fixed the steering fluid, the sensor and that exhaust soot. The wipers just died, they worked before, so that is nothing they could have fixed as it was not broken, but....man.
I have taken the car to another branch under the same dealership name, they have the other dealership giving them the parts, I don't feel very comfortable having them work on my car if they overlooked such issues.
Seems to me with the way the salesperson would pushing the care plan, with me being in college still and about ready to graduate, I think he may have known something was up? Could be overthinking it, but....anyway, to the dealership it goes.

ambiophonics

Wow - that's a lot of things to go wrong in just a couple of days. Hopefully the dealer will take care of what repairs are needed.

PerfectCreature

Dealer has deflected all costs me to under the assumption it is a wholesale car. Contacted my lawyer, and there is not much we can do about it. I guess he has seen this happen quite a few times.
Basically, I have to pay a $50 warranty deductible, $45 for a wiper cowl, $60 for an alignment, $35 for a rear windshield weatherstrip (it leaked when it rained-because it is missing the top weatherstrip) and trim is not covered under warranty.
The timing belt repair is $800, spark plugs change is $320, o2 sensors are $440. Transmission flush is about $160. Coolant flush is a standard $140.
So, I have a lot of saving up to do.
Stinks I got the bad end of the stick on this one.

heiney9

Always, always have a mechanic who knows the car check it out!!! BEFORE you buy. Always, always go over any purchased extended warranty contract with a fine tooth comb!!

I hope you learned a lesson. Sounds like it was a tough lesson and it sucks to be taken advantage of.

H9

heiney9

Many of the things you mention you could have checked/noticed yourself when purchasing the car.

Did you go on-line to see what issues are common to that year and make car? Also just common sense should dictate you ask some questions based on the mileage of the car.

Also, somewhere in your paper work it should have been disclosed it was a "wholesale car", if not, they shouldn't have a leg to stand on legally. If it does say it's a "wholesale car" then you should have noticed it and asked what that meant.

I am sorry you got a crappy deal from a crappy dealer, but I hope you learned something.

H9

heiney9

.....nm....

Clipdat

WTF, they sold you a lemon. What a bunch of ****.

gdb

Void the sale, refuse to pay,cite fraud & deception ! Get out of school soon, so that you may start doing some "real" learning!

Threaten the crappy dealership with having some public warnings about them professionally painted on your car to be seen by the public at large. Might influence em, might not.

tonyb

Learned that lesson the hard way myself many moons ago. Never buy a used car from a dealer that isn't certified. Where do you think people dump their lemons to begin with ? Sorry to hear about this, it's a **** knowing you were taken. Do not have the dealer do any work not covered by a warranty, you'll pay out the nose. Dealers make more money on the back of the house than the front selling cars.

rdb2001

+1. It is a reason why the service department is bigger than the showroom floor. Sorry to hear about what has happened to you. I recently purchased a used infiniti g37 coupe used so this scares me a little. Luckily I did get the bumper to bumper protection plan on the car with no deductible. It has already came in handy because of a known defect that the previours owner never had fixed under the factory warranty. Saved me 600 bones by having the extended. I have had mines for about 4-5 months now and all seem to be good, but situations like this scare me from buying used cars.

PerfectCreature

As far as looking the car over? I did, I am not sure how I missed the power steering fluid being so low, the alignment was off pretty bad, but the tires were balanced compensate which is why I did not notice them being unaligned, as far as the cargo cover, never having a coupe, I had no idea it needed one! My friend asked me where it was and that is how I found it.
It does have a car starter hooked up, I noticed that when I installed the stereo. It just needs remotes and It is good to go!
______
Well, so far I have replaced the battery with a better one, no fault of anyone's that the car came with a small battery. Only 550cca at 0! That is terrible! I replaced it with a 880cca at 0 and it starts much better in -20 weather! Got an East Penn for $100.
________
I have since become a regular at the service department and the manager has agreed to cut me a few deals based on what happened. (between then doing warranty repairs, and me riding them hard on all sorts off stuff)
I managed to get about $80 out of them for telling me, and supplying a paper stating my car is 50% tinted all the way around, and it was factory. A full tint is $250, but $80 was the most the dealership owner would give.
__________
The transmission flush will cost $185.60 due to the Diamond SPIII fluid it requires, and that I opted for the flush due to no serviceable filter(it is built in). The coolant exchange will be $90 all said and done.
I manage to get the timing belt kit off Amazon for $130 (Belt, water pump and all 3 pullies and gaskets). I was quoted about $300 for the labor at a local shop at $50 an hour.
I plan to have the spark plugs changed at the same time (they are $12 each for OEM), which will cost no more then an extra half hour being that they just under the upper intake manifold. The o2 sensors are fine and do not need replacing, but if I want them to install them, they said only 15 minutes extra labor for those as one is in the front and the other is in the back, where they would be working anyway.

I recently replaced the exhaust for an aftermarket one that has eliminated the backfire feeling of sorts that the factory one had. Since replacing it with a free flowing muffler, it shifts much smoother and I do not get that odd feeling when I slowdown and it downshifts into lower rpms. It is an HKS Hi-power, managed to score a deal off eBay for a used one for $130 shipped to my door. Here is a photo.
Polished it up and installed it.


Here is a photo during a snow storm. We got 17 inches that night, lucky for my my snow blower failed, the control arm for the shaft that spins my auger broke. -_- Good thing I have my trusty shovel! Took 6 hours to shovel myself out.

PerfectCreature

On the stereo install. I bolted an 8 inch JBL GTO to the cross-member of the trunk. Powered by a JBL GT5 A-604 amp. The speaker/power wires are from Kicker and the fronts are Infinity Reference 6030CS.
I tried to get Polk, but it was out of my budget at the moment. I have removed the rear speakers and am running a simple 3 channel setup with just the fronts and a sub. I got a Kenwood Excelon X396 as my receiver.
All for just under $250-did the install myself which saved tons of cash.