2007 Mitsubishi 380 Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the Mitsubishi Magna and 380 from 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 as a used buy.

The demise of the local manufacture of the Mitsubishi 380 was the result of a common ailment within the car industry – belief in your own hype.

The 380 will forever be known as the car that ended local production of Mitsubishi cars. There’s no escaping the fact that it was the last car the company produced in Australia so in that sense it’s a rap it has to wear, but there’s more to the Mitsubishi story than one last model, and in that sense it’s a bum rap.To blame the 380 for the demise of local production is going too far. It’s not a bad car by any measure, far from it, but it was probably too late and too little. By the time it hit the road in 2005 the Mitsubishi name was already on the nose with buyers and there was little the 380 could do to rescue the situation.Even a name change from the Magna wasn’t enough; that should have happened many years ago when the name was tarnished by the auto trans fiasco way back in the 1980s. But just because the 380 is out of production shouldn’t suggest that it be removed from your shopping list, either as a new car buy or as a used car.There are plenty of sound reasons for buying the last of the long line of Australian-made Mitsubishis, none more so than its price, which is already showing signs of plummeting.MODEL WATCH The vultures were already circling the barely breathing body of the Tonsley assembly plant in Adelaide long before the 380 starting rolling off the production line.Magna sales had slowed to an unsustainable level and there was no sign buyers had any intention of returning to the fold. It was clear something radical had to be done if there was to be any chance of keeping Tonsley going.The decision was to build a Magna that wasn’t a Magna. There was nothing spectacularly wrong with the Magna, it was soundly engineered, performed well, was well built and reliable, but the name had become synonymous with the cardigan set and nothing was going to shake that perception.There wasn’t much wrong with the idea of building another car along the lines of the Magna, but it had to be given a new name. The 380 was the name chosen, and the car hit Mitsubishi showrooms with an optimistic fanfare in 2005, as Mitsubishi’s management team watched and waited for the reaction of car buyers.It wasn’t long before it was realised that trouble was ahead. There wasn’t a surge in sales and prices started to drop in an effort to spark showroom traffic. From then it was really only a matter of time before Mitsubishi’s Japanese bosses ran out of patience and hit the big red button on the production line.But the 380 story didn’t end with the halting of production because there will be new cars in the market for many months, and used cars will be bought and sold for many years ahead as owners argue its merits. Conservatively styled there was nothing to write home about the 380’s looks. It had a clear family connection to the Magna, which mustn’t have helped, and it really did disappear into the background on the road.In its favour it was larger than the Magna and had the room for a family with good front and rear head and legroom. The dash was well laid-out, although the finish of the plastics looked and felt cheap. But it was well put together and the cheap-look of the plastics could have been corrected with a more subtle texture without too much trouble. At the wheel the driving position was comfortable and the seats supportive.Under the bonnet was a 3.8-litre single overhead camshaft V6 that delivered smooth steady power as the revs climbed. At its peak it would deliver 175 kW and 340 Nm into either a five-speed manual gearbox or, more likely a five-speed auto, with the auto boasting a manual shift option.The suspension was MacPherson Strut at the front with a stabiliser bar, and independent multi-link at the rear. Four-wheel disc brakes, assisted by ABS anti-skid and traction control electronics helped keep it on the black top.Models in the 380 range at launch consisted of base sedan, LS, LX, VR-X and GT. In 2006 Mitsubishi released a Series II with ES, LX, SX, VR-X and GT. Finally in 2007 the company unveiled the Series III, which was destined to be the last act in the company’s local manufacturing play.IN THE SHOP The 380 is still very much in its youth so there isn’t a lot to report, but going by the record of recent Magnas it’s fair to say the new car will be pretty reliable. The engine, gearboxes and driveline are all well proven and have given little drama in the past. Plenty of 380s went into fleet use so be cautious when buying cars that have been driven by people who don’t care much about their ride. Negotiate hard if you’re buying an ex-fleet car.Make the usual checks for minor bumps and scrapes on the body and thoroughly check for serious body damage that might have been caused by a crash. The interior trim of Magnas generally stood up well over time and there’s no reason to think the 380 will be any worse.The 3.8-litre V6 has plenty of punch and will do the job for many years to come without any dramas. Because it’s awkward to get to the three spark plugs at the rear of the engine those cylinders have expensive platinum plugs that require replacing at 90,000 km and some owners get a surprise when they receive the bill from their mechanic. The plugs in the three cylinders at the front of the engine are regular plugs that aren’t as expensive, but require replacement more often.With a six-year warranty Mitsubishi provided plenty of cover for 380 owners, and that’s still in play with the oldest 380 still only three years old.IN A CRASH The 380 had a solid array of safety features with dual front airbags, side airbags, and seat belt pretensioners, which all helped in a crash. It also had an agile, responsive chassis with good steering, powerful disc brakes all round with anti-skid and traction control electronics to empower the driver with the capability to dodge a crash.AT THE PUMP The 380 was quite economical given its mass and the size of its engine. The manual would do around 11.5 L/100 km and the auto a little less at around 10.5 L/100 km. It’s also good on gas with an LPG-compatible engine right from the factory. An approved aftermarket LPG injection kit for the 380 costs around $4200, so given the government rebate of $2000 the extra $2200 the owner needs to cover can be recovered in around 18 months by an average motorist.OWNERS SAY Kelvin Tennant bought his 380 GT shortly after the 2005 release and he rates it by far the best car he’s ever owned. Right from the very first time he drove a 380 he was impressed with the feeling of stability that the car imparts to a driver. It always feels beautifully balanced in corners with hardly any body roll. Added to which the ride is quiet and smooth and the braking excellent. Kelvin also uses it to tow a pop-top caravan and says it makes light work of it even on steep hills. Tests he’s done shows it does 11.6 L/100km on average and as little as 9.0 on a trip.Nick Renwick and his dad both have Mitsubishi 380s and they reckon they are the perfect cars. Nick’s is a brand new 2008 SX; his father’s a 2006 SX Platinum. The build quality is much better than both the VE Commodore and the BF Falcon, they say, and they are so smooth, quiet and comfortable, yet incredibly sporty to drive. They rate the fuel consumption as good, so too the interior space and the fit and finish.Noel Carey bought his 2006 380 Series 2 LX with around 56,000 km on the clock. It has now done 60,000 km and feels as good as new. The body is tight, the panels fit well and the doors close with a solid ‘clunk’. On the road it’s quiet, the engine oozes power and the transmission is smooth and shifts seamlessly.Geoff Burton owns a 2005 380LX with 38,000 km on the clock, and says it is a magnificent vehicle, better than the Fairlane and Statesman he has previously owned. It is a very comfortable car, and is quite good on fuel, handles well and has responsive performance. If it had any faults they would be a lack of mudflaps, a blind spot on the rear passenger side when reversing and no grab handle for the front seat passenger.LOOK OUT FOR • conservative styling• roomy interior• smooth, gutsy V6• good ride and handling• potential for gas conversionTHE BOTTOM LINE With a six-year warranty and sliding prices the well-built and equipped 380 is a potential bargain used car buy.RATING 90/100

In recent years, the Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd plant at Tonsley Park has shed some workers as it scaled back to better fit the reduced demand for large cars powered by six cylinder engines.But such cars, like the very good Mitsubishi 380 V6, continue to be a main player in new-car sales. Every job that is now retained at Tonsley Park, and the component manufacturers that supply to it, is worthwhile.MMAL president Robert McEniry says the company took a few hits financially over the past few years, so now its modest production level of the only car the company builds at Tonsley Park, the 380 sedan, is a sustainable business operation.That 380, a little less than two years since it was launched, has been unveiled in its Series III guise. And if its vice-free handling and ride package, very good fuel economy, cabin space, good brakes and impressive "intelligent" five-speed automatic attached to an engine delivering 175kW of power doesn't win you over, then the asking price, from $28,990, could clinch the deal.Having largely swallowed the financial pain of developing the 380 sedan, Mitsubishi can now build and sell them at a cost that has rivals scratching their heads.If there was one criticism of the 380 until now it was more emotional and subjective rather than tangible and objective; it was tempting to say the car lacked excitement, certainly in the looks department.That has been addressed in this new 380 Series III that went on sale this week.Even the entry-level model now gets dress-up (and useful) gear of fog lamps, new sporty front bumper and alloy wheels.The car retains dual front and side airbags, ABS brakes, automatic climate control airconditioning, power windows, cruise control, power-adjustable driver seat plus steering-wheel controls for the audio system.All this at $28,990 for the fivespeed manual and $30,990 for the five-speed automatic with a sequential shift sports mode, it is very impressive for a car with a 3.8-litre V6 engine.To really push home the deal, Mitsubishi is offering a 380 ES Sports version, adding rear wing, 17 inch-diameter alloy wheels, upgraded sports suspension, sunroof and Bluetooth phone connectivity, at no increase to the above prices.Stability control is conspicuously missing from the 380 spec sheet but anti-lock brakes and traction control are standard on all versions.Next step up is the 380 SX, only as an automatic at $34,990, with a freshened interior, a few exterior highlights, new-design alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear selector plus other touches.The VRX is the 'look-at-me version' at $36,990 manual and $38,990 automatic. It gets a larger rear wing, distinctive 17 inch wheels and a special seat fabric.A Fusion Burst model with bright orange paint and large sunroof is a limited-edition offer based on the VRX yet at the same VRX price.The 380 GT stands out with its new wheels, sports instrument cluster and chrome touches.Its equipment ranges from automatic dimming mirror and power front passenger seat to leather trim at $44,990 (automatic only).Again as a deal clincher, Mitsubishi is offering the GTL, adding in sunroof, different leather trim, more chrome and luxury touches at no change to the GT price.The 3.8-litre engine gives 175kW power and 343Nm of torque. Fuel economy is rated at 10.8 litres/100km in automatic form. They weigh 1625-1685kg and will tow up to 1600kg with trailer brakes. Model looksMitsubishi 380 Series III ES: $28,990 (man), $30,990 (auto).Features: Traction control, 16in alloy wheels, sports bumpers, fog lamps. ES Sports: $28,990 (man), $30,990 (auto). Features: 17in alloy, rear wing, sports suspension, sunroof, Bluetooth connectivity. SX: $34,990 auto only. Features: Alloys, seat inserts, charcoal grille paint, accessory sockets. VRX: $36,990 (man), $38,990 (auto). Features: New front and rear bumper inserts, larger rear wing, alloys, charcoal grille paint, new cloth seats with logo. VRX Fusion Burst: $36,990 (man), $38,990 (auto). Features: Orange duco, coloured seat inserts, sunroof. GT: $44,990 auto only. Features: Machined and painted alloys, chrome finishing strip to deck lid, sports-type instrument cluster. GT-L: Price $44,990. Features: Black/stone interior, chrome deck lid finishing strips and tail-lamps, luxurytype instrument cluster, sunroof, silver painted wheels.