Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 11 to 20 of 31

Thread: First road trip (got over 47 MPG!)

  1. #11
    Senior Member Dirk Diggler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    looking into the abyss
    Country
    Turkmenistan
    Posts
    5,389
    Thanks
    2,034
    Thanked 1,242 Times in 909 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Bristol View Post
    Pontiac, Michigan to Bristol, Tennessee.. 658.3 miles on 13.795 gallons of fuel for a little over 47 mpg!!!!!
    First leg, Pontiac to Cincinatti(actually about 10 miles in Kentucky) 306.3 miles on 7.202 gallons for roughly 42 5 mpg. Used Cruise Control exclusively, set at different speeds depending on traffic. 55/60/65 mph probably mostly avg 62 mph.
    Avg mpg showed mostly a bit over 52 mpg, so I was disappointed with (hand calculated) 42.5 mpg.
    So, the second leg from Erlanger( I think) Kentucky to Bristol, I decided to drive without cruise control. Held as close to 60 mph as I could. Holding my foot as still as possible AND coasting in neutral on any downhill stretches I could.
    352 miles on 6.593 gallons for 53.38 mpg.
    Extremely pleased with results!!!!
    Air conditioning on the whole trip and 35 psi in tires. Under 1500 total miles on car.
    What an automobile!!!!
    Man 700 miles at 65 mph would drive me crazy! Hwy speeds that slow even in Tennessee? Hell, we have circular bypass in Atlanta called 285 aka the watermellon 500 thats mostly 70 mph. Whenever I merge its a butt clenching experience because Im usually forced to be going at least 70 or Im causing trouble. Did you experience any wrist fatigue on your roadtrip because of wind?



  2. #12
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Tennessee
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    134
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 61 Times in 32 Posts
    No, wrist fatigue. I was quite surprised how comfortable I was.

    Long tedious drive at the speeds I was driving on the second leg of journey, BUT was distracted from tedium by being engaged in the overall performance, operation of this new little car. Becoming acquainted with this new automobile made the long slow drive pass quite pleasantly. I'm sure the, once the newness and intrigue wear off, the long drives may become tedious again.

    The first leg of trip I had to move more with flow of traffic. I say I averaged 62mph with cruise control on, but prob ran at 65mph more than I realized. If traffic was thick, and it was at times, I ran with the flow. But when the pack opened up, I would lower my speed when I judged traffic could go around me without much effort.

    On second leg, traffic was much more open. People were driving as fast or faster than first leg, but they could also go around me much easier. So, it was much easier to maintain almost exclusively 60 mph and sometimes even 55 mph, AND, coasting downhill where I could.
    Worked in Atlanta 25 years ago. Navigated the loop at crazy speeds. I would prob never try conservative driving techniques in that city ever! Lol! I have no doubt however, in the Mirage's(5spd only) ability to drive aggressively and keep up though in Atlanta traffic( while still getting better mileage than anyone else in the herd), no doubts at all. I'm sure though, pushing the Mirage at 80 and 90 mph would definitely be a butt clenching experience though. It definitely was 25 years ago in a V8 powered auto. Lol!

    I don't and won't, drive in a manner that impedes the flow of traffic or that increases the already inherent dangers of interstate high speed travel. I was fortunate enough that the Almighty provided the right mix of traffic, on this trip, to allow me to experiment with my new purchase, in a manner that increased no one's anxiety levels.

    There was one guy though, both of us in right lane, he behind me, with no other cars around us for quite some distances, that wanted to run at a SET speed that was just marginally faster than my speed. BUT, for 3 or 4 miles, he would not go around me. He would get close, flash his lights, and then have to slow down. He did this 4 or 5 times and then finally went around me.

    I understand getting close, backing off, getting close again and then finally going around me. But the flashing of the lights made me kind of chuckle.

    Listen, I'm the type of driver that will move to the left, out of the slow right lane to allow a tractor trailer rig to go on by, just so that big rig driver doesn't have to move that big load over to go around me. But this guy in the car was cracking me up. GO AROUND ME IN THE PASSING LANE! I am staying out of that lane on purpose. It is wide, WIDE, open for you. GO AROUND! He finally did!
    Last edited by Bristol; 07-08-2019 at 04:50 AM.

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to Bristol For This Useful Post:

    MetroMPG (08-07-2019)

  4. #13
    Senior Member Dirk Diggler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    looking into the abyss
    Country
    Turkmenistan
    Posts
    5,389
    Thanks
    2,034
    Thanked 1,242 Times in 909 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Bristol View Post
    No, wrist fatigue. I was quite surprised how comfortable I was.
    Long tedious drive at the speeds I was driving on the second leg of journey, BUT was distracted from tedium by being engaged in the overall performance, operation of this new little car. Becoming acquainted with this new automobile made the long slow drive pass quite pleasantly. I'm sure the, once the newness and intrigue wear off, the long drives may become tedious again.
    The first leg of trip I had to move more with flow of traffic. I say I averaged 62mph with cruise control on, but prob ran at 65mph more than I realized. If traffic was thick, and it was at times, I ran with the flow. But when the pack opened up, I would lower my speed when I judged traffic could around me without much effort.
    On second leg, traffic was much more open. People were driving as fast or faster than first leg, but they could also go around me much easier. So, it was much easier to maintain almost exclusively 60 mph and sometimes even 55 mph, AND, coasting downhill where I could.
    Worked in Atlanta 25 years ago. Navigated the loop at crazy speeds. I would prob never try conservative driving techniques in that city ever! Lol! I have no doubt however, in the Mirage's(5spd only) ability to drive aggressively and keep up though in Atlanta traffic( while still getting better mileage than anyone else in the herd), no doubts at all. I'm sure though, pushing the Mirage at 80 and 90 mph would definitely be a butt clenching experience though. It definitely was 25 years ago in a V8 powered auto. Lol!
    I don't and won't, drive in a manner that impedes the flow of traffic or that increases the already inherent dangers of interstate high speed travel. I was fortunate enough that the Almighty provided the right mix of traffic, on this trip, to allow me to experiment with my new purchase, in a manner that increased no one's anxiety levels.
    There was one guy though, both of us in right lane, he behind me, with no other cars around us for quite some distances, that wanted to run at a SET speed that was just marginally faster than my speed. BUT, for 3 or 4 miles, he would not go around me. He would get close, flash his lights, and then have to slow down. He did this 4 or 5 times and then finally went around me.
    I understand getting close, backing off, getting close again and then finally going around me. But the flashing of the lights made me kind of chuckle.
    Listen, I'm the type of driver that will move to the left, out of the slow right lane to allow a tractor trailer rig to go on by, just so that big rig driver doesn't have to move that big load over to go around me. But this guy in the car was cracking me up. GO AROUND ME IN THE PASSING LANE! I am staying out of that lane on purpose. It is wide, WIDE, open for you. GO AROUND! He finally did!
    Mirage is quite comfortable cruising at 75 mph. Cabin noise is only unnerving if the roads are bad IMO. MPG does go down though to mid 30s if you maintain a speed of 75 to 80 in my experience with a G4.

  5. #14
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Tennessee
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    134
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 61 Times in 32 Posts
    Thank you for your help Mark. Yes, Richard was great. It bothered me that I didn't/couldn't purchase the car from him. Consummate professional. Gives car salesmen a "GOOD" name.
    I have been long aware of the reliability and value of the Mitsu product.
    The automotive journalists pooh pooh the car as being something from the 90's as if it was a bad thing. The early Japanese cars(my first Japanese car was '76 Dodge Colt(pure Mitsu)) were simple, lightweight, efficient and reliable, and over the years have gotten away from some of those attributes. I was so excited to think I, in 2019, could get a car, made like years ago, with all the modern appointments, at a price like years ago. AND that would reliably provide me with safe, efficient, reasonably comfortable transportation for a good many years to come.
    Might not be the car for everyone, but for me its exactly right.

  6. #15
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Tennessee
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    134
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 61 Times in 32 Posts
    Yes Dirk, I agree on cabin noise level. Found it quite acceptable, even at 65 and 70mph. Carried on clear and pleasant phone conversations with family at those speeds.
    And with the 5spd it is louder than your car with the CVT, but I found it is still not loud.
    You do have the the CVT, yes?

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to Bristol For This Useful Post:

    Dirk Diggler (07-08-2019)

  8. #16
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    SW, WI
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    7,402
    Thanks
    594
    Thanked 2,688 Times in 2,106 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Bristol View Post
    Thank you for your help Mark. Yes, Richard was great. It bothered me that I didn't/couldn't purchase the car from him. Consummate professional. Gives car salesmen a "GOOD" name.
    I have been long aware of the reliability and value of the Mitsu product.
    The automotive journalists pooh pooh the car as being something from the 90's as if it was a bad thing. The early Japanese cars(my first Japanese car was '76 Dodge Colt(pure Mitsu)) were simple, lightweight, efficient and reliable, and over the years have gotten away from some of those attributes. I was so excited to think I, in 2019, could get a car, made like years ago, with all the modern appointments, at a price like years ago. AND that would reliably provide me with safe, efficient, reasonably comfortable transportation for a good many years to come.
    Might not be the car for everyone, but for me its exactly right.
    I wouldn't feel bad about not buying your car from White Bear. Under the circumstances, I would have done the same as you. Sadly, my local dealer wasn't interested in helping me. They focus on customers who don't have great credit and are willing to overpay for a vehicle. They weren't all that interested in me, & I wasn't all that interested in them. The feeling was mutual. I want my local dealer to success, but their practices are just creepy! Worst dealership experience I have ever had. Ironically, Richard sent me to my local dealership & told me what to look for when test driving a Mirage. Who does that?

    I share your same opinion about car critics. When they say the Mirage reminds them of a car from the 1990's, I scratch my head & wonder what is wrong with that? I felt the 1990 - 2005 cars were pretty great cars! If I could buy a brand new 1st or 2nd generation AWD/5-speed Honda CRV today, I would be all over that. I would pick those vehicles over anything on the market today. When Honda dropped the manual option, however, they lost me as a customer. Lots of companies have lost my interest that way.

    I like buying new beater cars. My 1990 Festiva and my current 2017 Mirage would be prime examples of that. When you can get these vehicles at such low prices, it makes one reconsider buying something used.

    I share your feeling about the Mirage is not for everyone! I don't even bother to talk about the car to most of my friends & relatives. $10,000-11,000 brand new, reliable (with great warranty), and it is very economical. If people don't appreciate those qualities, I feel sorry for them. If people ask, I praise the Mirage. I find most people don't even get small cars these days. Life is to short to change that. When gas prices jump up some day, they'll wake up again maybe?

    I have no regrets purchasing a Mirage. If something happened to mine, I would be shopping for the exact same car (model & trim) you just got. I am glad things worked out for you locally. If I were in your shoes, I would feel good about that!
    Last edited by Mark; 07-08-2019 at 06:03 AM.

  9. #17
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    SW, WI
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    7,402
    Thanks
    594
    Thanked 2,688 Times in 2,106 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Bristol View Post
    You do have the the CVT, yes?
    FYI John - Dirk is our official Mirage Forum CVT specialist! Anyone that owns a CVT doesn't have to worry about a thing, because Dirk does all the worrying for them. He's a little on the neurotic side when it comes to CVT discussions. He admits it, however, & we all love him for it.

    I thought about starting a Dirk CVT Fund that forum members can donate money to!

  10. #18
    Senior Member Dirk Diggler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    looking into the abyss
    Country
    Turkmenistan
    Posts
    5,389
    Thanks
    2,034
    Thanked 1,242 Times in 909 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Bristol View Post
    Yes Dirk, I agree on cabin noise level. Found it quite acceptable, even at 65 and 70mph. Carried on clear and pleasant phone conversations with family at those speeds.
    And with the 5spd it is louder than your car with the CVT, but I found it is still not loud.
    You do have the the CVT, yes?
    Yes I do have the CVT, my fiancee does too. I do alot of hand wringing about its reliability because my family is seriously depending on these cars to last. Thankfully my confidence is way up considering the data thats been posted on here!

  11. #19
    Senior Member Dirk Diggler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    looking into the abyss
    Country
    Turkmenistan
    Posts
    5,389
    Thanks
    2,034
    Thanked 1,242 Times in 909 Posts
    Name:  9aa09eeb6104131cd778865b9957d509.jpg
Views: 395
Size:  46.0 KB
    Pretty much how I live my life lol.

  12. #20
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Tennessee
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    134
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 61 Times in 32 Posts
    Lol! I am pretty much the same way. It's super important this cars lasts for me.
    I almost went with the CVT as I am currently living back in the Detroit area to be around family again and be a help to Mom if she needs me.
    Still a resident of Tennessee but working temporarily in Michigan, so ALOT of city driving.



Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •