Advice sought from you more experienced car peeps:

I'm in two minds about keeping my 380 or selling it: it's coming to the end of the lease...my confusion is do I sell it and try to find a suitable replacement that'll cost me (including repayments on a loan - no more leasing!) about the same as (or less) as a 380 to run or do I buy it outright and keep it for another 3-4 years...? (is it possible to find one that'll be this nice to drive at the same running costs as this one?)...

I'm making decisions now about whether it's worth it to try and improve its handling, upgrade stereo, new wheels, etc...and keep what I think is a great car...or sell while it's still "worth something", pay out the lease balloon, and get into new car car...:confused:

i don't think there's anything out there in the 20-30k price bracket that comes with a decent warranty that drives like this thing...any suggestions (note I got mine 2nd hand in late 2008 for about $24k and have had it as a lease through work for the last 3 years).

whats the balloon payment?
because if you dont want to keep the car you can probably roll that into a new loan on the new car.
Id keep it if it were me, i mean you know the history of the car, how its been maintained, and you havent started a list of things you DONT LIKE about the car that you would like in a new one. Suggests to me it might make sense to retain it. plus you arent then back paying interest again on another financed vehicle. more money in the pocket each week.

Hah, I've just been through this exact process.

My car has probably a lot more Ks than yours - 160 000.; but I've had it from new.
I've also bought a couple of cars for my kids and a Honda Civic for my mother. From that i know it is a bit of lottery unless you take your time and research deeply.
If you are happy with it - keep it.
If it annoys you, get rid of it.
The finance doesn't really reward one way or the other except that you have a known quantity now.
I kept mine because I paid out the lease and the engine is more like a 90 000km engine - the oil after 10 000kms is still a deep honey colour.

Balloon payment 13k.

The good thing about it is it still has 2 years FACTORY warranty left on it (i.e. til Oct 2013!): i bought it as a mitsu approved used car so they started the 5 year warranty from Oct 2008! Very happy about that.

The only things I don't like about it are:

- that I can't play my ipod through the stock 6 stacker (dodgy fm transmitter thing - terrible sound quality).
- no split fold rear seats.
- it uses a tiny bit more fuel than i'd like...

And that's it. Not much of a complaints list hey?

Otherwise I love it.

Have test driven newbies and recent model cars - lancers - incl the vrx, new hyundai elantra, mazda 3, mitsu asx, mitsu outlanders, honda civics test drive the fleet cars at work (commodores, falcons, camrys, xtrail) (even tried a 2nd hand ralliart!) and none of them "felt" as good as the 380...i think it's the size of the car and the interior acoustics that i like the most...

even older mercs (2003 C230s and CLKs) were a bit off compared to it....admittedly they were probably not serviced in the last year before i test drove em so they wouldn't feel/sound that great...

So yeah i'm leanin towards keepin it...i was gettin worried that i should sell it now while i can at least get somethin decent for it (will it be worth much in 3 years?)...



But Stormie you're right - i know the service history (and being a lease I've had it "overserviced" really)...

The end point being it's a good'un.

you can upgarde the stereo, just get one of the 380 ES faceplates. ebay sells them for $100 which is a little pricey but still you will get a nice fascia that fits the aircon and can take double din stereos.

You can get the Iopd adapter from the States to avoid the FM transmitter.

Does the bigger galant intake and a more free flowing rear muffler drop the fuel economy a bit?

Does the bigger galant intake and a more free flowing rear muffler drop the fuel economy a bit?

some people say it does (most people actually). I didnt notice a difference fitting either it or my exhaust.

Does the bigger galant intake and a more free flowing rear muffler drop the fuel economy a bit?


Not as far as I am concerned but it certainly improved throttle response and maybe some performance gain

I guess you need to look at the 13k baloon payment, that is pretty much what the car is worth secondhand and you ho ave been paying for this car since you got it as well (although lease is for tax reasons I am guessing)

As above, if you like the car, buy it, you will be buying it for approx market value, if not hand it back and move on

I sort of know how you feel. I just bought a series 2 vrx (with 140k kms too!) and it's an awesome car to drive. But there was nothing wrong with my magna either, which has almost the same kms on it. Someone like me just gets bored after 5-6 years driving the same car and sometimes you just want to change for something different. That's what it was like for me in the magna, i'm sure I could have got another 5 years trouble free motoring from it, and I do enjoy driving it, but I wanted something newer. My advice is be honest with yourself. Are you thinking of selling for the right reasons? If you just want to buy a new car, that is a valid excuse, and don't hate yourself for wanting something newer.

Someone like me just gets bored after 5-6 years driving the same car and sometimes you just want to change for something different.

Nothing wrong with that.
I know a couple who change their cars every three years, they are busy, cashed up and want reliability above all. Their cars get serviced by the selling dealer, and get detailed once a month. All they do is drive them.
Then again I know someone else who buys a 10 year old car, does it up, and does his own servicing and repairs, and keeps the car for another 10 years.

Most of us are somewhere in between these extremes - from treating cars like an appliance to something to spend time and effort on.

Each to his own. Boredom with a car that runs well is probably the main thing that keeps used car dealers in business.

personally i have decided i prefer the magna's over the 380. i have a 2007 380vr-x still under factory warranty with 46,000km which i bought a couple of months ago and i have decided to sell. (only had 1 looker so far who offered $11500 so might let him have it as it cost me around that ) i have bought a 2000 tj sport as replacement. i have already done some brake/suspension mods + taken it to lakeside yesterday for track day. these are things i wouldn't do if i just had the 380 so having a cheaper, easier to modify car has its benefits

i don't think there's anything out there in the 20-30k price bracket that comes with a decent warranty that drives like this thing...

If you want a new car - go drive the Accord Euro - especially the 6 speed manual. You can pick one up for $30k with a hard bargain (standard model) and they are a beautiful drive. Nothing wrong with keeping the 380 - but a new Euro is superior in most respects and uses less fuel .

VVRR - I would pay more for your car than $11,500..... Depending on condition.
Hit me up with a PM.

personally i have decided i prefer the magna's over the 380. i have a 2007 380vr-x still under factory warranty with 46,000km which i bought a couple of months ago and i have decided to sell. (only had 1 looker so far who offered $11500 so might let him have it as it cost me around that ) i have bought a 2000 tj sport as replacement. i have already done some brake/suspension mods + taken it to lakeside yesterday for track day. these are things i wouldn't do if i just had the 380 so having a cheaper, easier to modify car has its benefits

Wished you would have been selling about 2 weeks ago, lol.

Anyway, don't sell that cheap mate please. You should be able to get $15k for it without any problems.

OP: As others have said, if you like it, keep it. If you don't, get something else.

Yep - have decided to keep: gonna follow Sh00t's advice on installing a garmin (and see if I can relocate the MFD), will upgrade head unit too, will perhaps do the air intake and exhaust mods, lower it, and maybe (depending on how i feel and how my finances are running) put a thicker rear sway bar in...not sure about that one though...
thanks for the advice/suggestions people. looks like i'll be lurking around this forum for a while...

I have been thinking about selling mine and got as far as putting the ad in carsales. Took it off after a couple of cranky SMS calls. In all honesty unless I am prepared to spend in excess of $25k I cannot find anything that is on par with the GT. Trade in prices are absurdly low and similar age GT's with low k's are selling for $13-$15k.
I shall wait a couple of years, put stock wheels back on and give it to my wife and probably go FGXR6T or similar.

well...looks like I'm sellin it...i have LOVED driving this car. but the 5 year (re-started in 2008) warranty runs out at the end of this year...simply has been a great car to drive, modify, look at, sit in, did i mention drive?...gonna miss it...but am going for a 4wd now...staying mitsubishi though and gettin a new challenger. need the extra towing capability as am going to buy a boat (i.e. throw money into moreton bay) soon...the 1600 towing limit was the deciding factor sadly.
i wish i could keep it and buy the newbie but economic reality means it must go...
this is a great forum. the mods do a good job and the general tone of the forum is really helpful. let's hope there's something like this for us "challenged" folks.
Might do one more cruise with the QLD peeps before it gets sold though...