We all know that the 380 may be a great car but to the general public, styling would be the most important factor in deciding on which car to go for.

I think that the styling on the base and luxury models is too bland (ugly). They should make the VRX front standard (with slight modifications) across the entire range. The base should have the optional alloys as standard.

To appeal to the hoon crowd, you need an angry looking car. Drop it an inch, add a spoiler, skirts, bonnet scoops, etc. Look at the GT and GT-P sedans from Ford. They're angry looking cars.

A 380 with that, in a unique colour, in AWD, with an optional higher power engine would definetely sell.

Maybe the Ralliart Galant in US hopefully comes in Oz.

one thing im interested in is, do people think they need to attract the hoon/bogan crowd or the japanese V6 buyers, or both?

The hoons have Holden and Ford, it will be hard to change them.

They should go for the potential buyers of the Mazda6 or Liberty - those looking for reasonable power in a nice looking package with a high performance model. A GT with around 200kW would be perfect.

one thing im interested in is, do people think they need to attract the hoon/bogan crowd or the japanese V6 buyers, or both?

the hoon/bogan crowd don't buy new cars, they buy 15 year old commodores and falcons cos thats all they can afford.

I think the smart thing to do is look at what holden and ford are doing, they are both aiming to make their next commodore and falcon have a very distinctive european feel to them. Australian's tend to like european sedans more then japanese and american sedans

A bit off topic...but I heard that 75% of car sales last year were imports? Im guessing that shows that most new car buyers think that
1) New cars here are too expensive
2) The jap/euro styling is far more appealing
3) The standard features in O/S cars are better
4) The performance of O/S cars are better

Now, I know I dont know much about the logistics of this, but doesn't it make sense for the local manufacturers to make their cars more like these cars that are being imported, such as like what RJL25 said? Or to import the cars themselves and do something to them to differentiate them from their O/S counterparts?

KB is right. Even with the magna, we were getting pretty ordinarily looking cars when you compare it to a STANDARD daimante, which has pretty much all the features of a verada. I think local manufacturers do need to raise the bar, as the imports have raised theres to compete, and it's working!

I believe that the Mazda6, Accord Euro and Liberty are up there with euro sedans in terms of kit and style. The main problem of the 380 is styling, I think that the equipment level is as good as the other three but it is just too damn conservative.

I believe that the Mazda6, Accord Euro and Liberty are up there with euro sedans in terms of kit and style. The main problem of the 380 is styling, I think that the equipment level is as good as the other three but it is just too damn conservative.

Totally with you there. The styling needs to be nailed first and then the performance can follow.

It's almost like finding a partner...there needs to be some initial physical attraction before you can move onto the mental attraction (dont go humping your cars tho... :confused:)

That's where the Magna failed as well.

It was never able to shake the 'cardigan' image, even though it could outperform other locally made vehicles, was better equiped and better built.

Unfortunately for Mitsubishi, first impressions last, and unless they drastically alter sales plans, the 380 will probably fail.

I have to agree the 380 is too conservative, Mitsi needs to let their designers be 'creative'.
Many carmakers seem to be trying to be different and aren't afraid not to follow the crowd, take the good looking Mazda 6,3, Honda Euro, Holden(euro) Vectra even the Falcon BA looks pretty smart, the new Suzuki 'Swift'.

The Magna's have set the std (reliability and handling) for large family cars in Oz for years but why Mitsi never realised that the people who buy most large cars are from Holden, Ford crowd which are Rwd and copied them I will never know. To get people away from the Holden/Ford yards required offering them something they knew, not something that was new(FWD) to them - it doesn't matter how good the Magna was - after it's original efforts it would have taken a complete rethink of the large car they offered and a new name along time ago to have made things better for it. This is what Mitsi has always had to do, Take Ford/Holden large car customers - not rely on the couple with a Lancer having 3 kids and then stepping upto a Magna, there aren't enough of them for starters!

Now is the time they have to make a style statement, to somehow differentiate them from all the large cars in Oz, especially with fuel so expensive these days. The current 380 looks dull compared to the competition and I think it could have been so much better, not so slab sided. If Mitsi were trying to break the 'dull' image of the Magna this 380 won't do it, even if it is the best Australian car being made today.

I am afraid from what I have seen on the TV in the last few days that good ol' Mitsi has succumbed to the discounting again, selling the cars with $6-7000 of free extras, doesn't do alot for all those cars on the road now, resale will suffer again.
Someone told me a good idea which has helped some of the o/s car companys and that is to offer really cheap credit but not to discount the price, make the car more affordable to pay off. I think the car company probably makes just as much profit from the financing as the car sale itself and this has the benefit of not affecting the resale values of the cars...

I would hate this car to be the final nail in Mitsi's coffin but they had better pull something out of the hat quick, i.e. a AWD or body kit. I like my TJ Magna and I won't ever buy a Ford or Holden, I'll buy another import before I do that!


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when mitsu make a rwd and put it in the supercar series, i know what car i would follow...

Someone told me a good idea which has helped some of the o/s car companys and that is to offer really cheap credit but not to discount the price, make the car more affordable to pay off. I think the car company probably makes just as much profit from the financing as the car sale itself and this has the benefit of not affecting the resale values of the cars...

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I have heard of interest free finance deals similar to what you are saying being done in the U.S. There is definately some merit in this idea. Keeps resale prices up.

I have heard of interest free finance deals similar to what you are saying being done in the U.S. There is definately some merit in this idea. Keeps resale prices up.

Interest Free deals that were offered in the US help cause Mitsubishi Motors to be in the situation they are in now. Alot of Amercians defaulted on the loans.

Hopefully MMAL doesn't follow down that path

I have to agree the 380 is too conservative, Mitsi needs to let their designers be 'creative'.
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"Creative" is what makes the TL and Ford's AU :P

The designers need to put in more market research and look for what people actually want, what cars people are buying and why are they buying them. Reflect the 380 around those statistics and it'll be a sure winner.