Prado, Pajero?

Just another alternative. Terracan Diesel, same size as what you're after and you'll get a new one with a five year warranty for the price of second hand Paj or Prado.

Check out www.Terracan.Austalia4wd.com

Go the Pajero ;-)

The 3.2DiD is a far better engine than the older Prado's and the auto tranny in the Paj just can't be beaten.

Hi - just to throw in my 2 cents - I would go the Prado only coz I am bias, own one. BUT...my brother has had around 6 different Pajeros and always swore by them. Loved them to bits and would not ever consider a Prado "even if you would give me one" he would say. That was until his latest new 2006 Pajero developed a major fault (I cannot remember what he said it was) within about 6 months that neither his dealer or mits head office could repair even after a couple months trying - they simply said they knew he had a warranty but had exhausted all options trying to locate and repair it but would proceed no further. He even has it in writing. He never took it off road in that time and was a very fussy car owner, regularly serviced etc. It got to the stage it drove him so mad he drove it into a Qld country toyota yard and bought a VX Prado. He has since said he doesnt know why he didnt buy one sooner and what took him so long. Each car is different and you can get some lemons. But when you are regularly trading up into the new vehicles with the same dealer you would hope for some better service when it got tough.

Buy whatever you like, but sit your kids in the back each car first and go for a run. His kids and some others I know swear the comfort and ride level in the back of the Prado leaves the Pajero for dead. I would prefer the under floor seats of the Pajero but love a lot more about my Prado. He use to have to remove the neck off the towbar as it bottomed out when off road where as mine didnt. Same problem with towbar bottoming out when he towed a camper trailer off road to Yerranderie (not sure on my spelling). Buy the best value one, best condition, warranty etc. Good luck

Hi - just to throw in my 2 cents - I would go the Prado only coz I am bias, own one. BUT...my brother has had around 6 different Pajeros and always swore by them. Loved them to bits and would not ever consider a Prado "even if you would give me one" he would say. That was until his latest new 2006 Pajero developed a major fault (I cannot remember what he said it was) within about 6 months that neither his dealer or mits head office could repair even after a couple months trying - they simply said they knew he had a warranty but had exhausted all options trying to locate and repair it but would proceed no further. He even has it in writing. He never took it off road in that time and was a very fussy car owner, regularly serviced etc. It got to the stage it drove him so mad he drove it into a Qld country toyota yard and bought a VX Prado. He has since said he doesnt know why he didnt buy one sooner and what took him so long. Each car is different and you can get some lemons. But when you are regularly trading up into the new vehicles with the same dealer you would hope for some better service when it got tough.

Buy whatever you like, but sit your kids in the back each car first and go for a run. His kids and some others I know swear the comfort and ride level in the back of the Prado leaves the Pajero for dead. I would prefer the under floor seats of the Pajero but love a lot more about my Prado. He use to have to remove the neck off the towbar as it bottomed out when off road where as mine didnt. Same problem with towbar bottoming out when he towed a camper trailer off road to Yerranderie (not sure on my spelling). Buy the best value one, best condition, warranty etc. Good luck

Hi,
I am a bit biased as I have a 90 series Prado, that I think is a really great 4wd.

I know you are looking at a newer vehicle, that's OK.

To show that I am not too one eyed, I would recommend, that if you have more than two kids that you buy the Pajero.

WHY ????

I am frankly not impressed with any of the recent crop of "family" 4wd's. If you sit in the middle seat in the middle row, you will know why.

The fold down arm rest and associated mechanism sticks into your back and even a short journey will render your bottom numb and give you back aches. Most uncomfortable, - poor design.

However, the Pajero that you are looking at will have the flatter bench style seat in the middle row without the arm rest and as a result will be more comfortable if you have to sit in the middle for long periods.

Particularly important if you have kids and intend to go for a long drive.

Cheers,
Mal

Prado will have less engine noise. My experience the Pajero NP DiD Auto MY05-MY06 if base model (got traction aids). The drive train is better in the Pajero (more power and stronger).

Fuel:
Pajero stock + 400kg load = 9L/100km (>1000km drivable from 90L tank)
Prado is 2-3L/100km more (which soon addes up)
Pajero Aux 80L fuel tank from LRA are good.

Servicing:
Prado - every 5,000km

Pajero - every 7,500km (I cannot recommend dealers as they do not do the servicing properly - service manuals are easily obtained for the Pajero DiD)
Major service costs:
- oil (DELO 400) $65, oil filter $55, misc $10 (every 7,500km)
- air cleaner $55, fuel filter $60, coolant $50??, misc $15 (every 30,000km)
- Brake fluid $30, ATF $200 (20L drum), Diffs+transfer $80, misc $75 (some tools include but not required, etc required for ATF replacement), there is a auto ATF filter but not sure on the price (I have not changed mine yet) - every 45,000km
- brake pads are every 50,000km $160 from Bendix 4WD F&R
- valve adjustment every 60,000km odd (adjust sooner/later according to engine noise)
- 2" Lift will be $900 + $400 + $150 for Bilstein shocks / king springs and fitting.
- Dual battery system about $650 (with 80AH battery) and wired to rear of vehicle
- Recommend battery replacement from std to something like Exide Extreme prior to any major (and horrible) dirt roads.

Hi We own a 2005 DID 3.2 deisel pajero automatic.
We have driven this base model everywhere. It is a fantastic vehicle.
Plenty of grunt, frugal on fuel we average 9.5 lites to the 100 km. It is comfortable. We have only had very minor warranty isues and they were fixed without a problem.
Servicing at the dealer is only every 15,000 km.( you dont haveto use a mitsubishi dealer). We change the oil ouselves every 7500 km.
We do lots of highyway driving and have been to Nth Qld twice also lots of sand driving. No problems at all. It tows like a dream and as I am a female I can say that it is very easy to drive and parks easli;y in small parking lots.
Go the pajero it has power to burn and the DID 3.2 engine has an awsome reputation.
Good luck with your decision.
regards Lenni.

AB
This is a tough choice that you will have to make for yourself.
Recently I changed over my very muched loved and travelled Pajero. I have owned 5 Pajeros and I thought I would never swap to another brand.

I know a lot has been said about the new Pajero, but the Mitsubishi dealer where I had my old Pajero serviced said that a full chassis is far tougher for rough work, and thought it was a bad move to move away from it , something that the Prado still has. There is more room in the 120 series than in a Pajero, just look yourself.

As for service, I have never been by the book, rather oil and filter every 5,000kms, Some may say this is an overkill.

As I have said, it is down to you, but I have no regrets with my new 120 series.

Stephen

My (rather biased) opinion:

We just did 30,000Km around Australia in 5 months in a 2005 TD Prado. This included Cape York, Bungle Bungles, Gibb River Road, Kakadu/Litchfield (yes the off road bits including the 1.1m Twin Falls river crossing) and many other off and on road travelling.

Not one thing went wrong with the vehicle (besides a blown BFG tyre). I was highly impressed.