Mitsubishi Problems

It appears to be an intermittent problem, and one that is very difficult to diagnose from a distance. If it went into limp-home mode then it is likely to be an electronic issue, and there could be any number of causes. Your best course of action is to persist with the dealer and trust that they will ultimately isolate the cause.

Buying a car sight unseen is not a good idea. I would go for on of the big three: HiLux, Triton, or Courier. They are all much of a muchness when you get to the used car market. The important things are service history, odo reading, and previous use.

It sounds like it could be the fuel supply; check the fuel filter, fuel pressure, and the injectors. It’s a common-rail diesel engine and they are prone to injector wear.

Mitsubishi doesn't provide a towing rating for the Mirage, so it's not recommended that you tow with it. If you do choose the tow with it you should check with your insurance company, as you might be in breach of the conditions of your policy.

If you want a cheap and reliable small car go for something like a Hyundai i30, Kia Rio, Toyota Corolla, or Mitsubishi Lancer.

You’ve pretty much covered the field there, so it should come down to what you want from your car. Do you want comfort, safety, fuel efficiency, offroad capability, cabin space? If you are mostly driving on the highway, then a diesel SUV is probably the best bet. I would rule out a dual-cab ute because of comfort, unless you need the flexibility a ute gives you. I would rule out a hybrid, they’re not at their most efficient on the highway; they’re better suited to town use. Based on your annual mileage I wouldn’t keep the car any more than 3-4 years, that way you’ll have a decent resale value when you get out of it.

The Mazda3 and Holden Astra are both good alternative choices, but you could also consider a Toyota Corolla or Kia Rio or Cerato.

Take it back again and tell them their lubrication didn’t fix it. Lubrication is only a temporary fix; it’s not something that will work long term. Ask them to have another go at it.

If you don’t feel you’re getting any satisfaction, go directly to Mitsubishi (1300 13 12 11) and lodge a warranty claim for a lasting repair.

It's hard to recommend a car that would suit you without knowing more about what you want to do with it, but I would suggest you avoid sporty models, low-profile tyres, and consider an SUV such as a Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Qashqai, or Renault Captur.