Oops, I did it again! Bought another cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage. Mods in progress...

[MetroMPG]

I just bought another cheap "AS-IS SPECIAL" Mirage. Like my previous one, this was traded in at a new car dealership that wanted nothing to do with it:



Also like the last one, it's a 2014 top trim 5-speed. But even fancier! Factory body kit! Rain deflectors! All the chromed plastic bling you can stick on it! Talk about gilding the lily.

147,000 km = 91k miles - a bit high for the year.

It looks like it may not need any repairs to pass inspection (mandatory in Ontario). OK, the summer tires are shot, but it came with a set of winter tires on wheels with plenty of meat on them which will pass muster. Considering this will be my next winter beater, that's fine with me.


And it came slightly pre-ecomodded:



1) Factory block heater

It's one of the cartridge style ones that slips into an existing hole in the engine block. 450 watts, I believe.






2) Aftermarket Boat Tail Attachment Point!

I probably won't keep this car past next spring, so a tail may not appear on this exact one.

But I will be keeping the hitch and the block heater for when I eventually get my "forever Mirage".


Non-ecomods:

A) I already removed the rain deflectors.

B) Unfortunately, the previous owner replaced the factory 165 width LRR Dunlop Enasaves with non-LRR 175's. The car doesn't roll as well as my first one.


In stock ecomods awaiting installation

Of course I saved all the coroplast bits & bobs from Mirage #1...




Just a matter of installation.


From Thread: I just bought Canada's cheapest 3-cylinder Mitsubishi Mirage. EcoMods now in progress...

[Ecky]

Nice find! What're you looking for in the Forever Mirage?

[MetroMPG]

Honestly, I'd prefer the base model car. Just say no to Cadillac Mirages! The base model is lighter, has fewer gadgets, wind-up front windows, no AC (in Canada).

I think the only thing I'd really miss on the upper trim is cruise control, but it's not super hard to install switches and enable the feature in the car's computer.

[MetroMPG]

Well, I've gone over the car, and I don't think it needs ANY repairs to pass inspection. That's exceedingly rare for the kinds of cars I tend to buy!

I was honestly expecting the front brakes to be trashed (rusted) after sitting for almost a year outside, un-used, at the car dealership. The outer rim of the rotor was definitely crusty, but I went at them with a file & wire wheel and they cleaned up reasonably well. Lots of meat left on the pads, and the calipers & slidey pins are all good too.

This is the worst thing wrong with the car:




Driver's side floor mat is trashed! Left heel hole? I've never seen that before. (Neither has Mitsubishi, or they would have made the heavy-duty portion a bit wider!)



The cheap, thin, mouse fur carpeting is worn off the dead pedal area too.

[samwichse]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Well, I've gone over the car, and I don't think it needs ANY repairs to pass inspection. That's exceedingly rare for the kinds of cars I tend to buy!

I was honestly expecting the front brakes to be trashed (rusted) after sitting for almost a year outside, un-used, at the car dealership. The outer rim of the rotor was definitely crusty, but I went at them with a file & wire wheel and they cleaned up reasonably well. Lots of meat left on the pads, and the calipers & slidey pins are all good too.

This is the worst thing wrong with the car:




Driver's side floor mat is trashed! Left heel hole? I've never seen that before. (Neither has Mitsubishi, or they would have made the heavy-duty portion a bit wider!)



The cheap, thin, mouse fur carpeting is worn off the dead pedal area too.

Ewwww someone was riding the clutch on that car.

[MetroMPG]

You would think so!

But the clutch is actually in great shape - it's better than Mirage #1's.

And the clutch pedal pad isn't worn. But there IS corresponding heavy wear on the dead pedal, so I think it's just a weird way they rested their left foot.


Oh.... another thought: high heels??

[Fat Charlie]

I've only seen one floormat ground through. The customer denied ever wearing high heels. My boss suspected horseshoes.

[Gasoline Fumes]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Oh.... another thought: high heels??

[jakobnev]

so I think it's just a weird way they rested their left foot.

Big feet, small car: the previous owner was either a clown or a porn star.

[MetroMPG]

I like Fumes' conclusion: I'm going with cowboy!