Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

i like my pajero, a lot, but there one thing i cannot fathom.

why does people, lot's of people, think that landcruiser is way better car.

why it's more resaleable (it's a TOYOTA! that's why!)

why it's consider more "high class".

i really tried to understand, but i cannot find good enough reason, why it is better.

guys, do you think i'm wrong? i know the difference between the cars, but in terms of offroad ability the car's are 50:50, pajero is king of the sand, while landcruiser can climb rocks better.
other than that, i think people percieve that toyota has higher quality parts. or it's an autobot of some kind..
i dont know, i dont really care, but i want to understand why.

can you guys help me?

thank you, and all the best.

IMHO

Toyota was good. VERY good but I feel their latest stints in cutting corners by outsourcing has killed it for me. They just get by now on brand name.

Mitsubishi is a huge company and my feeling is that they strive for quality first above cutting costs.

The recent trend in double cabs are heading towards tritons as its starting to prove itself. Eventually quality always triumphs.

Look at the vivo that competes against that rattle plastic box yaris. They refused to compromise quality for cost and now its one of the best (if not THE best) selling car out there at the moment.

You cant say a Pajero or a Landcruiser is a better vehicle or that they are even 50:50. They compete in different market segments.

Toyota was the 4x4 of choice for a number of very good reasons.

Before that the Ford F250 ruled.

The Land Cruiser bakkie replaced the F250 in Namibia and Botswana. Initially the tracks were too wide for the Cruisers, one had to drive with two wheels on the "middel mannetjie". At first the boere wanted to know nothing about that Jap-crap-and-plastic upstart. Eventually logic prevailed and the Cruiser took over completely. Those Cruisers were legendary in their ability and reliability.

Then slowly the Hilux started creeping onto the scene in the early 80's. Same story: The boere wanted nothing of those upstarts. I remember arriving with one of those Hilux's on a farm in Namibia. The old German farmer walked up to the bakkie before even greeting me and stuck his head in under the chassis. He was very surprised to see the solid axles and solid looking chassis. We all know what a HUGE success the Hilux became.

Much has been said about the old Toyota Family system in Japan that has been replaced by a "business" approach and the endless push for higher profit. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. It is an accepted business practice and has potential benefit in that there could be greater expertise to tap into.

Toyota didn't suddenly become bad cars, not even remotely. I think the dealers in SA became arrogant, and for an understandable reason. For many years running the demand for many models outstripped the supply. If you are a dealer in that position (for any product), wouldn't you get slightly arrogant as well.

Two years ago we were in the Damaraland on holiday. A good friend has a huge conservancy concession there. The one day we went to the Huab River to cut reeds for the camp. The vehicles were a VX Cruiser station wagon, a Cruiser bakkie (converted to a double cab) and us in our humble 2006 DiD GLS LWB. When we set out I explained to the guys that I'm in a softy compared to them and they must keep an eye on me. We are all very good mates, so there was never any doubt that we always keep an eye out for each other. Truth is I really did (and still do) believe that a VX and a Cruiser bakkie has a considerable edge on a LWB Pajero in the bush. The trip took much longer than anticipated and we ran out of light soon after starting the long trip home. There was a particularly nasty stretch that had me worried on the way down into the river bed and now we were going to tackle it up in the dark. We had two grown boys on the back seat now as well (not so much fun on the back of a Cruiser on a cold evening in the desert).

At the tricky bit the bakkie went first and failed. It must have taken five or six runs before making it up and out. You can well imagine the condition of the surface by now. Next was us. I selected 4L (that disengages the stability control as well) and selected 2nd while stationary. The run up that track in the dark was intimidating and the belly kept on catching, but the TC would grip and on we would go. First time up and out.

I never doubted the VX behind me, but could hear it failing and going back a few times. I eventually walked back, but then the VX appeared at the top with a mighty roar from that big diesel 6.

Bottom line: I think Cruisers a very capable and reliable. I prefer the "softer" aspects of the Pajero ie. the more friendly gearbox and the independent suspension. I don't think I'm prepared to say the Pajero is better than a Cruiser, I just prefer the Pajero.

A Toyota LC station wagon graced my garage during the late 80's (which was followed by a Nissan Sani 3.0 5Door in 1991). The Toyotas that served us as a second vehicle include a RAV4, a 2.4 Hilux D/C 4x4 and 2.7i Hilux D/C 4x4 (SRX). Our current platkar is a Toyota RunX. As a young geologist in the bush(for most of the 80's)we only had Toyotas.

I think I know Toyotas as well as the next guy, but still prefer Pajero.

Don't fool yourself - there are very good Toyotas out there.
No one will even convince me that the following vehicles are not very good competitors in their market sectors:

• Land Cruisers
• Prado
• HiLux
• Corolla
• Camry

The problem is that there is a perception that anything with the name 'Toyota' stuck to it, is very good. That just is not true.

One of Toyotas 'problem' areas is the quality of the vehicles branded as 'Toyotas', but which are not actually Toyotas.
A prime example is the Toyota Avensis, which is actually a Daihatsu. It is built from very thin sheet metal. Look at most specimens, especially the tail gate. They dent from basically the slightest touch.
If they skimped on the body, I can only surmise that they skimped on everything else as well.