2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS 2-Door Coupe

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Have you ever driven a car that just looked good and made you personally feel even better. Well, that is what the 2009 Eclipse did for me. It seemed more sculptured than designed. The sharp headlamps with the aggressive air intake below, muscular rear quarter panels, backswept windshield, and the integrated door handles, all made for a designed craft that make you realize this baby is flat-out fast.

The GS is propelled by the spirited 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, 162 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, and the GT is favored with a strong 3.8-liter V-6. Both have the Mitsubishi innovative valve-timing electronic control system that allows these engines to breathe so efficiently they generate 85% of their peak torque at under 2,000 rpm. You press down just a little on the pedal and “boom,” you are gone.

Always seeking decent gasoline mileage—during my weekly test drive I got nearly 30 mpg in a combination of city and country.

Okay, you like music and want to feel the sound. Well, the Coupe has an impressive Rockford Fosgate 9-speaker high performance audio system that combines 650 watts of max output, an MP3-compatible in-dash 6-CD changer, adjustable subwoofer, programmable audio profiles, and controls on the back of the steering wheel.

The outside of the Coupe looks sleek and fast, while the interior has a sweeping dashboard designed for elegance. Every gauge is clear, and each control and instrument is readily and logically accessible. In the center, relevant information is presented via digital display.

Supportive sports seats are bolstered for hard cornering yet yield to your shape for road-trip comfort. However, the bucket seats were a bit too small for me. It is not that my butt is as big as Texas, but I do need enough space to fit in Delaware.

The Eclipse Coupe has a performance foundation with its independent low-mount multi-link rear suspension. Each wheel can tackle bumps and dips on its own, keeping the tires upright and in contact with the road. The result is a smoother ride and better handling.

Don Herring Mitsubishi, owned by Don Herring Jr., has two locations in Dallas, Texas.  I visited one of the dealerships recently just as the Cash for Clunkers Program was screeching to a halt.  Herring had been low on cars like other auto dealers until just recently when three truckloads had arrived. “We have the cars now and are ready to go,” said the young and enthused auto dealer. “Don’t forget to tell your readers that Texas has a program (Air Check Texas) that will allow you up to $ 3500 for any vehicle ten years old or older regardless of brand, miles or mpg. Or if the vehicle has failed an emissions test. Qualification is based on income and you can even buy a used car.” Just go to driveacleanmachine.org for additional information.

The base price is $25, 090 for the best import selling coupe in the industry. The one I drove was fully loaded with everything except a grand piano selling for a penny or two shy of $30,000.

Durhl Caussey writes a car column that is read around the world. He may be reached at this paper or dcaussey@sbcglobal.net .