We tend to give auction cars a bit of a pass when they're for charity. See: Kiss Minis, that Freddie Mercury/Lotus thing. It's a flaw. We're just too good hearted.But auctioning off the last Mitsubishi Eclipse to benefit the Japan Red Cross? It's not that the Eclipse is a cheap car, especially not in 265-horsepower GT trim where it rings up at a slightly shocking $29,089, it's just that, uhm, who's going to buy it?
This particular Eclipse, though a 2012 Eclipse SE V6 ($24,699), is special, see; it's the last one to roll off the line after 22 years of Eclipse production. It's also coming in a special Kalapana Black, because when Mitsubishi opened up a Facebook poll to decide the color -- between ANY historic Eclipse color -- why wouldn't you vote for a no-cost paint option currently available? It's also got 18 inch wheels, sunroof, leather, Rockford Fosgate 9-speaker stereo, rear-view camear and HIDs. Oh, and it's also the ONLY one to have the SE package and the V6. Which means that it doesn't get the GT's brakes or suspension, but hey, the rocker panel graphics match the wheels and the mirrors are black.
The auction takes place at the Mecum St. Charles, IL Auction on Sept 15-18. The Eclipse will be sold at 1:55pm on Saturday, get your bids in fast. There's no auction estimate, we'll see if it ends up higher than simply pushing the Eclipse into that lake and claiming the insurance on it. Though that probably violates the spirit of charity (and US law) or something like that.
heartlessbstrd says:
09:17 AM, 09/ 7/11
"Your chance to own a piece of mediocre history"
I have no desire to own that car
bodyblue says:
09:17 AM, 09/ 7/11
How about this: Lets hope the car brings in some cash to help the good people of Japan in their time of need......instead of a snarky post trashing a car you dont like?
heartlessbstrd says:
09:24 AM, 09/ 7/11
Because then nobody would know about the level of indifference that I feel for the eclipse - Everybody already knows about Japan.
lowprofile says:
09:48 AM, 09/ 7/11
I had this car as a rental several times and I really enjoyed it.
It was comfortable, unique, and the hatch with rear seats downactually stored a full road bike without taking any of the bike wheels off.
Sad to see it go.
bodyblue says:
09:51 AM, 09/ 7/11
htlbt: I was actually talking to Magrath......I could care less about the car as well, but I do care about the Japanese people still affected by the e quake.
blueguydotcom says:
09:52 AM, 09/ 7/11
So sad how mitsubishi abandoned this car two generations ago.
sniperruff says:
10:15 AM, 09/ 7/11
It was a good car when it first debuted. How many 2+2's with over 250hp under $30k were there in 2006?
And for the record, it's actually an Eclipse GT, SE trim package. See that "GT" decal on the hatch?
http://www.mecum.com/auctions/CH0911/CH0911-116177/images/CH0911-116177_5.jpg?lastmod=090111174831
Mike Magrath replied to comment from sniperruff
10:32 AM, 09/ 7/11
It's got the GT badge, but the car is listed as an Eclipse SE with a V6 and not a GT with the SE pack. The exact quote is "It is the only Eclipse equipped with both the 3.8L/265 HP V-6 engine and the commemorative SE package." It's also got an SE badge...Meh.
-mm
kain77 says:
12:03 PM, 09/ 7/11
@blueguydotcom
+eleventy
I'll always have a soft spot for my old '98 GSX. The Eclipse seriously went awry after the Gen 2s.
stovt001 says:
12:50 PM, 09/ 7/11
I don't understand why car companies give black paint names. If it is truly black, then it can only be just black, no other shade.
firstwagon says:
03:57 PM, 09/ 7/11
agreed blueguydotcom and kain77
I was a big fan of the 90's Eclipses (and Talons). The 1st gen versions were amazing cars for their day and price.
I never understood why they didn't stay with 4 cyl/ turbo/ AWD when they had all the hardware in the EVO. Just design a light weight coupe body and it would have kept it's loyal following.
Instead they made it a heavy bloated has -been that most people didn't realize they still made.
stephen987 says:
07:25 PM, 09/ 7/11
I didn't know they still made these. In fact I forgot about this generation of the Eclipse completely.