Most popular Mitsubishi Mirage for sale

I purchased this vehicle used in 2003 (w 20K on the odometer). I now have 150K on the vehicle, so I think I can attest to the quality of the Mirage. I average (primarily highway) 32-36mpg ( a little higher on country roads//lower speed limit).
The Good:
Very comfortable inside
6 way adjustable driver's seat
Killer AC/Heat and very nice sounding factory stereo
Relibility( a must for me due to my high mileage weekly commutes)
Excellent mileage
Ease of service (oil changes//spark plugs//air filter. etc)
Smooth engine/Transmission

The Bad:
No Tach (not essential but would be nice)
poor placement of cub holders (condensation puddles)
Paint chips easily
Rear drums (no safety problems but others in class have disks standard)

Other than preventative maintenance, I have replaced (1) A/C high pressure line(at 105K), bled the brake system and replaced rotors/pads @115k, and changed the windshild at 130k do to minute scratches from years of commuting. That's it. I cannot stress how reliable this vehicle has been for me. For a long work commute, a new driver, or someone who wants econmy without paying for more expensive compact cars (Toyota/Honda), the Mirage is a smart used car choice.

I drive on average 450-550 miles a week for work. I travel all over the region, on roads ranging from interstate, highway, back roads, mountainous, curvaceous, to stop and go, bumper to bumper. Over the 3 years ive owned it I have gotten on average 42.68 mpg combined city/highway. During the summer when the air is warm I recorded a best of 45.7 mpg on the interstate. For a 10 year old econobox it will still walk the dog on a new base model civic, and get better mileage. Take those hybrids and cram em, $20K more for 10 more mpg than a mirage or similar car built years ago. Anyway, I'm not here to rant.

What I dislike:
It was not offered with rear disk brakes. Even though the rear shoes have lasted 93k miles so far, I still prefer disks all the way around.
The ignition system is a little dumb. It has two spark plugs that are fired via wires, and the other two are fired directly from the coil pack. It should have direct fire on all 4 cylinders for a consistent spark. So far no troubles out of it however.
Air conditioning is standard. I hate that in any car. AC is for weenies.
Interior patterns were a bit funky, but not intolerable.
No cruise control on my particular car. :(
No sunroof (not that big of a deal)
I also hate airbags, (and seat belts). But because transportation laws are communist they're in everything now. so I guess that doesn't count.

What I like:
It looks good. It has nice lines and a sportier appearance.
It has plenty of room. I have to carry alot of stuff around for work and have yet to run out of room.
Its comfortable. After an 8 hour ride I dont feel as though I've been beaten by cheap plastic.
It's powerful enough for a daily driver.
No power windows, locks, mirrors, seats, etc. Im not lazy, so I dont need that stuff, and weight saving is the key to efficiency.
NO ABS! ABS is dangerous IMO, and there again weight savings.

What I love:
Fuel mileage.
Practicality.
It's fun to drive, it's very predictable and handles very well for what it is.
It's simple and reliable. in 3 years and almost 100k miles not one problem. Maintenance is the key to longevity. It takes 5 minutes to change the oil with no busted knuckles. That means alot to me.


They say mirages didn't have a very good safety rating, especially in head on collision tests. I dont care about saftey ratings quite frankly. ANY vehicle, no matter how big or small is dangerous to operate, and there is always a situation for any vehicle to have a weakness. Most aren't apparent until it's too late. So if you plan to be doing a lot of head on collisions I might suggest another car. Other wise the mirage was and is a great DD, and potentially much more.

-Anobii

I use mine to get to and from work - and really not much else.

For this purpose it is perfect.

Good on gas, responsive engine and reliable - even though it is a small car it will start even if covered in snow and still get you to work.

The heating device in the car, could warm up a bus - SUPER fast and gets the car warm in no time.

Really, the car is much better when you are behind the wheel.

Exterior quality is below average - and the paint used on the car shows all scratches. Not impressive.
- but now this is a cheap car - that goes for a lot less than comparable civics. And it will still get you there every time.