2005 Mitsubishi 380 GT from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

Nothing yet. Have only had the 380GT for 4000km's.

Hell, it is a fast one. Our old car (Vx Calais) was adequate, but this beats it hands down and really has you back in your seat. Especially using the 5 speed Sport-Tronic Auto we got 0 - 100 in 7.2 seconds, which is exeptional for a heavy, large V6 (non-turbo) vehicle.

Any way, comments. The interior is very well finished. Plastics are high quality and have been fitted well. There are no rattles at all, the dash looks very nice at night when it is all lit up electro blue. The colour screen atop the dash is very good and quite Peugeot like in functions and appearance.

The audio system is very very bassy and delivers superior clarity to any other car I have driven; I would like more than 8 speakers as stock, perhaps they'll add 2 or 4 in series II? Umm what else? The steering wheel audio controls seem weirdly placed, but you get used to them and they are actually more logical as you don't have to move your hand from the driving position.

Parking sensors work well, leather 'sculpted' seats are the best I've ever experienced, and the memory seat works well. The electro matic mirror is very unique and makes night driving a hell of a lot safer, as it dramatically eliminates any glare from other vehicles.

The car handles amazingly, for a FWD it is very well channelled power and is superior to both the Commodore and Falcon (mind you the Commmodore is a VERY dated car now).

What does the car need?

I would like Automatic Stability Control, and rear adjustable head restraints for all 3 seats.

The ability to turn the side and rear airvents off.

Auto lights should be standard (the VX Calais had them!) and they should include something like auto wipers.

Possibly a subwoofer? And a metallic black centre console.

Sat nav would be nice in replacement of the colour screen instead of dismantling the dash.

The dash (speedo, etc) should be the high-contrast type that the old Mitsu's use to have, or like the new LEXUS IS250, and it is powerful, but for 50k I would like a MIVEC or VVT-I engine.

Very fast car, and amazing engine and gearbox. Brakes are the best out of any car and are actually fully ventilated. The car is perfect, and on start up it has a very cool animation on the centre screen.

Bluetooth system is very handy (no more fines for talking with my mobile in hand while driving!). It is very clear and has a powerful microphone, so the other person can hear you loud and clear. Very useful integration.

And hey.. you HAVE to go and drive one and see how amazing they are to drive. It is the best car I have ever owned, and you will probably feel like driving one after you have driven one! Honestly, it has to be driven to be appreciated, you will seriously be running from your Camry Falcon or Commodore once you have driven it. It is just in one word... amazing. And with a 5/10 warranty and free servicing included, reliability won't be a problem.

Final comment: Well done Mitsubishi for creating Australia's best car. And once others drive it, I'm sure they'll agree. This is my first Mitsubishi ever and I'm sure I'll continue to buy them in the future.

MMAL (Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited, for those that don't know) is having a lot of problems. That doesn't mean the owner's 380GT will fall apart or stop working should MMAL be forced to cease manufacturing in Australia. The parent company must supply a warranty and spare parts for 10 years after production ceases under Australian law. Even in the unlikely event that MMC (Mitsubishi Motors in Japan) should fold, Mitsubishi is an enormous conglomerate that builds a lot more than just cars.

In other words, no need to worry about what happens to MMAL. Enjoy the car.

Thanks for commenting (to the two of you) but rather then deplicting Mitsubishi Australia's future why not focus on the car? My review was based on the car I purchased and regardless on what the situation is at MMAL it is still by far the best car (ever) produced in Australia. If you don't believe me go and drive one your self.

My comment on MMAL: Yes, they seem to be struggling to succeed at the moment with the 380, but, why I do beleive 380 sales will rise I do feel they could add a 4-cylinder '240' to the lineup with a 6-speed-auto for those fuel concious buyers.

I don't think Mitsubshi should go anywhere near 4cyl engines in the 380! I used to drive a 1991 Magna, and while I will stress that they are one of the most comfortable 1991 cars you'll drive, I rarely dipped below 16L/10km in the city, compared to 12L/100km for the V6. I totally agree with the poster of this review, the 380 looks like good news. MMAL's not out of the doldrums yet, but other carmakers have faced bankruptcy and have come back big. Think BMW in the 1970's and Mazda and Nissan in the 80's. Kudos to you, MMAL!

Hey yesterday we finally took the 380GT for a long country trip. We travelled from Adelaide to Pt. Pirie using cruise control basically from Gepps Cross onwards. Believe it or not we got 6.2km per 100km according to colour screened trip-computer the trip computer. The trip is about 250km so this figure should be about right because we left with the tank full and when we came back (after the 500km trip) we still had **just** over half a tank left. Which is good considering I have driven 4's these distances.

AND MAN! Can this thing rev when you need to overtake. There is now just about 5,500km on the clock and I can now ratify how comfortable this car actually is. Man, tomorrow if you see me or someone driving a 380 (particuarly one with leather) and ask if you can sit in the front or back seats for a few minutes. I swear, think of an expensive and very comfortable sofa in Harvey Norman and now imagine that in your car. These seats (particuarly the front seats) are amazing.

I drove one of these cars the other day. It was a undercover cop car (yes, I'm a cop). I was really suprised at its handling. Normally I'm biased and hate FWD, but this car has changed my mind. It doesn't have that FWD feel that my '94 Camry has when I drive it. The steering and overall acceleration appears better then the current Falcon and Commodore which I have also driven (as these are also cars we have being part of the police squad I also drive them!). The 380 is a lot smoother and has a pratically silent engine, heck, the one's we have are a fleet model, which is similar to the base, but has TCL, alloys and GPS/DVD. The other day I was part of a police chase in melbourne where I had to get up to 150km/h trying to arrest a stolen commodore VL (v8). I was suprised by the fact that I was able to keep up with him, and if I wasn't on a mission to stop him I could have easily over taken him, the 380 is really a hidden beast.

I think later on this year I might buy one 2nd hand, they appear way ahead of other large cars and I think once you drive it you will realise that FWD's are now the same, if not better, then RWD. I was amazed, it really is an exciting car to drive.

Well done Mitsubishi, an unexpected beauty! So much faster then the Magna undercover cars we had (and still have a few of). The 380 is an awsome car!

I just got a 380 Limited Edition. It is so nice. I have beaten 4 commmodores at the lights and it leaves this smile on my face each time.

I got parking sensors, bluetooth, rear spoiler, foglights, bonnet/headlight protector, alloy wheels as bonus features. Fantastic car.

Positives: The built quality, far out it is far ahead of the Falcons and Commodores I have purchased in the past (being VZ, VX, BA, AU). And the features on this absoluetly surpass the Commodore and the Falcon (especially since I claim on fleet benefits and I usually only get the base model).

Bloody fast for a large car, if you want to race me at the lights I'll beat you in your commo's in my 3-8-0.

I have driven several 380's, mostly base. Every 380 I have driven has had a consistent level of build quality. I am impressed by the fact that when you put your foot down, the nose lifts and charges away, like an angry bull, and when you brake, it pulls up like a bungee cord.

And now the 380 is into Series 2. Series 2 adds nothing ultra special, but renames the base to '380 ES', adds the new '380 SX' sports model, deletes '380 LS', downgrades 380 LX', upgrades '380 VRX' and downgrades '380 GT'. There are no extra performance, audio or driver-assist mods, just small features. However 'Wheels' magazine reports the possibility of a 190kW engine for 380 sports models, namely the VRX and GT.

A '240' would not be an unlikely possibility, with the 2.4 MIVEC engine used in the US Galant 'Mother ship'. This engine is a (somewhat) powerful, torquey and reliable motor, an evolution of the one used in the 1996-98 TE/TF Magna 4 cylinder sedans. They used a 2.4L 16 valve SOHC version. It proved to be 110% less smokey, more quiet, smooth and more reliable than the 1985-96 TM-TS 2.6L Astron II 4 cylinder predecessor. And it is rumoured that there is a diesel 380 in testing.

Even if MMAL's future as an Australian manufacturer is in doubt, the company will still be an importer of global Mitsubishi vehicles, which looks very exciting. The new Colt convertible and Colt Turbo, new Lancer, Outlander (MIVEC 2.4L and MIVEC V6), Triton (3.8L V6 and 3.2Di-D), a new Pajero on the horizon, and other new cars to come. So if manufacturing in Australia stops, why stop considering a Mitsubishi. A reliable, well-priced and quality product, they deserve more than they get.

I agree mitsubishi deserves far better than they get. I have owned many commodores falcons and mitsubishis over the years going back to a sigma many years ago. I CURRENTLY DRIVE A TL MAGNA. i have found mitsubishis far better built and comfortable. As for mmals problems now the review was about the car not the company so enjoy your car. I have driven a 380 and was very impressed when my current magna needs replacing ill be down at my local mitsi dealer with skates on. although the way my current car is still driving that is going to be a long time.

Actually the 'review' was regarding the viability of Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited as a local manufacturer, not just the 380 sedan. There was no review, just some misguided press activity from the ABC. A memo was sent out to MMAL workers and dealers regarding this speculation assuring that there has been no plan to shut the plant down. Even if the plant was to shut down, the company would still remain in Australia as an importer, much like Nissan.

I have no regrets whatsoever after buying my 380 Series II back in June. Fuel economy wise for a V6 is just great plus road handling and the acceleration!

Mitsubishi however lost on the marketing edge... the 380 had great reviews all round, but to drop the price after 6 months because of 'poor sales' cast a 'inferior' or 'problematic' car mentality with buyers. What a shame! Now that Toyota and Holden have come up with their own latest V6s, the 380 will find it hard to claim its rightful place as a Top Value for Money V6 :(.

My dad just brought a 380 platnim after many years of being a hard headed holden man and is very happy with his choice. It is extremely quiet, comfortable and the seats are to die for. And as the review said it is seriosly fast. I expect he will get many years of reliable motoring out of it or as dad says ittl see his driving days out. I HOPE HE PLANS TO HAND IT DOWN TO ME. Go mitsubishi youre products are far better than you are given credit for.

I will definitely have to agree with the comments that have been posted here, I purchased my 380-VRX in November 2005 and it has been just awesome ever since. I have had no trouble with this car at all! way to go to the production employees at Mitsubishi's Adelaide, South Australia plant...

Also I would like to add that for a car these days to be as solid as the 380 is a miracle, I can attest to that as I hit a gutter doing 70kph during a defensive maneuver last night and the car rode through it very well, popped a tyre busted a rim, bulged a rear tyre and bent the lower wishbone on left hand suspension, isn't gonna cost a whole heapp to repair either!. More praise has to go to them for keeping spare parts at a good price $212 for a genuine replacement for the busted mag! (old mag ridiculously out of round)

@ 22,000Kms VERY happy with this purchase!

After all the problems with the new falcons and commodores I wouldn't hesitate to own a magna either.

Burnouts are not the major criterion that you buy a car by.

Resale values means I wouldn't, but a new one though. Mitsubishi needs to come up with some sort of buyback scheme to favor fleet buyers and a cheap straight lpg option to stay in the market. IMO. That would keep them going in Australia and cost them less in the long run than slashing prices, that only hurts and puts off the fleet buyers and adds the impression of inferiority.

Does Mitsubishi have much choice? They have to get people to buy the 380 somehow and price is usually a pretty big incentive. Hopefully sales will go up when people realise what a great car is being overlooked. I just hope Mitsubishi can build cars in Australia long enough to release a new 380 for when my lease expires!

I've just purchased a 2nd hand 380GT with 12k's on the clock. (Lease vehicle through salary sacrificing). As a dyed in the wool Falcon man from the 70's it was a hard decision to change, but for the price I was able to buy this car which had all the bells and whistles included for thousands of dollars under the price of either a Falcon or Commodore kitted up to the same level.

I had previously driven a rental 380 for 1000 kilometres over 2 days and was most impressed with the vehicle, its feel, road holding, acceleration, the front seats (to die for), doors that clunk shut and don't slam, internal noise suppression etc. After doing 500 clicks, I literally hopped out of the car and felt as if I had just gotten out of my armchair at home- fresh and fatigue free. Its that type of car.

When you couple 5 yrs warranty, 10 year drive train warranty etc into the equation, plus roadside assist, it starts to become a no brainer.

My car has got everything, towbar, weather shields, tint etc. There is literally nothing else I could buy to upgrade the vehicle except perhaps sat nav. (But you can get them in your mobile phones now and cheaper.)

Comments like that it looks like the modern version of the old Leyland P76 (For those who can remember back that far are half right) - its does have a big rear end, but by gees its got a top boot nearly big enough to fit a 44 gallon drum.

Most of my family and friends have driven it and all were more than impressed with it. I haven't had one scrap of trouble with it. I too remember the Sigma and the Magna and basically over the years had no reason to drive any Mitsubishi product. At this point in time I can honestly say I am over the moon and elated that I have brought this vehicle. I intend to re-lease after 3 years and own it outright. I have been told by the rental company that they are as quick as a Ford XR6 and I think I believe it. My daughter has an XR6 which we drove to Queensland and back over the Christmas break and I do have to say its not as good as my 380GT.

For those readers who are dyed in the wool Holden/Ford fans, do yourself a favour and at least take one of these for a test drive and compare. You might just change your mind. Vehicles are a necessity of modern life. I wanted one that will go the distance in a trouble free manner and not cost the earth. I want a car for a long time. I think I have found it.