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

[roosterk0031]

$3500 rebate an all models thru the end of the March. Some are being advertised on cars.com for under $8,000, should be out the door under $10,000.

[user removed]

27 days, 1195 miles, 21.311 gallons @ $1.449 per gal. Tanker was there so I'm betting it's summer blend.

56.07mpg

$30.82

Got 58 mpg going home, better than average. Lunch trip was 2 hours later, with the block heater plugged in to a warm engine, I reset the mpg gauge at the top of my drive way. About a 10-12 mile round trip and everything went my way. Cold indicator light never came on, top hose warm to the touch.

66.7MPG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is low average speed high percentage P& eoc G, about as good as it will get for my scenario.

regards
mech

[Daox]

Very impressive!

[user removed]

22 miles today, significantly higher average speed.

63.2 mpg

regards
mech

[user removed]

Today's addition, ultra gauge. I was laughing today because I had never tried a CD in the car until it had 13k miles on the odometer.

I used the plug from the push to start button option my car does not have, screwed the mount to the face of the plug with a spacer, so I can set all the buttons without removal.


regards
mech

[niky]

Nice, clean install!

[user removed]

Lunch run today, 69.2 indicated by the factory instrumentation. Without 2 "interruptions" it would have passed 70.

regards
mech

[user removed]

Tonight we drove to Hampton (yuck) and to top it off we leave just before 5PM (3x yuck, rush hour).

Ambient temp close to 80 degrees. On the Interstate, I noticed the coolant temp climbing to 221 degrees then dropping when the fan came on once every couple of miles.

I pulled the upper of my 3 pipe foam grille blocks and put it beside the spare tire. On the return trip the temps never exceeded 195 degrees.

Got home indicating 62.4 mpg. Average speed was close to 55 on the Interstate, dropping after I got off the freeway. About a 50 mile round trip. Traffic very heavy going in at 5, much less coming home at 7:30 PM. after sunset.

regards
mech

[user removed]

I'm still fiddling with the ultragauge, but also surprised that I left that much on the table mileage wise. All pulsing is now done in 5th at 80% load unless speed is below 30 mph.

Today I did one of my favorite loops and got home indicating 73.5mpg for over 15 miles.
I cheated a little starting with a warm engine and keeping my average speed below 40 mph.

I was P&Ging my arse off, so much that intake temperatures were only 15-20 degrees above ambient, even with the WAI, the exhaust manifold was not getting that hot!!!

I left the block heater on for over 3 hours today, with the garage already at 60 degrees.
Temp was reading 115 degrees F when I pulled out to go to lunch. 3 stops in a total of 6 miles round trip and I was reading 62.5 mpg.

I might just creep into the top ten this summer. Almost 6k miles on the last oil change and the level is exactly where it was when I last filled it.

If I kept my average speed low enough, I could probably break 100 mpg on some stretches of road, traffic permitting.

Now when I see a traffic CLOT approaching from the rear, I pulse just as they overtake me then coast in neutral and let them all pass. I still worry when I see a dumas closing on me at 75 in a 55 zone when defensive driving demands I minimize that velocity difference to stay alive, (on a 4 lane highway no less).

Surfing the CLOTS turbulent wake.

regards
mech

[Hockeynut]

I have not been around to post as been pretty busy and now I see Ol Mechanic is no longer here.Never been a big poster but Ol Mechanic seemed like he would always be here.Take things for granted at times.I see this thread has fizzled since he has left.Anyway I hope he is doing well.

Well my lil Mits has close to 49,000 miles on it and still tight and quiet.There was a post somewhere in here where a question was asked about mileage at 70mph..At 70 the 3cyl is turning close to 4k rpm`s and mileage drops drastically to around 40 mpg.

I try to stay around 55-58 mph to keep it above 50mpg but sometimes not possible without getting run over.

As far as reliability this car has never given me any trouble at all until recently.The air conditioner quit blowing cold air last week and when I turn it on there is a slight noise that sounds as though a bearing has gone bad from the compressor itself.I scheduled an appt next week and while on the phone with the service dept I asked the fella have you seen this problem before.He replies we sell alot of these cars and have only seen this problem a few times.

I like the car alot but after hearing his comment I can say there is not alot of these cars on the road as one can see with my mileage in a somewhat short time on the road I have not seen alot of these cars on the road.I do not like the odds and my concern at this point is this going to be a problem every 50k miles?

That being said the warranty is good for 100k and I am not convinced this problem will go away after the ac is fixed!.So I started looking for a new vehicle and from what I have seen there is nothing naturally aspirated on the market that will beat this car.Did however see some pretty good mileage specs on the Honda Civic turbo 6spd.

Found the price of the Civic turbo to be reasonable and as I was looking through this thread for the first time in over a yr I see another member Baltothewolf in post #144 mention this vehicle so was wondering if you had bought one Baltothewolf? Or anyone else for that matter.Looks like a very quick econmical car to drive.

Hate to get rid of lil blue but I hope this ac issue is a fluke but not so sure after the fella at the service departments answer.It gets pretty hot here for a good percentage of the year and I do not want to budget an ac fix in the annual expense account.

Any input from other mirage owners about this prob is greatly appreciated and also from anyone recommending a new economical naturally aspirated vehicle.

Thanks for the site and again hope all is well with Ol Mechanic.

HN