Buying a new Vehicle?

I bought a new Pajero 6 months ago.
The order at which I decided on the Pajero was..
1. Reliability and factory back-up...didn't want something that was back at the dealers every year for recalls or bad mechanicals.
2. Will it meet the primary needs of what I want a vehicle for..... 90% bitumen and 10% dirt
3.Price.....Got excellent deal on my falcon
4. Is it comfortable...handles the road well and the interior is not spartan
5. Can it tow the trailer I want it to tow.....Only a 6x4 for my bike or monthly rubbish run
6. Running costs and parts availability....spent weeks on the Pajero forum and read everything about the vehicle, and others, before I decided.

Decided against Toyota purely on price(dollar for dollar the Pajero offered way more) and reliability. (have always had Toyotas but the 200 and prado scared me away).

That's how I worked out what I wanted and why I arrived at a Pajero. Others will work it out and arrive at a Prado.

It is a big decision to decide what is best, especially when many tens of thousands of dollars are involved.

Most of all I have to like the vehicle before I consider anything else

I have bought new vehicles that are dearer and not as reliable as another but I will accept that and happily proceed if that is the one I am passionate about

Suitability for purpose is the prime factor. At the end of the day nothing else matters if it can't adequately and safely perform the task it was purchased for.

Good topic of discussion Axle.
I've outgrown my (extra) SWB Pajero but I'm yet to find something that ticks all the boxes. To be honest, I think the current offerings are a bit slim.

I'd personally like a wagon style vehicle rather than a ute. Needs to be pretty hardcore. Preferably something not too big (garaging is an issue) and above all reliable. Having all the extra gadgets doesn't faze me. It's just more to go wrong.

A smaller version of a L/Cruiser 76 would be ideal. Or a tougher version of a Pajero (not independent rear). Or a reliable version of a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (would prefer diesel though). Or a cheaper version of a Land Rover 110. Even a Colorado 7 if it wasn't so butt ugly from the rear.

Every year I wait for the new offerings. Every year my current Pajero does another breakdown free trip. And every year I enjoy leaving my money in the bank.

Fab.

Fit for purpose that I the purchaser intend to use the vehicle for followed by how much modification is needed to bring said vehicle upto a standard that 4x4 manufactures now do not supply straight from the dealers floor , [decent tires - proper bullbar - lift + suspension suited for my purpose ] is the deciding factor..

Great post, and very interesting responses

A nice colour lol

I've had around 30 cars, only 6 were 4wd's including a Jeep and a Land Rover. I haven't had any real issues with any brand although I do read about them. Therefore reliability isn't high on my priority list because all my cars have seemed reliable. I normally keep a car for 300-400K kms and have 2 at a time as daily drivers. I look for a mix of cheap to run, good power, off road ability and comfort. I don't care about electronics either, electricity is a good thing. The only 2 cars to leave me on the side of the road were a Suzuki Grand Vitara and an early Nissan Patrol.

I want my 4wd to be decent around town and in shopping centre car parks, yet still capable of some pretty rough stuff off road. I go rougher than most although not totally hard core. I reckon most Jap cars are ugly, lack features and thirsty, so I don't currently own one. If I was to buy a Jap car, a Pajero would tick a lot of my boxes. It would bug me to have to buy out an ARB store to make it capable though. If nobody agrees with me then that's ok, because I am odd. :-)

Number 1 deciding factor...take it for a drive and see if you like it.

There aren't too many new 4WDs that are remotely suitable for much use off the bitumen any more.
18" 55% profile tyres - FORGET IT.
Complex electronics that cant be fixed outside a capital city - FORGET IT.

For us it was all about capability, suitability for the job and mechanical and electrical simplicity. That meant 'restoring' an older vehicle, now 20 years old and likely to last longer than us.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

Michael H9
Only 300,000 for 30 vehicles equates to 11 years of continuous driving at 90 km/h
or 9,000,000km. Yes 9 million kilometres. Not bad I reckon.

Having done a fair bit of driving I will be around 4 hundred years old when I achieve that, presuming I continue at the same rate.
OR
only two hundred years if a partner also does the same.

The choice for me is easy, I have always owned Toyota's and I don't see myself changing any time soon.

As for the price, well it is what it is.

Having read the replies to this post, it begs the question

"How many new vehicles are bought solely for private use and how many have a business component in their use"

I am sure that buying for business use is a different set of equations compared to purely private use. Tax and running cost deductions etc.

Anyone care to comment on this.

Disco.
(Who's vehicles are bought purely for private non business use)