Mirage & 323 austina questions

[milo]

G'day
ok, im looking at either a Mitsubishi Mirage
or mazda 323 austina hatch
i know on most models of the austina the rear seats fold down
but im not sure on mirage
also what are these cars like for fuel ie im getting auto
and cd players, i know some mazdas have the indash stacker
but im not sure what the mirage have, although id probably upgrade it later
on
-_-_-
milo

[Brenden Will]

I've just replaced my Hyundai 95 S-Coupe with a 2002 323 Astina. If your
just after a shopping trolley/run about? The Astina will do the trick. Best
run so far on mine 1.8lt is 620k's aircon on (55lt). Probably could be more
as my Mrs is a lead foot. Every car we own she gets about 50-150k's less per
tank than I do. I save my agression for the XB I drag race.

The Astina's have the option of an in dash 6 stacker or single disc. I
didn't go for one with electric windows due to my kids. They wreck
everything!

Something too look out for I've found is the glue within the steering wheel
after being hit with sunlight allows the steering wheels outer cover to come
loose. It's an easy fix if injecting loctite via a needle and syringe.

The run down of a 2002 Astina hatach is -:

Drives nice compared to my Hyundai S-coupe (supposed sports car). Also
drives better than my EL and a Hyundai Lantra. It's not bad for a 4cyl to
100kph.
Feel's well balance in corners for the type of car it is.
Gears and positive but I consider them chunky. So definately no race car
there. The S-Coupes box was better with changes.
Mines got 100,000 on it which I consider high milage for it's age. It still
drives like new. I drove the same model car but $5000-$7000 dearer to
compare.
I can't coment on an auto as I don't believe in having autos behind anything
that doesn't make decent torque. So larger CI engines apply. I perfer manual
only with 4cyls.
Fuel consumption I am sure I can improve on.
I don't like the fact it sits on 3000rpm @ 100kph. I would have liked about
2500rpm. Although my Hyundai did okay in the 220,000k's (9 years) I had it.
Mines had a new set of tyres. I'm pretty sure this is it's 1st new set since
new.
Exhaust is untouched (unlike my EL falcon thats due for it's third system
now)
Boot space is large compared to my EL. On the EL I can't put much in due it
not being tall enough.
Seats are quite comfortable on a long drive.
You can seat 4 adults comfortable in the car. Which in quite a few other
small cars I know of can't. Something I did look out for.
4 wheel disc brakes are nice.
I can see a maintenance area being the handbrake. Why? In the 2 weeks we've
had ours the adjustments changed. This may be due to my wife man handling
it?

Maintenance wise :

I can see the leads being costly when they need replacing.


Any other questions on the Astina? I'd be happy to answer.

A mates girl friend's has a 97-98. Can't remember whether it's a 97 or 98
model. Her's has been hassle free she tells me. She's had hers since new.

Brenden

"milo" <mrmiloman2006@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:pgpae.21000$5F3.9679@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
> G'day
> ok, im looking at either a Mitsubishi Mirage
> or mazda 323 austina hatch
> i know on most models of the austina the rear seats fold down
> but im not sure on mirage
> also what are these cars like for fuel ie im getting auto
> and cd players, i know some mazdas have the indash stacker
> but im not sure what the mirage have, although id probably upgrade it
> later
> on
> -_-_-
> milo
>
>

[AJS]

"milo" <mrmiloman2006@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:pgpae.21000$5F3.9679@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
> G'day
> ok, im looking at either a Mitsubishi Mirage
> or mazda 323 austina hatch
> i know on most models of the austina the rear seats fold down
> but im not sure on mirage
> also what are these cars like for fuel ie im getting auto
> and cd players, i know some mazdas have the indash stacker
> but im not sure what the mirage have, although id probably upgrade it
> later
> on

323 FAR better (If you bought a Mirage you would be a moron). I've got a bit
of experience with both. Hard to say about the fuel EC since the 323 had a
choice of motors. I would expect the Mirage to be slightly better but have
less power.


AJS

[Toby Ponsenby]

On Sat, 23 Apr 2005 13:36:14 GMT, Brenden Will wrote:

> I can see a maintenance area being the handbrake. Why? In the 2 weeks we've
> had ours the adjustments changed. This may be due to my wife man handling
> it?

Fit electric horn under drivers seat.
Connect via a relay to the bulb circuit for the handbrake warning
light.
This or using such a circuit to trigger an engine cut-out when an
attempt to move the vehicle is made are the best methods of stopping
hand-brake abuse as practiced by a certain well defined group of
drivers.

--
Toby.
quidquid latine dictum
sit, altum viditur

[Dan---]

"milo" <mrmiloman2006@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:pgpae.21000$5F3.9679@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
> G'day
> ok, im looking at either a Mitsubishi Mirage
> or mazda 323 austina hatch
> i know on most models of the austina the rear seats fold down
> but im not sure on mirage
> also what are these cars like for fuel ie im getting auto
> and cd players, i know some mazdas have the indash stacker
> but im not sure what the mirage have, although id probably upgrade it
later

Either the 323 or look at a Corolla.

--
Regards Dan