Originally Posted by
dspace9
Having the 5 speed manual Mirage makes my car more fun to drive. You're engaged in the whole driving process more with manuals. All hands and feet are busy. With automatics basically one hand and one foot doing the driving.
Kinda obvious point sorry. But I think a lot of the spark of driving disappears when you go automatic. I also love convertibles because they're way more fun. Whatever it takes to get you away from the gadgets and technology... is what makes a car a fun driving experience.
I'm a die hard stick shift fan, taught myself by watching what my parents did with their hands and feet when shifting, then sneak tries on the cars when I could (Suzuki Swift Gti and Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE-not shabby cars to learn stick on).
The car my G4 replaced was a 2013 FIAT 500 Abarth, which in 2012 and 2013 were only offered with manual. I had it over 6 years and put about 85,000 miles on it. And before that was a manual Pontiac Vibe, and before a manual Corolla....but yet I bought the CVT for two reasons. One, I wanted cruise control, and the dealer had no manuals with cruise (I think this was a trim thing in 2018). Two, I do delivery for Amazon full time. I started up in Seattle, and now deliver in the Portland area. Driving as much as I do, hitting traffic as much as I do, I just didn't want to stick shift anymore.
Well, fast forward almost a full year since I've had my G4 and I am so so so so happy I got the CVT. By the time my year rolls around (8/14), I'll have put 30,000 miles on my car (bought it with 34 miles or something like that), so I've had plenty of time to get to know that CVT. Here's how I drive my car-I actively (daily) use the 'sport' mode. Quick controlled upshift, always the same, always know what to expect. Flip back to D for an upshift. Add a blip of the gas pedal for an extremely quick, effortless 'rush' forward. I have so much genuine fun flipping back and forth between D and sport, and I use up my RPM's too, right up to red. I use it often when going up steep grades too, as well as L (as recommended by the manual)-it's almost like a 3 speed 'manual' sans clutch pedal lol. I know I'm an odd duck on this and I've test driven plenty of CVT cars the past few months to know it's only the Mirage/G4 that I can do that with. On that note, I did also at least test drive the manual G4, and it was a ton of fun. Just that darn cruise control!! I'd recommend a manual in a heartbeat though. But our CVT should be given a little bit more credit-it really can be fun!! Oh, best part? Still getting mpg's in the 40's while driving like a hellion
Last edited by Go4th; 08-09-2020 at 02:52 AM.
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View my fuel log 2018 Mirage G4 ES 1.2 automatic: 32.5 mpg (US) ... 13.8 km/L ... 7.2 L/100 km ... 39.0 mpg (Imp)