Experiences with Mitsibishi 380's

[Hally]

All,

Would like some feedback from forum members who have had experience with these cars. Don't want to here about them being ugly, front wheel drive etc.

Just want real world feedback (have driven a few and could live with the style of car day to day). reason? I have lost my daily driver in a marriage split and it seems the 380 has less resale than Falcons. Seem to be some sensational prices on 2 year old examples.

Cheers,

Andrew

[vanman_75]

Seem to be some sensational prices on 2 year old examples.there is your answer

[vztrt]

The later magna's/380's were meant to be reliable and should be good for a daily. The 380 had a few early niggles and recalls but nothing as bad at the VE reliease. Take one for a drive and if you happy then I don't see why you wouldn't buy one if it's in your price range.

[XR6_661]

Horrible car if you ask me. I drive one at work sometimes if I have no other option.

Feels like a boat to drive. Interior is full of blind spots. Don't even think about putting your foot down cause it will torque steer you straight off the road.

[Dave_au]

have a look on Aussie Magna

www.aussiemagna.com/forums

I think most owners have been quite happy, the only two negatives that I've heard about are:

1) Resale prices have fallen (which is quite good for second hand car purchases)
2) The storm paint colour (gunship grey pearl) did have some swirls in some instances.

For the record I've ended up with a TJ2 2003 Magna Sports, it's been the most reliable car I've owned, no leaks, no cv joints, no gearbox issues.

Most Magnas from 2000 onwards (the TJs) represent fairly reliable buys, the only real danger is the tempermental gearbox, which seemed to suffer a few problems in the four speed versions. These problems though do not appear common to the five speed version which was fitted to the Sports/VRX/AWDs/Veradas/380s.

Further in relation to the transmissions, make sure the box has been serviced during the major services only with Mitsubishi Brand Auto Trans fluid.

[Hally]

xr6_661,

Had a rental for the last couple of days, had 29,000kms onit. Didn't have any rattles, did torque steer a lot and wasn't as sharp in the handling as some of the VE's and falcon's I drive at work, but, it craps over to EF (with 240,00kms) that I now have to drive every day. Not looking to get anything straight away, but when you can buy a 2007 380GT with low k's on it for about 22 grand it is tempting. Just looking at options at the moment.

[XR6_661]

Originally Posted by Hally

xr6_661,

Had a rental for the last couple of days, had 29,000kms onit. Didn't have any rattles, did torque steer a lot and wasn't as sharp in the handling as some of the VE's and falcon's I drive at work, but, it craps over to EF (with 240,00kms) that I now have to drive every day. Not looking to get anything straight away, but when you can buy a 2007 380GT with low k's on it for about 22 grand it is tempting. Just looking at options at the moment.

No worries mate. The 380 I drove was a base model also, not a GT. So I can't say wether or not the GT is better or worse. But I'm assuming the GT would be better than the base model. And I'd agree with you, the 380s are better then say an EF or EL Falcon...(I'ved owned an EL).

Put it this way, I'm sure if you got a 380GT, you would be happy with it. And after all, that's what counts.

[TC200six]

If you're not for a performance car, just something cheap to get from A to B then torque steer wouldn't worry you. If you could get a 380 at a good price, take it. However if you want a flash looking car with luxury interior to excite you, don't get one. Simple as that.

[AUIIForte]

Originally Posted by Laser '81

However if you want a flash looking car with luxury interior to excite you, don't get one. Simple as that.

Sorry, I haven't read past this yet, because I had to make a point. This car can look very hot. I see the same 2007 380 GT every day, on the way to work. It looks beautiful! I think the owner has lowered it a little bit, but other then that, its stock (body). Its silver with nice rims, and lowered a little bit. It looks beautiful!

I'm not saying you are wrong in saying its not 'flash', but I guess its different for every person. I personally think the 380 GT looks fabulous, and so do many of my friends.

I say that if you find your self a good priced 380 GT, buy it!

[ieatsports_cars]

Originally Posted by XR6_661

No worries mate. The 380 I drove was a base model also, not a GT. So I can't say wether or not the GT is better or worse. But I'm assuming the GT would be better than the base model. And I'd agree with you, the 380s are better then say an EF or EL Falcon...(I'ved owned an EL).

Put it this way, I'm sure if you got a 380GT, you would be happy with it. And after all, that's what counts.

of course the 380 would be better than the el HELLO 14- 9 years difference technology is better :

and i have my el and iam still loving it

[snappy]

Someone did a test drive in one of these and did a fantasic job at writing it up. It was on this forum but i can't find it in the search . I think it may have been scud who posted it up but as i said i can't locate it .

[GK]

Originally Posted by snappy84

Someone did a test drive in one of these and did a fantasic job at writing it up. It was on this forum but i can't find it in the search . I think it may have been scud who posted it up but as i said i can't locate it .

I remember that writeup also. A good and unbiased read it was.

GK

[Nikked]

THe 380's aint a bad car, they are well built and don't look too bad, they looked more balanced and less bland then a few of the other midsizes.

[cowboy]

I've spent some time in several of them including a VRX. Not too bad, reasonably economical when driven sensibly. Put the foot down though and they drank more than my F6. Torque steer was an issue but only with the foot to the floor. As an everyday commuter not a bad car. As a machine to stir your passion, keep looking.

[nugget378]

I bought a magna last year for the girl friend,the model before the 380 I think it is (dont pay much attention to these things) and your right about the resale,I picked it up with a years rego and 110k on the clock for 3 grand at auction,bloody good car for the price,I think it drives very well for a day to day car and havent had a single problem with it..

For the prices Ive seen them go for at auction,there isnt much out there thats as good a bargain for a get around..

[GTP owner]

My experience is that the "sports " model we drove for a couple of days was not that sporty. The rims looked nice, the economy was good (9l/100km), but i could have equaled it with a ba 6 cyl given the way i mostly drove it. It wandered on the road - maybe an alignment problem, but i did not like that on the freeway. It had huge blind spots. The window height was too high to rest your arm on (on the door) for long trips. The centre console was too low to rest the other arm on when you wanted to rest the other way on long trips.
My conclusion was that it was a very unoffensive car, with some minor irks for me, but it was as boring as hell. It had zero character, so i would never ever consider one. I would chose a second hand xr6, say el instead.

[JC]

Originally Posted by GTP owner

My experience ...............It had huge blind spots. The window height was too high to rest your arm on (on the door) for long trips. The centre console was too low to rest the other arm on when you wanted to rest the other way on long trips.

Edited out bits because what is above is my experience of driving a hire car 380 for just one day. Nice car (and so is the new camry), but both suffer from similar issues being nowhere to put your arms!

To the OP - for $22k, you can get a reasonable km BF XR6, maybe even XR6T, and you can definitely get a BA XR6T, and have money left over for some mods.

[loltastic]

Originally Posted by JC

Edited out bits because what is above is my experience of driving a hire car 380 for just one day. Nice car (and so is the new camry), but both suffer from similar issues being nowhere to put your arms!

To the OP - for $22k, you can get a reasonable km BF XR6, maybe even XR6T, and you can definitely get a BA XR6T, and have money left over for some mods.

I'll tell ya, if I had $22k to spend on a car it wouldn't be an XR6T. Been there done that, most unreliable car I've ever owned. All shocks were gone at 100,000kms, dash rattles, drunk like a ****ed russian, slush box... 380 has a nice ride, good on fuel (if driven sensibly) gearbox is fantastic, great punchy engine, interior is nothing special with hard plastics etc, but for the price of one and the kit you get they're a steal.

[Zabrowski]

We've got a 380GT in the fleet I look after.

The driver swapped from a Fairmont & loves it. He has quite a big boat & it handles towing it with no problems

Its no sports car but I find it a pretty nice thing to drive. Very underrated car.

I hate the tail lights! But then looks are a matter of taste.

We've had absolutely no hassles with it mechanically, its up to 35000km now.

[Hally]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

All I am looking for is a reliable reasonably comfy every day car that won't break down. I have the Mustang for the fund and the breakdowns!!

I agreee with most of the comments about the interior, exterior etc. I guess I do so many k's a year in peak hour traffic that I just look at the everyday driver as an appliance, and just looking for the best second hand value I appliance I can get.

Cheers,

Andrew

[woodsy109]

Originally Posted by Zabrowski

We've got a 380GT in the fleet I look after.

The driver swapped from a Fairmont & loves it. He has quite a big boat & it handles towing it with no problems

Big heavy boat + Steep boat ramp + Front wheel drive = SPLASH!!!

[FalconXR6]

Originally Posted by loltastic

I'll tell ya, if I had $22k to spend on a car it wouldn't be an XR6T. Been there done that, most unreliable car I've ever owned. All shocks were gone at 100,000kms, dash rattles, drunk like a ****ed russian, slush box... 380 has a nice ride, good on fuel (if driven sensibly) gearbox is fantastic, great punchy engine, interior is nothing special with hard plastics etc, but for the price of one and the kit you get they're a steal.

Someone obviously got a lemon and now thinks that ALL XR6T's are as poor as his was...

Enjoy the 380 GT dude...much better than an XR6T...

As mentioned in another post;
If it's decent transport your after, go the 380.
If your an enthusiast, keep looking.

[jasjul]

I hired one while up at Darwin. We got a VRX with leather seats, I found them very comfortable. Took it out to Litchfield National Park and back along the dirt road, don't know what it's called, and it was very comfortable. Cruised well at up to 140km/h. I didn't like the auto. They have a learning auto, so if you getting into it, it learns to hold the gears. The problem I found, after cruising in traffic it goes into snooze mode and then has to relearn fang mode. Another thing Mitsubishi tiptronic +/- is reverse to Ford/Holden, which is a pain after driving Ford/Holden for work. If I were you I'd try and track down one of the few manuals out there.

[eternity]

When shopping for a car I was contemplating between falcon BA and 380 (and Maxima too). Test drove all of them multiple times over the course of several days. I think there is nothing wrong with 380 from the practical point of view, well priced and equipped, comfy and the engine can deliver the punch. Not sure what it was but it didn't quite turn me on so in the end I went for a higher mileage Falcon instead. Unless you plan to resale 380's a very good value for money. One thing I didn't like though was quite hard to park because of rear visibility but I guess it's a matter of getting used to.

[BIGJB]

we have one at work.
am thinkin of hittin em up for it as a drivecar when the Falcon ute sells.

[Windsor220]

Have driven heaps of these. Work on them too. They drive and go quite well. A lot of people say they are junk purely because of bias against Mitsubishi. The engine and gearbox will have less problems than any Falcon or Commo. Interior is a bit cheap but they are a decent buy.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by Torxteer

Have driven heaps of these. Work on them too. They drive and go quite well. A lot of people say they are junk purely because of bias against Mitsubishi. The engine and gearbox will have less problems than any Falcon or Commo. Interior is a bit cheap but they are a decent buy.

well said, its a shame they didn't do real well.

[XR4568]

Take a look at a Series 2 Platinum edition. Cheap as chips and gets a few more goodies such as sunroof, bluetooth, sports suspension (VRX settings), alloys, and some cosmeric tinsel.

A lot of car for not much money at all, that is what i would get. Can also put in on the factory approved LPG too.

[PepeLePew]

I dont quite get whats odd about factory shocks dying under 100K as per above??

Anyway, on topic. I drove a 380 around for a spell before I bought the BA. I couldnt get over the look...sorry but its not quite right. And interior fit and finish was a bit suspect (the seal bits hanging out the sides of the dash were a bit odd and gaps variable).

Driving it was actually a pretty good thing. I reckon a manual would be a bit of fun to drive. Handed ok too for a stocker. Price was good at 30K on the road for a VRX brand new.

That said, Mitsu spent many a year getting the Magna right. Im no Magna fan but given the choice Id steer that way. Resale sucks on both anyway, but I reckon the Magna in its later incarnations was a pretty well sorted platform. (all above refer to manuals, i hate N/A autos)

[Mr Hardware]

the bottom line is the car ain't the best, and it ain't horrible either.
its good value for money, but only if you can handle a slightly slow change into reverse and front wheel drive.
i wouldn't mind one, just so long as it wasnt a base model.