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Great Cars Under $ 1000 – All-Star Profiles – Mitsubishi Eclipse

If you’re looking for an economical performance car for less than $ 1,000, it’s hard to miss the DSM Mitsubishi Eclipse. For those who don’t know, DSM stands for Diamond Star Motors. Although this profile is for the Eclipse (1990-1994), the Eagle Talon and Plymouth Laser were part of the Diamond Star trio and are basically the same car with a few different aesthetic touches. These cars are steadily beginning to fall into the under $ 1000 price range and for many years have been offering enthusiasts a lot for their money. These DSMs are available in various models, but for this profile we will only focus on Turbo cars. (Because turbos are fun!)

Mitsubishi Eclipse All-Star Profile (1990-1994):

In 1990, the DSM trio stormed our shores with a car that offered a ton of performance for the money. The Mitsubishi Eclipse was an aggressive-styled sports coupe (love it or hate it) that offered not only the option of a turbocharged four-cylinder engine known as the 4G63, but also the ability to combine it with all-wheel drive on the pavement. The GS-T is the only front-wheel drive turbo version and the GSX offers all-wheel drive. In the early ’90s, before America was used to getting the latest in rally-inspired all-wheel drive vehicles like the EVO and WRX, the Eclipse really stood out on its own in what it could offer.

The 4G63 engine still used today in a much more updated Mitsubishi EVO offered 180-195 hp and quickly became a favorite with tuners. The 4G63 is just one of those engines with an astonishing ability to soak up a bit of abuse and expend a lot of extra horsepower with relatively few upgrades. Simply increasing boost in these engines (with supporting fuel and ignition upgrades, of course) is such an easy way to make some giant deadly power. For those who want it all, the aftermarket offers basically every upgrade under the sun for these cars and your budget is usually the only limiting factor.

Now when it comes to finding your DSM, especially one for less than $ 1,000, the choice must be made carefully with several factors in mind. First of all, these cars are still desirable, but their age makes them much cheaper. Unfortunately, it’s no secret that these cars are fun and pack a lot of power, which in turn means you’ll be unlucky to find a clean one that hasn’t been beaten. In fact, like most popular tuner cars, modifications made by the previous owner can be either an advantage or a major disadvantage.

The 4G63 engine is capable of taking a bit of boost and abuse, but overall, when you combine great turbo power and all-wheel drive in a 15+ year old car, it shouldn’t surprise you too much if a few things break. Not to say that these cars cannot be dependable, in fact there are still plenty of stock and modified examples still running smoothly everywhere, but don’t expect one of these to perform like a brand new Camry. Do your research and take the time to find a good example, although most of the ones that cost under $ 1000 can still be quite difficult, these cars can be great starting points for a tuner project and can still deliver a lot of performance and build up. fairly good. even against the newest cars on the road.

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