VOTE: Would you prefer the stock Mirage had less body roll?

[MetroMPG]

Mirage body roll: from Cars Bikes Trucks (left), Autoworld (right)

Would you prefer the Mirage had less body roll?
VOTE in the poll at the top of this page, and I'll pass the results on to Mitsubishi North America.

The car's soft handling is one of the most common complaints in media reviews. (I've read over 200 of them.) And I'll be honest: when I drove the car myself I was surprised at the copious lean. In fact, I can't think of another small car I've driven that's quite so rolly (and no, I've never driven a Citroen 2CV). I've owned & driven a lot of sub-compact economy cars.

Of course, nobody expects Mitsu's budget "global car" to be a flickable handler, despite the engineers' almost Colin Chapmanesque attention to weight savings.

And let's not forget the upside to a soft suspension is the unusually plush ride for a car this size. Reducing body roll would take away from that to some extent. And of course it would also add something to the price.

But my opinion is they they didn't get the ride/handling balance right for those of us lucky enough to drive on mostly smooth roads. So I was genuinely surprised at Mitsubishi's response when I asked why they didn't firm things up for the U.S.:

"We felt it was not needed."

With respect to Mitsubishi's friendly P.R. rep Alex Fedorak, I wonder if he had to hold his nose with one hand while tapping out the official company line with the other.


Guess which car handles better?

Heck, even my 17 year-old, ridiculously basic Geo Metro (Pontiac Firefly) came with factory front and rear stabilizer bars (the Mirage only has one on the front). Did it come with a radio? Nope! Power steering? Nope! Any safety, comfort or convenience features even remotely comparable to the Mirage's? Definitely nope! Yet I'd rather drive the Metro through an S-curve or emergency maneuver than the Mirage.

In Canada, the Mirage's biggest competitor is the new, $10k Nissan Micra. Care to guess how many stabilizer bars the Micra comes with? Care to guess how many reviewers have said they prefer the Mirage's ride/handling balance over the little Nissan's? Exactly.

I know how I'm voting!

[hank]

It would definitely be a nice addition to the next year's revision if they addressed this issue. Really poor display of balance in my opinion, it really seems like a "cut corner" rather than a "trade off" in terms of ride comfort and handling.

[ShiroMirage]

I just recently installed H&R springs on my Mirage and I LOVE how it takes corners now. I dont have any strut braces or rear stabilizer bar. Just springs. And it definitely makes a world of a difference. Easy fix for only $200. So I can't really complain.

[kissfan]

I find in my every day driving that body roll does not come into play much. However, I do feel less body roll is usually always a good thing.

[MetroMPG]

Kissfan: agreed.

When Mitsu USA says "We felt it was not needed" they're of course correct. Nobody needs less body roll. Just like nobody needs beer. (Or needs chocolate, or ...) But it's sure nice to have once in a while.

ShiroMirage: correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't one reason to go with stabilizer bars that it lets you keep a cushy spring rate? So you keep a smoother ride while also reducing roll?

[db1980]

I think you need to clarify the poll a bit, especially if you want to present it to Mitsubishi. Its like saying "Do you want more power?" almost everyone is going to answer yes. Maybe it should read "Would you prefer the Mirage with less body roll, if it meant an extra $500 added to the MSRP and slightly less ride compliance?"

[MetroMPG]

db1980 & MiMi -

Point taken.

(Though I don't think $500 is a realistic estimate of the cost of reducing body roll, when it can be done in the aftermarket for a fraction of that amount. And Mitsu can do it in volume for a fraction of that amount yet again.)

I struggled a bit with the poll wording (I revised it several times already). I like the "does it bother you" idea, but even that doesn't quite fit, because truth be told, I could live with the car the way it is too. It doesn't bother me enough to not want the car, even if there were no aftermarket solutions.

But in the bigger picture, I think it's hurting the car's public perception (and ultimately sales) because this issue consistently adds to the negativity in more than a few reviews. So it's more than just "does it bother me".

[ThreePot]

db1980 & MiMi -

Point taken.

(Though I don't think $500 is a realistic estimate of the cost of reducing body roll, when it can be done in the aftermarket for a fraction of that amount. And Mitsu can do it in volume for a fraction of that amount yet again.)

I struggled a bit with the poll wording (I revised it several times already). I like the "does it bother you" idea, but even that doesn't quite fit, because truth be told, I could live with the car the way it is too. It doesn't bother me enough to not want the car, even if there were no aftermarket solutions.

But in the bigger picture, I think it's hurting the car's public perception (and ultimately sales) because this issue consistently adds to the negativity in more than a few reviews. So it's more than just "does it bother me".

Interesting point.
I feel that technically Mitsubishi is right. But...strategically, it appears they have made a bad move.

[db1980]

db1980 & MiMi -

Point taken.

(Though I don't think $500 is a realistic estimate of the cost of reducing body roll, when it can be done in the aftermarket for a fraction of that amount. And Mitsu can do it in volume for a fraction of that amount yet again.)

I struggled a bit with the poll wording (I revised it several times already). I like the "does it bother you" idea, but even that doesn't quite fit, because truth be told, I could live with the car the way it is too. It doesn't bother me enough to not want the car, even if there were no aftermarket solutions.

But in the bigger picture, I think it's hurting the car's public perception (and ultimately sales) because this issue consistently adds to the negativity in more than a few reviews. So it's more than just "does it bother me".

Since when has a manufacturer ever charged real world prices for their options/accessories? Yeah, in reality it would probably cost them $100 to add a sway bar, but if it were on an option list, I would be really surprised if it was less than $500. I think the majority of people who buy a new car (subaru WRX types excluded) would not want to do any aftermarket modifications - be it for lack of resources\skill, lack of caring (the "its an appliance" people), or just not wanting to mess with a brand new vehicle.

I would prefer it have less body roll. The loss of a little suspension softness is a tradeoff I would take. Would I pay $500 extra for a sport handling package, installed by Mitsu, with OEM parts that is wrapped into the financing, yeah probably. I also understand the people that use this car strictly for a city car have no use for this upgrade. I however find it unnerving to take a highway ramp at normal speed, hit a bump and feel the car lose its composure. Yeah you get used to it, but I wish it was better in that aspect.

One thing to keep in mind, is that the people on this board either bought or are seriously considering the car, and the numbers are already in the "yes" camp. I wonder how many people didnt buy the car in which the handling was a serious factor in their decision.

[MetroMPG]

if it were on an option list, I would be really surprised if it was less than $500.

I think less body roll should be standard on the Mirage.

Dual stabilizer bars were standard on my ridiculously basic, zero-options Metro/Firefly. Dual bars are standard on the $9998 zero-options Canadian Nissan Micra (the only country where that's the case, and incidentally, it's outselling the Mirage more than 2 to 1).

Strategically, maybe Mitsu should have offered an optional "suspension package", and made sure it was fitted to ALL the cars they loaned out to reviewers. That way they could have (1) kept the MSRP down, (2) minimized media grumbling about body roll, (3) charged an exorbitant amount to owners wishing to upgrade. Win, win, win!