Every Mirage Owner Has Their Price

[roscoe1972]

My Mirage is my second vehicle, next to an SUV family hauler. I don't really need it, but I do use it often to save on gas (about 10k miles per year).

It is a 2015 ES manual with 87,500 miles. Carmax is offering $6000 for it.

My wife's car is a 2013 Elantra with 168,000 miles and an infamous engine. I see the the Mirage as an emergency back-up if her car dies so we can wait till the car market improves. We could use the money as I am retiring early. I just wonder if it has more value keeping than selling for cash. What would you do?

It will need tires soon. Just replaced battery and plugs. Front and rear brakes were done 15k miles ago. I do live near Chicago and rust is rearing it's ugly head.

[defensivetackle88]

So what are you trying to say here then

[Mark]

My Mirage is my second vehicle, next to an SUV family hauler. I don't really need it, but I do use it often to save on gas (about 10k miles per year).

It is a 2015 ES manual with 87,500 miles. Carmax is offering $6000 for it.

My wife's car is a 2013 Elantra with 168,000 miles and an infamous engine. I see the the Mirage as an emergency back-up if her car dies so we can wait till the car market improves. We could use the money as I am retiring early. I just wonder if it has more value keeping than selling for cash. What would you do?

It will need tires soon. Just replaced battery and plugs. Front and rear brakes were done 15k miles ago. I do live near Chicago and rust is rearing it's ugly head.

White Bear has one new 2022 ES manual (red) in stock for $16,970 (MSRP).

Doing a 500 mile radius search (from my zip code), 21 Mirage manuals with less than 100,000 miles come up. More than half of those are NOT manuals. You have to look at their pics to confirm. My zip code would include the Chicago area in that radius.

Lowest price one = 2017 ES manual with 99,777 miles for $8,999.
Highest price one = 2021 ES manual with 20,259 miles for $18,322 (price higher than a new 2022).


Most 2014-15 DE & ES manuals listed had CVT pics, except for one 2014 ES manual with 57,171 miles for $12,990.

It's your car & your money. I think you would be nuts to give away your Mirage for $6,000 in today's market. If you're OK with CarMax making $5,000-6,000 off of you, I say go for it!

I don't see the car market improving any time soon & maybe never. If you honestly don't feel your Mirage is going to be of value to your family some day, I would at least try to sell it on my own for at least $9,000-10,000 minimum.

Let say you sold your Mirage today for $6,000, and your wife's Hyundai explodes tomorrow. What would you buy next & what will it cost you? Would you value the $6,000 (cash you would have for the next car) more than having it?

Only you can answer those questions.

[Wallythacker]

I never thought I would see the used car market so off kilter. Used 2017 manual for $9K? Ok then, I wonder what my 2014 200k miles is worth, it is the loaded model. I still see many dealers here with ZERO new stock, the Honda in town has been empty for nearly 2 years.

My 2017 has all of 42k miles and is in mint shape, no rust, has mags & snows. I should look up it's value.

[Princess_Bishi]

I personally would not sell it, the security of having a backup vehicle that is a big gas saver is worth more than $6k in my opinion. If you do sell though, consider a private sale. You could get more money that way if you're willing to take on the headache for an extra $4k. You'd have to detail it yourself (or pay someone) and deal with potential buyers. I am far from retirement so I don't know what that entails or what you are facing.

[CROSSBOLT]

We got rid of a great KIA Sedona minivan (we were so upside down) and were not driving in favor of the Mitsu Mirage. IF we ever get another vehicle it will probably be a restored pickup truck we can actually use. Something without "body control modules" or other overly complex nonsense.
Will be a cold day to dump yje Mirage....even if gas goes for 25 cents a gallon.

[7milesout]

What would you do?

Keep it. Move to Ukraine. More peaceful there (than Chicago) and lower taxes.

[88coltturbo]

If it were me, I'd dump the Elantra and keep the Mirage. The Elantra is near the end of it's life, and the Mirage will certainly outlive it.