Mirage Mid Term Reports & Updates

"Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru" (matt-powershiftmedia)
09/15/2018 at 21:21 • Filed to: Mirage, Mitsubishi mirage, Regular Car Reviews

I’ve put 12,000 miles on the Mirage and I’m closing in on a year of ownership with it. Today I will go in depth about the ownership experience of the much hated Mirage.

How Has It Been?

Let me start off right away and say a few things about ownership in regards to the Mirage. First off, it’s far from a luxury car; it is absolutely the polar opposite of that to be fair. This car is not a Camry, it isn’t as refined as an Accord or anything like that. Instead the Mirage is slow and purpose built. That purpose is to eat miles like a pregnant girlfriend eats your stash of Twix bars hidden in your sock drawer.

The factory Dunlop pizza cutters are noisy, they have no given right to be this noisy given the extremely small size. Yet tire noise is certainly something you better come to grips with if you stick with the stock wheels. Finding alternative tire choices prove pointless as well based on my search history.

Now that I’ve drive some respectable miles in this car I can say it’s a pretty comfortable car. There’s very generous room for front seat occupants, far more so than a KIA Rio I once owned (it was given to me) and the interior doesn’t squeak and rattle thus far. Unfortunately rear seat occupancy space isn’t so generous thanks to the micro car size of the Mirage. Granted I did fit someone 6’4” all the way to Indianapolis once time and he didn’t die. However I’d wager he would have embraced it had it come his way.

Surprisingly cargo room is very generous if you fold the rear seats down. Lately my Mirage has been a parts hauler for a very special build from a friend and coworker of mine, and we managed to fit two 4th generation Eclipse seats with rails in the hatch. I’ve also hauled 4 17” SRT-4 wheels with tires mounted without any issues. If you have the ability to fold those backseats down the Mirage becomes a little cargo van real expediently.

As I’ve said in a few articles prior, the Mirage may be a frugal device for transporting people, but it manages to have fog lights, keyless go, Apple/Android car play, LED tail lights and other surprising amenities. Again though, this isn’t a luxury car and I’d never remotely insinuate that it is. For a lowest price in class vehicle however.. it does have a leg up.

The Good

This part is fairly easy for me to write; the car has had ZERO mechanical failures, zero close calls and has cost me absolutely nothing to operate aside from fuel and oil changes. I ran 7,500 mile oil last time around and tomorrow she gets some 15,000 mile Amsoil, that’ll bring the cost even lower.

Fuel economy has been exactly 47.3 miles per gallon since I’ve taken delivery of this vehicle. In long distance driving I’ve seen 53, that’s no lie. The overall average though is 47.3. That’s 253.69 gallons to travel 12,000 miles. For those keeping count, take into account an average fuel cost of $2.75 per gallon and we come up with a $697 fuel bill. Take that further and do some math and the Mirage has cost me 5.8 cents per mile of operation.

Really nothing else that needs to be said. This has easily been the cheapest car to operate I’ve ever seen.

The Bad

Acceleration is somewhere between pipe dreams and nonexistent when starting on steep hills. Around town it does quite well, but when starting on upgrades it struggles to motivate itself. It huffs and puffs until eventually you’ve fantasized about driving a moped for the acceleration benefits.

The tire size thing always haunts me as well.

Thankfully I can just clear my cart at Tire Rack and have a burly 195 width tire (insert sarcasm here) and find far easier tire replacements. I’ll be having these shipped mounted and balanced with Yokohama S Drive tires.

This also remedies one of my personal pet peeves of the Mirage; handling. Quick transitions and tight corners are sketchy with the soft suspension and pizza cutter tires. For a car weighing approximately 2, 100 pounds it’s mind boggling.

Additionally aftermarket support isn’t there yet. Only fly-by-night Chinabay vendors offer coilovers and I’d really like a set to tighten everything up and give a nice stance on the new shoes. Hopefully time will remedy this issue.

The Verdict

So far the Shitsubishi has been dead reliable, nearly free to operate and offers a decent driving experience. Yes it lacks power, yes it lacks razor sharp handling, and yes the stock tires are absolutely ridiculous and make noise. Redeeming all of this is the fact that the car as a whole has held up well through an Ohio winter, potholes and daily driving. The interior still looks great, the paint shines like brand new and the quality seems very on point.

These 12,000 miles have been stress free, and that’s what I ultimately need. This car allows me to pursue other dumb and irresponsible purchases, like the one I’ll be making before long, so be sure to stay tuned.

DISCUSSION (10)

DutchieDC2R > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru
09/15/2018 at 22:26

First of all, I had tears in my eyes from reading your review. Awesome write up, thank you for that.

As for the upgrade parts, this car is being sold as a Space Star in Europe (in Holland anyways) and there is one company that sells a complete suspension kit, KW. They seem to sell a Variant 1 Inox kit for this model, but its at least a 1000 Euros on all the websites I quickly looked at.

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > DutchieDC2R
09/15/2018 at 22:27

Thank you for the feedback, I certainly aim to please!

I did not think to cross reference the space star, time to go digging again!

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru
09/15/2018 at 22:41

KW does Mirage kits, as mentioned. But that’s not going to help you here. The issue is roll and flex. Needs rollbars, so you’ll need to xref it, but may not be anything out there. I think you’re local-ish to me so if you want I can take a look. There’s other tricks that won’t void the warranty.

Also, 15x7 is P225's not P195's. You really don’t want to try stretching P195's onto that. Nor do you want to try putting P225's onto a Mirage. I’d go with something in a 15x6 with P195 or 15x6.5 with P205 . (I run P225's on 15x6.5 on my baby.) I’d err toward P195's for fuel economy reasons.

Engine in the current ones is the 3A92, and frankly, there’s not a hell of a lot that can be done there. Especially if it has the Jatco CVT. I mean, I’m good, but I’m not a miracle worker!

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
09/15/2018 at 22:44

I’m thinking I’ll have to take you up on that. Tire rack is usually so conservyon fitment I didn’t even pay attention to wheel width I’ll have to put a call in. The package has mike 195/50/15s

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru
09/15/2018 at 23:04

Yeah, I’d have to look up the specs on the Dunlops to be sure. TireRack is... very bad at getting wheel and tire sizes right often . A ccording to their system? My car does not exist .

It would not surprise me at all if what you actually needed was P195/55's and their system was bullshitting again. I have to email one of their reps directly for my tire orders just to make sure they don’t fuck it up because their system is wrong. (“Yes, I know EXACTLY what I am doing. Yes, P235/40Z R18 a nd P305/35ZR18. No, THIS part number PRECISELY. ”)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru
09/15/2018 at 23:53

I’m really glad you’re enjoying this . I was pissed when you we’re catching flak for buying something you liked.

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
09/16/2018 at 08:43

Thank you I appreciate that! It’s been a great friend to me so far, and now that I commute to work (alien to me) it’s nice to have some I can count on.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru
09/17/2018 at 07:24

I know people think I am weird for liking cheap basic cars with no features, but I would be perfectly happy with a base trim Mirage with stick. Sure, keyless, etc is nice, but really...for me, as long as it has a stick and an Aux. Input on the stereo, I’m happy! Glad to hear the little thing has been holding up well for you so far! :)

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/17/2018 at 17:03

They do offer the stick in the Mirage, and I’ve heard it’s a good little stick too! I also love a car that gets back to basics. Nothing wrong with a phenomenal commuter that is economical and reliable.

dogisbadob > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru
10/07/2018 at 11:25

oooo orange

Glad to see an orange car and not boring-ass silver

They used to offer it in pink, but they pulled it after the first year or two. Not nice.

And too bad they don’t offer a sunroof on it. That’s really the only thing it’s missing.

Glad it has been reliable for you.