Hand grenades

A search of the forum archives will answer your question in detail.

You will find the short answer is nothing has changed to enhance the reliability of these engines.

I had a Patrol which was a great vehicle GU ST T/D. I did about 178,000km & decided to trade it. She WMBO, raved about this NP T/D Pajero auto she drove & nagged me until I promised i would test drive one with her. On talking to the salesman on the day he could see i wasn't all that impressed after owning a Tojo Cruiser then the GU I thought "Pajero. Yeah right. Ladies car" After driving the car through the shopping car parks,tight side streets, parking & finally the open Highway where overtaking heavy & long vehicles had been a bit of a concern I was amazed at how well this Pajero performed. Basically, it left the Patrol for dead & stopped better too.Well I had to eat humble pie when we took the vehicle back to the salesman. The last test was the following week when we went back & hooked on a 19'6" van (full van) & towed it down the highway. The vehicle pulled better than the Patrol & no more up & down gears!! I think the van was about 1875KG in weight so it handled that weight fine especially into a head wind which knocked us back about 5 K/pH. I liked the Pajero so much I bought one. Had it for six years & just traded it for a new NT auto diesel. I am looking forward to when this vehicle does a few more Kilometres because it feels so much more powerful & better to drive than the NP 2003. I would suggest to your brother to look at a T/D auto Pajero his partner will enjoy the drive too. Creature comforts are excellent & like most Jap vehicles the finished product is of a very high standard. The warranty on new cars is exceptional with 10 years on the drive chain so even if you buy second hand I would think that insurance was still there unlike a s/hand anything else!!

In all fairness to Nissan some have had a good run.

The question you have to ask yourself is


Do you want a vehicle that you can hook up and go or do you want one that in the back of your mind you listen to every little noise and wonder

Has the pin fallen out of the grenade


I know what I would do and did Sold mine and bought a Toyota.

Cheers

Dave, thanks for posting that question. I've been researching the Patrol problem and remain unconvinced that the grenade issue has been addressed.
The Pajero is probably now top of my short list, based on the ownership of three Mitsubishi vehicles over the last 20 years and their reliability (once I stopped having them serviced by Mitsubishi).
The search starts in earnest after Chrissy. Gunna be fun!
Cheers, Tony

Why would you bother Dave , when the petrol version from 2002 on has more torque , more power , costs no more to own and can be cheaper on gas which your senario seems to fit , and this is all before your consider the 4800's bigger brakes , lower NVH etc etc

Makes you wonder why they continue to be so popular doesn't it?

My 2002 Auto has 116K on it, still trouble free since new apart from a fuel filter lift pump replaced under warranty when a year old.

In that time I have owned a 2006 100 series Turbo Sahara as well and it was a better tow vehicle for heavier loads (more low down grunt). Can't speak for the newer Pajero's but I bought the Patrol after testing the Pajero and was turned off by the engine and road noise, also harsher ride. I have since modified the bejesus out of the Patrol and will probaly have it long term because it would cost me a fortune to start again!!!

I have fitted boost and EGT gauges to the Nissan and regularly tow. IMHO over boosting caused by faulty MAF sensors is the major issue so keeping an eye on boost is essential.

In my experience the Patrol 'comfortably' tows up to 1200kg (decent size camper trailer), feels like it is starting to work hard at around the 1800KG (enclosed race car trailer). It 'can' and does tow my 2600KG boat but it struggles other than on the flat and I need to work the box.

OT

Thanks for all the thoughts and opinions, will forward a link to this page to my brother.

Cheers, Dave