Hello there!
I have been thinking of buying a decent 4x4 for a while now and recently I came across a 2007 Pajero 3.8 V6 GLS.
It has just under 100,000 km (maintenance plan about to expire). The condition of the car is very good. Having driven it around the suburbs for an hour or so I was a bit shocked with the indicated fuel consumption of 24.8l/km! Is that normal for this car?
What should I look for when buying one of these?
Some tell me to rather go for a Prado... I seem to prefer the look of a Pajero.
Any advice will be appreciated.
Affiliate Member
My boss is selling his 3.8 SWB - https://www.pajeroclub.co.za/forum/view ... =44&t=1432Rough wrote:Hello there!
I have been thinking of buying a decent 4x4 for a while now and recently I came across a 2007 Pajero 3.8 V6 GLS.
It has just under 100,000 km (maintenance plan about to expire). The condition of the car is very good. Having driven it around the suburbs for an hour or so I was a bit shocked with the indicated fuel consumption of 24.8l/km! Is that normal for this car?
What should I look for when buying one of these?
Some tell me to rather go for a Prado... I seem to prefer the look of a Pajero.
Any advice will be appreciated.
The consumption there is normal for in town but it will come down with time - my boss's consumption evened out to 16l/100km and he drives with a reasonably heavy foot.
Rough,
Is that the Gen3 or Gen4? The crossover occurred during 2007. Not a big deal, because both 3.8V6 cars share almost identical mechanicals, but at trade-in time a few years from now it could be important.
24l/100km sounds a bit high, but is achievable if you accelerated often and with a bit of a heavy right foot (as one would do when test driving a nice big V6). I find that 15-16l/100km is more realistic in town and 12-13l/100km my open road cruising number.
If you want an honest opinion about the Prado; you came to the right forum
1)The Prado and Pajero share vary similar engines. The 4.0V6 has similar performance figures as the 3.8V6 and the 3.0D4D is the same as the 3.2DiD. The D4D motor has a shadow hanging over it in terms of injector reliability. The other engines mentioned above are all extremely reliable. I exclude the 3.0 KZTE motor from this comparison, it is a donkey and should never have been in a Prado in the first place. A few years ago a Toyota salesman REFUSED to give me a test drive in a KZTE Prado after finding out that I owned a 3.2DiD Pajero. He said I would be too disappointed to even consider it as an option.
2)The two cars have very different gearboxes. The Pajero has a tiptronic box with the “manual” option. The Toyota doesn’t have tiptronic and there are quite a few complaints on the net about it down shifting too aggressively when only applying a touch of accelerator. The same applies when running on cruise control.
3)The Pajero has the bigger interior. Take a tape measure and find out for yourself, if you don’t believe me.
4)The Pajero has a full independent suspension and monocoque body, while the Prado has a solid rear axle and ladder-type chassis. The pros and cons have been discussed at length. Here is my opinion: the Pajero offers a more comfortable ride (tar and dirt) with better road holding performance. The Prado has the edge over the Pajero in serious off-road crawling and climbing. I think both cars do the open road and the off-road with so much ease and comfort, that to choose would be very difficult. My personal driving style and needs, make the independent suspension a winner by a country mile. The next guy will be the other way round.
5)The Prado is a Toyota and comes with a public belief of good value. It keeps its value much better than the Pajero. This means that you will buy a 100 000km Pajero for much less than a 100 000km Prado. It also means that you will sell your 200 000km Pajero for less than a 200 000km Prado. If you buy new, then the Pajero will loose you more money than the Prado. If you buy a few years older, then the difference is much less.
I’m on my 6th Pajero at the moment. Every time I replace cars, I start with an open mind. Needless to say the Toyotas and Nissans and Jeeps get looked at and tested and tyres kicked. I prefer Pajero simply because it suits my need and style and pocket. My wife refuses to accept anything but Pajero simply because we love the outback and often go it alone and NEVER has any Pajero given us ANY trouble.
Now go and ask the Toyota forum what they think.
Roelf
Is that the Gen3 or Gen4? The crossover occurred during 2007. Not a big deal, because both 3.8V6 cars share almost identical mechanicals, but at trade-in time a few years from now it could be important.
24l/100km sounds a bit high, but is achievable if you accelerated often and with a bit of a heavy right foot (as one would do when test driving a nice big V6). I find that 15-16l/100km is more realistic in town and 12-13l/100km my open road cruising number.
If you want an honest opinion about the Prado; you came to the right forum
1)The Prado and Pajero share vary similar engines. The 4.0V6 has similar performance figures as the 3.8V6 and the 3.0D4D is the same as the 3.2DiD. The D4D motor has a shadow hanging over it in terms of injector reliability. The other engines mentioned above are all extremely reliable. I exclude the 3.0 KZTE motor from this comparison, it is a donkey and should never have been in a Prado in the first place. A few years ago a Toyota salesman REFUSED to give me a test drive in a KZTE Prado after finding out that I owned a 3.2DiD Pajero. He said I would be too disappointed to even consider it as an option.
2)The two cars have very different gearboxes. The Pajero has a tiptronic box with the “manual” option. The Toyota doesn’t have tiptronic and there are quite a few complaints on the net about it down shifting too aggressively when only applying a touch of accelerator. The same applies when running on cruise control.
3)The Pajero has the bigger interior. Take a tape measure and find out for yourself, if you don’t believe me.
4)The Pajero has a full independent suspension and monocoque body, while the Prado has a solid rear axle and ladder-type chassis. The pros and cons have been discussed at length. Here is my opinion: the Pajero offers a more comfortable ride (tar and dirt) with better road holding performance. The Prado has the edge over the Pajero in serious off-road crawling and climbing. I think both cars do the open road and the off-road with so much ease and comfort, that to choose would be very difficult. My personal driving style and needs, make the independent suspension a winner by a country mile. The next guy will be the other way round.
5)The Prado is a Toyota and comes with a public belief of good value. It keeps its value much better than the Pajero. This means that you will buy a 100 000km Pajero for much less than a 100 000km Prado. It also means that you will sell your 200 000km Pajero for less than a 200 000km Prado. If you buy new, then the Pajero will loose you more money than the Prado. If you buy a few years older, then the difference is much less.
I’m on my 6th Pajero at the moment. Every time I replace cars, I start with an open mind. Needless to say the Toyotas and Nissans and Jeeps get looked at and tested and tyres kicked. I prefer Pajero simply because it suits my need and style and pocket. My wife refuses to accept anything but Pajero simply because we love the outback and often go it alone and NEVER has any Pajero given us ANY trouble.
Now go and ask the Toyota forum what they think.
Roelf
Very good analysis, Roelf.
The only thing I could add is that some people do prefer the Prado's somewhat softer ride.
The only thing I could add is that some people do prefer the Prado's somewhat softer ride.
Gerrit Loubser 
2003 Toyota Land Cruiser 100 VX TD
2003 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 DiD LWB A/T Gone & missed
1999 Nissan Patrol 4.5E GRX M/T: Gone & missed
1996 Toyota Land Cruiser 80 VX 4.5 EFI A/T: SOLD
2003 Toyota Land Cruiser 100 VX TD
2003 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 DiD LWB A/T Gone & missed
1999 Nissan Patrol 4.5E GRX M/T: Gone & missed
1996 Toyota Land Cruiser 80 VX 4.5 EFI A/T: SOLD
Thanks for your posts, Guys.
Having three teenage kids, the SWB is not really an option, especially that both my sons are already above 6ft...
The Pajero I'm interested in is Gen IV. A very impressive car (except for the fuel economy, that is).
The ground clearance seems a bit low? How does it perform off road? Is it advisable to install an after-market raised suspension kit?
Thanks again for all your comments.
Having three teenage kids, the SWB is not really an option, especially that both my sons are already above 6ft...
The Pajero I'm interested in is Gen IV. A very impressive car (except for the fuel economy, that is).
The ground clearance seems a bit low? How does it perform off road? Is it advisable to install an after-market raised suspension kit?
Thanks again for all your comments.
Rough,
The lower body panel ground clearance on the Pajero has been critisised. I have been through some serious rough terraines over the years and have never lost or damaged any body panels, but other people have on their cars.
In effect what it means is that if you overload your car and go through the rough-stuff too fast, that you are likely to damage some of the lower body panels (referred to as "tupperware" by the critics). BUT your car WILL make it through and get you home. I have NO doubt, if you ceep your car's load within the legal specs and drive with care, that it will perform with the best out there. I KNOW, because I have done it often enough. "Air helpers" fitted inside the rear coils are relatively in expensive and doesn't interfere with the normal operation of the car. You simply inflate it when the load increases.
Fuel consumption on a big 4x4 SUV, with aerodynamics designed by a brick company, will return heavy fuel consumption. I strongly recommend you take the prospective Pajero for a long-ish run and check the consumption on a tank to tank basis. That will give you a correct consumption figure and it will allow you to check the accuracy of the computer read-out. If the consumption still scares you, then go for the 3.2DiD. You will not be sorry.
I agree with your SWB opinion. This is my first SWB and I did it for a change of scenery after the last kid left home. I actually wanted to buy a high performance soft roader, but luckely sanity prevailed.
Roelf
The lower body panel ground clearance on the Pajero has been critisised. I have been through some serious rough terraines over the years and have never lost or damaged any body panels, but other people have on their cars.
In effect what it means is that if you overload your car and go through the rough-stuff too fast, that you are likely to damage some of the lower body panels (referred to as "tupperware" by the critics). BUT your car WILL make it through and get you home. I have NO doubt, if you ceep your car's load within the legal specs and drive with care, that it will perform with the best out there. I KNOW, because I have done it often enough. "Air helpers" fitted inside the rear coils are relatively in expensive and doesn't interfere with the normal operation of the car. You simply inflate it when the load increases.
Fuel consumption on a big 4x4 SUV, with aerodynamics designed by a brick company, will return heavy fuel consumption. I strongly recommend you take the prospective Pajero for a long-ish run and check the consumption on a tank to tank basis. That will give you a correct consumption figure and it will allow you to check the accuracy of the computer read-out. If the consumption still scares you, then go for the 3.2DiD. You will not be sorry.
I agree with your SWB opinion. This is my first SWB and I did it for a change of scenery after the last kid left home. I actually wanted to buy a high performance soft roader, but luckely sanity prevailed.
Roelf
Thanks for the advice, Roelf, much appreciated.
I will go for a test drive with the diesel version, soon. I do prefer petrol engines, though. The higher consumption will probably be worth the sound the engine makes under load... Don't they come in V8?
Regards
I will go for a test drive with the diesel version, soon. I do prefer petrol engines, though. The higher consumption will probably be worth the sound the engine makes under load... Don't they come in V8?
Regards
Yip,
The 3.8MIVEC can sing a nice tune when you stir up the horses. As long as you are happy to feed the 245 hungry horses.
The 3.8MIVEC can sing a nice tune when you stir up the horses. As long as you are happy to feed the 245 hungry horses.
Greetings,
Disappointment... the gen 4 was sold from under my nose... well, wasn't meant to be.
I will be going to have a look at a gen 3, 2005 LWB 3.8 v6 GLS this week. just over 100,000km on the clock.
What do I look out for? (apart from the normal, every car signs of abuse, accidents, etc?
Is there some major service due on 120,000km? something like cam-belt?
Regards
Disappointment... the gen 4 was sold from under my nose... well, wasn't meant to be.
I will be going to have a look at a gen 3, 2005 LWB 3.8 v6 GLS this week. just over 100,000km on the clock.
What do I look out for? (apart from the normal, every car signs of abuse, accidents, etc?
Is there some major service due on 120,000km? something like cam-belt?
Regards
The cambelt gets done every 90k, so that should be new.
Transmission fluid and spark plugs and pollen filter are the 60k items.
I recently had the 60k service done and the invoice was R5000 - luckely still under maint plan!
Transmission fluid and spark plugs and pollen filter are the 60k items.
I recently had the 60k service done and the invoice was R5000 - luckely still under maint plan!