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View my fuel log 2017 Mirage SE 1.2 manual: 45.4 mpg (US) ... 19.3 km/L ... 5.2 L/100 km ... 54.5 mpg (Imp)
The breaks don't have much bite but I honestly think that's by design. It's a really light car, if the breaks had a lot more bite I could see the car lifting and/or sliding on a hard brake.
The 5spd is way better to drive than the cvt, imo. I drove 2 during test drives locally to see if I liked the car before working a deal on the 5spds 300mi away.
I turned the auto a.c. off right away.
I usually shift about 2,700rpm or so and it's fine for driving around with normal traffic. Sure, there's always a few dumb ppl who feel the need to race past but that's not the norm in my experience.
A lot depends on what you are coming from. I have not even noticed anything unusual about my brakes and maybe that's because I drove cars with comparable brakes. If you come from a car with brakes that really grab or super power brakes then maybe you would notice a difference.
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View my fuel log 2017 Mirage SE 1.2 manual: 45.4 mpg (US) ... 19.3 km/L ... 5.2 L/100 km ... 54.5 mpg (Imp)
With how much the car in question has sat in humid Florida weather, I'd suspect the brake rotors probably had some surface corrosion on them which would affect braking feel / performance *(until that corrosion is scrubbed off by a few longer, hard stops).
As for the AC issue affecting acceleration, I'm surprised Mitsu didn't program the car to disengage the compressor clutch when the computer detects engine load greater than X%. I've read about other cars that do this.
I do remember my parents had an old (80's) Accord where we would turn off the AC button to get "extra" power when passing or accelerating.
I've only had working AC in 2 of my own cars, and I never really used it. In fact, I just pulled the entire AC system out of my crappy old Miata to reduce weight.
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View my fuel log 2014 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 62.4 mpg (US) ... 26.5 km/L ... 3.8 L/100 km ... 74.9 mpg (Imp)
Eggman, the Fiat 500 weighs about 400 pounds more then the Mirage. I used to own a non turbo Fiat and recently had one as a loaner. The 500 definitely had more spunk BUT I think a big portion of that feel comes from the Sport button which quickens throttle response. The difference is very noticeable with it on, so much so that I refuse to drive the car with it off. With it off, I'd say they feel pretty similar.
I must say that the cvt in the 2017 model has no problem getting up to speed. With the sport mode in the transmission the car can merge with no problem with the ac on. The 2017 model has a D & Ds section on the shifter. When I need to merge all I need to do is flick the shifter into Ds & go. There is no sport button to find in the car it`s all built into the shifter. The brakes are really good imo & I should know because I traded in my 2011 Challenger R/T with 4 wheel abs for my new ride. The Mirage can stop a hell of a a lot better than my Challenger.
You'll slowly adjust to the car.
Even here in Houston, with everyone redlining off the green light, shifting at 3k is adequate.
The car is light. You'll feel fast even if you're not.
My wife daily's the mirage, while I daily a Solara V6.
Having TQ+hp on the solara, it definitely shifts at 2k rpm. I'm usually on the lead when shifting at 3k on the solara, while having to shift at 4k on the mirage to lead the pack from a stoplight.
Either way, it is a joy to drive a weak car.