380 dead, Mitsu ZT to lead the charge

[fpv_gtho]

They originally wanted to take the Galant, change the styling and strengthen the chassis. The side profile remained the same, the front and rear got minor styling changes but they still changed the chassis. Some of the notable differences are a different floor in the boot to hold a full sized spare, and stronger/thicker side panels to be able to tow more. All up they wasted $600m engineering it for local conditions and updating the plant ($250m of that just for the plant). They were also supposed to be producing a long wheelbase version, but that got dropped when Chrysler abandoned Mitsubishi.

[NSXType-R]

Originally Posted by fpv_gtho

They originally wanted to take the Galant, change the styling and strengthen the chassis. The side profile remained the same, the front and rear got minor styling changes but they still changed the chassis. Some of the notable differences are a different floor in the boot to hold a full sized spare, and stronger/thicker side panels to be able to tow more. All up they wasted $600m engineering it for local conditions and updating the plant ($250m of that just for the plant). They were also supposed to be producing a long wheelbase version, but that got dropped when Chrysler abandoned Mitsubishi.

Wow. No wonder.

[fpv_gtho]

I forgot they also had to do the RHD conversion, which is really the only thing that NEEDED to be done. They couldve done that, some new bumpers and update the plant for close to half of what they originally spent though.

[Blue Supra]

Theyre already a steal second hand. 2005 ES models are going for high 17k...

[crisis]

Looks nice. Why do they think anyone will be interested in an imported front drive large car when the one they have already got sent them out of business?
Small volume seller at best.

[BarneyBoy]

Originally Posted by Spastik_Roach

roflmao, gold.

Many people here driven a 380? What was it like, and did it deserve to fail like it seemingly has?

Mechanically and dynamically a great drive, with nice NVH detailing and quite good build quality.

IMO, Mitsubishi was sunk by appalling marketing decisions, and abysmal product range decisions. Because of gutless marketing decisions to build across-the-range boring models, they failed to ever 'light the fuse' of enthusiasm in its buyers. And when they did a sports model, it was laughable - either barely recognisable as sporty, or ugly and a joke with clumsy add-on sporty bits. Their decision to kill the GSR Lancer, handing the entire buyer market over to Subaru's WRX was unforgivable.

The 380 was basically a nicely styled car let down by poor design detail (ugly steering wheels, ugly small alloys, ugly trim materials &c) and possibly the worst front end on the market. It looked like a retarded gimp at the front and a rear end that looked like it had been backed into a wall before the clay had dried. (my opinion only).

Such a shame, as it was a nice car to drive across the range, albeit with 0 sporting pretensions (especially in the sports models).

Their marketing people failed to ever establish a Hero model (as did Holden with the SS & Ford with the XRs), continuing to trot out wet squib wanna-be's. It angers me, because from a quality perspective, they kept the others honest. Rant over

R.I.P.

[IBrake4Rainbows]

It was a car which never really took the publics imagination.

It was transport, not a car. No one ever named there 380, like you would a Commodore or Falcon.

And because they didn't have the fleet sales like toyota to keep making Fridges with wheels, they were stuffed.

ah well.

[SlickHolden]

Originally Posted by fpv_gtho

They originally wanted to take the Galant, change the styling and strengthen the chassis. The side profile remained the same, the front and rear got minor styling changes but they still changed the chassis. Some of the notable differences are a different floor in the boot to hold a full sized spare, and stronger/thicker side panels to be able to tow more. All up they wasted $600m engineering it for local conditions and updating the plant ($250m of that just for the plant). They were also supposed to be producing a long wheelbase version, but that got dropped when Chrysler abandoned Mitsubishi.

Could have almost built a VT Or AU.

With that amount of money out layed they could have almost rebuilt the car in anyway with the Gallant as a base, that's plenty of $'s on something that wasn't a massive change over it's donor.

[fpv_gtho]

Originally Posted by IBrake4Rainbows

It was a car which never really took the publics imagination.

It was transport, not a car. No one ever named there 380, like you would a Commodore or Falcon.

And because they didn't have the fleet sales like toyota to keep making Fridges with wheels, they were stuffed.

ah well.

I disagree. Had the car been on sale 2 years earlier with even a minor export contract Mitsubishi wouldve been in a far better position. When it eventually did launch in 2005, it arguably was the best in class with the lower end models until VE launched.

[SlickHolden]

Originally Posted by BarneyBoy

The 380 was basically a nicely styled car let down by poor design detail (ugly steering wheels, ugly small alloys,

I seen one around my area with 19" rims in black dumped, looked fantastic, I'm sure there is a pic of it around the net somewhere.

[BarneyBoy]

Originally Posted by SlickHolden

I seen one around my area with 19" rims in black dumped, looked fantastic, I'm sure there is a pic of it around the net somewhere.

Yep, when you see one dropped a bit with 18s or 19s and some clean bodywork, you think "that ain't all that bad". Had the whole Daimler thing not occurred (they delayed the 380 decision by a year) and had Daimler not bailed out forcing Japan to delay the 380 some more, maybe it could've dodged the worst of the petrol scare? I still think it looked too wrong.

But you can't deny that they'll be (still are) Australia's best used car by far. And the 6yr/10yr warranty is spectacular.

[SlickHolden]

Originally Posted by BarneyBoy

Yep, when you see one dropped a bit with 18s or 19s and some clean bodywork, you think "that ain't all that bad". Had the whole Daimler thing not occurred (they delayed the 380 decision by a year) and had Daimler not bailed out forcing Japan to delay the 380 some more, maybe it could've dodged the worst of the petrol scare? I still think it looked too wrong.

But you can't deny that they'll be (still are) Australia's best used car by far. And the 6yr/10yr warranty is spectacular.

Modern body with some old parts tossed in..

I wonder how many people will think they wont get there warranty's now??.

[Blue Supra]

The wheels and lowering you can factory option. I asked the guy at the mo show last year about the green one on the stand with the bling wheels and he said "you order them and pay for them, we'll fit them, lower the car if you want and itll all be under warranty" i was like no other manufacturer does that for you!

[Cyco]

Slick, The plant may be closed, but Mitsi Aus is still trading (and will be in better financial shape by doing so) so warranty will be fully supported

[SlickHolden]

Originally Posted by Blue Supra

The wheels and lowering you can factory option. I asked the guy at the mo show last year about the green one on the stand with the bling wheels and he said "you order them and pay for them, we'll fit them, lower the car if you want and itll all be under warranty" i was like no other manufacturer does that for you!

that's what you do when your desperate

Originally Posted by Cyco

Slick, The plant may be closed, but Mitsi Aus is still trading (and will be in better financial shape by doing so) so warranty will be fully supported

We know but the world outside will be to busy with there fingers in there arses to know they let a decent car go by because they are wimps and think they are getting taken for a ride.
I'm shocked the Asian community didn't buy one, Then i thought they only buy Toyota's usually. Most of the 380's i seen getting around were driven buy Caucasians.