hopeful future owner from midland ontario

[Pellaken]

hello hello, I'm new! I think the best way to introduce myself would actually be to quote from some tweets I made earlier today: I've been doing some dreaming; buying a car. I am on disability and have 0 money; hence the dreaming, but, a dilemma. My rational mind is 100% sure I should get a [competitor]. My emotional mind is 100% sure I should get a Mitsubishi Mirage. I keep looking up more and more and more data on each, thinking maybe I could be wrong, but both sides of my mind only get more and more excited and entrenched in their positions!! The Mirage is just so small and dainty, and it powers along on only 3 little cylinders, with a max speed of only 160kph, and its so tiny and adorable, its performance (acceleration, max speed, distance on a single tank) are so similar to my old 1997 ford escort. [skipped tweet on the competitor] I guess my saving grace is I have no money, so I won't have to make any decisions any time soon!

edited to add:
oh; to add, in case any admin is curious how I found this place: I was google image searching "mitsubishi mirage rear" to see (related to my other thread) where I could stick something that says I'm learning to drive stick on the back, when one image was from the thread "Removing the rear seats (turn your Mirage into a mini cargo van)". when I saw "mirageforum" I was like "they have a forum!?" and came straight over!

[88coltturbo]

Welcome! I'm on disability as well, so I was happy when I got approved for financing. I also did a LOT of research, and was concerned about 3 cylinders with less than 100hp. After having the car for 2 weeks, I've had NO PROBLEM keeping up with traffic, or passing on the highway. If you're comparing it to your 97 Escort, it'll feel the same, only everything will be new!

[Pellaken]

Welcome! I'm on disability as well, so I was happy when I got approved for financing.

oh wow! I certainly didn't expect to hear something like this. I thought it'd take years to save up 80% of the down payment in cash!

[88coltturbo]

My original plan was to buy one with cash. But, with the ridiculously low interest rates on now, it's hard to not take advantage of it. More so, since I'm already putting more than the monthly payment into a car maintenance fund, having a written monthly budget that I stick to makes all the difference.

[MetroMPG]

Welcome, Pellaken!

My rational mind is 100% sure I should get a [competitor]. My emotional mind is 100% sure I should get a Mitsubishi Mirage.

I assume you're cross-shopping the Spark? It's a more refined car to drive, but I'm hooked on the Mirage's crazy good fuel economy.

when I saw "mirageforum" I was like "they have a forum!?" and came straight over!

That's funny. I made that thread!

What's more interesting: as a group, Mirage owners are more enthusiastic about their cars than Micra or Spark owners, comparing activity on their respective forums.

[Pellaken]

nope. The spark is *a* consideration, but Chevrolet isn't the most reliable thing in the world. It's one of the b-grade possibilities, along with the versa, rio, and elantra; which goes alongside "maybe I should get a crossover" soul, venue, and corolla cross. The latter is actually the answer; a Toyota Corolla sedan. Alongside possibly a Civic as those are made right here in ontario. In reality, however, if I fund the car myself (IE by getting a job and/or saving up) a Mirage and a Corolla are the only two realistic options. Other options open up if I win the lotto; everything from a Camry to a Rolls.

However if I was to get a Corolla, I'd certainly get an automatic as that only adds $1.8K to the total price, which (if my estimate of dealer fees is accurate) is a total/after-tax price difference between $26.9K vs $24.9K, or a 8% difference. The mirage however, changes from $20.1K to $18.8K, or 7%. Hence, even though its a tiny difference, I'd feel better at saving some money at this level VS saving money when spending more. Put another way, if I'm spending the money for a Corolla, I'm already going for the more expensive option, and will thus be far less likely to get a manual, VS going for the bargain option and saving by going for stick.

I can't rule out a spark, but if I did get a spark it would 100% be stick as that's only $14.6K - but I'm more than willing to take more time to save up to get a car from a Japanese brand!

edited to add - oh. I have a google sheets spreadsheet showing various prices. if allowed and if anyone is curious, I could post that?

[Mark]

nope. The spark is *a* consideration, but Chevrolet isn't the most reliable thing in the world. It's one of the b-grade possibilities, along with the versa, rio, and elantra; which goes alongside "maybe I should get a crossover" soul, venue, and corolla cross. The latter is actually the answer; a Toyota Corolla sedan. Alongside possibly a Civic as those are made right here in ontario. In reality, however, if I fund the car myself (IE by getting a job and/or saving up) a Mirage and a Corolla are the only two realistic options. Other options open up if I win the lotto; everything from a Camry to a Rolls.

However if I was to get a Corolla, I'd certainly get an automatic as that only adds $1.8K to the total price, which (if my estimate of dealer fees is accurate) is a total/after-tax price difference between $26.9K vs $24.9K, or a 8% difference. The mirage however, changes from $20.1K to $18.8K, or 7%. Hence, even though its a tiny difference, I'd feel better at saving some money at this level VS saving money when spending more. Put another way, if I'm spending the money for a Corolla, I'm already going for the more expensive option, and will thus be far less likely to get a manual, VS going for the bargain option and saving by going for stick.

I can't rule out a spark, but if I did get a spark it would 100% be stick as that's only $14.6K - but I'm more than willing to take more time to save up to get a car from a Japanese brand!

edited to add - oh. I have a google sheets spreadsheet showing various prices. if allowed and if anyone is curious, I could post that?

If the Mitsubishi Mirage didn't exist, I would consider the following 5-speed hatchbacks for myself. I only buy manuals, and I don't buy sedans. Most of these would be used options, because they are no longer sold in the States.

Honda Fit
Toyota Yaris
Mazda2
Toyota Matrix (Pontiac Vibe)
Toyota Corolla hatchback

Those are the only ones I would consider today. I like the KIA Soul, but Hyundai/KIA have had enough documented engine issues to make me give up on them.

1st & 2nd generation Honda CR-V & Toyota RAV4 with AWD manual transmissions are my favorite vehicles of all time, but those are getting harder & harder to find in good condition. I would throw the Honda Element AWD manual in that mix, too!

I don't really care for anything offered in today's market. If I had to buy a non-manual new vehicle today, it would be a Toyota or Mazda that doesn't have a turbo or CVT transmission.

[88coltturbo]

My opinion on the Spark's ride - it's more choppy than the Mirage. The longer wheelbase soaks up the bumps, and gives more interior leg and headroom. The 2022 Spark 1LT in a manual is $17k+tax ($15098+freight). And, despite being a Chevy, it's made in Korea by Daewoo. Not that that's a bad thing.....Koreans make good cars. Reliability of a vehicle has everything to do with maintenance, and less to do with what badge is on the hood.

[mohammad]

I think the worst part about car ownership in ontario is the cost of insurance. You should definitely be considering insurance when deciding on a car.

On a side note, if your on a tight ODSP budget why are you not considering used cars? we have a forum dedicated to used mirages you can read about https://mirageforum.com/forum/showth...r-sale/page164

[Pellaken]

yea, I got so excited last night that, before bed, I decided to look at how much space I have in my budget VS monthly insurance... the end result was a negative number >.<

and that's before maintenance, and gasoline, and any potential car payment.

So I'll need to find someone willing to hire me before I can get a car of any kind.

I have $514 left after bills (rent, internet, phone) and a car would cost $350 just to run (gas, insurance, maintenance) so yea, its just not realistic without a job.