Faults:

Occasional leak onto the right hand floor, possibly influenced by the climate controls.

General Comments:

My Mirage has performed perfectly for 9 years. Nothing has ever broken or failed anywhere. I just replace the oil regularly, and drive it with respect. I do not thrash it, and rarely drive above 110km / hr, even through she cruises at up to 130 very nicely.

It have got as good as 5.5litres / 100 km, when driving with a fairly light foot, and plenty of 100km / hr highway speed. It handles freeway speeds well. It is more quiet than say a Hyundai Excel that I drove a bit around 2000, possibly due partly to better gearing.

I had the timing belt replaced at about 150,000 km, and tyres about 4 times now. Absolutely nothing else has been touched, not even spark plugs, not the air-conditioning gas - nothing. Everything seems as per the day I bought it.

I never liked changing up into second gear; it seemed a bit tight, but the dealers contended that this was normal. I doubted it, but it was not serious enough to pursue, and over time it perhaps improved a little, else I got used to it.

Its been outside a lot, but even the paint is still very good.

I put seat covers on when new. I replaced them last month, and the seats looked like new. All the interior is as new, except for a few scuffs.

I put a tow-bar on, and have towed up to its recommended maximum 400kgs quite often for a couple of years. The trailer's weight was checked at the local tip weighbridge. I towed carefully, and while travel was somewhat sedate, it handled it well enough for its size, and I do not believe I wore anything out. I also carried a lot of stuff on the roof, with one front rack and a rear rack attached to a bike-rack off the tow-bar.

When towing, carrying on the roof, and carrying passengers, I take it easy, and the car has then handled it well. Performance is modest with this extra load, plus with the air conditioning on. I can imagine this being a great car with a 1600 engine like what they raced here with, or an 1800 like in the U.S. As it is, it wins big-time on economy.

I have sold it to my daughter now as her first car. I expect that she will get a good year or six, trouble-free out of it.

General Comments:

I purchased the car new in 1999, and it has since traveled 105,000 km.

The car is extremely reliable. I have had no problems with it.

The mirage is fuel efficient. It has a 50L fuel tank, which allows a range of between 650km (city) and 750km (country).

The engine performs well and feels rather spirited.

Last year I drove from Sydney to Queensland, approximately a 2000km return trip, which the mirage easily negotiated.

I have pushed the engine to an indicated 190km/h, yet the car felt very stable.

The 5sp gear box is light and easy to use.

Handling is also excellent.

I cannot find any real faults with the car. I am very happy with it, and I will most probably keep it for another 2 years. I would definitely recommend this car to someone looking for cheap reliable transport.