Eclipse vs. C-4
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 264
Likes: 1
From: La Grande Oregon
Eclipse vs. C-4
Ok, my nephew being young and dumb and full of ....something, just picked up a 01 eclipse, (stock) and of course he swears it will smoke my stock 86 Z-51 through the mountains, the problem is this end of the state is packed in snow and ice and will be for the next few months. So has anybody run this combo in the twisties and what was the out come?
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 392
Likes: 7
From: Massachusetts
Your nephew wishes that it could compete with a 86 vette in ANYTHING! He couldnt even hang with a non Z51 vette. LOL. My 86 doesnt have the Z51 and ive driven eclipses and all those cars and let me tell you it doesnt have the power/handling/aerodynamics as my 86 does! After the C3 GM spend tons and tons of money on redesigning the C4 esp suspension and handling. I wouldnt even waste your gas. You can spend a couple grand on that eclipse and still most likely wont handle as good as the vette. I hate those Mitsubishi cars. I think the new ones kinda look cool to. Still wouldnt dare touch one.
Last edited by Mr Mojo; Dec 16, 2005 at 11:00 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
As in most competitions, it will all come down to the driver. The C4 probably has more raw capability, but the outcome will depend on driver skill and courage.
Tell him you will meet him at the nearest road course (track).
Larry
code5coupe
Tell him you will meet him at the nearest road course (track).
Larry
code5coupe
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,531
Likes: 35
From: Lecanto Florida
A bunch of years back, my then 20 year old son bought a new Eagle Talon, 4 wheel drive turbo. Same thing as an Eclipse. We took both cars to ATCO dragway in NJ and I want to tell ya, from a standing start that Talon flew. I was reading his licence plate for quite awhile till the Vette overpowered him in the long run.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,286
Likes: 2
From: Stamping Ground KY
Is it the awd eclipse? That would make some difference in a standing start. But those early C4's have a strong suspension.
I don't think the eclipse would be superior to the vette in many aspects, maybe a very tight autocross. But in anything from a regular autocross to a road course to the 1/4 the C4 should win due to torque and low CG.
Are you near TN? You could go joyriding to the tail of the dragon and after a circuit up and back he'd be crying that it must be the tires...
That road's a blast.
I don't think the eclipse would be superior to the vette in many aspects, maybe a very tight autocross. But in anything from a regular autocross to a road course to the 1/4 the C4 should win due to torque and low CG.
Are you near TN? You could go joyriding to the tail of the dragon and after a circuit up and back he'd be crying that it must be the tires...
That road's a blast.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 125
From: Dunstable MA
St. Jude Donor '05
The latest edition of Corvette magazine has an article entitled "The Best Handling Car in the World". It is devoted to the development of the C4. I think putting a copy of this in his stocking would be an excellent prelude (did I say that?) to the inevitable propaganda war you two will wage till spring.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,077
Likes: 4
From: Scarborough ONTARIO
I smoked him on way from florida to atlanta, looks like his modified eclipse and he gave me so hard time i finally started racing against him, i beat him so bad probably he never ever dare to race against any year corvette, period.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 0
From: bakersfield cali
let him learn on his own
[QUOTE=bluealtered]Ok, my nephew being young and dumb and full of ....something, just picked up a 01 eclipse,
I would not encourge him to race you in the mountains, he has something to prove and you don't. You know your car will smoke his. The vet is world class performer, while his car was born from an econobox. last thing you want is him getting stapled to a tree because he thinks he's fast.
I would not encourge him to race you in the mountains, he has something to prove and you don't. You know your car will smoke his. The vet is world class performer, while his car was born from an econobox. last thing you want is him getting stapled to a tree because he thinks he's fast.
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 426
Likes: 72
From: B-town Idaho
I wouldn't encourage a race in the mountains either, no matter how well you both drive you can't control wildlife running in front of you. i would rather hear about you smoking this eclipse on a track or open countryside rather than having the both of you post pictures of a smashed vette and eclipse ....or worse!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,475
Likes: 2
From: Austin TX
St. Jude Donor '07
A friend of mine had an eclipse. I only had the volvo at the time... so when i drove the eclipse one time, i thought i'd gun it to see how quick it was.. It was lighting fast compared to the volvo.... but it pales in comparison to the Corvette.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,021
Likes: 2,510
From: ...tearing up the highways, one state at a time™®©
My bro had an AWD Turbo Talon and about the only thing it was good for, was the first 300 ft on a Vette - w/ the AWD and boost
After 300 ft, bye-bye TSI
After 300 ft, bye-bye TSI
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,088
Likes: 0
From: Poop land
Originally Posted by TIMSPEED
If it's an 01, wouldn't it be the big portly NON turbo NON awd eclipse? Trust me, they're SUPER slow.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Santa Barbara CA
a 2001 should be no problem
only ones that would be any trouble at all are the gsx models and they
stopped making those in 99 i believe. ( and even those u could beat)
I almost got a 97 gsx before i got my vette
only ones that would be any trouble at all are the gsx models and they
stopped making those in 99 i believe. ( and even those u could beat)
I almost got a 97 gsx before i got my vette
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Commerce GA
I my wife has an 01' eclipse and it does handle really good for stock, NON-Turbo and FWD. But lets keep in mind that it is still stock and wasn't designed to perform in the same ball park as a vette. You should have no problem making your Nephew wet himself in the twisties. But I have to say that a mildly tweaked later model (00-04?) V6 eclipse (17" wheels and good tires, performance struts and shocks, and some bracing perhaps) could maybe hang with a bone stock early C4 in the twisties with a good driver. Just my opinion.
Hope your boy didn't get hurt. How fast was he driving and what was the curve like?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
Originally Posted by hip_about_time
In my experience eclipse owners are the very worst to have dillusions of adequacy.
IMO, the Gen 1 DSM turbo cars are PDQ, the GEN II DSM are a little heavier and not as fast and Gen III is not even in the same ballpark as the first two Generations.
SO even an L98 C4 should own this clown and his eclipse.
Mike