FRS vs. 2g Mitsubishi eclipse gst/gsx
 

So the questions is...

One is a sports car and one is a wanna-be.

Sorry to say but I think the first generation GSX in new condition would mop the floor with our twins. AWD Turbo.......Come on. The GST would not last on a road course.

Maybe now, we view it that way. But at the time, the car was pretty hot. If you were into sub-$30,000 imports in the '90s, the Eclipse GS-T/GSX was likely on your wishlist. It's a shame how Mitsubishi neutered the Eclipse from 2000 onward.

That being said, when talking about stock cars, the GSX would have put up a fight in a straight line, as I remember it being capable of doing high-14s in stock trim. But outside of that, either Eclipse turbo would have been beaten in any measurable aspect of performance by either of the twins. The GSX weighed about as much as the Evo VIII and IX did (a little south of 3,300 lb) but had "only" 210 hp propelling it along with a far less capable AWD system, suspension, brakes, etc. The GS-T was a little bit lighter than the GSX, but it wasn't anything that would really make it any better (aside from acceleration from a roll) while giving up the GSX's launch and handling.

i feel like you are giving a turbo and awd way too much credit.

Thats a hard decision, my first car was a 1995 eclipse GSX with a 2b front end. Platform is huge with mods. Wish I had never sold that car, had more fun in that thing then the evo. It's really up to you, do you want a new RWD car or a older car but with tunes of modding/tuning support.
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto..._5539173_n.jpg

So true. We drove by one of the new ones the other day and my stepsister who is looking for a new car goes, "I want one of those... it's SO CUTE!!!!". For a car that could run well up over $30k, that thing is just an embarrassment.

I had a dsm back in the day...whole different animal from the FRS/BRZ. Intake/Exhaust and a boost controller made the dsm feel like a rocketship...then a t3/t4 turbo swap actually made it fast :drool:

The dsm had a ton of body roll stock and it was always testing my patience with annoying little issues.

I liked them at first. Then I saw the fast and the furious and it killed it for me.

But that bodystyle was already out of production for two years by the time the movie came out. So it didn't kill anything that wasn't already dead, haha.

Lol it killed my vibe to search for one as a used car!

Oh haha. I was actually in the market for one at least a year before the movie came out, and they were already getting hard to find since GSX owners didn't really want to let them go.

Credit is given where credit is due. Those cars being turbo made them very fun to drive. And if you were lucky enough to have an awd one you had a car that got great traction plus handled pretty well for their time.

yeah i get that but there is a huge difference between giving credit where its due or being good for its time and saying it will mop the floor with the twins. turbo or not it only has like 210 hp and im not sure that archaic awd systems make cars that much faster

Guess you'll wait for 6 fast 6 furious than, and see what they do to the BRZ/FRS.

So if they "kill it" than you won't like your car anymore? :iono:

The FR-S is a slow piece of awesome, the DSM is a fast piece of shit. I know my fair share of people who own or have owned DSM's; that's the general consensus among them. I've actually got a buddy with an AWD-converted GS-T Spyder; one of very few in the country.

Had a 98 RS pushing 8 psi on an aftermarket setup.

haven't had that much fun in a car since, till I test drove the FR-S!

Nonetheless it was a FWD, but you can see my point :D

DSM was pretty crap stuff
 

I had a 1990 Plymouth Laser RS, 1997 Eagle Talon Tsi and finally a 1999 GSX. The GSX stickered for an astronomical $27,500 in 1998/1999. The '90 was the most fun to drive even though it didn't have a turbo. I loved the pop up headlights and the design was years ahead of its time.


Anyway, the two later turbo cars I had "felt" fast to me because I had never owned anything that "fast." But honestly, the chassis was terrible; the lag was very bad; the gap between the top of tire and bottom of fender was huge; etc. My 1996 Toyota Paseo had a much better chassis than my later DSM's. The DSM's were bloaty an handled like crap! I could barely get any tire spin on the Talon (front wheels only).


Contrast this to my wife's current 2014 Jetta SE 1.8 Turbo. With APR's tune, the stock Jetta is pushing 265 HP with similar torque. The thing absolutely screams! Half gas and the car begs for traction! And, the VW chassis is light years ahead of any DSM.


The "twins" are beautiful cars. The interior is gorgeous and I've heard they handle very, very well. But in a drag race against a modified BRZ, my wife's Jetta left it by a few car lengths to 80. The desperately need more power.


That's my rant for the day :-)

The 99 GSX had full time AWD with a limited slip rear diff. It's a very good AWD setup. I've had mine for 10 years and it never loses traction in anything short of snow/ice. And unlike the electronic diffs in the Evo's, it is much more smooth/predictable when transferring power. I also like how the Eclipse has less body roll than the Evo's (especially with stiffer dampers).

I've test driven the FR-S a few times and frankly, it felt very similar to my Eclipse. I actually like the torque, traction, steering wheel feedback, and styling of my Eclipse better. But I want a newer car with modern conveniences so I will be getting a 2017 BRZ PP soon and likely selling my Eclipse GSX.

If anyone really wants an almost entirely stock red with black interior, manual transmission 1999 Eclipse GSX, PM me before the 2017 BRZ PP's come out. But I'm not doing trades and I'm not going to let it go for cheap. I put so much money in maintaining it over the years and realize there are basically none like it left out there. I don't think I've ever come across another GSX like mine in the 10 years I've owned it. I've seen more 3000GT VR-4's around than GSX's!

I had a 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS as my first really sporty car. I was in love with the 2G eclipses, especially the face/butt lifted 97-99 models. They were as close to a perfect car in my eyes; awd, 2 door hatchback/ coupe, turbocharged I4, and that DSM spoiler was beautiful. I really wish I could find a near pristine model. All of the ones I ever see are trashy or riced the hell, which is a damn shame.

Different cars from drastically different times. In the mid 90s to 2000 they were at the top of the import heap. They did well at AutoX. Could be made wicked fast for drag racing, and made damn good street cars for their time. I bought a stock 96 Talon TSI AWD in 1997 and over the next few years did sway bars, springs, Tokico Illuminas, a FP green with all of the normal supporting mods, racing seats, etc. Tweaked just about every facet of the car and it never broke, never left me stranded and was a ton of fun. It would trap 122mph in the quarter on pump gas in DD trim. Most of the guys on this forum are too young to know how good these cars were in their time. Properly maintained and modded they will still give many modern cars a run for their money.

yeah i get that but there is a huge difference between giving credit where its due or being good for its time and saying it will mop the floor with the twins. turbo or not it only has like 210 hp and im not sure that archaic awd systems make cars that much faster

Yeah, that statement is only true if you modify it a bunch. Adding a bigger turbo and good coilovers/tires would easily result in a faster car. The FR-S has the advantage of a stiffer and lighter chassis and can seemingly handle a turbo quite well. In stock form, the GSX likely only has an advantage of traction off the line (especially if wet/slippery).

This is a joke, correct? Lag on a stock 2g dsm? lol

Obviously the people bad mouthing the DSMs never owned or really driven one. I had a 91 Talon TSI AWD. The thing flew. It handled well. Responded really well to mods and was a blast. Yes they have their issues but they weren't nearly as bad as people made them out to be especially "crank walk". Keep up on their maintenance just like any other car and your golden.

Cue @Tcoat in 3.... 2.... 1...

DSMs seem appealing.
Until you compare them to a GT-four.
But either is a completely different kind of car with completely different intentions compared to the ZN6/ZC6.

I had a 95 GST. LOVED that car. But imo it was nothing compared to my BRZ.