http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/8BDCA1A33FFCB6DCCA2570C1000B514E



Best Cars judges named Mitsubishi’s 380 as the smoothest, quietest Australian-built car, with unconvincing interior finish and ergonomics failing to stop it winning the large car award from Hyundai’s new Sonata and Ford’s BAII Falcon.

Best Sports Car Over $57,000 - Mercedes-Benz CLK350 Coupe ($118,600)


Hahaha, that's stupid. They should make some new criteria with different price ranges.

Best Sports Car Over $57,000 - Mercedes-Benz CLK350 Coupe ($118,600)


$57,000 roughly represents the luxury car tax limit, hence anything above $57k is "luxury".

That's a pretty significant win for Mitsubishi given the amount of positive press the BF has been receiving - no doubt the Adelaide boys will be celebrating!

That's a pretty significant win for Mitsubishi given the amount of positive press the BF has been receiving - no doubt the Adelaide boys will be celebrating!
That's what I don't understand. It appears that everyone who's compared both the 380 and BF have stated that the BF is better, so why's the 380 won? Here's what one of the judges said (Ernest Litera), "This is good news for a local manufacturer with a lot at stake, having spent over $600 million on the development of a family sedan."

I hope its not a sympathy vote and that it was genuine. The quality of the 380 would be better than the falcon, however it didn't stop this comment from passing through, "
Best Cars judges named Mitsubishi’s 380 as the smoothest, quietest Australian-built car, with unconvincing interior finish and ergonomics failing to stop it winning the large car award from Hyundai’s new Sonata and Ford’s BAII Falcon."

now i havent been in a 380 so i cant compare but let me say i think the interior styling of the BA has not got me impressed.......very basic styling....dont get me wrong the thing flew but inside i was like meh my TR is better styled then this........when i get inside a 380 then i can compare but my first impressions of the BA werent that great.....

anyway.....i had to say that :)

continue on

That's what I don't understand. It appears that everyone who's compared both the 380 and BF have stated that the BF is better, so why's the 380 won?

They didn't test it against a BF, they tested it against a BA MkII

Heres a conspiracty theory for you.

When Ford was in trouble the BA won Car of the year.

Mitsu is in trouble.. 380 wins Car of the year.

Reasoning: It affects about 4000 jobs across australia.. Possibly more, not just from the plant that makes the car but also the flow down effect to all the other manufacturers that supply materials and product to them.

Ive been in a couple of 380's now (work has a few) and to be honest, it was a nice drive and quiet too.. But i wouldnt rave about it.

So it was the BA. That pretty much explains it. Why did they use a BA? Doesn't make a lot of sense. It was more or less released at the same time as the 380. As for the conspiracy theory, I'd agree except the RACV is generally pretty anal about stuff like that.

well as long as it boost sales for them, who gives a hoot

Yep, it's still significant and a great boost for 'em

They didn't test it against a BF, they tested it against a BA MkII
My apologies, you're right. Hard to understand why when the BF is on sale now (and has been for several weeks.) The cut-off must have been just after the 380 went on sale?


Mitsu is in trouble.. 380 wins Car of the year.
This isn't the car of the year just yet. :) The awards that generally accepted as the Aussie COTY is WHEELS magazines competition. Whilst the BF did soundly beat the 380 in the WHEELS comparo, neither the BF or VZ will make it into WHEELS's judging. I can't think of many other news cars to the market this year that are any good? The Focus maybe?

This isn't the car of the year just yet. :) The awards that generally accepted as the Aussie COTY is WHEELS magazines competition. Whilst the BF did soundly beat the 380 in the WHEELS comparo, neither the BF or VZ will make it into WHEELS's judging. I can't think of many other news cars to the market this year that are any good? The Focus maybe?Ahh ok..

COTY.. Suzuki Swift or the Focus..

Funnily enough, we are buying a Suzuki Swift S.. I hope the 2 door turbo version (currently in testing) comes over here..

Ahh ok..

COTY.. Suzuki Swift or the Focus..

Funnily enough, we are buying a Suzuki Swift S.. I hope the 2 door turbo version (currently in testing) comes over here..

talking bout the Swift, i might be getting a base model Swift (non-S) in the coming weeks, just trying to get my olds to cover the insurance, haha.

But ABC's best small car award went to Getz instead of Swift, in fact, Swift was ranked 4th, behind Getz, Fiesta and Polo, and surprise surprise, both Getz and Swift scored 3/5 for equipment level, i mean... wtf... the Swift has tonnes more equipment than the Getz... while Polo (good handling bu underpowered and pricy) and Fiesta are worthy contenders (even better handling, but harsh engine and relatively expensive), the Getz is just shouldnt be ranked 1st, it costs 1K below the Swift, but comes with no ABS and no steering controls, trip computer etc.. and the brand image...

and both Wheels and Motor dont like Swift for some reason, both giving negative (a bit subjective i have to say) write-ups on it. One put it against some 2L class cars (Focus etc)on the track in BFYB competition, and surprise surprise, Swift came last (1.5L vs. 2L class??), and that article creticised on Swift's exterior styling.. (hmmm...)... the other one quoted Swift as the car with the highest insurance premium in the small car class, which is also not true, cos i've just been shopping around for insurance in the past few days, it is not one of the cheapest, but far from the most expensive....

Funnily enough, we are buying a Suzuki Swift S.. I hope the 2 door turbo version (currently in testing) comes over here..

there wont be a Turbo swift, the 'sports' variant in Japan is called "Sports" (haha), it has 92Kw, 1.6L NA engine, it going on sale on 12/12/05. while Australian and Euro markets are getting a higher tuned NA 1.6L (or the MA18 1.8L from Liana), developing more power, but Suzuki Australia's CEO just confirmed there wont be a turbo one, and all aussie delivered will be 5 dr, cos 2dr ones are made in Hungary, too exp to import.

Article saying that Aus spec sports variant wont be turboed and will have more than 92Kw:
http://carsguide.news.com.au/news/story_page/0,8269,17276166%255E21822,00.html

Jap spec's Sport promotion video (look at that power off over steer... hmmm...):
http://www.suzuki.co.jp/swiftsport/promotion.swf

there wont be a Turbo swift, the 'sports' variant in Japan is called "Sports" (haha), it has 92Kw, 1.6L NA engine, it going on sale on 12/12/05. while Australian and Euro markets are getting a higher tuned NA 1.6L (or the MA18 1.8L from Liana), developing more power, but Suzuki Australia's CEO just confirmed there wont be a turbo one, and all aussie delivered will be 5 dr, cos 2dr ones are made in Hungary, too exp to import.

Article saying that Aus spec sports variant wont be turboed and will have more than 92Kw:
http://carsguide.news.com.au/news/story_page/0,8269,17276166%255E21822,00.html

Jap spec's Sport promotion video (look at that power off over steer... hmmm...):
http://www.suzuki.co.jp/swiftsport/promotion.swf
Im crushed :(

O well, nothing to say you cant add a turbo to one of em! :)

And i still think are an awsome package for the price!

Im crushed :(

O well, nothing to say you cant add a turbo to one of em! :)



theres one already:
http://www.redlinegti.com/forum/vt.17456.htm
http://www.redlinegti.com/forum/vt.18204.htm

140kw atw, no bad for a car that weighs just over 1 tonne.
maybe faster than your XR6T?? *dodging the ban stick*

theres one already:
http://www.redlinegti.com/forum/vt.17456.htm
http://www.redlinegti.com/forum/vt.18204.htm

140kw atw, no bad for a car that weighs just over 1 tonne.
maybe faster than your XR6T?? *dodging the ban stick*That is one sexy little car..

Id say it would be faster than my XR6T and would outhandle it through the hills too!

1.8tonne 200kw atw vs 1.1tonne 140kw atws... my bets on the swift :)

*edit* Just signed up to those forums.. Its going to be very informative to the mods i would like to do once (if) we get one.. Decisions still in the hands of Jo..

That is one sexy little car..

Id say it would be faster than my XR6T and would outhandle it through the hills too!

1.8tonne 200kw atw vs 1.1tonne 140kw atws... my bets on the swift :)

*edit* Just signed up to those forums.. Its going to be very informative to the mods i would like to do once (if) we get one.. Decisions still in the hands of Jo..

oops, typo, it is 140Hp, not KW, about 105Kw ATW....
not many aftermarket mods atm, but give it another 6 months, new mods should be released...

talking bout the Swift,

Suzi site.....

I thought this was a 380 thread! I must be mistaken.

talking bout the Swift, i might be getting a base model Swift (non-S) in the coming weeks, just trying to get my olds to cover the insurance, haha.

But ABC's best small car award went to Getz instead of Swift, in fact, Swift was ranked 4th, behind Getz, Fiesta and Polo, and surprise surprise, both Getz and Swift scored 3/5 for equipment level, i mean... wtf... the Swift has tonnes more equipment than the Getz... while Polo (good handling bu underpowered and pricy) and Fiesta are worthy contenders (even better handling, but harsh engine and relatively expensive), the Getz is just shouldnt be ranked 1st, it costs 1K below the Swift, but comes with no ABS and no steering controls, trip computer etc.. and the brand image...

and both Wheels and Motor dont like Swift for some reason, both giving negative (a bit subjective i have to say) write-ups on it. One put it against some 2L class cars (Focus etc)on the track in BFYB competition, and surprise surprise, Swift came last (1.5L vs. 2L class??), and that article creticised on Swift's exterior styling.. (hmmm...)... the other one quoted Swift as the car with the highest insurance premium in the small car class, which is also not true, cos i've just been shopping around for insurance in the past few days, it is not one of the cheapest, but far from the most expensive....
Dont know how i missed this one.. did you edit your post?

There is a backlog on orders at the moment for the Swift because of the amount of countries wanting it. For what it is (styling, interior etc etc) and the price i love it. O and its Japanese so the quality can only be top notch..

Dont know how i missed this one.. did you edit your post?

There is a backlog on orders at the moment for the Swift because of the amount of countries wanting it. For what it is (styling, interior etc etc) and the price i love it. O and its Japanese so the quality can only be top notch..

nar, i didnt edit it, u must've skipped it... haha

if you are getting the Swift, watch out for the rattles, the early ones (built in the 1st half of the year) got rattling problems, and they get progressively better towards the end of the year, the cut-off point seems to be around Aug/Sept, so pay attention to the build date of the vehicle if you dont want rattles, also Garry Warren suzuki in Chadstone is doing a sale this weekend, the dealer just range me a couple of days ago, maybe worth checking out (i am)... :badgrin:

we gonna get one ordered in if we do.. We want a build date of the month we get it.

And i still think are an awsome package for the price!


me three!!!

i drove lots of small cars recently, and i quite liked the swift, was a pretty fun little car. Quality could have been better, but it was still acceptable. Cant help but think the ford fiesta is better tho.. and i dont bloody like ford!

i drove lots of small cars recently, and i quite liked the swift, was a pretty fun little car. Quality could have been better, but it was still acceptable. Cant help but think the ford fiesta is better tho.. and i dont bloody like ford!

what kind of quality issues did you encounter in the Swift? apart from the rattles (which seems to be fixed by now) b4 i buy my first new car, i would like as much info as possible, thanks.... :nuts:

Thread titled should be changed to "Suzuki Swift, discuss" hehehe lol

the most important award to win is problably wheels car of the year. that will give mitsu reputation a huge boost.

what kind of quality issues did you encounter in the Swift? apart from the rattles (which seems to be fixed by now) b4 i buy my first new car, i would like as much info as possible, thanks.... :nuts:

by quality i mean quality of materials used in particular in the interior. The dash, tho being moderately stylish, felt very low rent.. i mean you would never mistake it for anything other then a $15-18000 car based on the interior, the pastics are just hard and crap looking/feeling and the leather steering wheel doesnt feel like leather! cheap imitation crap!! the mazda 3 and ford fiesta on the other hand had excellent interiors. Just my opinion