Humorous NY Times Article for a MB Diesel Owner - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Shortsguy1 · #1 05-28-2014, 12:37 AM

At some point recently, the NY Times reviewed the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage and didn't care for the vehicle much at all. They titled the article "It's cheap, but is it overpriced?". It is really quite a humorous article, because they hate the car so much.

But I decided to post here in DD because of their criticism of the incredibly slow acceleration of the car:

"Car and Driver magazine measured the Mirage crawling to 60 m.p.h. in 10.9 seconds. It’s the sort of acceleration that adds terror to every highway entrance and daring to any passing maneuver. A sense of peril is your constant driving companion."

My "fast diesel" achieves 0-60 in about 13 seconds and could have done it in 10.5 seconds when brand new. And my slow diesel takes about 30 seconds (supposedly 27 or 28 seconds when brand new). I was kind of amazed (saddened?) that the author found 11 seconds to be so dangerously slow. Do you think it is just my perspective as a diesel owner is off, or perhaps is the author exaggerating for the sake of humor?

The full article is here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/25/automobiles/autoreviews/its-cheap-but-is-it-overpriced.html
or if that doesn't work for you, just google: mitsubishi mirage nytimes.

ObsoElitist · #2 05-28-2014, 01:04 AM

The author never drove a VW Vanagon Diesel camper. 0-60 in about 45 seconds, but it felt like an hour.

strelnik · #3 05-28-2014, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ObsoElitist

The author never drove a VW Vanagon Diesel camper. 0-60 in about 45 seconds, but it felt like an hour.

The old bumper sticker for the Citroen 2CV used to say:

"0-40 mph in 47 seconds, but hey, who's counting?"

OM617YOTA · #4 05-28-2014, 09:38 AM

That acceleration is completely in line with other cars in that class.

pawoSD · #5 05-28-2014, 10:12 AM

Wow...11 seconds is slow? A prius takes close to that to hit 60 too.....as do many cars with CVT's....I know a Subaru forrester cvt is only slightly under 10 seconds pedal to the floor to 60....

My 190d 2.2 takes about 18-20ish seconds to 60 and I still leave most people behind at traffic lights....people really don't NEED the amount of power manufacturer's tell them they do.....

On most freeway onramps my 190d can usually be over 50-55 before I enter traffic....

My others can all easily be over the speed limit....even the 300SD....with ease. I've tested my 420SEL on a longer uphill ramp before and it was over 90mph when the ramp was ending.

dr.pitch · #6 05-28-2014, 10:15 AM

I paid attention this morning on my way to work how many people passed me (city streets, not highway) because my acceleration was too slow. Like they need to get around me out of principle, even though we'll be stopped next to each other at the next red. I laugh at their foolishness.

pawoSD · #7 05-28-2014, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr.pitch

I paid attention this morning on my way to work how many people passed me (city streets, not highway) because my acceleration was too slow. Like they need to get around me out of principle, even though we'll be stopped next to each other at the next red. I laugh at their foolishness.

Yeah I get that a lot. Though today someone passed me in their 2014 taurus and made it through a light and I ended up alone at it idling.

It hurt a little.

Simpler=Better · #8 05-28-2014, 10:37 AM

I'd love an 11 second car.

TheAlmightySam · #9 05-28-2014, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simpler=Better

I'd love an 11 second car.

Indeed. I was pretty pleased to hit 13.6 after a Bowden cable adjustment.

pawoSD · #10 05-28-2014, 12:05 PM

My bro's 2002 E320 will haul itself to 60 in sub 7 seconds.

Now that's pretty quick.

My 420SEL is around 8ish seconds...a very pleasing to the ear 8 seconds.

moon161 · #11 05-28-2014, 12:09 PM

I used to have a fast and busy merge on my commute that was more stressful w/ the benz 240D (65 HP) than the volvo 240d (115 HP). Solution was to build speed around the cloverleaf and brake as required when merging, and avoid stopping on the ramp whenever possible. It got to be fun. That was years ago. Otherwise, no stress. 75+ on the expressway every day, no complaints.

Shortsguy1 · #12 05-28-2014, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

...a very pleasing to the ear 8 seconds.

Just think how much more enjoyable it would be if it took you 30 seconds.

OM617YOTA · #13 05-28-2014, 12:31 PM

Different vehicles are optimized for different things. No one should complain about an subcompact economy car being slow - the compromise is that it gets good MPG.

My GTO does 0-60 in slightly over 5 seconds and the 1/4 mile in less than some of the 0-60 times mentioned here. The compromise is that the best tank I've ever seen was 18mpg, and single digit MPG is easy to achieve. It's optimized for performance and I'd be as amiss to complain about it's fuel economy as an economy car buyer would be to complain about a lack of power.

I'm really looking forward to an electric car.

GregMN · #14 05-28-2014, 02:31 PM

I like passing... fuel stations.
The most fun cars I remember driving were all under powered. When you arrived at your destination you had a sense of accomplishment.
Conservation of momentum = cornering as fast as possible.

There was a clover leaf interchange 1/2 way up a big pull out of the Minnesota River valley that I had taken over 1000 times in an Audi 5000 diesel ( 70? hp ). I knew the exact max. speed I could enter the corner, where I could go WOT and hold it for the duration of the corner. I had 2 people fail after passing me just before the entrance to the cloverleaf. Both had followed in my sooty wake through traffic up the grade and just HAD to pass me before the exit.
1: Toyota MR2. Mid engine, well balanced, should have been able to pull away from me on the corner. He passed me just before the exit and entered the corner hot. I pushed him (figuratively) around the corner with all 4 of my tires just barely squealing in unison. Then I saw him touch his brakes (he would have been fine if he wouldn't have touched his brakes). I backed off and watched him spin out into the infield of the corner. Terminal over-steer. Our eyes met as he looked out his windshield toward the road he should have still been on. He was trying to impress his son, who was in the passenger's seat. I am sure that he made an impression.
2: Firebird, white, with the big screaming fire chicken decal on the hood. Same thing, had to pass that slow smelly Audi before the exit. Went in over his head, I pushed him beyond his ability and he succumbed to terminal under-steer. He ended up spinning out with the rear of his firechicken resting on the berm of the outside on-ramp. His girl friend was impressed.

Good times.
Now my lead foot wife has a chipped ML with 240hp / 460tq. Who needs to go 150mph in an SUV ??

Zulfiqar · #15 05-28-2014, 09:29 PM

11 seconds is slow? are we in some sort of race, my "slow" diesel E300D can really scoop up its power at high revs and move, about 12 seconds or so..

Never felt the need for blinding acceleration to join a highway - infact if I go 100% throttle on my E320 to join a ramp I may touch about 100 mph trying to join a highway - which is deadly and expensive if the cop flags you down.