Last 380 built today

Bossxr8 · 27-03-2008, 11:07 AM

The last Mitsubishi 380 will go down the production line today, and there already seems to be a bit of interest in securing the very last one off the line. Just like the last Fairlane it will be auctioned off for charity.

Paxton · 27-03-2008, 11:19 AM

$10 says it doesn't make the money that the Fairlane does, but it is promising that it has some interest surrounding it.

Quite a sad day for all involved. MMAL will have a large hole in Australia's manufacturing landscape, in much the same way that Chrysler did when they changed over.

Bossxr8 · 27-03-2008, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paxton

$10 says it doesn't make the money that the Fairlane does, but it is promising that it has some interest surrounding it.

Quite a sad day for all involved. MMAL will have a large hole in Australia's manufacturing landscape, in much the same way that Chrysler did when they changed over.

It has a bit more of an attraction than the last Fairlane though, as its the last Mitsubishi and last vehicle to ever leave the place, where as life goes on at Broadmeadows.

Quicklier · 27-03-2008, 11:23 AM

It's a shame, I thought it was the best (new) car $28k could buy.

Noddy · 27-03-2008, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quicklier

It's a shame, I thought it was the best (new) car $28k could buy.

Agreed, the styling my not be to everyones liking but the 380 was by no way a poor quality vehicle and for 28k cheap. If it had been rear wheel drive it may still be here.

Ralliart · 27-03-2008, 12:09 PM

very sad day for Mitz workers and very sad to see the final 380 being made 2day

**Sorted** · 27-03-2008, 12:22 PM

Whats going to happen to thier dealers and the Lancer? Pajero? etc etc.......

Ralliart · 27-03-2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRHEMI

Whats going to happen to thier dealers and the Lancer? Pajero? etc etc.......

it dosn't afftect them at All if u read the earlier thread you would know

XR8putts · 27-03-2008, 11:49 AM

A shame indeed.

Not saying the sky is falling or becoming a keyboard warrior, but I hope like hell this day never (in my lifetime anyway) comes for the Falcon. I wouldn't be able to cope!

Smoke Pursuit · 27-03-2008, 11:53 AM

Sad day for the workers of Mitsubishi.. Wonder what they will do with the plant & equipment?

Bossxr8 · 27-03-2008, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSTerritoryGhia

Sad day for the workers of Mitsubishi.. Wonder what they will do with the plant & equipment?

Its been rumoured that the lastest equipment installed for 380 production will be sent to a new Mitsubishi plant in China?

sgt_doofey · 27-03-2008, 02:51 PM

Most workers are getting laid off today. Some are staying behind to shut up shop. Not sure of the numbers, but a few.

Good luck to the ones that are getting laid off. Hope you guys and gals find work easily!

Quasi · 27-03-2008, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Its been rumoured that the lastest equipment installed for 380 production will be sent to a new Mitsubishi plant in China?

but none of the workers (unless one or two are lucky enough to be chosen to train chinese operators).

Bossxr8 · 28-03-2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quasi

but none of the workers (unless one or two are lucky enough to be chosen to train chinese operators).

I got that wrong, the equipment is rumoured to be going to a new plant in Russia where they will build the Outlander.

||| · 27-03-2008, 11:57 AM

i hope ford is paying attention. another AU disaster & this could be them

**DJM83** · 27-03-2008, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by |||

i hope ford is paying attention. another AU disaster & this could be them

Enough AU bashing mate it gets done everytime.
As for the 380, i was never a fan of them and heard some bad stories about them but that can happen with any make or model all the best for MMAL and their workers

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noddy

Agreed, the styling my not be to everyones liking but the 380 was by no way a poor quality vehicle and for 28k cheap. If it had been rear wheel drive it may still be here.

So true mate as most Australian car buyers prefer RWD

flappist · 27-03-2008, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TE50 056

So true mate as most Australian car buyers prefer RWD

Actually that is very wrong. Most Australian buyers prefer FWD, do not care or do not know the difference.
Apart from the esoterics (BMW, Merc, RX8, MX5, 350z etc), Falcon and Commodore are the ONLY RWD sedans available.

I suspect a high percentage of Falcon and Commodore buyers buy them because they are big and cheap (not AFF members).

If Ford or Holden were to offer a Falcon/Commo FWD option that was $5K cheaper (which would be easy as there would be no diff, external gearbox etc just a engine/trans combo) I wonder who many would buy it over the RWD version?
Probably very few AFF members as we are mostly rev head performance enthusiests but we make up a VERY SMALL part of the sales demographic.

I suspect that the demise of the 380 was partly due to its heritage (bits r missing) and also partly due to it taking on the entrenched Toyota/Mazda/Nissan market head to head.

It is a shame but it is also history. Times change and so do markets and technology. All that has to happen is for a light efficient storage system for electricity to be developed and V8s (and T6s) will be parked next to stage coaches in museums only to be allowed out for static displays or historical re-enactments.

**DJM83** · 27-03-2008, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

Actually that is very wrong. Most Australian buyers prefer FWD, do not care or do not know the difference.
Apart from the esoterics (BMW, Merc, RX8, MX5, 350z etc), Falcon and Commodore are the ONLY RWD sedans available.

I suspect a high percentage of Falcon and Commodore buyers buy them because they are big and cheap (not AFF members).

If Ford or Holden were to offer a Falcon/Commo FWD option that was $5K cheaper (which would be easy as there would be no diff, external gearbox etc just a engine/trans combo) I wonder who many would buy it over the RWD version?
Probably very few AFF members as we are mostly rev head performance enthusiests but we make up a VERY SMALL part of the sales demographic.

I suspect that the demise of the 380 was partly due to its heritage (bits r missing) and also partly due to it taking on the entrenched Toyota/Mazda/Nissan market head to head.

It is a shame but it is also history. Times change and so do markets and technology. All that has to happen is for a light efficient storage system for electricity to be developed and V8s (and T6s) will be parked next to stage coaches in museums only to be allowed out for static displays or historical re-enactments.

I was speaking from the performance side of the fence.
BTW that is your thoughts on the matter they were mine it doesnt make any either wrong or right

:

flappist · 27-03-2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TE50 056

I was speaking from the performance side of the fence.
BTW that is your thoughts on the matter they were mine it doesnt make any either wrong or right

:

No actually you said:

Quote:

Originally Posted by you

So true mate as most Australian car buyers prefer RWD

not

So true mate as most Australian PERFORMANCE car buyers prefer RWD

Which is WRONG based on every vfacts for the past umpty squillion months.

The rest is opinion.

Abacus · 27-03-2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

If Ford or Holden were to offer a Falcon/Commo FWD option that was $5K cheaper (which would be easy as there would be no diff, external gearbox etc just a engine/trans combo) I wonder who many would buy it over the RWD version?

I have to wonder what would happen if Mondeo were to be assembled here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

I suspect that the demise of the 380 was partly due to its heritage (bits r missing) and also partly due to it taking on the entrenched Toyota/Mazda/Nissan market head to head.

Also, whilst it was nice to drive, and didn't look too shabby externally, it really was let down by its mix 'n match interior. I had a look at a Platinum the other day, and the interior really let it down. Crap spray-on carpets, arm rests that looked like they would fall apart in 6 months, and about 6 different textures of plastic and vinyl. If the interior had been somewhere near Accord or Maxima standard I would have bought one. But it wasn't.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

It is a shame but it is also history. Times change and so do markets and technology. All that has to happen is for a light efficient storage system for electricity to be developed and V8s (and T6s) will be parked next to stage coaches in museums only to be allowed out for static displays or historical re-enactments.

I agree totally.

Ives · 27-03-2008, 12:24 PM

That's a shame, the 380 isnt a bad car.

Quasi · 27-03-2008, 12:25 PM

It IS a sad day, yes.

My father was NSW regional service manager for Chrysler Australia in the early 70s (some VERY cool company cars came our way) and I remember taking a tour through the plant while on a family holiday to SA.

This will have a huge impact on the Aussie car market. As far as new cars are concerned I see Toyota benefitting the most from this (doesn't take a genius to figure that one out). All those Magna/380 buyers will now look to the Aurion I would say.

If Ford & Holden marketing don't assualt the market with deals they'll only have themselves to blame when Toyota begins to outsell them..combined.

GK · 28-03-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quasi

This will have a huge impact on the Aussie car market. As far as new cars are concerned I see Toyota benefitting the most from this (doesn't take a genius to figure that one out). All those Magna/380 buyers will now look to the Aurion I would say.

I hope you're mega wrong, and those who'd consider purchasing a 380 would now look to a Mondeo.

GK

blueoval · 27-03-2008, 12:38 PM

Isnt the last 380 being sent to the Birdwood museum for their collection?

blueoval · 27-03-2008, 01:38 PM

just spoke to a mate works at mitsi's. said the last 380 is in fact going to a collector. his name wont be revealed

Abacus · 27-03-2008, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueoval

just spoke to a mate works at mitsi's. said the last 380 is in fact going to a collector. his name wont be revealed

I wonder if the collector is Ivan Smith? It would be kind of appropriate, seeing as he has the last Valiant made at that plant.

Ivan Smith

Vines5161 · 27-03-2008, 01:50 PM

The government are currently in negiotations with a number of manufacturing companies about taking over the site. As an industrial site it is worth about $12m, but as a housing estate estimates are closer to $200m. The government have said that it will not become a housing estate.

There are actually 12 cars that are part of the last batch, hopefully one of the them will be donated to the Birdwood Motor Musuem. After all, both are great SA icons.

Apparently there are plans for Monday to be big party day at the site, as that it their offical last day of work.

Best wishes to all MMAL employees.

blueoval · 27-03-2008, 04:09 PM

The evo is the only mitsu I'd consider buying. Sad day for SA and its former employees.

flappist · 27-03-2008, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueoval

The evo is the only mitsu I'd consider buying. Sad day for SA and its former employees.

An interesting side note to this is that Ralliart (the company not the wombat) products are now available from most Mitsu dealers instead of a few specialist ones. This may possibly do for them what it did for FPV when they left the old FTE marketing methodology.

My local has flogged a couple of Colts and has orders for Lancers when they are available. The EVO X looks like a very capable buzzbox.

Ralliart · 27-03-2008, 04:45 PM

Details On The Last 380's

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Age

March 27, 2008 - 3:27PM

Mitsubishi has produced its last car in Adelaide ahead of closing down its Tonsley Park assembly facility.

The last batch of 380 sedans came off the production line this morning at the plant in Adelaide's south, with the very last car a silver-coloured luxury version.

Mitsubishi president Rob McEniry said three of the last four cars produced would benefit charities, with the other to be permanently displayed at the National Motor Museum at Birdwood in the Adelaide Hills.

Mr McEniry said one of the final four 380s would be donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service, another to Vision Australia, and the very last car produced would be auctioned to the company's dealer network with all proceeds going to charity.

Several hundred workers will finish up at the Adelaide facility tomorrow but others will stay on to officially decommission the plant over the next few months.

About 100 workers gathered inside the factory today for an official function to mark the production of the last vehicles, with one, Mario Bosio, describing it as a sad day for the company and staff.

Mr Bosio has worked at the Tonsley Park site for 38 years, after starting his career with Chrysler well before Mitsubishi took over the site in 1980.

"It's a sad time but I think it's just one of those things," Mr Bosio said.

"The company just chose, probably, the wrong car at the wrong time."

Mitsubishi earlier blamed falling sales in Australia's large car market and mounting debts for its decision to close Tonsley Park and end production of the 380 sedan.