looking for a 4x4

roryq69

Hey everyone just looking for to buy a 4x4. Been looking at mitsubishi pajero sports and they seem to be the right size and they look pretty nice too. does anybody know of any problems with them? Looking to keep the price down a bit as well. If you know of any 4x4 for sale could you put them up? thanks for your help! (Based in donegal.)

colm_mcm

gearboxes aren't particularly robust. they're a pretty old design now being the same as the Challenger (1998?) the 2.5 is underpowered and they're pretty small inside.

I'd go for the real Pajero if it was me.

PaddyBloggit

What's the real pajero?

colm_mcm

Pajero


Pajero Sport

101sean

Now the ice age is here I suspect you'll be paying a bit extra!;) Us far sighted 4x4 owners are OK with our investments.:D

Seriously though, I agree with Colm, unless you lived an a city and need a small vehicle (why would you want a 4x4 then anyway?) go for a proper full sized one, more choice, more rubust, longer lived with better independant spares support etc. Only possible exception is Suzuki who specialise in smaller vehicles like the Vitara.

colm_mcm

The Pajero Sport isn't properly tiny though, it's interior is similarly sized as an L200. low roof, high floor etc. (It's based on the L200 as far as I know)
Just if you're paying the same running costs, tax etc. you may as well get the real deal which is a different machine altogether.

mossfort

the pajero sport has a longer load area than a landcruiser which comes in handy.
its has a lower roof height and is a bit cramped behind the steering wheel .
theyre a good solid jeep but the engine is underpowered in the older challenger models.
the newer ones have a few more bhp. i bought mine new in 2004 and all its ever needed in 80000 miles is a front shock and a glow plug relay.
they look good and are value for money and cost a lot less than a landcruiser.

meathstevie

I've driven a few of them in work and they're not nice when driven in rear wheel drive. A lot nicer handling but thirsty in 4x4. The ones in work have given a bit of fanbelt pully trouble. Nothing major though.

PaddyBloggit

I like the pajero pic you posted colm_mcm.

What's the correct name for the real pajero? (model ... year from etc.)

I'm going to be in the market for a 4 x 4 commercial (2nd hand) next year and am following all threads with interest.

Comparinf real with the sport what are the main differences?

I've been hearing that pajeros are guzzlers? How guzzling are they?

When push comes to floods ... how would it do?

There don't seem to be many 4x4s out there with snorkels other than the defender.

Is there any website/thread out there doing one on one comparisons of 4x4s?

(If not ... could one be started here? ... pric, fuel econmy, pulling power, comfort, known problems etc.)

jarrod2k

I would stay well clear of the pajero sport or full size pajero, very underpowered, cost a fortune at the pumps and uncomfortable!!!! My opinion is that you can't beat toyota, landcruiser etc .......I have a 96 hilux surf myself (jap import) and after years of mercedes, bmw and audi its the first car that has cost me 0 in repairs .... after buying it 6 years ago I replaced the radiator straight away to sort out any cooling issues which you will get with any car that pushing on with age. All it needs now is diesel! its a 3.0TD with the same chassis, engine and running gear as the landcrusier 90 so no problem with parts in ireland and its dirt cheep to buy these days!!!

And you can get a safari snorkel, no problem, just take a look at hiluxsurf.co.uk and they will answer any questions you have about the jeep. just make sure its a 96+ and a 3.0TD, the earlier ones had problems with head gaskets (pre 96). I drove in 1m floods no problem a few week ago in cork and it has even pulled a few land rover defenders out of the ****. In my opion you can't go wrong with a Hilux Surf the picture below was taken during the summer 09 and not a cm of rust and it has passed every nct, first time..... its a 96!!

colm_mcm

nothing wrong with a 3.2 DI-D Pajero. better consumption than the older 2.5 or 2.8 Pajeros, way more power - almost as much as a Land Cruiser.
The Land Cruiser isn't without problems you know.

Also, re the Hilux Surf/4 Runner - It's based on the Hilux, although it shares the 3.0TD engine with the Cruiser and has coil springs in the back. The 4WD system is different on the Cruisers I think.


Paddybloggitt: That's the Pajero that ran from late 1999 and was facelifted in 2006, the one in the pic looks like a Japanese spec model, but the Irish ones lok 99% the same.

Slidey

colm_mcm wrote: »

nothing wrong with a 3.2 DI-D Pajero. better consumption than the older 2.5 or 2.8 Pajeros, way more power - almost as much as a Land Cruiser.

THere is an issue with the injector pump on the earlier 3.2s I believe. I had to fix one. I think they wreck the lift pump part of the pump if they run out of diesel. It is a big enough job with a fair bit of ripping to get it out

colm_mcm wrote: »

The Land Cruiser isn't without problems you know.

Quoted for truth.

Pre 04 ones have a bad handbrake setup that causes hand brake imbalance failures in DoE tests

The front bushes in the bottom arms give trouble too.

101sean

Plenty of places on the net in the UK to buy things like snorkles and other bling goodies for Jap 4x4s, can be quite pricey though as a lot of it comes from Australia where there's a big market for it.

colm_mcm

Slidey wrote: »

Quoted for truth.

Pre 04 ones have a bad handbrake setup that causes hand brake imbalance failures in DoE tests

The front bushes in the bottom arms give trouble too.

Let's not forget high pressure fuel pumps, injectors and release bearings

PaddyBloggit

Thanks colm_mcm

mossfort

when i bought my pajero sport new in 04 it cost 28000 euros around the same as an 02 landcruiser with 50000 miles at the time .
it now has 80000 miles up on it so if i bought the landcruiser it would be well over 130000 miles .
so i think it will pay for itself in the long term .
any jeep can be reliable or troublesome it depends on how you mind and service it etc.
you could pick up an 05 pajero sport for around 7000 euros whic isnt bad.

Jonty

and don't forget injector trouble in Land Cruisers.....

enol

Hi Lads, just been reading this (and every other thread for 4x4s!) I've decided on a Landcruiser (99-03) I like the look of the SWB, but was told the LWB is better for towing & has a lower centre of gavity so less likely to roll, which makes sense, but does anyone here know if thats true and if theres much of a real difference? It'll be towing trailors/horseboxes once/twice a week and doing the usual around a small farm. I had a SWB Pajero years ago and borrowed a LWB Trooper for a weekend once, tbh, the Pajero felt way too 'roll-happy' but it was a ball of sh!te at the end of its days anyway so I dont want to wtrite off all SWB 4x4s on the experience with that yoke.
Any advice/thoughts appreciated from anyone whos had a SWB/LWB Landcruiser long term.

CJhaughey

I have had a 90 series shorty for the last 7 years and it has been flawless.
They are a little more choppy in the ride than the LWB but the flipside is that they are a lot easier to turn in tight spaces than the LWB.
Better performance too as they lug less weight.
The D4D is supposed to be great in the 90 series with the 6sp box. But TBH the 1KZ-TE has been fine for me and very reliable with 6k Mile oil/filter changes.
I have towed some impressive things with this Car and can recommend it,if you go for the D4D I think you will be impressed as well.
Running costs are reasonable now with pattern parts being available as well.