Test drove a 2015 Mirage (update: bought it ... 5-speed manual)

[Arragonis]

I was being funny but yes, that is right. Noticed that my previous Audi would go from .1 increments to whole numbers above 30 MPG (rare...) but it also only included a fixed set of MPG levels from which it would select the nearest one.

The Passat retains .1 increments until you hit 99 MPG and (seems) more real world.

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by samwichse

It really has too many decimal places... the only thing the tenths column is good for is tracking rate of change. The instantaneous has it right... 5mpg increment blocks.

No good, meestah. With 5 mpg increments how would I be able to spot a 2 to 3 mpg jump when someone pulls in front of me and then watch it slowly disappear as they pull away?

[Arragonis]

Then that nerd would select (or build) a display to do that...

[Fat Charlie]

I maintain that instrumentation doesn't enter nerd-dom until there are at least two displays, preferably an SG and a UG.


I generally define the cutoff as being at least a half step beyond where I am.

[user removed]

A little over 1700 miles in the first month. Instrumentation reading 55.3 mpg since day one.
Refill reading 53.6 mpg since mile 1, including 15 miles in 10 months before purchase, around the dealership lot.

1.7 mpg optimistic, not bad.

I ordered new tires, tubes and rim strips for my $10 1978 Schwinn Varisty, maybe I can get back on a bike for short distances.

Other than that my transportation needs are filled by the Mirage, time to do some more on the trike.

regards
mech

[Ptero]

mech, I bought the second Smart Car into California in 2008. I immediately put a receiver from Red Trailer on it and hauled 1/2-ton loads from Chicago and Houston, no problem. I didn't care about the warranty because I am a mechanic. Never had any problems, tho. I looked at the Mirage as my next replacement. Too many doors. Otherwise ok. I calculated my mileage costs for the Smart vs. my Dodge truck and the Smart car was free after the fifth year. Small Featherlite trailers are a match made in heaven for these little cars. The little cars don't care about trailers as long as you don't use a lot of throttle. The auto trannys just think you're driving uphill. No reliability issues whatsoever at 60k. No clutch issues. This is the manual/auto tranny everyone *****es about. I love it.
Smart Car with Trailer: CA to IL - CleanMPG Forums

[Hockeynut]

Congratulations on the new ride Old Mechanic.It has been a 12 1/2 months since I purchased my Mirage and still love it.The mileage when I first bought the car was around 50 mpg and that was somewhat flat driving thru the country and a short trek on the interstate to work.This was for a few months and then I had a job change and it is in a different direction with all interstate and the driving is not as slow as the old trip.These days if I do not drive 75mph or faster I will get run over,so the mileage has dropped with the increasing rpm`s to 43-45mpg.

This is the site I joined when I first bought my new Mirage and created a thread about it a yr ago......I need to stay in touch more as it appears these little cars are gaining interest so I can learn more tricks for better mileage from you guys.

There was a post in this thread somewhere about the cabin noise..I must say after owning 3 Geo Metro`s this car is much tighter and quieter than any of those mentioned Geo`s.Just turned 20k miles on her a couple days ago and still tight and quiet.

I went with the ES model just because I wanted cruise control and just happens with that package comes the Aluminum alloy wheels and blue tooth.The connection for my Ipod is pretty neat also.Options that come with these cars is a pretty good bang for the buck imo.

Congrats again Old Mechanic.

EDIT:....This thread has pumped me up to give lil blue a washing...LOL..

[Joggernot]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

I ordered new tires, tubes and rim strips for my $10 1978 Schwinn Varisty, maybe I can get back on a bike for short distances.

regards
mech

In New Mexico and Texas we have stickers. I got tired of fixing tubes on the wife's bike, so I went down and bought the solid tube for her tires. Haven't had to patch a tube for a year and a half. She can't tell the difference between the solid and the air tubes because she rides short distances for errands only. Well worth it in the end.

[user removed]

3000 miles on the Mirage. 0 oil consumption, in fact it looks like it just came out of the can.
Just under 54 mpg average since built. It had 15 miles on the odometer when I drove it off the dealers lot.

Drives great after an alignment, before it was a little squirrely until I had the alignment checked and he adjusted the LF toe from -0.25 to -0.05.
Right rear camber and toe are off a little but there will be fixes soon, if not I have a design for a "tweaker".

No other issues whatsoever.

I would happily buy another new one, but the wife won't let me haha.

regards
mech

[ME_Andy]

Originally Posted by Joggernot

In New Mexico and Texas we have stickers. I got tired of fixing tubes on the wife's bike, so I went down and bought the solid tube for her tires. Haven't had to patch a tube for a year and a half.

Off topic, but I do a lot of mountain biking. Since switching from 26" to 29" tires, I haven't gotten a single flat.

I'm glad you're liking the Mirage, Mech. That's impressive economy considering the engine's not broken in yet.