Hello from Pickering Ontario

[Chrisb]

My first car was a $90 1957 Volkswagen beetle. Along with owning that car, came the concept of ‘the people’s car’: a basic, unpretentious, reliable car for ordinary folk. That’s stuck with me. Since the 1970’s, smaller hatchbacks have been my preferred vehicles. Up to a few months ago, our car had been a 2016 Chev Sonic LT turbo hatchback. Starting in June, I became aware that this perfect-in-so-many-ways car had the potential to give considerable grief brought on by turbo-related issues and a few months later, started considering alternative hatchback options that promised reliability. With choices in this area dwindling, my final contenders were a recent used Toyota Yaris or Mitsubishi Mirage.

The fruit of my search was a new 2019 Mirage LE CVT (50 kms on the odometer), purchased early August. Off-putting that it took this Mitsubishi dealer 2 1/2 years to sell their own Mirage vehicle, while only a week to sell my traded-in 2016 Chev Sonic. The Mirage to me seems one of the very few true descendants of the people’s car concept. I’ve added a ScanGauge fitted to a 3D printed bracket that just friction fits in the starter button hole. In the process of ordering 185/55x15”all-weather tires, I saw A-Team red line wheels, the right size for the Mirage, but on ordering found they’d been discontinued, so my marine-duty red pin striping of the standard Mitsubishi wheels is Plan B.

So far average fuel consumption on the Mirage has been 48.8 mpg (Imperial)/ 40.6 mpg (US) /5.8 LHK -- about 13% better than what I averaged with the Sonic. With driving in this region often either a fast motorway trip or grid-locked crawl on the same motorway, great mileage isn’t easy. Best ever from the Sonic was about 3 mpg (Imperial) inferior to best so far from the Mirage (54.3 mpg), not much difference. So I’ve traded the enjoyable punch of the turbo-charged engine for hoped-for reliability, one of those decisions you can never really evaluate as best. But I quite like the Mirage and appreciate this forum. Thanks!

Attachments: Photo of the car, 18 Lack tables in the trunk & room for more, Scangauge fitted, 3D printer Scangauge bracket stl file zipped in case anyone wishes to use it.

[7milesout]

Wow. Those wheels look great on your car. And I'm familiar with .stl files and 3D printing. I don't have any plan to scangauge mine or I would use your .stl file with GREAT appreciation.

I have a really nice tachometer I bought for my antique car. But the bracket I idea I had to mount it didn't work out. However, your bracket has kicked off an idea in my head. Thanks!

[Little Magician]

A very nice introduction, thank you for telling us how you got to Mirage ownership. Do you do a lot of driving and transporting items? I'm new to the Mirage, myself. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of the 2012 Honda Fit I had.

[Fummins]

My first car was a $90 1957 Volkswagen beetle. Along with owning that car, came the concept of ‘the people’s car’: a basic, unpretentious, reliable car for ordinary folk. That’s stuck with me. Since the 1970’s, smaller hatchbacks have been my preferred vehicles. Up to a few months ago, our car had been a 2016 Chev Sonic LT turbo hatchback. Starting in June, I became aware that this perfect-in-so-many-ways car had the potential to give considerable grief brought on by turbo-related issues and a few months later, started considering alternative hatchback options that promised reliability. With choices in this area dwindling, my final contenders were a recent used Toyota Yaris or Mitsubishi Mirage.

The fruit of my search was a new 2019 Mirage LE CVT (50 kms on the odometer), purchased early August. Off-putting that it took this Mitsubishi dealer 2 1/2 years to sell their own Mirage vehicle, while only a week to sell my traded-in 2016 Chev Sonic. The Mirage to me seems one of the very few true descendants of the people’s car concept. I’ve added a ScanGauge fitted to a 3D printed bracket that just friction fits in the starter button hole. In the process of ordering 185/55x15”all-weather tires, I saw A-Team red line wheels, the right size for the Mirage, but on ordering found they’d been discontinued, so my marine-duty red pin striping of the standard Mitsubishi wheels is Plan B.

So far average fuel consumption on the Mirage has been 48.8 mpg (Imperial)/ 40.6 mpg (US) /5.8 LHK -- about 13% better than what I averaged with the Sonic. With driving in this region often either a fast motorway trip or grid-locked crawl on the same motorway, great mileage isn’t easy. Best ever from the Sonic was about 3 mpg (Imperial) inferior to best so far from the Mirage (54.3 mpg), not much difference. So I’ve traded the enjoyable punch of the turbo-charged engine for hoped-for reliability, one of those decisions you can never really evaluate as best. But I quite like the Mirage and appreciate this forum. Thanks!

Attachments: Photo of the car, 18 Lack tables in the trunk & room for more, Scangauge fitted, 3D printer Scangauge bracket stl file zipped in case anyone wishes to use it.

Welcome!
Can confirm Sonics are junk as far as reliability goes compared to the Mirage. I have 3 broken sonics(non turbo) in the shop right now all for different reasons. They do handle better than Mirage's but leak oil and coolant from everywhere and always have the engine light on for some reason.

[Chrisb]

A very nice introduction, thank you for telling us how you got to Mirage ownership. Do you do a lot of driving and transporting items? I'm new to the Mirage, myself. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of the 2012 Honda Fit I had.

Thank you for your welcome. Being retired and able to do many errands by foot, no, I don't do much driving. The 18 Lack tables were for someone who doesn't have a nearby Ikea. I too had a Honda Fit, 2009, now owned by my grandson.

[88coltturbo]

Waves from Ottawa!

[mohammad]

always nice to see another forum member from the GTA(greater toronto area).

[dspace9]

My first car was a $90 1957 Volkswagen beetle. Along with owning that car, came the concept of ‘the people’s car’: a basic, unpretentious, reliable car for ordinary folk. That’s stuck with me.

Well said, that pretty much sums up my reasons for buying my Mirage new 8 years ago. Has been a good unpretentious grocery hauler, and commuter to work. Does that with the lowest gas cost for 8 years has added up. Gas prices go up and down like a yo yo so Mirage is always a winner at the gas station. I am filled up and gone while others are still filling up lol. The maneuverability of the Mirage is amazing.

[7milesout]

Mirage is always a winner at the gas station.

We Mirage owners need a rear window sticker that says something like,

"ALWAYS WINS! At the gas station..."

[dspace9]

Yes! And add an asterisk, * "does not win any races, however.."