Hello from Ontario (just ordered 2023 manual Mirage - never driven one)

[BigMW]

Hi all,

After an extensive search in Ontario and Quebec, I was finally able to locate a 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage. I put down the deposit yesterday, and should be getting my little manual transmission commuter early in January 2023.

[Trixie_I]

Nice! congrats on your new purchase! i've ordered mine recently as well, it's a 2022 SE edition, in white, no pics yet, still waiting to get her, hopefully next week ill get a call to pick her up!

which trim level and color did you get?

anything specific you liked about the car?

[BigMW]

Nice! congrats on your new purchase! i've ordered mine recently as well, it's a 2022 SE edition, in white, no pics yet, still waiting to get her, hopefully next week ill get a call to pick her up!

which trim level and color did you get?

anything specific you liked about the car?

Hey, I got the base model with a manual transmission, in gray.

I like the car's simplicity, it reminds me of my 1999 Suzuki Swift

[MetroMPG]

Welcome, BigMW!!

A 2023 manual is a rare beast on this side of the world. Mitsu is no longer offering the manual in the States.

Please drive it gently, change the fluids regularly, get it rust-proofed (my 8 year-old Mirage already has holes in it: This is where your Mirage is going to rust out. (Body/chassis corrosion)) ...

And then sell it to me in about 8 years!

Did you get a chance to test drive one?

What part of Ontario are you in?

Do you still have your 99 Swift? I've still got a 98 Firefly & just sold my 2000 Metro last year!

So many questions.

[BigMW]

Welcome, BigMW!!

A 2023 manual is a rare beast on this side of the world. Mitsu is no longer offering the manual in the States.

Please drive it gently, change the fluids regularly, get it rust-proofed (Thread: This is where your Mirage is going to rust out. (Body/chassis corrosion)) ... and then sell it to me in about 8 years!

Did you get a chance to test drive one?

What part of Ontario are you in?

Do you still have your 99 Swift? I've still got a 98 Firefly & just sold my 2000 Metro last year!

So many questions.

Thanks for the link, I will be sure to check it out.

I'm hoping to keep the mirage for a lot longer than 8 years, sorry! ��

I never drove one, not even sat in one. I know, crazy. Bought it over the phone, sight unseen. Never did that before.

I'm in northeastern Ontario, Kirkland Lake.

I wish I still had the swift. Got rid of it once, sold to a friend, when I needed a bigger vehicle. Then I got it back from him when he didn't need it anymore. I also lent it out for a couple of years to my poor cousins. But when the floor and the exhaust rusted out, I couldn't find any reasonably priced replacement parts, and I sold it the final time.

Edit: it had less than 150k kms when I let it go, at around 2010, so you understand why I still regret that decision.

[BigMW]

I've still got a 98 Firefly

Your Firefly, is it a 3 or 4 cylinder?

[MetroMPG]

I never drove one, not even sat in one. I know, crazy.

Yes, you are a crazy person. Headline: Crazy Person Buys Worst Car in the World Over Telephone!

Seriously though: the car is essentially a more refined Swift. Same basic formula (small, light, modest power), but quieter, safer, more creature comforts, more power, better fuel economy, with an unusually soft suspension for a small car (so it rides very smoothly). I think the Swift handled better and had more engaging steering. It'll be very interesting to see your impressions when you finally drive it.

I'm in northeastern Ontario, Kirkland Lake.

Embarrassed to say I've never been - closest was Sudbury. The only thing I know about Kirkland Lake is the town advertised itself like crazy as an affordable retirement "destination" to Southern Ontarians. (Did it work? Were you over-run with Torontonians? )

But when the floor and the exhaust rusted out...

Yes, the Swift/Metro/Firefly chassis had some serious rust-prone design flaws. So you understand the importance of rust-treating the Mirage. So far, I haven't seen any fatal flaws as bad as the Swift's, but it's made of very thin metal and won't last long once tin worm sets in.

What are you driving now?

[BigMW]

Yes, you are a crazy person. Headline: Crazy Person Buys Worst Car in the World Over Telephone!

Seriously though: the car is essentially a more refined Swift. Same basic formula (small, light, modest power), but quieter, safer, more creature comforts, more power, better fuel economy, with an unusually soft suspension for a small car (so it rides very smoothly). I think the Swift handled better and had more engaging steering. It'll be very interesting to see your impressions when you finally drive it.



Embarrassed to say I've never been - closest was Sudbury. The only thing I know about Kirkland Lake is the town advertised itself like crazy as an affordable retirement "destination" to Southern Ontarians. (Did it work? Were you over-run with Torontonians? )


Yes, the Swift/Metro/Firefly chassis had some serious rust-prone design flaws. So you understand the importance of rust-treating the Mirage. So far, I haven't seen any fatal flaws as bad as the Swift's, but it's made of very thin metal and won't last long once tin worm sets in.

What are you driving now?

You might be thinking Elliot Lake, as a retirement town. Kirkland Lake is a mining town, it was in the headlines bunch of years ago for wanting to accept Toronto's garbage, by train. There was some stiff opposition along the way, so Toronto had to develop a better recycling program, and send garbage to Michigan (I think).


Currently I'm driving a Toyota Tacoma, not an ideal commuter vehicle. I love it though, and plan to keep it forever, for all the other stuff I do.

[Mark]

Currently I'm driving a Toyota Tacoma, not an ideal commuter vehicle. I love it though, and plan to keep it forever, for all the other stuff I do.

I think you will love your new Mirage. I am a big fan of the manual powertrain.

I bought a Mirage to extend the life of my Subaru Forester, which I use to tug my trailer. I would be lost without it. I also have winter ridge roads to deal with, & my AWD Forester with good snow tires is hard to beat. The other 80-90% of my driving is covered with my economical Mirage.

Your new Mirage will also extend the life of your Tacoma, & replacing a truck is not cheap these days! Since you have owned/driven small cars in the past, you will appreciate what you have shortly.

I compare my 2017 ES manual to my former 1990 Ford Festiva L manual (1.3L, 63 hp) that I drove for 14 years. The Mirage seems like a luxury hatchback by comparison. The Festiva was designed by Mazda, however. It handled better than the Mirage, but it also didn't have power steering. The electric power steering of the Mirage is its biggest downfall in my opinion, but it's not a deal breaker.

A 1990 Festiva was 1713 pounds (small two door hatchback) with 12" wheels.

[BigMW]

I think you will love your new Mirage. I am a big fan of the manual powertrain.

I bought a Mirage to extend the life of my Subaru Forester, which I use to tug my trailer. I would be lost without it. I also have winter ridge roads to deal with, & my AWD Forester with good snow tires is hard to beat. The other 80-90% of my driving is covered with my economical Mirage.

Your new Mirage will also extend the life of your Tacoma, & replacing a truck is not cheap these days! Since you have owned/driven small cars in the past, you will appreciate what you have shortly.

I compare my 2017 ES manual to my former 1990 Ford Festiva L manual (1.3L, 63 hp) that I drove for 14 years. The Mirage seems like a luxury hatchback by comparison. The Festiva was designed by Mazda, however. It handled better than the Mirage, but it also didn't have power steering. The electric power steering of the Mirage is its biggest downfall in my opinion, but it's not a deal breaker.

A 1990 Festiva was 1713 pounds (small two door hatchback) with 12" wheels.

Hey, I remember the Festiva, I didn't realize it was mazda derived.

What do you mean about Mirage power steering being its down fall? Is it too soft, or there are issues with it? I don't care about power steering, on a little vehicle like that i don't even think it is required.

If I could build this mirage myself, I would likely opt out of ac, and get rid of the steering wheel mounted controls, power mirrors, rear view camera and rain sensing wipers. I would also trade the power windows up front for manual ones.

What I would add on is cruise control and heated mirrors.

But then again, I'm not complaining, I'm mostly glad that a simple manual transmission car is still available.