tonymil
Well-known member
After reading everything I could about this car and taking three test drives, I finally took the plunge and bought a MiEV. I bought the car off the dealer's lot so I got a nice discount on it. It's the ES model - black -with the cold weather package and I had the usb port installed. I also ordered some 3M decals but those haven't arrived yet. I picked the car up Saturday afternoon.
I also bought one of the dealer's Eaton chargers from him for $800. I told him I was going to order a charger from Home Depot for $900 and he offered one of his. Apparently the Mitsubishi parent company required him to buy three chargers and he said that two was more than enough. I'm not sure if this was a good move on my part. He was supposed to give me all the ownership material including warranty papers, but apparently he forgto to include them. What kind of warranty are other owners of Level 2 chargers getting?
Here are some of the things I've learned about the car:
* The remote heat/ac on/off doesn't work when the car is being charged on the level 2 charger. However the manual states it doesn't work during rapid charging. I didn't think Level 2 was considered rapid charging. Anyone else notice this?
* The cd player doesn't let you shuffle songs. You can skip and scan, but I don't see any way to shuffle.
* The ipod does work in the ES model with the optional usb port. You just have to press the cd button - press it twice if there is a cd in the cd player.
* Once the ipod is connected to the car stereo, you can't control the ipod from the ipod itself. So you have to set up what you want to hear before connecting it to the car. However, you can alter the music you listen to from the car stereo dials. The up/down seek buttons and the volume buttons allow you to select artist/album/song. However, once again, there is no way to choose shuffle from the car dials, you have to do that from the ipod.
* The a/c gets very cold! So if you turn the a/c on remotely don't wait too long before getting in your car. It'll be an icebox if you wait the full half hour that the a/c will stay on.
* The heater is very weak. The air was only tepid after a good while of waiting. The heated seats though get very hot very quickly. That will be a big help in winter.
* Others have already posted that the radio clock can only be set for military time. Annoying.
* Someone here has posted that no matter how far you move the driver's side mirror left, you have a big blind spot. I didn't find that to be the case. I'm 5' 10" and don't need the seat all the way back, so maybe that has helped me, but I'm able to see cars on the left side transition from rear view mirror to side view to my peripheral vision. Not a problem.
* This item was very important to me; I can fit my golf bag across the back of the trunk without putting the back seats down! I took the driver and 3 wood out of the bag and it fit snuggly in the trunk. I also bought a Sun Mountain micro cart and it fits on top of my golf bag. The driver and 3 wood then go right across everything. So almost all my golf stuff fits in the trunk with back seats up and even tilted back!
* The warranty includes a three-year free tow to the closest Mitsubishi dealer if the car is disabled. I think there's a car mileage max on this warranty too but I can't remember what it is.
* I don't see any info on rotating the tires and the salesman didn't know if they get rotated and what schedule. Does anyone know?
* The difference between driving local roads and highway is huge! I live just north of Albany, NY and after picking up the car yesterday I drove to Saratoga today to play golf - a 25 mile trip each way. Talk about range anxiety! I started with a full charge and 65 miles of estimated range. I started on the highway (Route 87/the Northway) went 5 exits then got off the highway and took Route 9 the rest of the way. The range remaining almost stood still after I got off the highway. I got to the golf course after 25 miles and still had 45 miles of range remaining. After golf I took the highway all the way home and finished the trip with 14 miles remaining.
* The car definitely gets attention. Nobody around here has heard of it, people don't even know Mitsubishi makes an ev. I'm looking forward to educating people and encouraging them to check the car out. The decals should help. I ordered the "lower ev stripe" in blue/black for the sides of the car and I order a vanity plate that says "NOSMOG".
That's all I have for now. Tomorrow is myy first day driving the MiEV to work. I'm actually excited to go to work Monday!
I also bought one of the dealer's Eaton chargers from him for $800. I told him I was going to order a charger from Home Depot for $900 and he offered one of his. Apparently the Mitsubishi parent company required him to buy three chargers and he said that two was more than enough. I'm not sure if this was a good move on my part. He was supposed to give me all the ownership material including warranty papers, but apparently he forgto to include them. What kind of warranty are other owners of Level 2 chargers getting?
Here are some of the things I've learned about the car:
* The remote heat/ac on/off doesn't work when the car is being charged on the level 2 charger. However the manual states it doesn't work during rapid charging. I didn't think Level 2 was considered rapid charging. Anyone else notice this?
* The cd player doesn't let you shuffle songs. You can skip and scan, but I don't see any way to shuffle.
* The ipod does work in the ES model with the optional usb port. You just have to press the cd button - press it twice if there is a cd in the cd player.
* Once the ipod is connected to the car stereo, you can't control the ipod from the ipod itself. So you have to set up what you want to hear before connecting it to the car. However, you can alter the music you listen to from the car stereo dials. The up/down seek buttons and the volume buttons allow you to select artist/album/song. However, once again, there is no way to choose shuffle from the car dials, you have to do that from the ipod.
* The a/c gets very cold! So if you turn the a/c on remotely don't wait too long before getting in your car. It'll be an icebox if you wait the full half hour that the a/c will stay on.
* The heater is very weak. The air was only tepid after a good while of waiting. The heated seats though get very hot very quickly. That will be a big help in winter.
* Others have already posted that the radio clock can only be set for military time. Annoying.
* Someone here has posted that no matter how far you move the driver's side mirror left, you have a big blind spot. I didn't find that to be the case. I'm 5' 10" and don't need the seat all the way back, so maybe that has helped me, but I'm able to see cars on the left side transition from rear view mirror to side view to my peripheral vision. Not a problem.
* This item was very important to me; I can fit my golf bag across the back of the trunk without putting the back seats down! I took the driver and 3 wood out of the bag and it fit snuggly in the trunk. I also bought a Sun Mountain micro cart and it fits on top of my golf bag. The driver and 3 wood then go right across everything. So almost all my golf stuff fits in the trunk with back seats up and even tilted back!
* The warranty includes a three-year free tow to the closest Mitsubishi dealer if the car is disabled. I think there's a car mileage max on this warranty too but I can't remember what it is.
* I don't see any info on rotating the tires and the salesman didn't know if they get rotated and what schedule. Does anyone know?
* The difference between driving local roads and highway is huge! I live just north of Albany, NY and after picking up the car yesterday I drove to Saratoga today to play golf - a 25 mile trip each way. Talk about range anxiety! I started with a full charge and 65 miles of estimated range. I started on the highway (Route 87/the Northway) went 5 exits then got off the highway and took Route 9 the rest of the way. The range remaining almost stood still after I got off the highway. I got to the golf course after 25 miles and still had 45 miles of range remaining. After golf I took the highway all the way home and finished the trip with 14 miles remaining.
* The car definitely gets attention. Nobody around here has heard of it, people don't even know Mitsubishi makes an ev. I'm looking forward to educating people and encouraging them to check the car out. The decals should help. I ordered the "lower ev stripe" in blue/black for the sides of the car and I order a vanity plate that says "NOSMOG".
That's all I have for now. Tomorrow is myy first day driving the MiEV to work. I'm actually excited to go to work Monday!
You and WeeJohn can compare notes.
