Hi everyone!
Here's the window sticker of my brand new car: https://www.mitsubishicars.com/rs/fi...2AUHJ9MH002382
It came with the chrome package and fog lights installed at the factory and a $395 added fee due to the color. The tonneau cover and carpet mats are mandatory and every 2021 Mirage comes shipped from the factory with those included. The "portfolio" that comes with the carpet mats includes a cheap tire pressure gauge and first aid kit. The bandaids already came in handy the second day I had the car.
I also had dealer-installed door sill plates and center console armrest. Plus I got the Mitsubishi OEM all-weather rubber floor mats. I still need a rear cargo carpet mat or rubber cargo tray, I haven't decided yet. Total price out the door after all taxes, dealer fees, DMV registration and title, etc., all inclusive was $18,031.94. Local sales tax in my zip code is 8.375%. This translates to an effective vehicle price of $16,454 including all accessories, plus regular sales tax and approximately $200 for new DMV plates. Officially on paper, it looks a little different, with a lower vehicle sale price, mandatory tacked-on dealer fees, and what looks like some very expensive accessories with labor for installation, but I negotiated the whole deal based on out-the-door total price. However the dealer wants to do their accounting to reach the final bottom line number is their business. I wanted to get the car with all the accessories on my wishlist for $18,000 and I only missed by about $32, plus the cost of the cargo mat/tray I haven't bought yet.
I'm very tall by most people's standards (somewhere between 6' 2" and 6' 3") and although the driver seat itself doesn't provide as much lumbar support as it could, the design and layout of the two front seats of the Mirage are as efficient and comfortable and make the best possible use of space of any car I've ever owned. My left knee doesn't constantly bang into the door handle like it did on my 2013 Nissan Rogue and my right knee can naturally rest wherever it's most comfortable, not at all like when I've driven the 2019 Honda CR-V or 2020 Chevy Spark. The Honda and Chevy have extra material in the dash that takes up space where I want to put my knee, making them rather unpleasant to drive.
The Mitsubishi is a simple vehicle that's a throwback to what cars looked like 20-25 years ago, and that's what I like about it. I didn't want a computer with wheels and a bunch of automatic "safety" features designed to protect idiots from themselves. I wanted a plain car, and that's what I got. I know the TPMS unit can only be reset at a dealer and it has the forward collision avoidance automatic braking which I could do without, but other than those two features, this is basically a car with no technology that has been developed in the last two decades, which makes it nearly perfect! When I turn off traction control, it automatically turns off the collision avoidance braking as well, making the only active safety feature ABS.
Easy to drive, easy to park, cheap to insure, cheap to refuel, cheap to maintain... this is going to be fun!
Quick questions about the fluid capacities: For a simple oil change, am I reading the owner's manual correctly where it says only 2.9 quarts of oil will be needed for the refill after draining the old oil and changing the filter? Also what's the total capacity of the CVT and how much new replacement fluid will be needed for a typical drain/refill of the transmission?
I know it's possible to flood the charcoal cannister from topping off the gas tank, but I'm curious how much can be pumped after the first click without overflowing. With other vehicles, I've never had a problem with topping off the tank as long as I burn off the excess immediately. For this reason, I like to buy gas about 40 miles from home, which is more convenient than it sounds, because I like driving away from congested areas and just riding around with no specific destination in mind. I like to roam around a bit, and this allows me to find the cheapest gas prices as well. So is the Mirage tank really only 9 gallons, or can we squeeze in a bit more?