Attn cheap used car buyers: 200k+ Mirages have now been sold in the U.S.

[Daox]

There are several turbo Mirages around. But, as far as I know, nobody in the US has done it. The car has a MAF and MAP sensor in the US vs just MAP in other parts of the world. Tuning also isn't super straight forward.

[niky]

Originally Posted by ProDigit

How are progressions with Turbo mirages going?
I always liked the car, and the price; I'm a sucker for cheap!
But the performance is just too low.
When it got introduced, I wouldn't even buy it for the city!

If ever, there would be a turbo version sold, or turbo upgrade kits available, and some tuning on final gear drive (lowering highway RPM by at least 25%, to 33%), I would consider one!

With a turbo at 14PSI and 115HP, it should be able to reach a modest 110-115MPH tops, but it should cut it's 0-60 somewhat from 12.8 to about 9 seconds; and about 6 seconds if the boost is bumped to 21PSI (~140HP).

As far as Fiesta, I have the Fiesta ST, and it has torque vectoring.
On a slalom, or just anywhere, it's virtually impossible to make it spin. The Fiesta WILL drive where the hood points, regardless of how fast you're making a turn.
Even in sports mode; though it is possible to spin it around in Track mode.

Stock, the MT does 0-100 km/h in about 11.7 (claimed). I've done it in 11.8 on the 14" wheels with a mild 4k rpm launch. That equates to about 11 flat to 60 mph (96 km/h).

I don't doubt it could be faster with better tires and a willfully savage launch. (The 1.5 Yaris, for example, needs for the clutch to be sidestepped around 5k rpm).

.

If we're talking the CVT, don't bother. I doubt the clutch packs are built to withstand the torque of a turbocharged motor.

Originally Posted by Daox

There are several turbo Mirages around. But, as far as I know, nobody in the US has done it. The car has a MAF and MAP sensor in the US vs just MAP in other parts of the world. Tuning also isn't super straight forward.

Luuuucky US.

[MetroMPG]

Another year, another 20k Mirages sold in the U.S.

The first North American ones are approaching 6 years of service. I feel compelled to quote myself:

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Not a surprise #4: due to Mitsubishi's reputation (didn't you know the Mirage is the WORST car you can buy?), used Mirages are selling for peanuts.

PEANUTS, I TELL YOU! Check out this crazy bargain that just popped up in Quebec (cross-post alert). Asking $1250!

This is the cheapest used Mirage I've seen that isn't a crash write-off, and the first one that qualifies in our glorious $1500-and-under-for-at-least-35-MPG thread!



It's got 190,000 km = 118k miles on it, which is well above average. Probably a highway commuter.

It's a 2014 base model, which in Canada means no A/C (don't care!).

It's got a 5-speed manual, which is more efficient in the real world than the CVT, despite the better EPA rating for the snowmobile transmission.

95 manual transmission drivers on MirageForum are averaging 44.3 MPG (US) = 5.3 L/100 KM (vs. 42.4 for CVT drivers) over 1.7 million miles tracked.

Owner says...

Description
Très économique, bonne mécanique, roule bien, enjoliveurs neufs d'origine incl.

Meaning: "Very economical, good mechanical condition, runs well, new OEM hubcaps included."

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details...dId=1444667191

If it wasn't so far away, I'd already be on my way to see it with cash in my pocket!

The cheapest Mirages are going for around $3k CAD lately, so this one is waaaay off the bell curve. Why they're asking so little, I have no idea. Needs the money fast? Doesn't need money at all? Didn't do any research? Bought it used, rode it hard, put it away wet and just wants a few bucks to move on? Who knows!

[jcp123]

I have never seen a Mirage in prime beater car price territory. I’d have bought one rather than my Civic otherwise....

[MetroMPG]

The 5-speed Mirages are demonstrating they're pretty bulletproof, too. The highest mile one I know of has gone around 250k miles (~400k km) with no major issues. Original clutch (mostly highway, obviousy).



The CVT's haven't been lasting that long.

[niky]

What goes on the CVTs? Clutch packs? Belts? Can the tranny be opened, or is it one of those "replace the whole damn thing" deals?

[MetroMPG]

Keep in mind it's a small sample, from a forum member who maintains a fleet of ~ 30 CVT Mirages used as delivery cars...

But if memory serves, they wear out a simple thrust washer which contaminates the oil with metal particles and leads to rapid degradation. (CVT'S work via metal-on-metal friction between the pulleys and metal drive belt. so if the oil gets contaminated, things wear out fast.)

The up-side is used replacement trannys are cheap, so if you can do your own work, it's not a death sentence for an older car.

The other up-side is Mitsu's powertrain warranty in Canada/US is 160k km / 100k miles or 10 years for the original owner.

(The down-side is I bet CVT owners of out-of-warranty cars are less likely to do their own work.)

I haven't checked the Versa and Spark forums, but they use the same JATCO CVT7. With higher engine power/torque (more stress on the CVT), they may be a better indicator of long term durability.

[Xist]

Shouty hates Jatco transmissions.

Does Toyota use Jatco?

Enough said, but I will not let that stop me!

[No, they make their own. So does Honda.]

Did Honda ever fix their CVT reliability?

"The Honda models with the CVT are the most reliable among all the lineups and CVT transmission life expectancy is the longest." https://carfromjapan.com/article/car...missions-last/

What the heck is this site and what credibility do they have? All right, so modern Honda CVTs last forever?

Just down that same page: "How long do CVT[...]s last if you take good care of them? At least more than five years!"

Five?!

Supposedly Shouty said Honda CVTs are the most reliable. That page linked this video where he says he has seen dozens of Nissan CVTs fail, but never seen a Toyota CVT fail: https://youtu.be/nqZseFMPooA?t=209

Here he says he has not seen Honda CVTs fail, so he assumes they are doing better: https://youtu.be/HSZ5-ifYQho?t=189

Is Shouty the ultimate authority? Why--why would you even ask that? He just seems to give out his opinion more than anyone else. I cannot find data, just his opinion.

Can you slap people who say "CVT transmission?" Two immediate problems, 1, that is aggravated assault, and 2, since I never talk to people in real life, how do I slap people through the Internet?

Is there an app for that?

Is that the next million-dollar idea? The celebrity slap simulator? How do I make this happen?

What about people who complain that they cannot feel CVTs shift?

You cannot feel an electric car's engine fire. Put those people on my Want to Slap list.

They supposedly fixed this by making the CVTs act like they are shifting?

Add those engineers to my Want to Slap list. How dare they give customers what they want?!

I like the idea of CVTs being the most efficient, but I do not see myself buying one in the foreseeable future.

[jcp123]

I’m a bit out of date here, but when I briefly worked as a service writer, the Nissan Jatco CVT’s frankly sucked for reliability. Maybe something lower-powered fares better? The problems were usually on V6 cars, Muranos, Altimas, etc.

No idea what Toyota uses, but no problems so far in my Pa’s CVT Corolla.

[Xist]

Toyota and Honda each make their own. It sounds like Nissan's Jatco makes CVTs for everyone but Mazda.

Who can tell me about Mazda and CVTs?