Overall I am quite impressed by the new facelift Mirage. Yes the engine note intrudes a little when accelerating but in my opinion it is a characterful sound. I love the way the CVT gearbox works, keeping the revs as low as possible until you need more power, then increasing the revs only as high as necessary...
I was lucky enough to have a car purchased for me and this was the choice, and I think it really was the best choice out of all the possibilities fitting my mother's price range. It is loaded with features that make your day more enjoyable and make driving a breeze. As a newbie P-Plater is nice to feel safe in a car that has a five star ANCAP safety rating...
After test-driving, negotiating and choosing the accessories, a Mirage was the only choice for my fiancée who had been cradling her previous '99 model she called Mandy until the new one hit our shores. Being in the car industry myself (Sales and Service), I suggested she wait a few months until the dealer had some extra stock and would be in a better position to do a deal...
Saying the 1.2L three cylinder engine has power is pushing the boundaries of credulity. There's 57 kW at 6000 rpm and 100 Newton metres of torque at 4000 revs. Bolted onto a CVT transmission, you need a calendar to see 100 kmh. Overtaking moves are best left to straight roads of runway length and forget about anything like that going uphill...
I love my new Mirage; the cost of the car fits my budget. All I want for my city driving car is in the Mirage, except for two concerns that I hope can be addressed by Mitsubishi. 1) The noise of the rear end spoiler to where the third light of the vehicle is located. It creates a rattling sound when traversing a bit of rough road...