Didn't want to clutter up an already meandering existing thread, so I thought I'd start a new one.
Caveat: I'm not planning to do this, at least not anytime soon. If I ever decide to follow through with a supercharger installation, then maybe. But, that's something that's barely on my long range sensors, not quite on the radar yet. I'll likely opt out of the car before I get that crazy, but who knows?
Just posting this discussion to maybe inspire someone. If you're thinking about forced induction, your best bet would be to do this FIRST. Get control of the engine with an aftermarket ECU, and get comfortable with tuning... then when you go FI, it's a simple matter of retuning. Please don't take what I'm saying here as gospel. I have a bit of experience, but I do tend to forget things. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Study up on the MS, and how it works. Dig up your stock wiring diagrams. Get on the MS forum and post up your ideas and have those who have gone before verify that you're on the right path. (but, do your homework first to cut down on the dumb questions) There's LOTS of help out there. If you're doing something new like a Mirage, don't be afraid to ask for help. You don't have to go it alone! (and the folks at DIY Autotune are VERY helpful)
Bottom line: If you're a (very) technically minded person, you're not afraid of wiring and maybe a little bit of custom fabrication (which you can hire out to someone else), don't be afraid of Megasquirt. Dig into it. Start as simply as you can. Learn as you go. Do more as you go.
The question has been asked: Can we use a Megasquirt (aftermarket ECU) on the Mirage to make it fully tunable either with stock hardware (for a little more power/responsiveness or even for more economy)? This thread isn't about the philosophy of "should we", so please don't go there. It's just "can we", for those who have their reasons for wanting to do so. And the answer is "yes, absolutely"... it just depends on how bad you want it at this point. It's easy... ish.
A Megasquirt 3x (Google it) is capable of running fully sequential spark and fuel (that means an individual output for each fuel injector and each spark plug), handling the VVT, and cooling fans, switching the AC compressor on/off, and has several spare outputs to handle other things. I can totally handle running the ENGINE and everything associated with it. (you CVT guys are on your own, I'm not going there)
What it won't do is all of the OTHER functions of the factory ECU (and secondary computers, I really haven't looked at the electrical system of this car... I know there's a lot to it). So, what you'd want to do, unless you're building a pure race car and don't care about the other stuff, is do a "parallel" or "piggyback" installation. Sounds complicated, right?
Well, I happen to have done exactly that with my S10. I didn't use an MS3, I used a much cheaper (and less capable, but adequate for the truck) Microsquirt. The fundamentals are the same. And it's NOT that difficult.
I'll describe the process in the next post...