Faults:

I have had the 380 for 5 years and not much has gone wrong with it in terms of mechanical or electrical issues. It’s been serviced according to the 10k schedule and the only things that I have had to replace are a new radiator and some lower control arm bushes. Other than that the only time you spend some money is at the 100k and 200k major service which includes the timing belt, spark plugs, water pump and rocker cover gaskets and that’s about it.

General Comments:

The 380 is a very well built car which was assembled here in Adelaide Australia. The build quality is excellent. It’s classified as a large car, but the styling is such that it looks more minimalist than the bulbous VE and FG Falcon that it competes with, yet inside it is very comfortable with great seats. Compared to the newer cars its interior is nice and simple, and Mitsubishi make great air conditioners.

The throttle response is very sprightly off the mark and the 5 speed automatic with shifter function is very good. The engine has abundant power, and makes a great sound and pleasant to use.

People tend to comment that this car can be thirsty and it probably is if you compare it to a later 4-cylinder car. In the city I’m doing around 13.4 litres per 100 km and on the open road I can get down into the mid 7’s so Mitsubishi’s combined claim of 10.8 litres per 100 km is quite attainable as long as you drive smoothly. The other thing you need to remember is that a 0 to 100 time of 7.6 seconds is pretty good for the time, and right up there with Holden and Ford V8’s a few years before the 380 was released.

The biggest thing for anyone buying these cars is how inexpensive they are to buy, with most cars hovering between 3k and 6k, with super low kilometre immaculate cars and in GT from around 9k. I think the main problem people would find looking for these cars is finding one that has been properly looked after. I’ve seen quite a few going around where the paint work has delaminated and generally not looked after, so look for one where the owner has looked after it and it has a full service history.

At 250k I’m looking to replace this car and finding a replacement will be difficult because many car makers make SUV’s these days. Yes you can buy a later model Commodore, but I’m reluctant to get the Alloytec 3,6 litre V6 from the VE and VF range and possibly deal with expensive timing chain issues, and the Ford Falcon FG can have ZF transmission issues and rear diff bushes failures. Meanwhile the Aurion is probably the most reliable option (but less inspiring), and if I opt for something less comfortable and smaller there is the Accord Euro and Mazda 6, or if I go JDM, a Toyota Crown could work or a locally sourced Lexus GS or LS.

Faults:

Absolute nothing so far.

General Comments:

Extremely reliable, well built car with decent performance and superb comfort.

It's not exactly a fuel sipper, but it's definitely worth it.

Beautiful, yet extremely underrated sedan.

If you're interested, don't hesitate, and buy one today!

Faults:

Three things have been faulty on this car:

1. Rear passenger window had failed to work; it was the cable that snapped and was fixed by the dealer under warranty; they were great with the service provided.

2. Driver's head rest leather cover keeps unlocking at the bottom.

3. The rear driver's seat pocket elastic has broken. A weak design flaw.

General Comments:

This GT model has leather everywhere, cruise control, sunroof, ABS, traction control, reverse warning device, great stereo system, climate control, Bluetooth, and 17" alloy wheels.

It also has sports suspension, which is brilliant. It's not too hard and not soft, so it handles very well on all road conditions.

It has never failed me - starts first turn of the key every time.

I don't follow the 15000 km servicing procedure. I do it every 10k.

I've fitted an LPG injected system to it at 50,000 km and never looked back. The yearly savings are around 1500-2000 $$$$ a year, if not more.

A very reliable car, I've always used Castrol Magnatech 15-40 oil and changed the oil filter every 20k. Use only Mitsi trans oil every 20k km.

Coolant (MITSI) and timing belt changed every 120k.

I travel 400 to 500 km a week, and that costs me 27-35 dollars a tank (350-420 km) depending on the price of LPG 50-60 cents/L.

Power-wise it's brilliant on gas as well; you can't feel the difference between the two fuels.

I've had three Holdens (VP, VS, and Frontera) prior to this car that were on gas, and all had oil or water leaks and valve recession.

This car has been a dream to drive and own. Yes I may have spent a bit more money by doing slightly more services, but I do them all, the only costs are parts and they are relatively cheap compared to other makes. The piece of mind that the car is well serviced has paid off over the years (the same servicing with Holdens made no difference).

It's a shame that this car is no longer made; I would have bought another one. They still make this car in the USA, but under the name of Galant and it looks really good... it's a shame they're left hand drive.