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Originally Posted by gardnet1
If they go out of business, there will be a collective yawn for thier contributions to technology, style and reliability...not!
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Seeing as this is an Australian accented topic I should point out that Mitsubishi Aus-built vehicles preceded Commodore & Falcon by years in equipping with V6 engines, OHC engines, 4-speed autos, 5-speed manuals, 5-speed autos, remote-adjustable shock absorbers and one-piece bodyside manufacture techniques IIRC. Theirs was the only V6 ever cast in Australia (Holden still don't). They also beat them into locally-built FWD and AWD passenger cars, not to mention their US export drive. Probably earlier with EFI and IRS too
Mitsu 380 is usually regarded as being the best built and most reliable product amid all the locally manufactured vehicles from GM, Ford & Toyota, as were later Magnas. And despite its so-called tragic resale the 380 is independantly rated as the cheapest 6cyl car in total ownership costs, of which depreciation is the main component
So regards Australia it's local Mitsubishis that have actually been the innovators, not reluctant followers with typical 'formula' offerings like those traditionally served up by GM-H & Ford etc. Mitsubishis began selling their cars in Oz more than 40 years ago, as was the company's
world rally debut in 1967 with those fantastic little Colt Fastbacks. A closure of their plant in South Oz would be a sad event, bringing substantial loss of jobs and is hardly worth gloating over. Yes it is probably inevitable but thats no good reason to kick 'em in the nuts, imho