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

[MobilOne]

Congrats on the new Mirage, Mech!
May you have many, many high mileage, no trouble miles in it.

And, most important, Happy Birthday to your dad!!!

[MobilOne]

Interestingly, I just checked the Mirage prices in the Gainesville, Ga area, and they are all over $14k or $15k. If I shop, I can find a new Corolla (in Buford) for close to those prices (15 to 16K). But all the Toyo's are automatics.

[pgfpro]

Cool deal on the new car!!!

Now you can concentrate on the project. I was in the same boat and decided to buy a new car, our Scion Tc. Wanted something that I didn't have to worry about for the next 10 years other then brakes and tires.

Happy B-Day to Pops

[Chrysler kid]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I'm not a fan of the styling either. Looks dated. I'll overlook it because at least they put some effort into factory aero: cd 0.28 is way better than average for this body style.



That's relative. 35% more power than a last gen. Metro, and barely weighs 100 lbs more. I appreciate the lengths Mitsu's engineers went to design efficiency into the whole package.

I just wish they'd made it steer and handle better out of the box. That would have avoided a lot of criticism the car has had from the typical auto reviewers, and it wouldn't have hurt MPG.

If it came in a 3 door version I would understand the car a little better. It would be an eco car to get good gas mileage. Making it a 5 door is kind of like saying well its kind of an eco car but it's also kind of a sedan, neither of which I feel it excels at. Really just don't understand the need for cargo room and 2 extra doors, are they making them for vacuum salesmen or just as cheap cars. And it seems they are just making them as cheap cars

[bentring]

Congrats on the purchase.

Originally Posted by Chrysler kid

If it came in a 3 door version I would understand the car a little better. It would be an eco car to get good gas mileage. Making it a 5 door is kind of like saying well its kind of an eco car but it's also kind of a sedan, neither of which I feel it excels at. Really just don't understand the need for cargo room and 2 extra doors, are they making them for vacuum salesmen or just as cheap cars. And it seems they are just making them as cheap cars

I think it's possible you just aren't the target consumer for this car...

[pete c]

Originally Posted by Chrysler kid

If it came in a 3 door version I would understand the car a little better. It would be an eco car to get good gas mileage. Making it a 5 door is kind of like saying well its kind of an eco car but it's also kind of a sedan, neither of which I feel it excels at. Really just don't understand the need for cargo room and 2 extra doors, are they making them for vacuum salesmen or just as cheap cars. And it seems they are just making them as cheap cars

What ^^^^ said.

If price is a major concern, offer it in a 2 door. I would guess that build cost could be dropped a few hundred dollars doing so. It may come down to the fact that the cost of designing 2 different cars offsets the cost difference.

[ME_Andy]

I expect the 2016 Cruze will dethrone the Mirage as the ICE mileage champ. Maybe there are some other contenders, as well. Personally I'd rather spend $4k more to get a larger, quieter, nicer car that's equally efficient.

[user removed]

Rode up there today with two bank checks totalling $12.8k. The sales manager made me an offer I could not refuse.

We had agreed on $12,871 out the door including $600 in dmv fees and $810 transportation as well as their transaction fee of almost $500.

That was for a 2014 model.

"$94 more and we will sell you a 2015 that we have here on our lot today.

I said "absolutely" it will be worth a grand more if I sell it used.

I had to take a leak,in the bathroom I had a panic attack, got back to the sales manager and told him "do me one favor, tell me it isn't black", it's a dark gray metallic, one of my favorite colors.

$12,967 otd with $1900 in added fees above the window sticker of $12,995, not including the freight charge of $810. Total window sticker $13,805 plus another $1100 in dmv and dealer fees, so about $2k off list, even though the rebate was $1250, versus $2000 for a 2014.

The whole transaction was finished in 25 minutes, exponentially faster than any other dealer purchase I or my wife have made in our lives.

The dealership is Shirlie Stark in Fredericksburg Va. I met Shirlie's daughter Pattie who runs the store. In the total time I was there I think they delivered 5 newly sold cars. The longest delay was getting it washed, vacuumed and putting on the plates.

regards
mech

[user removed]

The Sentra would whoop the Mirages butt.

The display on the Mirage was showing 53-54 mpg for about 100 miles. Initial speed 55 mph,then alternating between 55-60 with no forced stops and numerous downhills where coasting was beneficial. Later some 65-70 on the Interstate made no real difference even though the engine was at 3500 at 70, probably some atkinsion programming on the intake cam. Sentra would have been 37-39.

5th gear 3k rpm at 60 1000 per 20 mph (VX is 1k per 30mph). Peak torque (74) at 4k, HP (74) at 6,500 redline.

It took a few miles to get the hang of it, don't need to launch at 3k when 2k will work fine. Tires were at 30psi after this fill, now at 48, sidewall 44.
Long stroke, big

I don't read many car rags anymore. The Mirage represents a transitional vehicle for me, more appliance where before it was that I truly loved cars.
I still love this car. Short term cash reserve still healthy.

Is the upholstery cheap. It's brand new and it ain't creaking or rattling, works for me and easy cleanup. If it was as nice as a Mercedes Benz, Benz would be out of business.

Does it handle good. LMAO ask Nicky, he's in charge of the Joey Chitwood maneuvers . It handles fine and I'm not doing anything to mess up the warranty, maybe the trailer hitch hehe.

Thanks to 3dplane for the first had reports and the fantastic fuel economy. With all the modern enhancements, but retaining a cable operated clutch (no hydraulics) but ps, pb, p-windows, locks, climate control ac, cd, p-mirrors and all the rest of the long list, for what I paid for it, I think I did great. Oh did I say I love the car.

regards
mech

[user removed]

Originally Posted by pgfpro

Cool deal on the new car!!!

Now you can concentrate on the project. I was in the same boat and decided to buy a new car, our Scion Tc. Wanted something that I didn't have to worry about for the next 10 years other then brakes and tires.

Happy B-Day to Pops

The project is moving along, I'm mentally plowing through some issues. In one case I need a rear tire (passenger car) for the harley wheel (17X5) but it can't be more than 28 inches OD. If they don't start making one, I have a disc wheel that is the same tire size as the fronts but it will drop the ride height.

I told POP the problem with the car is it needs the damn drive, 5 years on the patent. 12 and a few months left.

regards
mech