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Thread: Absurd off-road questions

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    Absurd off-road questions

    There is a place I'd like to drive occasionally, and to be honest it isn't really what the Mirage was designed for.

    Basically it is like a pasture, with a rutted trail, tall grass, and some rocks sticking out here and there. I'm about 80% sure the Mirage could make it without any problem. It's that 20% chance that I may hit something that I don't like. A scratch is acceptable, but not being able to drive home is not.

    Hypothetically, if I was cruising along slowly and hit a protruding rock or solid bit of earth, I'm thinking the first thing to be damaged would be the bumper, followed by maybe the radiator? Then I might hit the oil pan?

    Of course an RVR or Subaru would be more suitable, but probably not worth it for the few times/year I travel this way. As such, I'm thinking of "enhancing" the Mirage - though I expect it might also not be worth it for the limited use.

    Any thoughts on what I might do to protect the sensitive bits of the Mirage? Could I put one of those push-bar/brush-bar/nerf-bars on the front, or some sort of custom bumper? Would a skid-plate save the day? Is there a cheap/easy way to raise the suspension an inch or two? Thanks for indulging my foolishness.


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        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE 1.2 manual: 45.0 mpg (US) ... 19.1 km/L ... 5.2 L/100 km ... 54.1 mpg (Imp)


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    Senior Member dspace9's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Canoehead View Post
    Any thoughts on what I might do to protect the sensitive bits of the Mirage?
    I ripped the heat shield off my Mirage last winter, these things can happen with a car that is low to the ground, even if we are talking about just late winter parking lot driving.

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        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 42.2 mpg (US) ... 17.9 km/L ... 5.6 L/100 km ... 50.7 mpg (Imp)


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    Still Plays With Cars Loren's Avatar
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    You could raise the car a little bit by fitting some spring spacers. A single set might raise you a half inch, and stiffen things a little bit. If you stuffed two in each spring, you could possibly get 3/4" or an inch taller. Definitely would be less prone to bottoming out.

    That, plus "don't hit stuff". If there's a rock or something, be sure to put a TIRE on it, don't center-punch it. Anything that goes between the tires can damage the radiator and it's supports, the oil pan, transmission, axles, CV boots, exhaust and heat shields, plus all of the aero plastic covers under the car. And the fuel tank is plastic. It would take a lot to damage it, but it wouldn't dent... it would crack.

    Don't hit stuff. Otherwise, have fun!

    Cheap Spring Spacers

    The physics of how these work is more than just statically raising the car. Spring rate math dictates that fewer coils in a spring = higher spring rate. So, wedging one of these spacers into a coil takes that coil out of the equation. Where you might have had 5 active coils, now you have 4, and your spring rate goes up accordingly. And THAT raises the car even more than it might seem like it should. (same weight, more spring rate)

    If you wanted to, you could measure the springs (diameter of the coil and diameter of the wire), count the number of active coils, calculate your spring rate... and then calculate what the resulting spring rate would be.

    Yeah, I've done this before. Not for trail use, but I've done it.

    A skid plate would be a good addition, but for as often as you're going to do this... unless it's a HORRIBLE road, or you're not capable of "not hitting stuff", you'd probably be okay without it.

    Did this on vacation last fall in a rental Elantra. This road got a LOT narrower, more rutted, and with some pretty scary puddles. But, it got to the point that there was nowhere to turn around... had to charge through it. The Elantra did me proud.

    Simplify and add lightness.

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    Quote Originally Posted by dspace9 View Post
    I ripped the heat shield off my Mirage last winter, these things can happen with a car that is low to the ground, even if we are talking about just late winter parking lot driving.
    I hear you. I took my old Ford Focus on a winter road - when I brought it to my mechanic he showed me the heat shields all bundled up like a ball of tinfoil near the back of the car. I forgot about that - another sensitive bit (though maybe not that crucial - I drove the Focus without them for a few years after.

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        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE 1.2 manual: 45.0 mpg (US) ... 19.1 km/L ... 5.2 L/100 km ... 54.1 mpg (Imp)


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    Senior Member Top_Fuel's Avatar
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    Don't underestimate the lack of durability of the stock tires. I'm not sure what people are hitting, but there have been several complaints of sidewall failures with these tires.

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        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 52.2 mpg (US) ... 22.2 km/L ... 4.5 L/100 km ... 62.6 mpg (Imp)


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    Quote Originally Posted by Canoehead View Post
    heat shields all bundled up like a ball of tinfoil near the back of the car. I forgot about that - another sensitive bit (though maybe not that crucial - I drove the Focus without them for a few years
    No not crucial I don't think, now that you mention your story with your old Focus, I had an old Escort wagon before my Mirage, and I believe I lost the heat shield along the way.

    What a car my Escort wagon was, custom exhaust and everything, you heard me coming actually got a noise complaint at my old apartment.

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        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 42.2 mpg (US) ... 17.9 km/L ... 5.6 L/100 km ... 50.7 mpg (Imp)


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    Moderator Eggman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Canoehead View Post
    I'm about 80% sure the Mirage could make it without any problem. It's that 20% chance that I may hit something that I don't like. A scratch is acceptable, but not being able to drive home is not.
    This is the essence of off-roading. It's always a gamble.

    Drive it, break it, fix it better. It all depends on how much money you are willing to sink into this.

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        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 49.6 mpg (US) ... 21.1 km/L ... 4.7 L/100 km ... 59.5 mpg (Imp)


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    Quote Originally Posted by Eggman View Post
    This is the essence of off-roading. It's always a gamble.

    Drive it, break it, fix it better. It all depends on how much money you are willing to sink into this.
    I suppose you are right, and that's likely why you don't see a lot of Mirage off-road clubs. For the cost of replacing the bumper, lifting it, and adding a skid plate it probably makes sense to just trade it in on a Crosstrek or RVR which would be more capable still. I think I'll try the "don't hit stuff" method for now!

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        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE 1.2 manual: 45.0 mpg (US) ... 19.1 km/L ... 5.2 L/100 km ... 54.1 mpg (Imp)


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    The Mirage is pretty capable on road. It's what they were built for. Could you take a Mirage off-road? - Yes, but of course it has its limitations.

    There's always some choice cheap Jeeps to be found on Craigslist. Jeeps are pretty capable off-road, even stock. Well, most models.

    I'm curious - do you have any video footage of the trail/field you have in mind? The reason I say this is sometimes a skilled driver can overcome (or break!) limitations of the vehicle.

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 49.6 mpg (US) ... 21.1 km/L ... 4.7 L/100 km ... 59.5 mpg (Imp)


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    Quote Originally Posted by Eggman View Post
    I'm curious - do you have any video footage of the trail/field you have in mind? The reason I say this is sometimes a skilled driver can overcome (or break!) limitations of the vehicle.
    Sorry - no pictures or video. It also varies quite a bit, depending on the rain/mud/previous tracks. I suspect having a spotter would help. Ultimately, while I've had the car 4 years now, I still sort of like it and don't want it totalled. Usually around the 10 or 12-year mark with a car I get more adventurous. I had a Dodge Omni I bought for $200 and that car was unstoppable, as I knew I could just walk away.


        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE 1.2 manual: 45.0 mpg (US) ... 19.1 km/L ... 5.2 L/100 km ... 54.1 mpg (Imp)


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