Mitsubishi 380 - Opinions on reliability, economy etc. - Page 4

AU Mont · 28-09-2012, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLO247

Nice one mate.

I plan to buy one too, just a base model for a daily car. Unbeatable for the money.

i wouldnt call it the base model, but the SX has the VRX sports seats albeit with cloth, and the VRX suspension, leather steering wheel, 17" wheels and 6 stacker i think as well.

zilo · 28-09-2012, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AU Mont

...

The test drive was interesting. Ive never driven a FWD car with more than 130kw before, so casually holding the wheel in one hand i jumped on the loud pedal from the lights to see if the gearbox shifted fine under stress........ and the steering wheel ripped out of my hand and nearly drove the car off the side of the road

To have that happen you must have been on the gravel or a wet road.
The traction control abates all that....unless you deliberately turned it off?

(I find it difficult to do with 250kw)

minheim · 28-09-2012, 05:52 PM

Nice buy both in car and price. You'll find it really comfortable for long trips with great economy.

My wife refuses to let me replace my, I mean, her 380. I remember when I took her to look at it in the car yard on a Sunday morning molre than 3 years ago. It was only supposed be for a reluctant look cause "we aint buying" she said, but the red metallic paintwork worked a treat and i was given instructions to head down Monday morning and grab it. It's been a great car.

For my next car however I wouldn't mind a Mondeo zetec or an XR6. Could be a wait though as the 380 is very reliable and until it gives issues Mrs M won't part with it.

AU Mont · 28-09-2012, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ugg

To have that happen you must have been on the gravel or a wet road.
The traction control abates all that....unless you deliberately turned it off?

(I find it difficult to do with 250kw)

TC works, but is a little slow to react

with the steering wheel incident i didnt mean the car was really powerful, it was more a case of me never experiencing torque steer before....... i really wasnt expecting that

Nic85 · 28-09-2012, 06:47 PM

The torque steer is something you'll get used to. Looks like a really clean car.

I would strongly advise you check the transmission fluid ASAP and make sure it's pink/red. Those gearboxes are very fussy and only like to be flushed and filled with genuine Mitsubishi ATF.

Otherwise, enjoy the car.

AU Mont · 28-09-2012, 07:16 PM

yep have booked the car in for the belt/plugs @ Mitsubishi on the 4th Oct and trans service the following tuesday at the transmission place

however youve got me thinking maybe the trans place wont use the genuine oil, and maybe i should get it done with the timing belt service?

Franco Cozzo · 28-09-2012, 07:28 PM

Nice looking car, congratulations

Welcome to the wrong wheel drive club

minheim · 28-09-2012, 09:22 PM

I'd get the transmission service done by Mitsubishi then you can be confident the right fluid will be used. When I had my timing belt done for the 90k service, I was going to have the auto flushed but they said it would be done at 105k along with the plugs. There were a few other things they did at the 90K like brake and coolant fluids. Also they noticed the amps on the battery were borderline so I got a new one. I know from the aussiemagna forum which has a 380 sub forum that they play up once the battery starts to drop.

KIWI-1 · 28-09-2012, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AU Mont

apparently already have a mandrel bent 2.5" exhaust?

http://www.rpw.com.au/shop/index.php...sk=view&id=202

RPW have lots of good bits.

KIWI-1 · 28-09-2012, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nic85

The torque steer is something you'll get used to. Looks like a really clean car.

I would strongly advise you check the transmission fluid ASAP and make sure it's pink/red. Those gearboxes are very fussy and only like to be flushed and filled with genuine Mitsubishi ATF.

Otherwise, enjoy the car.

+1

Quote:

Originally Posted by AU Mont

yep have booked the car in for the belt/plugs @ Mitsubishi on the 4th Oct and trans service the following tuesday at the transmission place

however youve got me thinking maybe the trans place wont use the genuine oil, and maybe i should get it done with the timing belt service?

Mitsubishi have been using Mitsubishi Diamond ATF SP III for years. If it's a HALF decent place they will know, but bear in mind that Nulon, for example, now make a multi-vehicle ATF that meets many specs (including ZF) so workshops can carry less stock.

zilo · 29-09-2012, 01:30 AM

It's a really, really big mistake to use the wrong auto transmission fluid in this particular car.

Nulon would be something I wouldn't risk just use genuine stuff and less hassles me thinks.

zilo · 29-09-2012, 02:45 AM

AUmont, you probably didn't think to look at safety, have a read of this article.
http://www.carsales.com.au/news/2012...-ratings-31894

AU Mont · 29-09-2012, 07:29 AM

ok thanks, will cancel the trans service at auto place, and get mitsubishi to do it.

gonna join the aussie magna forum and ask a few questions, instead dragging of this one out lol

Nic85 · 29-09-2012, 09:11 AM

Regarding the transmission service, it all depends on the place that does it. There's a place on the Sunshine Coast called Ron Hill Automatics who are a great shop and do all types of cars. They know exactly what type of oil the car takes etc. So just make sure they're going to use the genuine Mitsubishi ATF.

Having said that, it's probably a better option to get Mitsubishi to do it when they do your 90k service.

Some places will use a Castrol oil or Nulon oil, which both meet specifications, BUT, there's way too many horror stories out there about using the wrong oil. Just stick to Mitsubishi genuine ATF and you won't have a problem.

Coincidentally, I'm getting the 90k service done for my 380 this coming week too. I'm going all out: platinum plugs front and back, brake fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, engine oil and filter, air filter and 4 new rotors and pads. I do the transmission myself so it's done right.

How are you enjoying the car so far? Many rattles, creaks or groans from the dash/cabin? Smoothness and quietness? Interested to hear your thoughts after coming from the Falcon.

AU Mont · 29-09-2012, 11:14 AM

my thoughts, well tbh the car feels a little agricultural in nature how it chuggs along, and with the truck style dash. So i wouldnt call it a sporty car even though it looks that way on the outside, but i didnt buy it for that.

it is pretty quiet inside, little bit of road noise but not anything that bad. The only squeek seems to be the leather seat flexing when going up a driveway or rough patches of road. It does sit nice on the road, and seems to handle well.

The gearbox is ALOT better than the BTR but the downgrade in torque from the falcon means more throttle needed when trying to drive it lightly.

It does the job of a family car well, and does it without being bland or boring. Has a larger interior than the AU at the expense of boot space. Im extremely happy with it, and for the price i paid its my best purchase yet. Im quickly finding out general parts have to be ordered in, like the air filter which supercheap didnt have. Brake fluid i'll leave until the pads are due

today i got some nulon long life coolant which i'll mix 50/50, oil & filters. Then just need mitsubishi to do the belt, plugs and auto. Then hopefully my touchscreen gps, double din facia & iso harness arrives soon and i can just enjoy the car.

KIWI-1 · 29-09-2012, 12:17 PM

Bro-in-law changed his ATF and shortly after it blew up. I was to polite to ask if he used genuine Mitsibishi... but as NIC85 said there are many similar stories so I reckon I already know the answer.

Nic85 · 29-09-2012, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIWI-1

Bro-in-law changed his ATF and shortly after it blew up. I was to polite to ask if he used genuine Mitsibishi... but as NIC85 said there are many similar stories so I reckon I already know the answer.

It's not uncommon for people to change the auto fluid in a Magna/380 with Dextron 3 as they get confused with SP 3. Of course Dextron 3 is for Commodore gearboxes and actually ruins a Mitsubishi auto box. If he did use Dextron, I wouldn't be surprised if the gearbox only lasted 1000km. The heat buildup inside would have been astronomical.

Glad you're happy with it, Mont. Regular servicing and it'll last you a long time.

blueoval · 29-09-2012, 01:13 PM

when you say regular servicing, do you mean as per the book service history?

sorry if that sounds like a dumb question. I have always been confused with this phrase.

AU Mont · 29-09-2012, 01:25 PM

well posted a thread up on aussiemagna forum, but the fordforum seems to be more helpful so i'll post it here lol !!

i undid the drain plug on the radiator to drain the old coolant but only 2L came out?

i made sure the car was fully warmed up, but it didnt matter what i did, in the end i could only get 2L of coolant mix back in there. Surely theres a way to drain out the majority of the coolant, and fill it back up without much fuss?

Nic85 · 29-09-2012, 01:49 PM

I saw your thread, but I won't reply over there for fear of being banned by the admins.

I personally only use genuine Mitsubishi coolant, but I'm sure other stuff will be fine. Not sure how much the radiator is supposed to hold. Might need to get your hands on the workshop manual - pretty sure there's a link to it on that Magna forum.

Edit: Found it for you -

Part 1 - http://www.mediafire.com/?2f91ftc1tgorac1

Part 2 - http://www.mediafire.com/?0bw6um0yt75bi42

KIWI-1 · 29-09-2012, 03:55 PM

From memory it's about 9 Litres and there are drain bolts on the block. So a 5 Litre bottle + a top up with demineralised water.

ute83 · 29-09-2012, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AU Mont

i undid the drain plug on the radiator to drain the old coolant but only 2L came out?

i made sure the car was fully warmed up, but it didnt matter what i did, in the end i could only get 2L of coolant mix back in there. Surely theres a way to drain out the majority of the coolant, and fill it back up without much fuss?

Yep, take the thermostat out and top hose off, run the engine with the heater on and keep the radiator full. Do this untill the water coming out is as clear as it is going in. Also DON"T let anybody tell you that you have to use genuine mitsubishi trans fluid. The spec is SP3. Anything that has that spec is good to go. I use Penrite fluid. They even have a full synthetic one now. I've used them for the last 120 000 km in my 380, and change it every 45000 km. Enjoy your car, I do.

Nic85 · 30-09-2012, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueoval

when you say regular servicing, do you mean as per the book service history?

sorry if that sounds like a dumb question. I have always been confused with this phrase.

Sorry, I just saw this post. Log book servicing is what I mean by "regular servicing", yes. Making sure that everything in the book is done when it needs to be.

zilo · 30-09-2012, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AU Mont

well posted a thread up on aussiemagna forum, but the fordforum seems to be more helpful so i'll post it here lol !!

yep...waste of time there, it's a magna forum, different car and every 2nd post is trying to sell you stuff from the admins wrecking yard.

Nic85 · 30-09-2012, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ugg

yep...waste of time there, it's a magna forum, different car and every 2nd post is trying to sell you stuff from the admins wrecking yard.

What's that? You need a new radiator for your 380? Yes, I sell them. I'll do you a special deal.

zilo · 30-09-2012, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nic85

What's that? You need a new radiator for your 380? Yes, I sell them. I'll do you a special deal.

what's that? you thought it should of come with a radiator cap?

Shutup or I ban your direct depositted ***.

Nic85 · 30-09-2012, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ugg

what's that? you thought it should of come with a radiator cap?

Shutup or I ban your direct depositted ***.

That's it. Insulting a forum sponsor - Permanent ban dick head.

KIWI-1 · 30-09-2012, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nic85

That's it. Insulting a forum sponsor - Permanent ban dick head.

Wonder what you'd get for insulting a Falcon?

AU Mont · 30-09-2012, 06:54 PM

lol if only the fellas on fordforums knew how much of a good thing they got going here.........

we bought my wife a late model mazda so i joined a mazda forum to ask questions but no-one was willing to help, we later on bought a subaru impreza & now a liberty and turns out they didnt know squat about general stuff, but you buy a falcon or even another make and ask here, you get 20 instant genuine responses.

wish they were all like this one !!!

ute83 · 30-09-2012, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ugg

yep...waste of time there, it's a magna forum, different car and every 2nd post is trying to sell you stuff from the admins wrecking yard.

I'm glad i'm not the only one who has noticed that... and if he doesn't like your post he just deletes it.