Mitsubishi Mirage - a redeeming feature?

"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
06/16/2015 at 20:33 • Filed to: None

It seems like everyone in the media likes to hate on the Mitsubishi Mirage. It’s a cheap car. It’s designed cheap, and built cheap, and compared to a used vehicle of the same price, isn’t perhaps the best deal. So, what’s good about it? I’m thinking this...

The Mirage has a small engine - a 3 cylinder - either 1.0L (or 1.2L in certain countries). That’s a pretty small engine, good for roughly 80 hp. So what vehicle would still be fun with 80 hp? How about something like this:

Given how cheap the Mirage is, and how small the engine is, I think it’d work great in something like a Locost (Lotus Super 7 replica). Heck, if the whole car only costs $10k (or less), how much would it cost for just the engine?

Really, it does seem like a jalop vehicle - it’s built to do one thing well (transport people on the cheap). Hopefully they sell well, so there will be a good surplus of parts/engines available from the scrap yards in a few years.

DISCUSSION (25)

RallyWrench > BaconSandwich is tasty.
06/16/2015 at 20:40

I’ll bet it’s perfectly fun to hoon around in. The fun part about small slow cars is that you can pretty much go everywhere flat out and corner on the door handles without breaking the speed limit.

mazda616 > BaconSandwich is tasty.
06/16/2015 at 20:41

I have no issue with the Mirage. It's honest. I like that. People hate on it for reasons that it doesn't deserve. You can't have crazy refinement and luxury in an econobox for that price point.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > BaconSandwich is tasty.
06/16/2015 at 20:44

or you could take the 1.6l that some one pull out of their Miata when they decided to toss in a V8. Ir an ond NA 13b.

Rainbow > BaconSandwich is tasty.
06/16/2015 at 20:45

It’s freakin’ purple. I’ve wanted one since the moment I saw that color.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > mazda616
06/16/2015 at 20:46

I learned to drive on a 1990 Ford Festiva. I’m all about the econobox.

not for canada - australian in disguise > BaconSandwich is tasty.
06/16/2015 at 20:46

Kinja'd!!!

BaconSandwich is tasty. > not for canada - australian in disguise
06/16/2015 at 20:53

YES!

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Rainbow
06/16/2015 at 20:53

I’ll give them credit for at least having some interesting color choices. Something other than grey/silver/white/beige/black.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/16/2015 at 20:54

Certainly options. For some reason I like the idea of a teeny tiny block, though.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > RallyWrench
06/16/2015 at 20:54

Exactly! It’s more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow!

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > BaconSandwich is tasty.
06/16/2015 at 20:58

It’s a base model economy car and it does well for what it is. It’s honest and kinda adorable and I love it for that. My only complaint is that they call one color for it “Thunder Grey” but that’s so minor I’ll let that go.

carcrasher88 > mazda616
06/16/2015 at 21:03

Plus, it’s a cheap econobox with one of the best warranties in the industry. Can’t complain about that.

Under_Score > BaconSandwich is tasty.
06/16/2015 at 21:03

It’s because it’s new. They actually aren’t that bad.

If you buy any used car, you have no clue what the previous owner did to it. 2,000 miles? It could’ve already been on a trip, had soda spilled everywhere, hit a pothole, got rear ended, etc. There are so many things you don’t know when buying a used car. Buying new, unless it’s a dealer transfer, you know that the only drivers have been people test driving (hopefully!) That could be why the Mirage is a win over a nicer used car.

Coty > BaconSandwich is tasty.
06/16/2015 at 21:06

Just get a 1.0L EcoBoost.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Coty
06/16/2015 at 21:34

I would, but they seem quite rare. As far as I know, they aren’t offered as a crate engine.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > BaconSandwich is tasty.
06/16/2015 at 21:38

The only car sold in America that weighs less than 2000 lbs.

M54B30 > BaconSandwich is tasty.
06/16/2015 at 21:43

The 10/100k warranty is legit though.

Imagine having a warranty eight years after you paid the car off?

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
06/17/2015 at 01:00

*ahem* Smart Fortwo?

pip bip - choose Corrour > BaconSandwich is tasty.
06/17/2015 at 05:59

redeeming feature? it’s cheap!

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Svart Smart, traded in his Smart
06/17/2015 at 07:13

I said car, not “shopping cart with engine.” I actually thought that the Smart was a little over 2000 lbs, but I guess that the new one is still just under that. Still, you get two or three times the functionality in the Mirage.

Coty > BaconSandwich is tasty.
06/17/2015 at 08:06

I don’t think they are at the moment. We have a Focus here setup like that, still haven’t gotten to drive it.

punkgoose17 > M54B30
06/17/2015 at 09:25

I keep thinking I couldn’t own a car for 10 years and not be bored with it, but I’ve had my current car for 6 years; so I am wrong, I’d be happy to keep my car 4 more years.

M54B30 > punkgoose17
06/17/2015 at 11:59

Same here. I seem to fall out of love with my cars between months 18-24, then i like them again. I’ve had my 530i for nearly 6 years now and my urge toto replace it is waning by the day.

Manic Otti > RallyWrench
06/17/2015 at 15:58

It’s still pretty slow. It really needs 100 hp.

Conan > BaconSandwich is tasty.
06/25/2015 at 23:55

My girlfriend’s Mom got one after her child support finally went. Cheap and manual. She loves it.