Ahh, to be young and own a sport coupe. Well, just to drive a sport coupe comes in a close second, and that's exactly what four editors from Edmund's decided to do on our recent business trip to California. What better way to spend one's free time than cruising around in fun, fast two-seaters? Okay, technically they're all two-plus-two seaters, but let's be honest. The "plus-two" designation means "plus a two-year old." And there are strict regulations against forcing adults into sitting behind the front seats of a sport coupe. But four drivers in four different cars means that nobody even had to sit in the passenger's seat, and an equation like this is mathematical: four divided by four equals one good time.
Sure, business meetings become all the more laborious, staring out the window at beautiful blue skies, knowing that the freeway is running smoothly at 10 am, and that the remainder of the day will be spent indoors wearing a jacket and tie while four shining new car-like rockets sit unattended in the parking lot. But after work, watch out: a fun-to-drive car provides an emotional release so satisfying that after a spin around the block, you'll be tempted to smoke a cigarette.
For this comparison test, we decided to obtain four Japanese sport coupes. Japan is not leading the sporty car segment, but access to Japanese test cars in Denver is limited, so our selection was natural. We selected four distinct cars that all compete for the attention of consumers looking for something in the $25,000-$30,000 range. Consumers who want something practical, yet who are not quite ready to give up their youthful self-image on the purchase of a sedan. Sport coupes fill this niche: they're not impractical wallet-stealing sports cars, and they're not the strict family-oriented cars that real grown-ups drive. They're flexible. So we chose a flexible mix: one front-wheel drive Mazda MX-6 LS V-6, one (ATTS-enhanced) front-wheel drive Honda Prelude SH, one all-wheel drive Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX, and one rear-wheel drive Nissan 240SX SE. Hey, variety is the spice of life.
In any comparison, there may be discrepancies which will tend to favor one car over another. For example, our Mazda MX-6, unlike any of the others, and contrary to our request, came attached to an automatic transmission. To enthusiasts, automatics never offer the same satisfaction as plowing through the gearbox the old-fashioned way, but we kept that fact in consideration when scoring the objective "fun-to-drive" rating on our comparison worksheets. Remember: there are no objective tests, only objective answers. Or is that "objectionable?" With that in mind, read on for an emotional, opinionated and completely unfounded comparison of four cars and why we liked them all.
In alphabetical order, let's start with the Honda Prelude Type SH. For 1997, the Honda preview car brings us the wonder of ATTS (Active Torque Transfer System). This system is no gimmick. It works. As far as we can tell, some magical pixie dust determines the degree and velocity of a turn while cornering, and torque is transferred to the wheel that needs it most. The outside wheel usually needs this sort of help, so ATTS allows it to spin faster than the inside wheel, and thus makes the turn as smooth as Fred Astaire. Honda must be Japanese for "genius." The portion of our test loop from Santa Paula to Carpinteria consisted of some of the twistiest roads in Southern California, and the Prelude consistently held its own. I had to keep shaking my head to clear it of the feeling that I was playing the Road & Track video game "Need for Speed." The Prelude seems to steer the road. It's always perfectly balanced, giving the driver the feeling of total control.
Problems with this car are few but weighty. Tall people are unable to find a comfortable seating position due to missing headroom and a steering wheel that won't meet you half way. Another significant problem is this car's styling. If you don't judge a book by its cover, the Prelude will give you years of joy. But really, can't anybody just make a good-looking car anymore? Why rip off the headlights from the SLK? It looks like last year's Prelude is now backwards, with the triangular lights moving to the front, and the sleek aerodynamically designed lights moving to the rear. It boggles the car as well as the mind. And on the inside, the Prelude takes the opposite effect by trying to bore us to death. This is supposed to be a revolutionary car, right? A taste of things to come? The only revolution likely to come of the new design is the consumer indifference to the Prelude's recycled parts and ideas. (Note: consumer indifference is accompanied by what Ross Perot describes as "a giant sucking sound.")
Then again, can this new design grow on you, or will it always look "cutesy?" Love it or leave it, when you're driving, at least, all that matters is the feel. And for people of normal height, the Prelude is worth a trip down to the local Honda dealer for a fitting of your own.
Next on the list is the Mazda MX-6 LS. We love how this car looks. Exhibiting pure grace is rare for a sport coupe, yet the Mazda pulls it off. Simplicity of design goes a long way in making a car attractive, and rounded edges never go out of style. Thinking about sticking with one car for the next ten years? This is the one you want. Just don't plan on fitting anyone in the back seats, because the MX-6 has the worst rear headroom in the group.
Noticeable problems in our MX-6 were at least obvious. The air conditioning system leaked into the passenger-side of the cabin, as I discovered while recovering my soggy 300mm camera lens from the floor carpet. That's not good. An orange-peel texture appearing on otherwise beautiful paint is another sign of cheap parts, and one that can not be overlooked.
Though the slowest accelerator of the bunch, the MX-6 keeps up well on the highway. Through our curvy-road test, the car performed surprisingly well, though it was forced to plow into turns rather than take them on gracefully.
The Mazda's suspension is more forgiving than any of the others, and our leather-lined tester provided the most comfortable front-passenger ride of the bunch. There's plenty of stretching space. And if you want to carry anything in the trunk, accommodations are available for four golf bags, or several humans. John Davis decided to give the immense trunk a close inspection, and we locked him inside for the claustrophobia portion of the road test. If you're a mob hitman, or a drive-in movie body-smuggler, this is the car for you.
The Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX is all about performance. One look at that bulging hood lets the innocent bystanders know that you're carrying heat. And it ain't just for show. The GSX gives away nothing when it comes to performance. 0-60 in 7 seconds, 210 bhp, a super-slick .29 Cd, and an exhaust note that simply growls are all indicative of one mean machine. The interior is also most like a sports car, with a driver-centered cockpit providing a near-perfect driving position.
Where the Eclipse goes wrong is also in its design. Rearward visibility is nil, unless your cataracts distort the lumpy rear glass back into shape. A huge spoiler doesn't help matters, and from the rear, this car is an enormous expanse of (choose your color) paint. It's a good thing you don't need to look into the rearview mirror too often, or the visibility issue would certainly be a problem. Our only concerns surfaced when forced to gaze back in parking lots, and backing up at night. The two reverse lights apparently function, but the driver will never know because a person must be seated inside the car to actually put it in reverse. The other nagging concern with the Eclipse's huge butt is that to carry home any groceries, you must first hoist them over a very high rear deck, then drop them into a very deep trunk. That won't feel good on the next trip to the chiropractor.
Steering in the GSX feels overly assisted, and at the loftier reaches of this car's speed, the steering wheel becomes light and a bit touchy. Nervous steering makes for nervous driving. We also had some trouble with the gearbox during freeway downshifts, so we wouldn't recommend relying on the engine to slow down. One notchy shifter is all it takes to ruin an otherwise pleasurable life.
For speed and acceleration, try out the Eclipse. It's fun, it's fast, it's even capable of handling icy roads, unlike the volume leading Ford Mustangs or Chevrolet Camaros. For a year-round daily driver, the GSX is hard to beat.
More suited for warm weather is the car that goes from its rear wheels, a la "true" sports cars. The Nissan 240SX SE gets its name from...well, a number. While the name is unimaginative, the styling is at least different. A snarling front end and pinched-up side skirts give the 240SX the demeanor of a pouncing wildcat when viewed from the right angle. When viewed from most angles, however, it's unremarkable. The most interesting feature about this car is, sadly, a styling gimmick. The instrument panel faces are white, and at night, they become black with white numbers. Not exactly thrilling for the performance seekers out there, but I only promised "interesting."
On the plus side, the 240SX is fun to drive. The steering, while not as precise as the Prelude, feels commanding on winding roads. While not as fast as the other cars in this comparison, the 240SX can still take you to the century mark with reasonable stability. Unfortunately, rear-wheel drive performance is hampered by the lack of horses under the hood, and the 240's four cylinder, 2.4-liter engine puts out a relatively tame 155 bhp, the lowest of the bunch.
More points must be taken off of the Nissan for ergonomics, or the lack thereof. The suspension lacks any cushion, and this combined with the lack of headroom for six-footers means that you better expect a sharp bang on the head when traveling over potholes. Our test car came with a slide-in sunroof, and, speaking from experience and one terrific headache, the lost headroom is not worth a view of the sun. Interior design problems are capped off with the annoyance of a huge leg-jabbing emergency brake handle that is painfully located on the driver's side of the center console.
On the whole, the Nissan 240SX SE made up for its shortcomings by its sense of spirit. It made up for its low power by handling with accuracy, and its rather drab appearance is at least constructed with quality materials. Not one squeak inside, where our chief complaint was the wobbly gearshift. Too bad it has to make up for so much. If you have plenty of newly paved roads between the house and the office, this car may not be a bad choice.
To owners of any of these cars, getting there is half the fun. With the end of the day comes the satisfaction of knowing that the trip home will be a chance to unwind. They're flexible cars that can pull double-duty as a weekend joy-ride and as everyday transportation. Compared to American sports coupes like the Camaro and Mustang, the Japanese cars offer less muscle (hence fewer speeding tickets), more versatility (in case another member of the family could arrive any time soon), and much better handling. So be careful--purchase one of these, and you might be mistaken for a grown-up.
