One month ago I bought my first ever new car: a 2023 Mirage ES.
I've always bought old beater sedans on craigslist, and my most recent one had lasted ~5 years. I'd ever even heard of mitsubishi before, but as my old car neared its end I researched the current car market. I never thought I would buy a new car, and I figured that I would get a less-old car than usual. But I learned that the car market post-2020 was much different than before. The typical advice of "get a few years old toyota" now costs nearly as much as new.
I was set on a hatchback, and I wanted a blue one. I narrowed down to corollas, mazdas, kia rio, and also the humble mirage. The Rio and Mirage could still be found <20k, while the toyotas and mazdas were nearly 10k more expensive. Even though the newer Kias have immobilizers, kids will still break the windows and try to steal because it says Kia. So I figured I should give the newest Mirage a chance before considering the next price tier of cars or going back to the used market.
When I test drove it around town and on the highway, I loved it. Here is a car with android auto, climate control, backup camera, safety features, and excellent milage and reliability all within my budget. A few days later after thinking it over, I called the dealership and made an offer. That evening I left the lot in my new mirage.
After a month I'm very happy. I'm excited to take good car of this car and make it last. That story from Minnesota of the 400k-mile mirage is inspiring.