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Mohamed sekekGreater Melbourne (Metropolitan), VIC
!!! Best car Ever !!!
I bought this car in 2014, never had a single problem, in 3 years ran like a bullet, cheap to run, very easy to drive. Buy it your will never lose.
Purchased in October 2021 for $850.00.
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MandaSydney Surrounds, NSW
- 13 reviews
- 2 likes
The best little car!
My first car was a Mitsubishi Mirage 2003 model second hand that I learnt to drive in I’ve only had my licence for about 6 yrs and I am also a bit older and had no idea how to drive! Never had one problem whatsoever! Excellent on fuel. I got my Mitsubishi Mirage 2003 serviced every 10,000kms and never had 1 problem. A bit small was my only issue and also being a 2 door was a bit hard to get in and out of the back. I would highly recommend this beauty of a car to anyone that is learning to drive, so so easy.
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GeorgianaVIC, 3461
- 4 reviews
- 4 likes
Best car I've ever owned
I purchased this car when it was six months old in 2000. I have driven it most of the way up the east cost of Australia and extensively around Victoria and it has been a very reliable car. I have serviced it regularly but until a few years ago, that was really only twice a year. It costs very little to service and the most I've ever spent on it was $700 when it needed a major service (nothing out of the ordinary, just parts that wear out over time). I've never broken down in it and I've just had to replace the battery every few years (which is ...Read more
to be expected) and being a girl, I have run out of petrol a couple of times! Silly me... The interior is very comfortable, still after nearly 16 years. I have carted furniture in it and moved house a few times in it. It's surprisingly roomy when it comes to packing stuff in. The air-conditioning still works beautifully, I did upgrade the stereo to a better one after about 10 years. Speakers are brilliant. It is a bit noisy on the freeway but just turn the music up! Runs on the smell of an oily rag. Really! It is very cheap to run. I am very glad they started making these again because they are a great car. I heard people say Mitsubishi were known for 'missing bits' but not true with this car.1 comment
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Find out how Mitsubishi Mirage CE compares to other Hatchbacks
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SlazmoSouth East Queensland, QLD
- 238 reviews
- 1 like
- Mirage CE (1996-2003)
- Selected Review
Wish I never sold it!
I owned my Mirage (4G15) when I got my licence back in 2000 and sold it back in 2006 with 56,000km's on the odometer - what would I say about that car??? "AMAZING"...
I had the car for 6 years and did all sorts of things with it, from road trips to short drives to work and back and even travelled to Uni for all those years - It never missed a beat and the whole package of the car engineering wise was formidable even in today's construction abilities 'the car is bomb proof'! Mitsubishi has lost its abilities to manufacture decent cars - this ...Read more
shows in todays Lancers, Pajero and Triton's. I wasnt one of these kids that added wings and the 'looks' to a car, but I added Speedy Holotype R wheels in 16.5 with good tyres to match and lowered the car with King Spring's Control Rate springs which gave the car a good posture and better handling on the road. I gave it better sway bars both front and back with Whiteline adjustable sway bars and installed an engine / strut tower brace in the engine bay and a strut tower brace in the rear hatch, and played around with the engine also - a mild cam and irridium spark plugs and topgun leads from a upgraded Bosh dizzy. The exhaust was installed with a 4-2-1 extractors and a mild stainless steel system installed which gave it a surprisingly better response than standard! It did keep an excellent fuel consumption figure - the 4G15 engine was only a SOHC 16 Valve and was busy for most of its life - but was looked after with good quality oils and fuel and never struggled at all and never one claim of needing a mechanic! There is a MIVEC 1.6l 4G92 that made twice the power of the 4G15 but was never brought into Aus due to our fuel being poor and the market needing these 'go fast' Cyborg's. The Mirage was a solid car with McPherson strut suspension front and rear and had a very aerodynamic undercarriage which proved to be quiet on the road at highway speeds, the Mirage's from my time didnt have any air bags but relied heavily on structural safety and I never once felt unsafe while in that car - it did win quiet a few safety awards back in its time and sold a lot of units due to that fact. Interior was bland, however very functional and structural with no soft spots and bits that would come away eg: current Lancers... The seats were comfortable and it had a tilt adjustable steering wheel which was good for my height. The doors are like wings - they're quiet long, as to give people space to get into the rear seats - the Mirage will comfortably seat 4 people and 5 if light enough as the car will ride on its bump stops in the rear.5 comments
Just noticed that the build dates for the last generation 4 Mirage was 1995 to 2004 and not what Product review has put up...
I just noticed that this 2013 mirage has a mivec motor, something you said it didn't, um perhaps you got that wrong ?
The new Mivec motor is not the same as the previous Mivec motor and should not be considered the same. Do you even know what Mivec / modular displacement is?
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Rob P
- 2 reviews
- 2 likes
Basic but well engineered car
I bought a mirage 6 years ago for a cheap daily to get to work and uni cheaply, and has been good. It has power windows, mirrors, steering and a.c. Mine was not optioned with airbags or abs brakes. It Its very simple to work on and service yourself. I did many interstate trips with this and it has enough ground clearance to be driven on gravel roads without any damage. At around 230k I replaced the original 1.5 4g15 engine with a 1.8 4g93 from a written off Lancer. I changed all engine gaskets, belts and consumables, swapped ecu and a few wiri...Read more
ng harnesses on the second hand engine and bolted it up to the 1.5 4g15 gearbox. This made it a much better car to drive especially with freeway driving. I have put another 60k on the car with this new engine and still this car has not given me a single drama everything works perfectly. As the mirage is more or less a hatchback version of a CE Lancer, parts are very easy to source and cheap. Anyone looking for a cheap reliable A to B machine this is it if you can find one thats been looked after go for it. Other nicer cars and motorbikes have come and gone for me but have always kept this. GOOD features of this car include excellent a.c, entertaining (but predictable) steering and handling, cheap feeling but still very well designed and put together interior, ridiculously reliable plus cheap & easy to maintain, faultless electrics, good fuel economy, good quality tires are cheap with standard wheels, its very light so excellent brake pad longevity. Components from many other Mitsubishi cars bolt straight up. BAD: Thin paint on the roof, unsuportive seats, unsafe in an accident, road noise, not the most glamorous used car on the market. The factory stereo and speakers are terrible, but I suspect most would have been swapped for better aftermarket stuff by now. In Japan this car had many factory interior, body and engine options but ADM models are very basic.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
sthajayMelbourne
- 6 reviews
- 1 like
2002 Mitsubishi Mirage Manual
Bought second hand 2002 Mitsubishi Mirage 5 speed manual 3 dr Hatchback on 07/02/2012 with 110000kms on the odo. Excellent small car, extremely agile, reliable, smooth gear shift and spacious. Fit dishwasher, bbq, tools, so much. Just normal engine oil, filters and brakes changes till 140000kms. Fuel economy 6.6 lts/100 kms pretty good even on busy city road. Trade in this year to bigger car, Mitsubishi Outlander.
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Pre 2003 Mirages are unbreakable
Hi,
I bought a 98 Mirage bought 5 years ago thinking that I will use and dump into scrap yard after few years. So I didn't do any service. Never changed the oil engine and etc. Ran 30K for 3 years and guess what, I never had any issues. It never disappointed me. After 3 years without any services done, I sold it to one my friend. Now this is his 2nd year with the car. He told me he has minor service (changed engine oil and air filter) and that's it for the last 5 years. Still running smooth and still water coming from exhausted as it is a new car. Unbelievable!!
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Not a patch on the old one.
Bought a new manual Mirage in February 1997 and it now has close to 150000kms on the clock. One of the best cars we'e ever owned. In 18 years it has cost almost zero apart from normal, regular maintenance.
Took a new one for a test drive - not a patch on the old one, even though the new one has all of the modern safety features. Dealer offered me $200 as a trade-in, which they'd probably sell for $4000.
So the old girl will stay in the stable and is probably good for another 18 years or more.
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Great car
I have the 2003 manual Mirage. It's the best little car, very fuel efficient and never misses a beat. Mines on 186000km at the moment and still going strong. Holds a lot for a small car and won't buy anything but a Mitsubishi again.
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Find out how Mitsubishi Mirage CE compares to other Hatchbacks
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markMelbourne
- 10 reviews
- 7 likes
Mirage comes out on top, Best little Engine Ever...235,000 km still faultless :)
Hi, In the past I had a stock Lancer 1.5 auto, and I drove from 20,000 km - 245,000 km and I never had a issue...
As long as you keep up with the service book services, these cars will never let you down... I know of many people that have owned a Lancer or Mirage 1.5, and all say they never had problems either...
Mirrage and Lancer are the same car & engine in the 1.5 liter, only difference is that one is a hatch and one is not.
Comes down to individual taste, but I think the Mirage is more sharper around the corners and a little bit ...Read more
lighter, so it feels better.... Lets not get this wrong THE MIRAGE AND LANCERS R NOT BMW, AUDI, they are economical cheap get around vehicles.... that's it... if you after safety, sports handling, and performance you are looking in the wrong place.... But if you want a car to get you from A to B, and never give you problems at a very little cost in operating, maintain, insurance, cheap wheels 13'inch - 15inch etc than this car is for you... 4 years ago I decided on downsizing from a Mitsubishi 380 (very good cars), I wanted to save petrol, maintains costs and not lose on resale value... I found a clean stock Mirage manual 5speed, one owner 10 years old trade in, all service history etc. Picked it up for $4000. Best $4000 I have ever spent on a vehicle...Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
PBR-Streetgang
- 4 reviews
- 9 likes
Great Run-around Car
"It's no compromise of standard features..." is not quite true, in fact the 97 Mirage is missing some that would be considered standard, like a CD Player or Power Steering. If you can do without these then the car is a good one for you, However if you are elderly i think the lack of Power Steering could be too big a negative to buy one.
Overall I find the car to be a good drive, reliable, and value for money.
Reliable, good fuel economy, fair bit of room for a small car.
No Power Steering, No CD Player
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Kate CaniAustralia
- 2 reviews
My dream car!
I always got envied someone driving mirage. I always find myself drooling whenever it passes by me. Perhaps, a year or 2, I can afford to buy one for myself. I was able to drive mirage when I insisted my friend that I will drive on our way to the beach. It was easy to control, the seat was comfortable, the aircon was seamless, everything was perfect! I envied my friend for having one. Until that I'm saving my money for 1. Finger crossed ^^
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OK
Good city car for BIG people, but gutless on highway when overtaking or going up hill with airconditioner on. (automatic) Very reliable, easy to manoevre, but is set a little too low.
As a BIG person this small car is ideal. Plenty of room in the front. Ideal as a single person car. Fuel is economical and I drive around 500km per week.
No power when overtaking. Quite dangerous in fact. The Airconditioner bolts (assembly to the fan) have come loose twice and lost completely once. As this fan also drive the power steering it was quite dangerous. Can't hear the radio on the highway with the roadnoise. Red paint fades badly even after protective coat.
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mitsiMELBOURNE
little beast
a great little car i recommend a mirage to any one anyday I've been on allot of road trips in mine i have had it for about 3 years now its my pride and joy. it is my first car i would buy another mirage anyday thay are about 1 of the best small cars made great on fuel i love it. Its very reliable never had not 1 problom with it its easy for parking. its well made very nice car to drive but sadly i'll have to sell my little beast soon as its a small car I'll miss it. any i looking for a cheap small car go and buy a mirage you will love it.
very reliable a great little car
road noise. A bit more power on big hills would be nice but its not too bad.
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Great first car
My girlfriend has had this car for the past three year, and will probably do so into the future. Its currently at 85,000km of which we've done about 25,000km. Its been a great little city buzz-box. Its surprisingly fuel efficient, always needing less than 7L/100km (and sometimes less than 6). The car itself is very easy to park as its quite small. The 1.5L engine is a fairly modern OHC 3V EFI design and its surprisingly grunty. It and will comfortably sit in fifth on the highway. I had no troubles going up steep hills with the aircon on. The ge...Read more
arbox is easy to use but reverse gear requires a firm shove. On the road the car is a great drive and regularly makes me smile. It handles very well. The interior of the car is quite basic. No electric windows or mirrors. No cruise control, no tacho, no ABS and a driver airbag only on ours. We replaced a stereo to use an AUX input which was very easy to do but the front speakers are god-awful. The front seats are comfortable, but very low. Getting out of the car requires a pull. The rear seats are a sad affair. There are no headrests and the rear speakers are positioned right next to the passengers. If the driver wants to tune some beats, you should consider ear plugs. The car came with keyless entry but annoyingly needs two presses of the unlock button to unlock both doors. Also the remote will not unlock the boot. As the car is a coupe it only has two doors. While this looks the goods, they are huge and can be difficult to open in narrow parking spaces. Also they will swing closed on a slight incline. We've had no failures in the car, other than an overdue battery replacement. Servicing costs should be low-normal. The safety of the car is fairly average, the only figure I found was 1.5 stars (out of five) from Euro NCAP for the '98 Lancer which is built on the same platform. Overall, this is a great car for a young person. Its cheap to run, good looking and handles well. Reliable. Efficient. Quick enough. Great handling. Noisy on the highway. Reverse gear stiff. Seats too low. No tacho. Has a timing belt.1 comment
16 Valve - 4 valves per cylinder off a single overhead cam - thats the 4G15 on the Gen 4 & 5 Mirage... With the reverse gear - double clutch it so the syncro's match each others speed.
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Find out how Mitsubishi Mirage CE compares to other Hatchbacks
Know better, choose better.
russ66AU
- 2 reviews
Excellent
Great reliable small car,a perfect run about thats easy to park,has a sporty look that stops most guys calling it a girls car,I would recommend the Mirage to any one.
Owned 2 Mirages A 1996 model and a 2000 model. Nice cars to drive build quality is great and I found them to very reliable vehicles. What your getting is really a hatch back lancer, I current model lancer 2 door hatch would be more appealing than a colt.
Would have been great to get the 2 Ltr Mivec engine that was available in japan
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redwagonAU
the best little car ive ever driven in
i have absolutely no idea why nor can i understand why this amazing little car has been discontinued, especially considering the prices of petrol and the environmental issues these days.
i have had my mirage since 1999 and i have ad one problem with it. it's also been smashed bashed and abused from every possible angle (not intentionally of course) and still works like a little trooper.
it's reliable, super comfortable for a person who is 5'10 and couldn't fit her legs under the wheel of any other small car, easy to park, drives smoothl...Read more
y as though on a buttered road, and gets up to 150km/h (not that i tried ... *cough*) without even shaking! i love my little car and when it goes to car heaven i will look for another, second hand one. Most highly recommend it absolutely everything. sincerely.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
PorkieAU
- 4 reviews
Best little car i've ever driven!
This was my very first car and I still think it's a great little car, easy to drive around town, super easy to park and great on fuel! Boot and cabin space was fantastic! Engine is built like a little tank, would take heaps of punishment and took modification very well! It also took to the highway very well and only struggled a little going up hills. Styling is great, especially with aftermarket wing and rims. Would highly recommend this car to anyone!
Reliable, inexpensive, fuel economy, alot of aftermarket modifications, and perfect for around town.
Drum brakes
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Excellent
As a single person I find the car more than adequate for my needs around town. Its got a zippy but economical engine. City speed handling is pretty good and for those who suggest that at high speed the handling is poor, perhaps need to slow down a little bit (please stick to the speed limit, and you wont have any complains at all)!
Servicing costs are low. Mitsubishi dealers' quoted an average of 220AUD in Melbourne (Just as a price guide), thats just the basic regular servicing and I fortunately have not had to have any major work done on t...Read more
his car at all. Requires little to none maintanence. The front of the car is identical to the more popular Lancer, which makes finding parts very easy and quite cheap too, should the need arise... Beware of modified cars - as most of the modifications are a bit dodgy and should only be trusted if they are done professionaly and also the car could be trashed by "heavy right foot drivers".Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
belindamcleod
- 2 reviews
Good
very good vehicle for a single girl as it runs smoothly and fits in to small spaces and is very reliable.
runs smoothly
3 doors
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Questions & Answers
Philasked
2002 mirage 1.5 manual. What are the timing belt service intervals please
1 answer
I do mine every 100,000 km - also change all the other belts and check water pump for leaks while doing the timing belt. replacing a leaky pump works out cheaper if done during the timing belt replacement.
Melanie Dissasked
I have a manual Mirage 2003 As the engine is fairly basic I'd like to do basic maintenance; oil change, oil filter replacement,brakes etc myself. Where is the best place to find D.I.Y. information?
Any ideas would be great, thanks!
No answers
Zakasked
Hi guys, which oil viscosity I should use for it?
10w30 or 10w40?
My car has done 140k & it's 2000 model
Thanks a lot
1 answer
25W50 mineral oil is the standard, but I have use Semi Synthetic 10W40 on my 2003 model without any problems.
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Georgiana
An update on my fabulous Mirage, it sadly came to an untimely end when it was written off whilst stationery in my driveway. Such a terrible shame but I did get nearly 16 very happy years out of this car!