2007 Mitsubishi 380 SX from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

Drivers power window failed.

Uses a tad bit of oil between services.. but that's to be expected.

What a car! Stepping from my VZ Commodore to this, I was expecting much of the same with a different badge on the bonnet. Of course the poor reception from the public did my opinion no good, but I decided to give the 380 a go purely on value, and I am extremely glad I did.

Mine being the Series 3 SX variant, means it gets all the suspension, tyre package and strut brace from the VRX, with a slightly more subtle body kit, in the very lovely Electro blue colour.

Inside it gets everything a GT does with the exception of a sunroof and leather.

The 3.8 sounds sweet as, and has plenty of power anywhere in the rev range (outpowers the VE SV6 I drove below 4000rpm, and it's easily as competent as the Aurion till 3500-4000rpm) and the 5 speed auto is quite a sweet thing, if not a bit docile on dropping down a few cogs... I have heard from various sources these motors actually produce 195kw or thereabouts, Mitsubishi only underestimate the power output so people don't think it's a fuel guzzler, feel free to comment on that, I'm keen on knowing as I have given my mates MANUAL VE SV6 ute a good run for its money.

Handling wise I am completely astounded by how it turns in as willingly, if not more so than my Commodore (which is fitted with FE2 suspension and wider tyres). Under steer is evident of course, but not like FWD cars of old, this ones a pearler in the corners. I recall Wheels magazine saying the rear end is even willing to step out if provoked enough, and I can confirm, yes, it will.

The quality of the whole car is undoubtedly Australian, but one of the finest examples, I think on par with that of the Aurion (which I believe aren't all that well put together for a Toyota).

Overall I am just so disappointed that this car isn't being built any more, if it had a Holden or Ford badge, it would have sold in massive numbers. Feel free to comment!

Just purchased a 11/2007 380 SX, loving it. I have gone through 3 tanks of fuel, all three over 600km and averaging abount 10 to 10.5 litres per 100 km with a good mix of driving.

Sorry but I don't understand how 'Uses a tad bit of oil between services' is to be expected on a Japanese car with only approx 30k on the clock and with a large 3.8L V6. My old 1993 626 with 260,000k on the clock used oil, which to me IS to be expected on 4 cyl car with high k's.

Unfortunately yours isn't the only 380 reviewed here that seems to be using excessive oil. I hope the engine used in the 380 isn't suffering from the same piston slap issues that have plagued the GM Gen III 5.7L V8. That would be a shame as the 380 would seem to be a good car to buy second hand, but after my previous experiences with all my Mitsi's ending up being chronic oil burners, the oil use of the 380 worries me a bit. I hope you have a good run with yours.

Why do you think it is OK to use a bit of oil - I don't understand.

I have a 380 series III, and I think it is the best car I have ever driven - I just adore it, but it has just, from about 70,000km onwards started using about 1 L of oil per 7,500, and it is worrying me (I have just had the 82500 service). The Mitsubishi service agent doesn't seem to know why, and really aren't prepared to look at the problem, but I would like someone out there to try to explain why this is happening, and should I expect it to get worse???

Cheers.

Steve.

I own a 1995 Magna serviced since new and it has always used a little extra oil. Mine has 250000kms and starts first time every time. brakes have been changed once.

Poster of the original article here. I see what you guys are saying about the oil consumption. But Mitsubishi has always, from what I have read and heard and been told by the Mitsubishi dealer, had rather crap valve seals and they do use a bit of oil. The car has now done 53,300km and I can say now, the oil consumption has not gotten any worse. When I say oil use, I'm talking a millimetre on the dipstick, it's an extremely low amount of oil consumption, as is expected from a Mitsubishi V6.