With its distinctive and expressive styling, the 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder convertible is not without flaw, yet it does offer a sexy design, comfortable interior and sporty performance for under $30,000. In fact, the low price alone makes it one of the 10 lowest priced convertibles on the market today which is very attractive to youthful drivers as well as the young at heart.

Looking at the Spyder you see nothing but an exciting, sexy little sports car. It's quick and has a relatively large and comfortable cabin that accommodates both driver and front seat passenger very comfortably. Although the 2 possible passengers in the rear don't have enough room to enjoy the same amount of comfort as those upfront, they are still treated to the same premium audio system and, when the weather is fine and the top is down, a tremendous view of the open skies. The automatic cloth convertible top, complete with glass rear window and rear window defroster, operates seamlessly.

The first of two Spyder trims is the GS. Standard features for the GS include 17 inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, power windows and door locks, air conditioning, cruise control and a Rockford Fosgate 9 speaker audio system with in dash 6 CD changer with MP3 capability. The GT is the upscale trim version of the Spyder and is equipped with much of the same standard equipment as the GS and then adds 18 inch alloy wheels, a sport tuned suspension and the outdoor temperature can be viewed on the in dash display screen. There are a few exterior trim option packages from which to choose should you desire a sportier or more customized look, and a leather option package is also available for those who will appreciate heated leather trim front seats and heated mirrors.

The above average performance of this front wheel drive convertible coupe stems from one of two available engines-the 2.4 liter, 4 cylinder 162 horsepower engine found in the GS or the 3.8 liter V6 that delivers 162 horsepower to the GT model. The GS is available with either a 5 speed manual transmission or a 4 speed automatic with manual shift capability. The upscale GT is available with either 6 speed manual or 5 speed automatic with manual shift controls. Those looking for a fuel efficient convertible might be disappointed to find that the 4 cylinder models have an EPA estimate of 19 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway, with 6 cylinder models coming in at 16 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway.

With its extroverted visually appealing design, the 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is fun to drive, handles well and offers its passengers an extremely comfortable ride.