Hi all.

I own a 99 Magna which I am very happy with as a temporary car.

However, in the next few years I will be in the market for a (hopefully) new model and as I have been so impressed by my Magna I was interested in getting a new Mitsubishi with all the gadgets.

But looking at the model range, they don't seem to sell anything bigger than a Lancer in Australia.

Did the Lancer become the successor to the 380? It's specs don't seem to compare. I want a performance sedan like a Falcon XR6, and to me the Lancer doesn't seem like it's big enough, either in body size or engine.

I was wondering if anyone knows why Mitsubishi aren't competing with the Camry/Aurion, Falcon and Commodore anymore? It still seems like a big market to just ignore.

basically the powers that be at Mitsubishi decided there was no longer any demand for a big 6 here in Australia. Whether this was the correct decision remains to be seen, yes sales of the smaller compact cars are still booming along, however I personally think it will take a lot more than $1.50 a litre petrol for people in Australia to get over their addiction to the big family 6 cylinder car. Perhaps in another 5 or 10 years, when the mentality re a family is that 1 or 2 kids and thats plenty has really sunk in then will we find that there is little demand for a larger family car like the Falcon or Commodore.

Fake 4WDs is where the money is, not saloon cars.

Fake 4WDs is where the money is, not saloon cars.

Simply put yup

I will be looking towards Korea or india for my next 4 door family sedan

The simple fact is, is that without fleet sales, Commodore and Falcon would be dead in Australia. The mid size car segment (think Corolla, Mazda 3, Lancer etc) has overtaken the large car segment by a long way, a long time ago in terms of private sales. In the next few years you'll see a big shift by fleets to more economical cars, and the big sedans will almost cease to exist.

To answer the question, no, Mitsubishi doesn't have a 380 successor. If you wanted to stay in the Mitsubishi family, I'd look at an ASX or Outlander. Both are really good cars.

i had someone from mitsubishi call me about 3 weeks ago , asking if i was thinking about upgrading my 380GT.
i asked her "upgrade to what ?"
her only response was a VRX outlander or a lancer aspire....no thanks.

when i said that my only option was to go to another manufacturer for a full size sedan , she was trying to sell me really cheap services for the GT...

If you had the choice these days between a current Lancer at $20K and a new 380 at $30K (if there was such a thing), which would you choose? I drove a 2.0L Lancer with a boot full of luggage and 3 passengers to Adelaide airport, got off at Brisbane airport and got into a 380. Boot size pretty similar - it was full anyway - and a bit more room for the 4 people in it. Not much difference in functionality.
As a private buyer, I'd go for the current Lancer, cheaper to buy and run. Most new car buyers are making this choice - no matter what brand they barrack for.

Of course, the 380 is a better driver's car . . . . . . .

^ I'd probably get a Falcon.

I cannot comfortably drive my girlfriend's Lancer or my Verada in a good seating position without my head hitting the roof, I'm yet to drive a 380 but I doubt there is too much more headroom than a Magna.

^ I'd probably get a Falcon.

I cannot comfortably drive my girlfriend's Lancer or my Verada in a good seating position without my head hitting the roof, I'm yet to drive a 380 but I doubt there is too much more headroom than a Magna.

Falcon's are notorious for poor headroom, in the front and the rear.

I have more headroom in a BA than I do in a Magna. I just had to make things worse by buying a Magna with a sunroof.

The Lancer (CH) is weird. I have enough headroom, but it feels like the top of the windscreen is too low and it's cutting off my vision.

I have more headroom in a BA than I do in a Magna. I just had to make things worse by buying a Magna with a sunroof.

The Lancer (CH) is weird. I have enough headroom, but it feels like the top of the windscreen is too low and it's cutting off my vision.

The sunroof robs you of around 2.5 inches of headroom.

Edit: I can tell you also, that the headroom in a 380 is greater than a Magna. My head used to touch the roof in my Ralliart Magna with a sunroof, but I've got around an inch of clearance in a 380 with a sunroof.

When it comes time to replace the car just go test drive your faviourite looking ones and see what is best for you regardless of brand. All the major brands are reliable these days and all seem to have pretty good warranties.