How Much Lowering?

Compared to some cars, the stock Eclipse doesn't have a whole lot of suspension travel. There's around 4-5" of travel from the car's resting position.

Lowering the car an inch still leaves most of the suspension travel. Springs can stay fairly soft at this ride height, and adequate travel means the suspension seldom if ever bottoms. This kind of lowering is perfectly useable on a daily-driven car.

Bring the car down two inches moves into serious adverse affects on ride comfort. Although the car may still peform well, shocks must be very firm to control the spring motion, and the springs themselves must be very stiff to keep the wheels from crashing into the body of the car. Ride comfort is seriously degraded. This level of lowering is best suited for track cars.

Lowering the car by three inches makes it undriveable. No shock absorber can control the spring motion, and suspension travel is reduced to near zero, so the suspension will bottom out at every bump. The car will also be very close to the road, so speed bumps and driveways can become insurmountable obstacles. This level of lowering is best reserved for static display cars at a show.