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Old 05-12-2015, 11:37 AM   #1
428CobraJet
 
Drives: '09 Yaris 3dr, 13 F150rcsb 5.0
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test drove a fit...mirage...and a yaris

A friend and I drove my much loved Yaris car shopping yesterday. He was interested in seeing the Mirage because of the price point. I wanted to revisit the Fit due to the standard equipment. We both knew how good my Yaris had been. Two guys looking to purchase 2 cars...a more basic and a "more frill laden" within next 6 mos. Maybe sooner.

The 2 Yaris we drove (an LE and an SE) were both auto. (Gulf States :-( ). The dealer was willing to order a 5 speed. Tight. Silent engine. Single wiper worked great (it was raining. ..but we weren't testing Dodge Challenger Hellcats). Car was solid and comfortable. Cup holder pretty retro and miniscule and low. I don't particularly like the gray soft material on the dash). No tach on LE. No backup cameras. Seemed exceptionally well built. Roomy front and rear.

The Mirage ES was ....low end. Seats too soft. Suspension too soft. Does this car have sway bars? Engine was fine. We drove the CVT in the more premium model (chrome vents on front fenders....lights in turn signals) . Effective back up camera. Car didn't seem noisy. I was expecting worse from 3 cyl and 74hp. Engine was transparent...unless under hard acceleration and doing the CVT thing. Seat room in front was marginal. The car's paint looked fine. The paint is only where you touch. Gas filler? Primer. Wheel wells? Primer. The car lets you know where you didn't put the money. I think this car would make driving less sporty. Maybe the stick might help....but the suspension is just not a willing partner. As i just replaced struts and shocks on my Yaris...i was questioning whether the Mirage also needed this repair! Also...'the woman within the dash' kept yelling slow down too fast!

Lastly, we drove the Fit....and it just wasn't the slam dunk i was expecting. 2nd time to drive one. Drove an LX. Sat in an EX. Beautiful dash. Nice seats (especially EX). Exceptional manual gearbox. Loud and underpowered engine. Poverty floor covering. Seemed noisier than Yaris (I dont believe the LX comes with a rear package tray which probably contributed). There was a feeling the design was to minimize costs (the way the door frames, lower windshield plastic, wheel wells were detailed. Backup camera. Nice drivers cup holder. Center armrest worthless (4 inches too low). Packaging was exceptional...a Fit trademark.

Just my thoughts. Still looking.
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Old 05-12-2015, 01:11 PM   #2
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I'd say you're spot on with your descriptions. The thing I noticed about the Mirage with the CVT was its shaking in neutral. It was like a paint shaker!

And yes, the Fit is a noisy critter! I didn't expect that from Honda.

You may want to have your friend check out the Chevrolet Spark if he/she is looking at a low-price vehicle. I'd buy a Spark over a Mirage any day. Like you said, Mirage was soft and low end. It'd probably be quite dependable, however. I don't know how the long-term durability/reliability would be on a Spark, but it'd probably be find, too.
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Old 05-12-2015, 05:38 PM   #3
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Thanks! I mentioned a Spark to my buddy, also.

Additionally, I found that the local Nissan dealer has a Juke Nismo rs 6 speed for rent...I'm taking it out Thursday for a long day trip. Since the FiestaST is on my radar, the hot Juke could be birds of a feather. Apparently there are deals out there on them.
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Old 05-12-2015, 05:41 PM   #4
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The LE Yaris has no tach? That's not right even as an auto, how were the seats compared to your Yaris?
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Old 05-12-2015, 05:48 PM   #5
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Felt good. I think i would have noticed had they felt inferior to my 09. And although i think the headrest looks peculiar in the brochure, i don't get that feeling in the flesh. I think it was an LE. The SE seats look better. The Fit seats look the best. As a fat guy...i felt the Mirage seats were already on the verge of a soggy mess.
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Old 05-12-2015, 05:50 PM   #6
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Thank you good sir.
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Old 05-12-2015, 09:21 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 428CobraJet View Post
Tight. Silent engine. Single wiper worked great (it was raining. ..but we weren't testing Dodge Challenger Hellcats). Car was solid and comfortable. Cup holder pretty retro and miniscule and low. I don't particularly like the gray soft material on the dash). No tach on LE. No backup cameras. Seemed exceptionally well built. Roomy front and rear.
No tach on the LE . No tachs on automatics, I guess, except the SE . Plus, unlike Canada, no manual transmission 5-doors except the SE . Still....exceptionally well built .

Quote:
Also...'the woman within the dash' kept yelling slow down too fast!
That alone would keep me from buying the car....and my normal speed would never even trip that voice.
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Old 05-12-2015, 09:27 PM   #8
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Quote:
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And although i think the headrest looks peculiar in the brochure, i don't get that feeling in the flesh.
I like the headrest in my '14.
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i felt the Mirage seats were already on the verge of a soggy mess.
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Old 05-13-2015, 06:41 PM   #9
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http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...m-partnership/
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Old 05-16-2015, 11:15 AM   #10
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Fwiw...just finished 2 days in the Juke Nismo rs. Wish we could get a Yaris with those seats. And red tach. 650 miles. 26mpg. Great power. I was first renter. Super gearbox with great ratios. Did I mention the seats!
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Old 05-16-2015, 04:40 PM   #11
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How do you like the styling of the Juke?
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Old 05-16-2015, 04:46 PM   #12
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Love it! Especially in white nismo rs trim
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Old 05-16-2015, 04:52 PM   #13
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Curiosity, does the juke run on 87?Are you still going to test out the Fiesta ST?
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Old 05-16-2015, 04:54 PM   #14
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I did put 3 tanks of 87 in it. And i have. FiestaST is fun. ..but its low slung. And cheaper. Not sure how good the Fiesta bones are.
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Old 05-17-2015, 01:44 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LTHatch View Post
Curiosity, does the juke run on 87?Are you still going to test out the Fiesta ST?
Juke requires premium.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Power...ke&srchtyp=ymm
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Old 05-17-2015, 02:08 PM   #16
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Hmmmmm. And that shows the FiestaST is regular.
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