11-14-2019, 08:04 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
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I just bought Canada's cheapest 3-cylinder Mitsubishi Mirage. EcoMods now in progress...
It was inevitable, right?!
But I'm honestly surprised how quickly some of the rough-around-the-edges, high-km/miles Mirages have dropped into beater price territory.
The brand is somewhat tarnished. And the reviews from the mainstream outlets certainly didn't help. (Thread: The Mitsubishi Mirage is the WORST CAR you can buy! ) But the fact is these are tough, efficient, reliable little cars (with the manual transmission).
This one has 145k kms = 90k miles on it - high for the year. And it's really dirty inside. And there's a wee whoopsie-daisy on the left front corner, plus miscellaneous scuffs here & there. The coup-de-grace: "lot-poison" manual transmission.
So the Toyota dealer that got this one on trade (for a RAV4 hybrid) threw up their hands and said, "let's get rid of this turd ASAP!"
I got it for $2400 plus tax. Plus bus fare to Toronto. (More typical pricing for decent ones of this year with normal mileage is around 4-5k.)
It's a 1-owner with a clean Carproof, and I got a printout of the service history from a Mitsubishi dealer (showing that it wasn't completely neglected). Mechanically, the only thing it needs is brake pads.
And it's loaded with all the grown-up car goodies like air and cruise and remote and power accessories, and everything works. Including the alternator!!
It's SO MUCH FREAKIN NICER TO DRIVE than the Metro or Miata. It's going to spoil me. (You know you're used to inhabiting the bottom of the automotive food chain when getting a loaded Mirage makes you feel like you've finally arrived!  )
It showed ~60 MPG driving ~30 km from the dealer to my friends' place where I'm staying in the city, 75/25 highway/city. Uncalibrated though.
Ecomods to come!
====
UPDATE, June 2020 - I've sold this Mirage and have already acquired Mirage #2: Oops, I did it again! (Bought another cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage)
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The Following 14 Users Say Thank You to MetroMPG For This Useful Post:
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cr45 (11-16-2019), Daox (11-14-2019), Fat Charlie (11-15-2019), Fit_is_slo (01-12-2020), fusion210 (11-14-2019), Gasoline Fumes (11-14-2019), me and my metro (11-15-2019), mpg_numbers_guy (11-15-2019), RedDevil (12-04-2019), roosterk0031 (11-14-2019), Shawn D. (11-20-2019), UFO (11-15-2019), Varn (11-19-2019), Xist (11-21-2019) |
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11-14-2019, 11:53 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
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Woohoo. I'm very glad you found yourself a Mirage. I know you'll have a fun time with it. I look forward to seeing the mods.
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11-15-2019, 10:14 AM
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#3 (permalink)
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Master procastinator
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Panelia, Finland
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Nice find 
Also, good choice to buy a 4/5 door hatchback, surprisingly handy in my experience. |
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11-15-2019, 03:42 PM
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#4 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
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The usurper has arrived!
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11-15-2019, 03:48 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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Too many cars
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: New York State
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Took the right mirror off already? I'm still driving the Insight with two outside mirrors! I'm too lazy to figure out how to fill the openings.
__________________
2000 Honda Insight
2000 Honda Insight
2000 Honda Insight
2006 Honda Insight (parts car)
1988 Honda CRXFi
1994 Geo Metro
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11-15-2019, 08:28 PM
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#6 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: VA
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Whoot whoot! Congrats on the new car! Will this be a winter beater flipper, or a keeper?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gasoline Fumes
Took the right mirror off already? I'm still driving the Insight with two outside mirrors! I'm too lazy to figure out how to fill the openings.
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I just screwed coroplast on and caulked the edges. I plan on redoing them with aluminum this summer or winter and making it look better.
__________________
2013 Toyota Prius C 2 (my car)
2015 Mazda 3 iTouring Hatchback w/ Tech Package (wife's car)
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11-16-2019, 03:15 AM
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#7 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Victoria, BC
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Nice deal.
/Jealous.
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11-16-2019, 06:12 PM
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#8 (permalink)
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EcoModding Apprentice
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: ireland
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Congratulations!
I still love driving mine even after 18 months of ownership.
Your trickiest upgrade will be getting hold of a European diff.
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11-16-2019, 10:08 PM
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#9 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
Join Date: Nov 2007
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Yup, the Euro final drive is badly needed. But I'll probably just go with larger diameter wheels/LRR tires instead (I already have some "in stock"  ).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gasoline Fumes
Took the right mirror off already? I'm still driving the Insight with two outside mirrors! I'm too lazy to figure out how to fill the openings.
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Good eye! I didn't even bother filling the opening for the drive back from Toronto, but I will eventually. Tim designed a 3D-printable mirror blank. But I have to put it back on for my safety inspection this week anyway.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy
Will this be a winter beater flipper, or a keeper?
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It could go either way. I'm sure I could make ~$1k on it once it's tidied up, which is mighty tempting. But not before next fall.
Plus, I actually would prefer a base model. Less crap to go wrong down the road, and it's lighter! So I'll continue to keep me eyes open. There have been a couple of reasonably good deals on base models around here in the last 6 months or so. In another 6-12 months, there'll be even more. |
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11-17-2019, 06:00 PM
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#10 (permalink)
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It's all about Diesel
Join Date: Oct 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG
I actually would prefer a base model. Less crap to go wrong down the road, and it's lighter!
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That makes sense, even though I wouldn't really hold my breath for one to become available so soon at a comparably good price. You know, sometimes a stripper version might be even more prone to abuse and maintenance neglect, which on the long way would become too expensive to keep roadworthy 
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