Spent over $930 on my '14 Mirage, worthy investment

Your car looks great. Most Mirages I've seen look very good. I guess a lot of other brands will look good also, the question is how much are they paying annually to keep those cars running?

I'm curious about the muffler. Did they replace the entire SS exhaust from the converter back or just the muffler? I plan, If I can, when my exhaust gives out, to buy a muffler, to TIG in the new muffler and keep as much of the SS system as I can. I'm too old to be replacing mild steel exhaust pipes every 18-24 months.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wallythacker

Your car looks great. Most Mirages I've seen look very good. I guess a lot of other brands will look good also, the question is how much are they paying annually to keep those cars running?

I'm curious about the muffler. Did they replace the entire SS exhaust from the converter back or just the muffler? I plan, If I can, when my exhaust gives out, to buy a muffler, to TIG in the new muffler and keep as much of the SS system as I can. I'm too old to be replacing mild steel exhaust pipes every 18-24 months.

---

That was my one knock about my 1990 Ford Festiva. It was on its 9th muffler when I sold it. The factory muffler was replaced by a lifetime warranty Midas muffler, and Midas was on their 7th free one when I sold the car. Life span was approximately 1.5 years for a muffler.

They held moisture. I watched the water pour out of a few as they replaced them. The engine didn't throw enough heat to evaporate the water, especially if you did mostly short trips.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wallythacker

Your car looks great. Most Mirages I've seen look very good. I guess a lot of other brands will look good also, the question is how much are they paying annually to keep those cars running?

I'm curious about the muffler. Did they replace the entire SS exhaust from the converter back or just the muffler? I plan, If I can, when my exhaust gives out, to buy a muffler, to TIG in the new muffler and keep as much of the SS system as I can. I'm too old to be replacing mild steel exhaust pipes every 18-24 months.

---

I just had the muffler replaced. I forgot to mention I hit some ice, or more specifically, ice that I thought was a blob of snow on the road. Well I damaged my front grille, but I narrowly missed the radiator, instead hitting that part on the left that's different with non-AC Mirages?

Anyway two people have said I hit it good, cause it could have been a lot more damage.

I picked up my Mirage today and I think the auto body did a great job; and they saved the grille, without me buying another(quote was $200 for that part)

I'm happy. Good deal, no taxes :) doesn't happen every day.

Here is a before an after:
Attachment 24618
Attachment 24619

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dspace9

I just had the muffler replaced. I forgot to mention I hit some ice, or more specifically, ice that I thought was a blob of snow on the road. Well I damaged my front grille, but I narrowly missed the radiator, instead hitting that part on the left that's different with non-AC Mirages?

Anyway two people have said I hit it good, cause it could have been a lot more damage.

I picked up my Mirage today and I think the auto body did a great job; and they saved the grille, without me buying another(quote was $200 for that part)

I'm happy. Good deal, no taxes :) doesn't happen every day.

---

I have a bit of road rash on the bottom of my front bumper. I hit a tire gator driving across Indiana last year. I was in heavy traffic & had no where to swerve. I took it head on. It sounded horrible, but thankfully it didn't disable the car.

Your repair looks good!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mark

It was on its 9th muffler when I sold it.

The engine didn't throw enough heat to evaporate the water, especially if you did mostly short trips.

---

I don't get the Midas deal. In your case, unless the mufflers were $5 wholesale I'm certain Midas lost money on you. I know they lost it on me as both our Tempos tossed a muffler a year and Midas was on the hook for them. So 2 mufflers a year for 6-7 years.

Once I learned that the exhaust shops cut out the stainless part from the converter to the muffler I stopped using them. Funny how my only muffler in my 2000 Caravan never gave out. If it had I would have found a stainless replacement and tigged it in myself.

I hope the oil pan heater I will install gets the engine to temp faster, and the exhaust hot quicker it doesn't retain water. Hm, it's almost worth driling a 1/8" hole in the bottom of the muffler to let it drain freely. I'm going to crawl under and look, once the snow melts.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dspace9

I just had the muffler replaced. I forgot to mention I hit some ice, or more specifically, ice that I thought was a blob of snow on the road. Well I damaged my front grille, but I narrowly missed the radiator, instead hitting that part on the left that's different with non-AC Mirages?

Anyway two people have said I hit it good, cause it could have been a lot more damage.

I picked up my Mirage today and I think the auto body did a great job; and they saved the grille, without me buying another(quote was $200 for that part)

I'm happy. Good deal, no taxes :) doesn't happen every day.

Here is a before an after:
Attachment 24618
Attachment 24619

---

Really nice repair. I'd stick with that shop if I were you.

Repair was done at a family owned local business. Honestly I am impressed with their repair. With what they were working with, they really got the grille in there nice. It's all flush and fitted. Looks almost as good as new.

And when you look under the hood, the bent metal is straight again. You wouldn't know I had the minor accident.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dspace9

I loved how clean it looks yesterday, that I even took a picture. Then I go drive on gravel roads and today looks the opposite.

Attachment 24609

---

That 2014 looks great from here. Hats off to your preservation efforts. Here's to many many more kilometers. :)