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just after thoughts about going from a 3rd gen to a 380. what are they like to live with everyday and any regrets owners might have. please only members who actually upgraded from 3rd gen to 380 thanks.

Hi, yes I made the upgrade from a '97 TF Magna (3.0 V6 Advance, 5spd) to a '06 DB 380 (base model "Limited Edition", semi-auto).
Thoughts, feelings and regrets? The first regret was semi-auto transmission; I REALLY loved my TF's punchy 5 speed, and the sound of the full extractor system I fitted! Initially I was less than impressed with the 380's semi-auto, however once the car had 5,000+kms under its belt, things started to turn around. Power and ecomony improved a lot. Power and handling is still VERY smooth and the semi-auto very impressive too, even in auto mode just "flooring it".
Having aged a little more, I find the 380 engine & exhaust has a nice sound to it, especially under hard foot!
Interior wise, I think the 380 looks much better than the 3rd gen. Seats are definately better too.
[Note to other 380 owners: the only thing I REALLY hate about the 380 is that damn horrible steering wheel with too-small a gap between the bottom spokes - unlike 3rd gen Magna - and will not accomodate your hand, as that's where/how I like to hold the wheel.]
I chose my 380 over a Commodore/Falcon/Toyota because I found it to be better value (for what it has and what you pay for) than the other makes.
Bottom line, I would definately recommend a 380 to others considering buying one.

did the chick in your avatar come with the car?

did the chick in your avatar come with the car?

I wish!!! :badgrin:

thanks grubco very helpful. im still deciding cause I need a daily driver which I hoped the A4 would be. but cause I do 40,000k a year I need something I can drive into the ground without worrying about it. any more thoughts really appreciated.

sif you wouldn't have just leased your A4 and give it back after 5 years for a new one... it'd be fully tax deductible if your gonna go driving that many k's a year

did the chick in your avatar come with the car?

If she did I think we'd all be trading in lol

lol dodgy but i likes it!

this is true. I worked for the ATO for 12 months in..............

wait for it..........................

compliance! I know all the tricks! :bowrofl:

:bowrofl: :bowrofl: good old compliance... making paying tax as hard as possible since the 1800's

I think he used to work with my accountant! I haven't paid tax for 3yrs!

Mate you should have picked up your 380 while you were working for the ATO, I got a quote through work before xmas for a New 380 VRX with a novated lease and it was only $25K, goodness knows what a base model is worth with the 'right' discount.

If she did I think we'd all be trading in lol

so everyone gets the same girl? or shares the same girl?

Mate you should have picked up your 380 while you were working for the ATO, I got a quote through work before xmas for a New 380 VRX with a novated lease and it was only $25K, goodness knows what a base model is worth with the 'right' discount.

say u use the car 60% work related.....would it be better to claim on 60% of all car costs and expenses or do the novated lease?

so everyone gets the same girl? or shares the same girl?

Mate I'm not really sure about that one either... maybe she runs on a lease... but I don't how you calculate what percentage is work related and non-work related. :badgrin:
At any rate I've traded Ms Alba in on a new model. Time for a change.
[Its not Spam, just making a joke]

I never went ahead with the lease as I had only had the TJ for a year, had I realised the discount when I bought the Magna I might have gone new and not 2nd hand.

The leases I looked at all had a benefit even if you only did 15000kms(small benefit) a year over a normal HP agreement, as they split the cost of the lease across post-tax and pre-tax income to help reduce the FBT liability. To me the most attractive part about it was the discount that you could access on the purchase price, the best option looked like a 12 month lease to me, so I could payout the lease at that point. It may not be the best option for everyone, but as I would only do 10,000 kms a year, I could lessen my weekly payments by refinancing at this point. You really need the kms to make it worthwhile paying all the maintenance cost etc, so that the tax savings are worth it.
You also have to watchout for the super implications as some employers will reduce their super contributions to match your reduced income, so the lost super $$ become a cost to factor in as well.
Best to think carefully and get proper advice if you are going to do it. The negligible benefits (if you are a low km user) are less of an issue if you intend buying a new car anyway, and if you are lucky you can access a good discount through your employer.e.g. XR6 turbo new for $36K

Apparently Subarus are one of the better cars to lease as they have a better than average resale value, typically 60% of new after 3 years which means you can benefit at the end of the lease when you sell it as the tax office values the car at ~46% at that point.

Its worth checking out the leasing option but its not for everyone.

TJ Sports, answering ur OP ;

I upgraded from a KE Verada (97) after trying out a lot of the midrange selection because I wanted to downsize. However, once you are used to V6 torque it's hard to give it up specially if you're on the highway a lot. My partner and I really liked the Honda Euro but the space in the back was just not enough (child seat and occasionally teenagers) and we felt short changed because the seats don't lay back - there is only a port - same as the 380 and VE.
I also tried the SAAB 9-5 (two weeks in a friend's) and a few others, Volvo S4 was one, and looked briefly at the usuals like the XR6 and VZ (VE not released at the time) S but in the end decided the handling of the 380 VRX, the transmission and V6 power, interior room (much better than the old KE) won us both over.

So far clocked over 15k and have really enjoyed in descending order;

1. Outstanding handling for a large FWD,
2. Great seats (leather in my case)
3. Well weighted controls - brake pedal, direct steering
4. Nice balance of torque - will easily pull up Brisbane Gateway bridge at 80 kph @ 1200 rpm - versus good power - dropping into 3rd at 100kph for a squirt past a B double.
5. Built like a tank, you can really feel the body stiffness compared to other cars.

The interior doesn't have the same 'ambience' of the Verada, but I look at the VRX as more of a sports model so don't mind. I certainly don't agree with the mags that cann the interior so much.

I've just come back from 10 days in Tassie and a had a new, butt ugly, Camry 2.4l to drive and it was a relief today to get back into my VRX.

Oh, and definately no regrets.

thanks knotched very much appreciated. yep agree that the interior doesnt have the same ambience as a verada, but how do the seats compare?

Well, my KE was an Ei so didn't have electric adjustment and was also velour, not that I believe it would make much difference to the feel. The 380 VRX seats are WAY ahead of my old car. The VRX's seats hold your hips quite snugly and you just don't move in them. In fact even my mum, who is 75 :shock: reckons they are great and she sleeps on a wooden board (wait: maybe that's NOT a reccomendation...:doubt: :) )

Visibility... versus the 3rd generation?

Two aspects to this;

1. Forward and side visibility - I would have to say better than the Verada because the bonnet is shorter and seemingly lower door height doesn't make you feel you're sitting in a bathtub. The Verada wasn't too bad but 380 feels a lot more airy and roomier.

2. Rear visibility - much worse. I had reversing sensors installed. Even so, when trying to reverse a 6X4 trailer it's a shocker, you need a little flag at the back of the trailer.

No problem with side bolsters - you do tend to rub them getting in and out. But would be no different to any other. Tend to lift yourself over them after awhile but no wear so far with the leather.

I would agree on the visibility front and side when compared to the Verada. I had a '98 and '02 Verada from new before the 380 and I always felt like I was sitting too low in those. The 380 does give a much more airy feel.

Same same for rear visilbility. I had a minor collision with mine after two weeks new because I couldn't see out the rear all that well.

Knotched, did you go for the factory rear sensors fitted by the dealership? How much to have them fitted? Are they the visible type or are they fitted behind the bumber itself like on the GT? Thinking seriously about installing them on my VRX. Cheers...

Zarbs

Knotched, did you go for the factory rear sensors fitted by the dealership? How much to have them fitted? Are they the visible type or are they fitted behind the bumber itself like on the GT? Thinking seriously about installing them on my VRX. Cheers...

Zarbs

GT has the visible ones.. there is 4 sensors that go on ya rear bumper.. price.. wouldnt have a clue but would guess around the 400 mark..

Knotched, did you go for the factory rear sensors fitted by the dealership? How much to have them fitted? Are they the visible type or are they fitted behind the bumber itself like on the GT? Thinking seriously about installing them on my VRX. Cheers...

Zarbs

I had them fitted by the dealer i.e. as a genuine factory option, and they are visible as a small dot for each sensor (if you want I could post a picture). Price was $300.

My great fear was running over some little kid while reversing up our steep drive into a culdesac; therefore I just got them fitted immediately.

If I were you, Zarbs, I'd get them as a must. Specially since you seem already to have proved the need!

Thanks Knotched,

I have a 15K service coming up and I'll organise for them to be fitted then. Piece of mind is worth it. Funny, it already cost me $500 (my insurance excess) to have the rear bumper replaced after the first incident. The bumper wasn't pierced but, because of such a large area of unsupported plastic, the deformation was not able to be removed and it was better to replace the whole bumper. Don't know what the full replacement cost was but I have a lifetime no-claim so it didn't affect my insurance.

In the end, no real loss as the new bumper was painted with a better finish than the original from the factory. Perfect paint match straight off the machine and the clear coat has a better gloss than the bumper it replaced. Still, the sensors would have saved me had I had them at the start. I hear they sell the outside sensor in matching colours for all the shipping colours so there is no need/hassle about getting them painted ready for the installation. Cheers...

Zarbs