Mitsubishi 380: hanging in the balance

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Dave_au

Well you got two out of the three right, ford had a shocker though across all categories, Mitsubishi didn't go too badly with the SUVs.

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...6&vf=0&IsPgd=0

For large cars atleast all this proves is a hell of allot of people buy based on brand loyalty over quality..

[aualright]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

For large cars atleast all this proves is a hell of allot of people buy based on brand loyalty over quality..

There are lies, damn lies and ...er...surveys.

[nicko_bud]

wow.. so many opinions.. and lets be honest they are peoples opinion whether we think they are right or wrong.

In my experience i love the 380.. if for some reason i couldn't buy a BF id buy a 380. mitsubishi's buiild quality from what i have seen is excellent.. i do rather the vrx and the gt more than the standard and oooo i love the green colour they have.

And the 380 and mitsubishi leaving.. it bull.. mitsi's australian operation is worth about 1.7% of mitsubishi's total global income .. and as the current president had to say.. they need a face in australia whether it be the magna or 380 they will stay here and have a presence.

And for all you fan boys out there bagging them.. your not helping.. so why dont you join a commodore forum or something where immature opinions are the norm.

just my two cents


nicko™

[XR Martin]

Reason the Nissan Tiida is so high on that list is because for 99% of them the first 5 months they are sitting on the dealer's lot.

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by Dilan

Out of interest, is it not true that Ford Aus (as well as Ford Global) are not doing any better? Not to mention GM

From my understanding, whilst Ford Global and Ford USA are in huge deficit, Ford Australia on its own still turns a profit, albeit small.

[bingoTE50]

I don't mind the 380 . I think the rear end is out of sync with the front but. To me they look under tyred . I ran away from the resale value otherwise I may have had one.
I have had mitsubishi products for years .2 sigmas , 3 magnas , now a Triton Diesel (new). The 96 model TE Magna was a quality car .One of the most stable cars I have driven , at 200kmh !!
I had two Advanced Drivers Courses with Ian Luff Motorvation at Oran Park and at the time they ran TJ VRX Manuals and to quote Warren Luff " these things are weapons" un quote . A reply to a question I made regarding their ability .
In saying all this I still enjoy my AU TE50 the most even though it is only 200kw and a AU ....

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Steffo

From my understanding, whilst Ford Global and Ford USA are in huge deficit, Ford Australia on its own still turns a profit, albeit small.

They lost money last financial year (due to the spike in petrol prices) and speaking to the guys in manufacturing (as I know a few seeing as I use to work with them) this financial year isn't looking to flash either......but neither is Holden.

[Disciple]

Originally Posted by bingoTE50

I don't mind the 380 . I think the rear end is out of sync with the front but. To me they look under tyred . I ran away from the resale value otherwise I may have had one.
I have had mitsubishi products for years .2 sigmas , 3 magnas , now a Triton Diesel (new). The 96 model TE Magna was a quality car .One of the most stable cars I have driven , at 200kmh !!
I had two Advanced Drivers Courses with Ian Luff Motorvation at Oran Park and at the time they ran TJ VRX Manuals and to quote Warren Luff " these things are weapons" un quote . A reply to a question I made regarding their ability .
In saying all this I still enjoy my AU TE50 the most even though it is only 200kw and a AU ....

Would it suprise you to know then, that the 380 has the best resale of the big 4 cars? Yep.

[hy_boi]

In my honest opinion I love my XR6T, but i miss my old magna more, the only car that i've ever been able to make a profit on.

I sold it with 150k on it and had never missed abeat, everything worked and it always got a work out.
It handled very well, helped by some low springs and bigger tyres.

My falcon on the other hand, clicked over 100'000k's today, current problems, passenger window gets jammed, the dash shfts when u turn a corner, The panel line up is something you expect on an old daewoo 1500, It handles like a boat even with different wheels rubbber and struggles to keep up with my fellow magna men on twisty bits.

If magna's were such bad cars while did people buy them and how did they create a fan base.

Yes falcon wise i've seen heaps of taxi's with well over 300k, seen some close to the million mark. There secret..don't turn them off, have been running since day one. I'm sure if you did the same to any car it still be running.

[Mongoose]

I hope the 380 gets axed, im sick of working on the bloody things.

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by Disciple

Would it suprise you to know then, that the 380 has the best resale of the big 4 cars? Yep.

2007 FORD FALCON

BF MkII XT Sedan 4dr Man 5sp 4.0i
Prices based on km 15,000 - 25,000
Trade in price guide* $16,800 - $18,700
National average price - private sale* $20,700 - $22,900
Price when new (RRP) $34,990
http://www.redbookasiapacific.com/au...s.php?id=58505

The Falcon XT in absolute base form was $34,990. Going by its lowest private sale figure... its retained 59.15% of its value and by its highest private sale figure its retained 65.44% of its value. By trade in prices, by the lowest figure its retained 48.01% of its value and by the highest figure, 53.44% of its value is retained. That means an average between the four figures of 56.51% of its brand new value has been retained.

2007 HOLDEN COMMODORE

VE Omega Sedan 4dr Auto 4sp 3.6i
Prices based on km 15,000 - 25,000
Trade in price guide* $21,700 - $24,000
National average price - private sale* $26,000 - $28,600
Price when new (RRP) $34,490
http://www.redbookasiapacific.com/au...s.php?id=66287

So at $34,490 new, with its best private sale figure its retained 82.92% of its new price and with its worst its retained 75.38% of its price. With its best trade in price its retained 69.58% of its price and with its worst its retained 62.91%. That's an average of 72.69% between the four figures.

2007 MITSUBISHI 380

DB Series 2 ES Sedan 4dr Man 5sp 3.8i
Prices based on km 15,000 - 25,000
Trade in price guide* $15,400 - $17,200
National average price - private sale* $19,000 - $21,100
Price when new (RRP) $27,990
http://www.redbookasiapacific.com/au...s.php?id=87422

And now the 380, in base model form. Its worst private figure gives us 67.88% of its value retained while its best gives us 75.38% of its value retained. Its worst trade in figure gives us 55.01% of its value retained while its best gives us 61.45% of its value retained. That's an average between the four sums of 63.93%.

2007 TOYOTA AURION

GSV40R AT-X Sedan 4dr SA 6sp 3.5i
Prices based on km 15,000 - 25,000
Trade in price guide* $23,300 - $25,600
National average price - private sale* $27,700 - $30,400
Price when new (RRP) $34,990
http://www.redbookasiapacific.com/au....php?id=102161

Finally, the Aurion. Its best private sale figure giving 86.88% of value retained and worst giving 79.16% of value retained. Best trade in price leaves us with 73.16% of value retained and worst gives us 66.59% of value retained. Average with this one is 76.44%.

So for resale value we've got...

#1. Toyota Aurion AT-X
#2. Holden Commodore Omega
#3. Mitsubishi 380 ES
#4. Ford Falcon XT

So no, it doesn't have the best resale of any local model. Mitsubishi hasn't had that in at least the last decade, if not more.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by hy_boi

My falcon on the other hand, clicked over 100'000k's today, current problems, passenger window gets jammed, the dash shfts when u turn a corner, The panel line up is something you expect on an old daewoo 1500, It handles like a boat even with different wheels rubbber and struggles to keep up with my fellow magna men on twisty bits.

If magna's were such bad cars while did people buy them and how did they create a fan base.

If you're having trouble keeping up with Magnas you need to hand back your license :

And a Fan base? Even Leyland P76s have fan bases

[hy_boi]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

If you're having trouble keeping up with Magnas you need to hand back your license :

And a Fan base? Even Leyland P76s have fan bases

Maybe you should a magna thats had a little work done, Its great in a straight line, start to come to corners and it handles like a boat, but again, some people believe the falcon can't be out handled by anything.... :

another person using redbook as gosple.

Red book is not correct and never will be, if you went in to a dealer saying red book say my cars worth 20k they'd tell ya to go and get red book to buy your car, which it won't.

IN saying that and just doing a quick search on car sales, 380 with less then 40k anywhere from 20g to 23500

falcon 19k- 26k :

Aurion: cheapest non ex demo i've been able to find has come up at 31990.

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by hy_boi

another person using redbook as gosple.

Red book is not correct and never will be, if you went in to a dealer saying red book say my cars worth 20k they'd tell ya to go and get red book to buy your car, which it won't.

I'm not using it as gospel, I'm using it as professionally published, creditable sourced fact to disprove a claim.

And your comments on redbook are not entirely true. While most dealers will try to (and most of the time succeed) to trade your old car at lower prices then redbook claim, they will all most gladly then sell the car at redbook prices or higher.

[Disciple]

Well the 380 used to have the best resale, I remember reading an article a while ago online. The same article that stated the 380 was the cheapest of the big cars to run - I think it was pre Aurion.

[Disciple]

Can't edit my last post.

Anyway, you need to keep in mind too with the Commodore resale value, you aren't paying $34,490, you're paying $36,490 by the time you option AIR CONDITIONING. Then another $500 if you want a full sized spare tyre.

[302GXL]

After 60,000k's in my 380 work car, I'd have to say I don't mind it.
It handles well enough, is smooth, overtakes well and topped 230 on the track.
The only complaint I'd have is with the brakes.
It doesn't take much to have them a shuddering mess, have been that way since new.
According to the dealer this is normal and I should be gearing down with the auto!

Otherwise, given the price, for a "Family" car they should be selling better than they are.

[Bossxr8]

Of course the 380 has higher resale value than Falcon, there must be what, about 5000 on the market cause they don't sell, versus say for an example 30,000 BA-BF Falcons. I'm sure its a hell of a lot harder to by a used 380 than a used BA-BF which are everywhere. Usually the more flooded the market is with a certain type of car the worse the resale value should be. In theory.

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Of course the 380 has higher resale value than Falcon, there must be what, about 5000 on the market cause they don't sell, versus say for an example 30,000 BA-BF Falcons. I'm sure its a hell of a lot harder to by a used 380 than a used BA-BF which are everywhere. Usually the more flooded the market is with a certain type of car the worse the resale value should be. In theory.

I think it would also have to do with the fact that the Falcon is the oldest car on the market now. The 380 came out in 2005.

The BFII is still traced to 1998's AU in lineage. Its a 9 year old platform now.

[Rev28K]

Originally Posted by 302GXL

and topped 230 on the track..

Which track is that? PI? I don't think it would pull 230 at Sandown or Calder.

[FPV70]

I work for aussie post and of all the car makers that send out recall notices, Mitsubishi would have to one that Rarely sends out.
The most common would be Toyota.
I have seen some from Ford and some from Holden but not as many as what I have seen from toyota.

To be honest, I have never even thought of getting a Mitsu mainly due to FWD and no V8.
If the 380 was RWD with V8 option, then yes, I would definately consider buying one.

[Gobes32]

Originally Posted by FPV70

I work for aussie post and of all the car makers that send out recall notices, Mitsubishi would have to one that Rarely sends out.
The most common would be Toyota.
I have seen some from Ford and some from Holden but not as many as what I have seen from toyota.

To be honest, I have never even thought of getting a Mitsu mainly due to FWD and no V8.
If the 380 was RWD with V8 option, then yes, I would definately consider buying one.

Toyota may send out countless recall notices but that is to be applauded. They recognize a problem and they do their best to hopefully rectify the issue. My partner drives a Rav 4 and has received 2 recall notices and both times car has been fixed no cost. The car is long out of warranty but still they repair the car. I respect that.

[XR Martin]

Warranties have nothing to do with recalls. I had a 626 that was recalled when it was 12 years old due to a seatbelt issue.

[Deanodriver]

Personally, I reckon they should've built the new Lancer here. After all, that seems to be a hell of a car.

The thing with the 380 is that it's not bad, it's just that it was only really matching the competition when it was released in 2005, it wasn't really head of the pack in any areas.

Would I buy one new? Doubt it, then again I wouldn't buy any base Aussie large car new. If I wanted a secondhand Aussie large car to actually transport a family, would I consider a 380 over a Falcon or Commodore? Yes, I'd give them a look.

People complain about FWD, but let's face it, a base model Falcon/Commodore with soft family car suspension isn't exactly going to be a Lotus Exige either.

[dandaman]

I think the crap people say about the 380 such as if it were a RWD and V8 i'd consider it.

When in all honesty you'd still discount it because it's a mitsubishi and true RWD V8's have to be a holden or a ford because they have racing heritage

Even if the 380 came out with a Supercharged 6 litre V8 with an AWD platform no-one would still buy it because they'd be scared about mitsubishi collapsing, or the initial problems with the magna gearboxes that put people off the brand.

so whether it's a FWD V6 or a blown AWD/RWD V8 people still wouldnt buy it, so who really cares.

[Ruger]

Originally Posted by Deanodriver

Personally, I reckon they should've built the new Lancer here. After all, that seems to be a hell of a car.

The thing with the 380 is that it's not bad, it's just that it was only really matching the competition when it was released in 2005, it wasn't really head of the pack in any areas.

Would I buy one new? Doubt it, then again I wouldn't buy any base Aussie large car new. If I wanted a secondhand Aussie large car to actually transport a family, would I consider a 380 over a Falcon or Commodore? Yes, I'd give them a look.

People complain about FWD, but let's face it, a base model Falcon/Commodore with soft family car suspension isn't exactly going to be a Lotus Exige either.

Exactly cry about rwd all day they want but get in an xt put it through its paces and itll understeer all day and drive like a boat.

makes a good base for modding though.

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by acosta32

Toyota may send out countless recall notices but that is to be applauded. They recognize a problem and they do their best to hopefully rectify the issue. My partner drives a Rav 4 and has received 2 recall notices and both times car has been fixed no cost. The car is long out of warranty but still they repair the car. I respect that.

I don't see how getting recall notices is worthy of respect. It means the car is no good.

[The Stylist]

Originally Posted by Steffo

I don't see how getting recall notices is worthy of respect. It means the car is no good.

Ummm, can't say that I really agree with that last sentence.

Regardless, some of the blame for the 380's dismal retail performance could be attributed to the media's hostile receiption to the car when it was launched. However when the 380 was launched, it had been on the market in the U.S for couple of years prior, so when it turned up downunder it already looked dated. The lack of a 4cyl option and curtain airbags probably didn't help things either - actually those just added to the media ammunition.

Then there was the name change from Magna/Diamante to 380. The 380 name for some reason reminds me of an aircraft. There's nothing distinctive or memorable about "380" - it's just number.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Deanodriver

Personally, I reckon they should've built the new Lancer here. After all, that seems to be a hell of a car.

The initial costs in the setup of the production line (as it would be built on the same line as the 380) would be quite large. I dont believe that the lancer sells enough units to justify the expense (remember a small car doesn't make as much money as a large car). Mind you the 380 isn't doing well so maybe exploring the option of the lancer, or another one of thier models could be looked at. But I dont believe that Mitsubishi does model mixing so their quality would start to drop as its a completely different to a single model on one line.

[ClevlndStemer]

Originally Posted by Steffo

I don't see how getting recall notices is worthy of respect. It means the car is no good.

NO it doesn't mean the car is no good, it means a fault of some sort (whether it major or minor) has been detected on a range of vehicles. The manufacturer has decided to recall the vehicles to try and rectify the issue, not always it is a major concern but it does bring a good rep when a organisation admits fault and at no cost to the consumer will repair the fault.
There aren't many manufacturing organisations that don't recall products. It is better to bring it out than to deny it and hide it *cough FPV*.
I am not a fan of Toyota at all but a couple of friends own them and they have had minor recalls, but do not think bad on it, they actually think it is good of Toyota to inform them of a potential issue.
The lack of recalls doesn't necessarily mean there isn't a fault with the product.