Still looking at both new and used vehicle  trying to settle on a good towing unit but don't want a  monster  that ya can't park in a shopping center unless you have it to yourself .

Currently looking at the 2008 3 door Pajero NXT  Diesel, secondhand with 13000 on the clock   Has a tow capacity of 2500 and a ball down weight of 250 which is getting near my mark for the Millard . 

Anyone got one ,looking for both pos  neg comments please .  I suppose it's really the Pajero minus 2 doors  so long as it's not another of those puddle jumpers  like other short wheel based units out there .  The list of optional extras  included reads like the Sydney phone book which is attractive in the scheme of things .   Retail new is 54 this is now 34 and is barely 12 months old

The more you help the sooner I'll get out of ya hair

Sounds like a good deal if it's what you're looking for. Why Pajero? What about Prado, Nissan Patrol? How big is the van?

I agree with Granny.  

Have you thought about a Patrol or Landcruiser?   Both are like Holdens or Fords and it doesn't matter where you are in the land of ours there always seems to be plenty of parts or a dealer.    Thats a big plus.

Also had a mate of mine had his disco blow a motor in Broken Hill.  Had to wait three weeks for the parts to arrive and have the motor rebuilt.  Some $8,000 lighter in his pocket and three weeks behind schedule stuck at Broken Hill, he was able to leave. 

If it had been a Patrol or Landcruiser, may have been up and running much much sooner.

Worth a thought.    Some 4 x 4, parts in the bush are had to acquire.

Personally I have a Patrol, and tow a 20ft Full size Van and am more that happy with the results achived by the tow vehicle.  Parts have never been a problem.

Just some food to munch on.

Must say there is a saying over here in NZ never buy a diesel that starts with an "M" Toyota and Nissan very reliable.

I have never been enthusiastic about any Mitsubishies. I have found them no better or worse than other vehicles, except for replacement parts. The parts are difficult to get and when you can get them, you pay through the nose. Your nominated vehicle is fairly new, so it should not be an issue, for now. This one is in the smaller 4wd range, and therefore is more car like to drive than a L/C or Patrol, and I believe better on fuel. They have been proven in off road rally's. My mate has one, petrol version, and goes everywhere, gold prospecting, towing a trailer. He seems happy with it, and it does not show any real wear and tear from his travells. Bottom line, my opinion, any vehicle is good enough, as long as the driver is knowledgeable about the limitations of the vehicle, and treats it accordingly. Even a L/C will fall to bits, break, in the wrong hands. Bloody hell, I have seen Landrovers still out there doing it well, as the driver treated the vehicle with knowledge.

if you are dinkum about leaving the city limits and will be going in to just a little bit of never never land then you only have two choices, nissan or toyota, when the others break down (and they will) the parts will cost you the moon and a mechanic that can work on them is simply not available short wheel base vehicles are ok but they, like all short wheel base vehicles, you get the very sharp back and forth rocking motion, but if you have a van onboard then that shouldnt be a problem I personally would not leave the city limits in anything other than a toyota or nissan simply because of parts availability, the mitsi is a good vehicle but the transmissions fail far too often for me and the cost and availability of parts is prohibitive, and thats coming from a fellow who drives a mitsi 380 the toyota diffs have a failing as do the partrols centre box, driven with respect and a little bit of thought this wont be problem

I've spoken to a couple of Pajero owners who tow vans, and they regret their choice of vehicle. That's enough infor for me. If you do break down, (heaven forbid) in the outback, most cattle statons have ToJo's and parts, rims, tyres, and even diesel can be procured, if you ask nicely. They may even have a resident mechanic to help you out. You won't see a Pajero anywhere out there. If you're really nice they may let you plug in and stay for a look around. And they might even feed you. Some charge a minimal amount, others chuck it in. You may even get a bit of work for you tucker. Another great experience. I like being boreman's offsider, checking windmills, pumps, tanks and troughs. You never know where you end up. These stations cover a lot of ground, and include country no one else has free access to. All that information from a simple question. Must be your lucky day. My compliments. Granny

As you know....I havent had my Pajero long.......but its a 4 door........people say they are big....but its not as long as my old AU falcon or as wide...toyotas and nissan patrols are great...but I cant get in them.....that includes land rovers...so after searching for months...the Pajero was it..2005 NP...now I admit I know nothing about part prices.....but if you can get toyota parts..you should get parts for the Paj.....380 are s**t cars.....I hired one in Canberra.....but 380s arent Pajeros... Wombat....the final decision...is yours and yours alone.......all I can say........if it suites your needs get it... Dave

well I proudly own and drive a 380 and I guess if you drive something else well you are going to knock it, me, I couldnt care less, I gave up that childish behaviour years ago, I have found to my horror the price of parts for these things are ridiculous compared to holden and ford, ($500 for a window regulator) but they dont compare with the luxury and drivability of the 380, I know, I have driven and tested them all, before buying the 380, I will be taking it to alice springs pulling a campertrailer but if I was towing a van around aust. I would not have it or a pajero, it would be a nissan or a toyota, or a ford but not B.A. the trans in them are shocking as well I base my knowledge on experience and advice from experts, I have said many times my brother in law is a mitsubishi mechanic and he sees pajeros coming through with problem transmissions all too often, nissan and toyotas are a rarity where he works even though he is trained and qualified to work on them, take a look on any station, farm, open cut or shaft mining site and report back when you see a pajero on any of these, 98% cruisers, must be a reason for that!! it will be a cold day in hell when they get overun by pajeros

Hi davo...when do the BA's trans die...have had mine just over 2 years....your the expert here on vehicles...how about you show me any 4x4....doesnt matter what make...that has seating/leg room for a big bloke whose 6'5" tall...can get into comfortably...thats getting legs under stearing wheel..and can use pedals...without having to hold leg up to put on pedals..I'm sorry.but I've tried them all....and the Paj.......with all the faults.it said to have..is the only 4x4 I can get in and drive....as I said...I would have had a Patrol or a toyota..if I could get into one........snickers.... Dave

my brother in stockport bought a B.A. gold station wagon, great car, brand new, had it for 2 months, loaded it with their traveling gear, suitcases etc for two adults and two kids, 6 x 4 trailer on the back headed for geelong, cooked the trans at tailem bend at 9 am, R.A.A pickup, two weeks in the shop (still under warranty) mechanic wouldnt let it out because he found metal somewhere else, replaced trans and put a trans oil cooler on picked vehicle up, drove for two weeks, back in shop again trouble with gas unit, two months later hooked up his 18 foot van for a trip up the murray to albury, blew another trans, this feller is in his fifties and is not a rough driver, he owns a BA ute which he tows the van with now and so far no problems but it is a manual not automatic, they sold the B.A. wagon and bought a new focus the woman who runs the training centre here in Pirie bought a B.A. sport xr6 two trans to date, neices boyfreind same thing, I have heard from a ford mechanic here that it is a common problem and they have had "quite a few in" I dont know the solution to your long legged problem, I only advise on information that is either given to me or I have learned by experience, I'm sure that if someone had short arms then that would be a peculiar problem to them another to which I am not able to give an answer to, perhaps lengthen the seat runner rails, my brothers wife has to sit on a pillow to drive, cant see over the steering wheel, dont know how she gets to the peddles but she does, 5' in stockings I am no expert on anything and I dont put myself forward as such, if you have a good run out of your pajero and B.A. then that is great, I hope you do, many owners do, I dont have the total percentage figures of failures and am unlikely to get them and if I did I wouldnt produce them here because of the litigation from the ford motor company, all I'm saying is that there is a lot of pajeros and B.A.s out there that have a problem I can only talk of my experience and talking with people about these vehicles, take the advice or leave it, no skin off my nose

Thanks to all for your wise comments it is appreciated believe me. The Pajero drove lovely and ran like a dream but there was already a deposit left while the buyer sought money from the bank which he got Friday night so I wasn't meant to have it so it was written in the cards or tea leafs I suppose . Was offered a 2008 plated Pathfinder Auto with 3500 on it, ex Nissan demo and exo's vehicle has the HD tow pack side steps all the other bits that go on it plus the remainder of the 5 year warranty for 41000. Less all the discounts comes in around 34000 almost the same as the Pajero 3door . Now looking for comments from Pathfinder owners Thanks again for all your help

Pathfinders, Not many about - say's something - one black jellybean Auto - not setup to tow- mainly get the vehicle about - second black jellybean But I think my last post is still correct, in the right hands, so to speak. Also believe in "meant to be", so, go with your gut.

just happen to have the boys that work with me down at the shop having a bbq (all three mechanics) and my brother, asked them about the pathfinder and they know nothing of them break down wise, must be a good thing, I dont know all that much about them either good or bad, I have talked before to a couple of people that own them and they seem to be pretty happy with them not sure of tow capacity here as different models bring different capacitys, but the website for the st diesel is sprouting 3,000 kilos, is that right?????????? price wise that sounds pretty good!!

Sorry davo.....didnt mean to sound nasty.....as I said previously.....doesnt matter..what vehicle you get..all that matters is ..long as your happy with it...thats all that counts........Ohhhhhhhh stupid me....We dont have a BA...we have a dedicated LPG engined BF..cause its gas....its next to useless for holidaying .plus the spare wheel fills the boot space ....


Happy Easter

Dave

twobob wrote:

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I have never been enthusiastic about any Mitsubishies.

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Me neither, the only Mitsubishi products that were any good were the Zero and the type 21 minature submarines....
As 2bob says parts are expensive and harder to get than KIA parts....

 

yes I think after this experience that the 380 will be my last, might look at the toyota avilon or similar next time, lovely car though Dave dont worry about it..

dave06 wrote:

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just happen to have the boys that work with me down at the shop having a bbq (all three mechanics) and my brother, asked them about the pathfinder and they know nothing of them break down wise, must be a good thing, I dont know all that much about them either good or bad, I have talked before to a couple of people that own them and they seem to be pretty happy with them

not sure of tow capacity here as different models bring different capacitys, but the website for the st diesel is sprouting 3,000 kilos, is that right??????????

price wise that sounds pretty good!!

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Yes 3000kg with 280 download  on the Nissan tow bar  so it's up there with the patrol but 15000 cheaper

 

pretty impressive pulling power for a mid size