Which One to buy Pajero, Prado or Patrol?

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Kai said:
The ones with the most bells and whistles=the ones most likely to fail in my experience.
Click to expand...

While in the past I would generally have agreed with this statement, I have had a 2005 Prado (Grande) since new and have had zero issues so far in more than 200k/kM. As a Grande it does have seat raising capability, but you would need to test if the amount provided is what you are after.

After the original Dunlops wore out at about 70k/kM, I fitted BFG ATs and got 120k/kMs out of them and only replaced them because they were getting too old, not due to being bald. Naturally I fitted BFG ATs as replacements.

Yes the rear air suspension has been reported at times as having caused issues, most during extreme 4x4 driving. But for me it has been great, especially for low speed ground/water clearance and towing, and not one skerrick of issues with it. But they did cost more and also fortunately for me, seem to hold their price better than GX & VX models, especially if in good condition.

I can only speak for the Prado, as the other 4WDs, I have owned/used aren't in the category in which you have an interest.

Rob P.
 
I have been fortunate to have used every landcruiser model and rate them highly. The company I worked for would keep most of them for up to 200,000kms with little to no problems and some in the fleet got to 350,000km prior to major engine/diff failure. They were all fully serviced every 10,000km. Our bad drivers still destroyed a few, so history is the key to buying a second hand one.

My wife runs a Pajero with seat height adjustment and it has been an economical vehicle but has had some minor issues along the way. We choose not to tow with it due to a better option in the driveway and heavy towloads. It feels underpowered to me for its size.

My stepfather has had every model of Nissan and rates them highly although he sold some due to mechanical issues at around the 200,000km mark.
 
Began my 4WD experiences back in the 80's with a Nissan MQ shortie, 3300 6cyl diesel sold it at 450,000km.
Next bought a Nissan GQ shortie, 4.2L diesel, 540,000km.
Next and still own it a brand new Nissan 2002 GU coilcab, 4.2litre, later fitted a 4.5L Chevrolet V8 diesel, tugs our van very economically.
Personally the simple earlier non computerised diesels are the best buys, a tank of diesel, gulp of air and compression and they just keep rolling along.
Only last week a mate of mines Colorado went into limp mode, $1100.00 later it was back on the road. Diagnosis, it had a blocked nose and emission problem???
Imagine being on the Canning Stock route or worse and this happened?
 
Nightjar said:
Began my 4WD experiences back in the 80's with a Nissan MQ shortie, 3300 6cyl diesel sold it at 450,000km.
Next bought a Nissan GQ shortie, 4.2L diesel, 540,000km.
Next and still own it a brand new Nissan 2002 GU coilcab, 4.2litre, later fitted a 4.5L Chevrolet V8 diesel, tugs our van very economically.
Personally the simple earlier non computerised diesels are the best buys, a tank of diesel, gulp of air and compression and they just keep rolling along.
Only last week a mate of mines Colorado went into limp mode, $1100.00 later it was back on the road. Diagnosis, it had a blocked nose and emission problem???
Imagine being on the Canning Stock route or worse and this happened?
Click to expand...
the 4.2 was and still is a good engine and yep all these newer 4x4 Colorado dmax ranger every model of jeep and so on every town in my district have a number of them waiting on parts or repair
 
Landcruiser 100/105 FZ series, very comfortable and roomy inside. Great tailgate that also acts as a bench. It will be looking at major engine work around the 300k-350k km mark I reckon. Expensive parts, petrol is crap on fuel. Dual fuel is not kind to the valves. Cant speak for the diesels but would most certainly be a better buy than the petrol.

Landrover discovery petrols best avoided, engines suffer slipped liners etc. The TD5 engines are good, economical and you can hold a relaxed conversation with your passenger doing over 100km/h. Great around town and the few times you go off road depending on which year you get they are great in stock condition with central diff lock, traction control and hill descent control standard, live axles.

Pajero I haven't owned but nice interiors, although smaller than the LC GXL models, but when I was shopping around there were many with failed engines/transmissions for sale that didn't have very high kms on so that made me concerned but there could be a simple explanation like they sold many more of them for instance. I also heard that they beep at you a lot but that may be a certain model/year only.

Prado, a fair bit smaller inside than GXLs, more economical, only gripe personally was the interior on older models raised my eyebrows a lot but really that's nit picking. Haven't owned one either so take with pinch of salt.

Irrespective of what you pick, if you're doing the servicing yourself then all good, if you're not then get a good independent mechanic that specialises in the model that you select. This is imperative. Otherwise you're going to get no lubed and your wallet will also take a hammering.

Buy the best you can afford whilst leaving a $5k 'just in case' fund to the side would also be a wise move!

Good luck.
 
Two features my 120 series Prado has that I love is the standard fuel tank is 180 litres. Don't have the cost to fit long range tanks and depending how one drives and whether you're towing or not you can go a long way. Secondly the 2007 upgrade model has ducted A/C to the rear. 3 common faults are the original dash board vinyl splitting, the original A/C evaporator behind the dash leaking and the original fuel injectors giving up a bit to early. If you look at a 120 series check these issues out.
 
Finally got the Net back on. Line got dug up on a nearby job site. Sooooo, went for a drive. saw the Prado. Opened the door. There was one question I never asked, Was the drivers sear height adjustable? :mad: No height adjustment :mad: . 3 hour round trip drive and a wasted Saturday. Gave myself an uppercut :awful:
 
Well at least you know for next time... Keep searching.... took me 2yrs to find mine...
Tho I may be partial to earlier NH-NL Pajeros, I wouldn't like a newer model, IMO there are too many issues.... The fellow I bought mine from bought a NT, but is not real keen on it... He keeps asking if he can have first bite if I ever sell... I think he will be waiting for a very long time... ;)

Don't rush into something and get out there and Drive the 'Ones' you may be interested in.. That way you will know what you Don't like... After all, they aren't real cheap..

LW....
 
Big fan of the prado personally, had an 2009 and would get another in a heartbeat.
The injector issue is a potential problem for all Toyota's with the D4D diesel engine (prado, hilux etc) but i believe it had been addressed after 2008. Still,
Get the nearest Toyota dealership to do a injector value check (cost me nothing when i asked them to do it at my last service) .this will give you an idea n whether they will give you any dramas.
My son has a patrol and im not a fan at all.
 
Smashed or abandoned off the side of the road out here, the number one would be Jackaroo, followed closely by Pajero then Nissan
 
I have a 2001 Patrol GU with the 4.2 diesel with uprated turbo, intercooler and fuel pump @ 150kw. 436k so far. The most reliable vehicle i have EVER owned by far and ive had Toyotas, Hiluxs and Landcruisers. No comparison. A mate has a Troopy. The gearbox is on its second rebuild! They have a Hilux front diff! These are known to let go! Just for starters.

Now, before anyone gets their knickers in a plat, we all have a story to tell.

It was only the very first few years where the ZD30 had issues. The rest of the years have been fine. Research is your best friend.

I bought a 2013 Triton dual cab for work. At 110k the head gasket has let go! All these late model dual cabs and the likes are just not as robust as the early vehicles. The late Izuzu is apparently the most reliable/robust out of the lot....so i hear!

Out of three mentioned, any of those will do only that the Patrol will give greater clearance plus they have the robust front end.

My Triton will be sold. Ill concentrate on an early GU wagon, spend some money on it and never look back. Robust and reliable. Do the same with an early Landcruiser. I bought a 2003 Hilux 2wd Workmate ute not long back as a backup vehicle for work incase the Triton brakes down again! Basic simple and reliable.

Bugger these fragile late model vehicles!
 
Had a Patrol GUY61, comfortable, good chassis but the 3l motor is crap. Good for a while then the computer niggles, throttle body and the list went on. Should have gone for an earlier model turbo 6, anyway that's the past. Bought a Perentie 6x6 :eek: , simple :Y: , no computer :inlove: , virtually un-breakable and can be fixed easily pretty much anywhere, my daily drive and everyone gives respect ;)
 
Interesting what you say about the Isuzu Dmaxs at the place where I worked they were found to be the most troublesome vehicles in the fleet. They were bought because they were found to be the cheapest to run but every driver complained about having sore backs. Then they decide to retro fit Re-car seats at a cost of nearly $10,000 per vehicle.
Because if you change the drivers seat you have to change the passengers as while both workers are in the car for the same length of time. Also the turning circle on the dmax is biggest of any 4wd meaning every end of the street meant that it was a 3 point turn. The very compact driver area was so small the the taller members had trouble driving them. In the end they gave the cars to worker that only drove on short trips and went back to Toyotas. Shows that even the bean counters can get it very wrong at times.
Just show everybody has good and bad experiences with cars.
Cheers db
 

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