Test driving the Mitsubishi iMiev today!

Discussion in 'EV (Electric Vehicle) Discussion' started by Dolce_Vita, Oct 16, 2010.

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  1. Dolce_Vita

    Dolce_Vita Member

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    Im so excieted!
    I went to the Sydney Motorshow on friday & after talking to the show attendants about the iMiev on display, & they gave me a VIP pass to have a test drive today! they only usually give the passes to memebers of the press, so im pretty pumped..

    Ill post photos & a review this afternoon :)
     
    #1 Dolce_Vita, Oct 16, 2010
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    can't wait to hear about it, lucky you!:)
     
    #2 bisco, Oct 16, 2010
  3. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Cool!
    Can't wait to see your review.
     
    #3 TonyPSchaefer, Oct 16, 2010
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Looking forward to your review!
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Oct 16, 2010
  5. Dolce_Vita

    Dolce_Vita Member

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    Sorry for taking forever to post the review, i'm swamped in school work :(

    My first thought was how amazingly small it is! It's much narrower than a Smart car (although a fair bit longer). In Australia, cars are generally smaller than the US, but the iMiev is very small by my standards. Its physical size may seem small from the outside, but once in the interior it feels very spacious. The legroom front and rear is impressive, although it is very narrow, the centre console and middle rear seat are very narrow and the boot space is small.

    The Nav system seems VERY smart, it doesn't run off a disk/HD, but a satellite. It shows traffic, road work, charge stations, parking, speed limits, speed cameras all in 3d. It's a great system. The interior is pretty boring over-all, it's like any other small car. Although it has GREAT visibly through the windscreen and front windows.

    When at idle/standby/ready mode, it seems even more silent than a Prius, and when it gets going the is a faint whirring sound from the motors, like a Prius. As a Mitsubishi rep drove it, i didnt get a feel for its power, but it felt VERY quick. It's acceleration seemed very powerful and almost sporty.

    Over-all i was VERY impressed by it, it just seems so well though-out, easy to live with and production ready!
     
    #5 Dolce_Vita, Oct 18, 2010
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  6. Dolce_Vita

    Dolce_Vita Member

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    [​IMG]
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    #6 Dolce_Vita, Oct 18, 2010
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  7. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    time for me to dig a thread-

    Some Mitsu dealers have been flashing pics of this thing in newspaper ads saying, it's here!

    This car is so not mainstream in the US. Looks like an NEV. I don't think they should be showing this thing to the general public unless they want to give EV's a bad name.

    What's going to be the mainstream reaction? Ewwww, what a POC. Oh, it's electric. Who'd want an electric car?

    Show niche vehicles to a niche audience.
     
    #7 cycledrum, Feb 20, 2011
  8. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    Actually, I got to see one at the Green Drive Expo in SF, California, last Fall, and I thought it was pretty nice.
    It would make me happy if it were available here. I'm not sure what the holdup is...
     
    #8 Rae Vynn, Feb 20, 2011
  9. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    From what I'm told, they're tuning the EV system for American driving habits. I've been in the iMiEV a few times now (they like to bring it out to Mitsubishi Owners Day events)
     
    #9 a_gray_prius, Feb 20, 2011
  10. Dolce_Vita

    Dolce_Vita Member

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    The iMiev has gotten a very positive reaction in the Australian auto related press. Every review has been very positive and none have commented on it's size/shape etc. I dont think Australian's care too much, they're used to Yaris/Fit/Fiesta (and smaller) sized cars. The iMiev isn't too much smaller, it's basically a stretched second gen smart car size wise.
     
    #10 Dolce_Vita, Feb 23, 2011
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  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    forgot about this, thanks for the info! love it or hate it, every new alternative fuel vehicle is a step in the right direction!
     
    #11 bisco, Feb 23, 2011
  12. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    any timetable on test drives?
     
    #12 DaveinOlyWA, Mar 2, 2011
  13. plug-it-in

    plug-it-in Active Member

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    #13 plug-it-in, Apr 21, 2011
  14. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Paper says they are taking deposits for 'i' car for delivery late fall or early next spring.

    I will be disappointed if the horn doesn't sound like ' meep, meep ' :)
     
    #14 cycledrum, May 8, 2011
  15. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

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    I can't say I'm too enthusiastic about the $28K price tag.

    Also, it is definitely designed to be a city car. Not that I don't think I could push this up to 65 mph to cruise on the freeway, but I bet merging into traffic might be downright dangerous. You'd have to pick your ramps carefully. Also the 80 mph max speed doesn't really give you any leeway during an emergency.
     
    #15 sipnfuel, May 9, 2011
  16. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    Ya have to agree. Smaller size shorter range. Not ute they got the right combo here.

    Still with credits be near $20,000.
     
    #16 DaveinOlyWA, May 9, 2011
  17. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    I took a test ride in a development version. The car hit 45mph a LOT faster than I expected - we're talking push-you-into-the-seat (albeit not at 500hp-at-the-wheels car levels) acceleration. It was really eye opening for a little EV.
     
    #17 a_gray_prius, May 10, 2011
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  18. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

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    Thanks. I found some figures on the acceleration:

    0 - 30 (sec): 4.5
    0 - 45 (sec): 7.9
    0 - 60 (sec): 13.5

    Hopefully the looks of this car scream "I'm slow. let me in, let me in!!!!", or either that it's so small as to be invisible and you'll get squahsed :p. 13.5 seconds doesn't sound that bad but it would be better if it were around 12 seconds.


    This is where a Leaf looks much more appealing in price, utility, and performance.
     
    #18 sipnfuel, May 10, 2011
  19. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    i think it typical of EVs in general. my Leaf is VERY quick from zero to 40 mph. i can easily spin tires if i disable traction control
     
    #19 DaveinOlyWA, May 12, 2011
  20. fjpod

    fjpod Member

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    I did a test drive the other day. The interior space is surprisingly big...at least in the front. Good headroom. Spartan interior but about what I expected for such a car that is trying to cut weight wherever it can. Armrest could have been longer.

    the car had no problem getting off to a quick start, and could accelerate briskly even in the 40-50 mph range.

    What did I really like about the car? It doesn't try to come off as a family sized highway car like the Leaf tries to. They both have similar range, and as such, you dont need a fancy dash or GPS, and you can't pile the family into either and go on a long trip.

    It's an obvious city car that's easy to park. In fact, in NYC where I would drive it, it is likely to save me more money in parking than it does in gas. So it looks a little funny. Doesn't the SmartCar, the Beatle, and the Fiat thing.
     
    #20 fjpod, Apr 23, 2012
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