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Thread: Considering my first Mirage/manual

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    An 799 cc diesel sounds efficient...


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        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2020 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 42.4 mpg (US) ... 18.0 km/L ... 5.6 L/100 km ... 50.9 mpg (Imp)


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    Ok so now my next question- I was planning to look into purchasing or leasing a new annual Mirage towards the end of thIs year. Between now and then I can try and learn to drive manual. However, I see a non-Mitsubishi dealer near me has a 2015 manual Mirage on their lot with 60,000 miles. Perhaps they want to offload that thing on the cheap- then I could use that as my “manual experiment” car and train on that and either keep it for good or eventually upgrade to a newer model. Do you think it would be worth checking out? What do you think is a reasonable price? It appears to have had 2 owners both had lien issues with the car no other issues according to the report. Also since I don’t know how to drive a manual I’d have to have a friend test drive it I guess what would I be looking for that would be a red flag to pass on the car. Thanks so much

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    Best car to buy just to learn how to operate a clutch in, I believe, is the cheapest pile of garbage you can get your hands on. That way if you mess it up or break it you just junk it and start again hahaha. My personal opinion, but you could probably score a stick Neon or Escort for next to nothing to destroy. Plus, if you decide you don't like manual, selling a $600 beater as a $600 beater to someone is way way easier than offloading an almost new but manual car where you will guaranteed get hit with a loss.

    How much is said used Mirage at the dealer? Two owners getting the car repo'ed doesn't sound like a car I'd want to own for more than a very small amount because there's probably been zero maintenance performed and it was probably piss beat.
    -Karl B. No Mirages currently...

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    CTJosh - It sounds to me like that 2015 is worth looking into. Learning to drive a stick is not like going to war. It doesn't have to be combat. Get a stick driver to take you to a big ole parking lot, and take your time, take it slow. I've learned all 3 sons now to drive a stick and non of the 3 have destroyed a clutch. It's not all that difficult. I dare say it is easier than learning to ride a bicycle.

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2020 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 42.4 mpg (US) ... 18.0 km/L ... 5.6 L/100 km ... 50.9 mpg (Imp)


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    Quote Originally Posted by CTJosh View Post
    Ok so now my next question- I was planning to look into purchasing or leasing a new annual Mirage towards the end of thIs year. Between now and then I can try and learn to drive manual. However, I see a non-Mitsubishi dealer near me has a 2015 manual Mirage on their lot with 60,000 miles. Perhaps they want to offload that thing on the cheap- then I could use that as my “manual experiment” car and train on that and either keep it for good or eventually upgrade to a newer model. Do you think it would be worth checking out? What do you think is a reasonable price? It appears to have had 2 owners both had lien issues with the car no other issues according to the report. Also since I don’t know how to drive a manual I’d have to have a friend test drive it I guess what would I be looking for that would be a red flag to pass on the car. Thanks so much
    I went back & read your first post. For your situation, I wouldn't rule out a used Mirage manual. It doesn't sound like it will be your only vehicle, & it may be used to teach your kids how to drive a manual, too! If that were a goal of mine, I would consider a used one for less money.

    It's very possible that the two previous owners were in the same boat as you, & they learned how to drive a manual with the same car you are considering. That's purely speculation on my part, but it's also possible.

    Sadly, used car prices seem slightly higher than normal. Is this a new trend? I own a 2017 Mirage ES manual with 49,000+ miles, and some used ones are listed higher than what I paid new for mine.

    It's hard for any of us to speculate what is considered a good deal without knowing the price or what cars like that are going for in your area.

    When I bought my 2017 Mirage ES manual, these cars had just been updated with slightly more horsepower (74 to 78), larger front disc brakes, and slightly improved suspension. I was driven by price, however. I could pick up a brand new ES manual for $9,000 (under $10,000 OTD) at the time. That didn't make the very few used 2014-15 manuals look very appealing to me back then.

    It's 2021 now, those 2014-15 are cheaper & the new car prices aren't as good! For your situation, I wouldn't rule out a used one. I really like my Mirage, but that's because I got it cheap, it's reliable, and it's very economical. Take anything away from those three things, & I wouldn't be as impressed with it.

    Even though we are somewhat bias here, I would consider a Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Mazda2, & Mitsubishi Mirage with manual transmissions. You may even want to check with your insurance agent on what adding one of these cars to family fleet of cars will cost you?

    Will you find a 2015 Honda Fit with 60,000 miles for the same price as the Mirage you just shared? I doubt it, and that should be the appeal of the Mirage! If I could have bought a brand new Honda Fit for under $10,000 OTD in 2017, I would own one. Instead, I have a Mirage in my driveway. Today, new Mirages are not as cheap & the Fit is being dropped from Honda's line up in North America. If I had to replace my Mirage, I wouldn't rule out buying a used one. I would probably stick with a 2017+ manual, but I would never rule out a good deal on a 2015, too.

    Obviously, learning to drive a manual is your biggest barrier. At the same time, it's driving your interest in a Mirage. If your main goal is learning how to drive a manual transmission, it doesn't take a brand new car to do that. If gas prices continue to rise, you'll appreciate having a Mirage (new or used) in your fleet of vehicles.

    I just read what I wrote. Not sure I was helpful here?

    If my goal was to learn how to drive a manual, a used Mirage would be at the top of my list. It would still have to be a good deal compared to other used manual cars on the market. A used Honda Fit (109/117/130 hp depending on the vintage) compared to a 78 hp Mirage is not exactly comparing apples to apples, but I think a 3-cylinder Mirage with a manual transmission is a hoot to drive, & I appreciate the extra mpg of the Mirage these days.

    Best ending of this story would be your happiness with a used Mirage. Eventually, you pass that car on to one of your children to drive. Then you go out and buy yourself an updated new one!

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    Quote Originally Posted by 7milesout View Post
    CTJosh - It sounds to me like that 2015 is worth looking into. Learning to drive a stick is not like going to war. It doesn't have to be combat. Get a stick driver to take you to a big ole parking lot, and take your time, take it slow. I've learned all 3 sons now to drive a stick and non of the 3 have destroyed a clutch. It's not all that difficult. I dare say it is easier than learning to ride a bicycle.
    I agree with this completely! Like anything new, it will seem very overwhelming at first. Once you master it, you will be very happy with yourself.

    True story (apologize for anyone hearing it before) - My grandpa sent me to town to get help once. His self-propelled haybine backfired & caught the field on fire. I hopped in my uncle's old International pickup truck. It had dually wheels in the rear & 4-speed manual on the floor. This was long before cell phones. I drove into the nearest town for help.

    Later that day (when the fire was out), my grandpa looked at me & said, "Mark you don't have your driver's license do you?" My reply was "Grandpa I am only 12 years old!"

    Now I had the advantage of using clutches on tractors, but you can surely master this!

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    Driving a manual is really no big deal, just like Mark said in the previous post! No reason for being afraid.

    Just for the info, in these parts, if you want a drivers licence law says you must go to a legally approbated driving school and have a legal minimum of somewhere around 21 lessons plus driving and theory tests. Driving school costs about one months average wages. Driving schools usually offer only manuals to learn in, you would have a hard time finding any driving school that operates an automatic. Consequentially, about 98% of all vehicles are manuals in these parts. Since we have to pay Co2 tax on energy, fuel prices have been high. One kWh of electricity costs almost half a dollar. A quarter of my wages goes into energy, and most to the gas station. Thats the price we have been paying to reduce our carbon footprint down to 40% of 1990 level and to 60% further in 2030. We do our homework, will be a shock for some other folks when they will inevitably have to catch up practically overnight. Therefore we must have efficient cars or go broke. BMW, Audi, Mercedes and the sort are strictly for the very wealthy. I prefer a small car with a stick shift plus a big wallet to an empty wallet and an automatic oversize gas guzzler.
    Last edited by foama; 05-16-2021 at 08:46 AM.

  8. #28
    Quote Originally Posted by foama View Post
    Just for the info, in these parts, if you want a drivers licence law says you must go to a legally approbated driving school and have a legal minimum of somewhere around 21 lessons plus driving and theory tests. Driving school costs about one months average wages. Driving schools usually offer only manuals to learn in, you would have a hard time finding any driving school that operates an automatic. Consequentially, about 98% of all vehicles are manuals in these parts. Since we have to pay Co2 tax on energy, fuel prices have been high. One kWh of electricity costs almost half a dollar. A quarter of my wages goes into energy, and most to the gas station. Thats the price we have been paying to reduce our carbon footprint down to 40% of 1990 level and to 60% further in 2030. We do our homework, will be a shock for some other folks when they will inevitably have to catch up practically overnight. Therefore we must have efficient cars or go broke. BMW, Audi, Mercedes and the sort are strictly for the very wealthy. I prefer a small car with a stick shift plus a big wallet to an empty wallet and an automatic oversize gas guzzler.
    Wow. I took driver training in high school just so I could get slightly cheaper insurance. It's still optional as far as I know.
    At 14 you can take a multiple choice exam and get your learners license, you can drive with someone over 18.
    When I got my license you just took a test and then a short driving test around town. Took about 15-20 mins. Was easy in a small town of 10,000.
    Now they have probational licenses. When you first get your license there is zero tolerance for booze. Years ago buddy (from the junkyard) lost his license after running from the cops while hammered. He now has a wife and kids but never did get his full big boy grown up drivers license. He got pulled over for speeding a little while back and had joint in the car. Lost his license again lol.

    I'm pretty sure even to get your super trucker license up here you only need a week or so of classroom training and maybe about the same in a truck instruction/practice. You can then drive anything except for a motorcycle. Which make no sense.

    As far as reducing our carbon footprint. I'll get around to that in 10-15 years. For now I can still afford to drive a gas hog once in a while.


        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE wussie cvt edition. 1.2 automatic: 37.7 mpg (US) ... 16.0 km/L ... 6.2 L/100 km ... 45.3 mpg (Imp)


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