AnswerID: 194979 Submitted: Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 21:55
Member - Tim
replied:
The biggest difference you are going to see depends on how "serious" you are about 4wding. If you want to increase the height by more than a couple of inches then it is harder with the monocoque chassis. For what I want to do I would be more than happy with the new Pajero but some people like to add 6 inches height and climb over house sized boulders and they would be better off with something else. Not sure the Prado would be the best thing for that either since it still has an independent front end but it would get closer than the independent
suspension, monocoque Pajero. On the Prado you could put in a body lift and to get it up off the chassis and that could not be done to the Pajero.
Mitsubishi have done tests to prove that the Pajero can be recovered with forces far higher than you would expect in any recovery without damaging the chassis at all so don't believe that it can't be used for that. Bars and recovery points are fine.
I have seen Pajeros, both old and new models, go to the same
places as Prados and many other 4wds. Until it gets extreme there is not much to call between many of the makes. Pajero currently has a much better diesel than the Prado but that may change later this year.
Personally I would be looking at what features I can get for what money and if either one does the job I want it to do then I would be looking. The Pajero at all levels comes with traction control etc whereas you have to go almost to the top level to get that in the Prado. I believe the Toyotas generally are overpriced but I know there are a lot of people who disagree. Having owned a Pajero for the last six years I think the percieved toughness of the Toyota is mostly that they have better advertising but yet again I know there are a lot of people who will disagree with that too.
Basically get what suits you best and gives you the best value for that, they are both good vehicles.
Tim.
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