Mirage owners: is 74 hp (or 78) "enough" power?

[Mirage_Sydney]

Plenty of power for me. With the whole family in the car and the air conditioning running it does feel a little underpowered, but on my daily commute with the air con off and just myself in the car there is plenty of go.

I have a 5 speed manual sedan. A typical modern car or SUV with plenty of horsepower and 6 speed auto is too easy. With the Mirage I'm constantly aware of which gear I am in and shifting gears to suit the situation. It's great fun.

[nickpon]

This past Sunday, I had 3 passengers in the car for the first time. And wow, what a difference. My determination to reduce the weight of every vehicle I own has been even more justified than I had already thought. Much, much more difficult to accelerate. I've had 2 passengers once before, but one was a pretty small girl. This time, all 3 passengers were guys on my soccer team. I wonder how much worse this will make my fuel economy numbers.

As for the power, my answer a few weeks ago was "it's adequate" and I stand by that. Sure more would be nice, but I'm fine with it. I've been trying to keep it in eco mode the last month and a half or so, but am finding it more and more difficult to do so (basically impossible in first gear; really hard in second). It's been getting snowy lately, so I've had my share of fun with the handbrake (to say, I'm still having fun despite limited power).

[gone.a]

I have the 5 speed 1.2 liter engine, US gearbox. It has enough power for me, a passenger and our stuff. I have driven on some extended 20 percent grades (very steep) and had to be careful to keep the revs up but other than the most extreme hills its just fine.

Unless you live in very steep terrain this car has more then enough power. Should also note I an in S. California where people drive fast and hard.

[Canoehead]

This past Sunday, I had 3 passengers in the car for the first time. And wow, what a difference. My determination to reduce the weight of every vehicle I own has been even more justified than I had already thought. Much, much more difficult to accelerate. I've had 2 passengers once before, but one was a pretty small girl. This time, all 3 passengers were guys on my soccer team. I wonder how much worse this will make my fuel economy numbers.

As for the power, my answer a few weeks ago was "it's adequate" and I stand by that. Sure more would be nice, but I'm fine with it. I've been trying to keep it in eco mode the last month and a half or so, but am finding it more and more difficult to do so (basically impossible in first gear; really hard in second). It's been getting snowy lately, so I've had my share of fun with the handbrake (to say, I'm still having fun despite limited power).

I agree with all of this! With 4 adults it is in no hurry but gets there, and my worst mileage was with 4 adults (but also low tire pressure, and cold, and winter gas, and snow-covered roads)

[TheTransporter]

I love my 74 hp. This car is always fun to drive. You literally drive it its limit everytime you drive it.

I never know why people claim its slow... i easily drop a gear and blow passed 120 km/h merging. Gets there very quick...

But then again you actually have to DRIVE the mirage

[Cleartec]

Some people are silly ignorants. Why dont you say a fiat 500 is slow because that **** is only 69 hp same torque and weigh maybe 200 kg more than mirage. why isnt the fiat 5000 slow huhh? and what about all other small cars with the same engine and only 69 hp. I really dont get people!!!

[Cleartec]

The sandero's 0-60 mph sucks it takes 14.5 sec. the Mirage's is 11.7. So shut the hell up reporters. The worst part: Dacia sandero: 1.2 L engine, 75 hp, 4 cylinders, 107 torque at 4250 rpm.

Mirage(EU) engine: 1.2 3 cylinders, 80 hp, 106 torque at 4000 rpm. suck on that twat reporters!!!

[70USD]

I learned to drive in the '80s. In those days even big block V8 engines put out less than 200hp and 4 cylinder engines almost never made more than 100 hp without turbocharging. 74 hp is not much less than the 90 hp of my first new car, a 1986 Ford Escort, and 50% more than the '95 Geo Metro that I had for a while. I find it easy and fun to drive but I wouldn't call it fast. I just ordered H&R springs and an Ultra Racing rear anti-sway bar and front strut brace. That should make it even more fun!

[Gnarles2]

I learned to drive in the '80s. In those days even big block V8 engines put out less than 200hp and 4 cylinder engines almost never made more than 100 hp without turbocharging. 74 hp is not much less than the 90 hp of my first new car, a 1986 Ford Escort, and 50% more than the '95 Geo Metro that I had for a while. I find it easy and fun to drive but I wouldn't call it fast. I just ordered H&R springs and an Ultra Racing rear anti-sway bar and front strut brace. That should make it even more fun!

I agree. My first car was my moms 1990 Hyundai Excel with 81hp. The power of the Mirage is just fine. I just got all my suspension parts and wheels and tires this week. This weekend I will be putting everything on. For me, it is the suspension that is this cars downfall. A car can be fun to drive with a small amount of horsepower if it can at least handle well.

[Eggman]

I just got all my suspension parts and wheels and tires this week. This weekend I will be putting everything on.

What are your plans for the old wheels?