Disco 3, Pajero 2007 or Land cruiser 120 Prado

[tmpolice]

Hey guys!

I´m looking for a new or let´s say better used 4wd car.
For a year ago I was going to buy at prado but economic and other stuff did that I had to wait.

Now I´m looking for a tourer with good reliability. My in my price range are Disco 3 2005-2006, Pajero wagon 2007 and Land cruiser prado 120 2003-2005. In my country the Disco 3 cost less then a land cruiser 120 2003 and have less km.
I been looking at the three vehicle a lot but haven´t got so much wiser so I hope you can help me. Some people already given me the advice to skip the Disco 3 as it not so reliable. Perhaps it is like with hyundai or Skoda that many people talk about them and say they are bad but only a few have had owned one and driven one. The rest have just heard people talk about them.

Pros with the Disco 3 for me are the air suspension, gearbox, driveline, engine, space, comfort, cargo door. Cons are reliability, electric, air suspension, weight, service part costs, lower suspension over 50 km/h (fix it with suspension control).

Land cruiser Prado 120 feels like a smaller car and like a older car. Reliability is really good and the value is good. But that is also why I look at the Disco 3. You can get Disco 3 at a good price.

Pajero also feels older but the new model looks good and drive good on road. Offroad I feel that the Land Cruiser and the Disco is fare more competent.

In Sweden where I live we also have the Nissan Patrol but only with the 3,0 TD and the other cars are more modern.

So I really need your advice. I´m looking and hunting for a new car right now. Can you give me some pros and cons on the cars? I already been reading threads and discussions and tests. Is the Disco 3 worth it???

Latest I been reading:
http://www.4wdoftheyear.com.au/pdf/pdf_bestcars.pdf
http://www.4wdoftheyear.com.au/pdf/overlanderjuly2008.pdf
http://www.4wdoftheyear.com.au/pdf/4x4april2008.pdf
http://www.4wdoftheyear.com.au/pdf/overlanderapril2008.pdf
http://www.4wdoftheyear.com.au/pdf/lux.pdf
http://www.4wdoftheyear.com.au/pdf/4x42005.pdf

[djambalawa]

I loved my D3 and I am sure my soon to arrive D4 but if reliability is the main factor I think the Prado would be better than a 2005-2006 D3...

Don't get me wrong I'd rather have the disco but to me reliability is only one (albeit still important) factor to me, whereas it seems the main factor to you.

A later model D3 might be closer in regards to reliability but those early ones had a few more issues I believe...

Others more knowledgable might say otherwise and happy to be corrected :)

[robbotd5]

Go the D3. But get the latest example with a service history and low Kilometers. If not the D3, go the Paj. Forget the Playdoh. What about an XC90?!
Regards
Robbo

[DoctorJ]

All 3 are very good vehicles however here in Australia the Prado in the years you mentioned did not have the Direct Injection Diesels and therefore are very agricultural, but very reliable. The Pajero is a great car on the road but not so good offroad and based on a vehicle from the year 2000 however I have a 2006 D3 and I am constantly blown away at how good this vehicle is ( I had a Patrol beforehand) both on road and off. Reliability has been excellent and the advice on forums like this is phenomenal, I'm a member of other forums of Toyota, Jeep and other 4x4 forums but it is this forum I call home, where there are so many members who happily give their knowledge and time to help that make being a LR owner that little bit special!:D

Cheers
Julian

[smwilk]

I have a 2006 model as well and have enjoyed an extremely reliable vehicle for 120000km. In fact it has never let me down. From what I read here, the d4s have just as many problems?

[baldivistribe]

Im not so sure we had the 120 Prado and it gave us no end of trouble. We are loving the D4. It really is streets ahead of the Prado 120 and 150. I would be leaning towards the disco.
Cheers
Steve

[phl]

I personally have an older Pajero (2004 DiD), and it has proven reliable on and off road. Not sure about in Sweden, but in Australia, the current model Prado has a few kW more than my 2004 Pajero, and is 400kg heavier.

I haven't done any rock hopping, but have done all the track around the Vic High Country, from Masfield to Tredbo, so it will definitely go off-road (I do have a 2" lift). Unfortunately due to financial difficulties, Mitsubishi hasn't really updated the Pajero, and the current model looks almost the same as mine, hence my going to a D4.

[Tombie]

I loved my D3 and I am sure my soon to arrive D4 but if reliability is the main factor I think the Prado would be better than a 2005-2006 D3...

Don't get me wrong I'd rather have the disco but to me reliability is only one (albeit still important) factor to me, whereas it seems the main factor to you.

A later model D3 might be closer in regards to reliability but those early ones had a few more issues I believe...

Others more knowledgable might say otherwise and happy to be corrected :)


Proof of Toyota hype!!!

The entire fleet here are no more reliable than any other brand..

Often 1 or 2 have some issue or another!

[~Rich~]

To be fair have you asked this exact question on the Pajero & Prado forums?

Deep down I think that anyone who asks such a question here really wants a Landrover but just wants some sort of comfort that others here are happy with their purchases.

The majority here will say yes - we love our vehicles.
They have "Character"
I am often asked should I buy a Landrover?
I answer with "Do you look after your vehicle and keep an eye on it mechanically or do you just drive it?"
If you just drive it - buy a Toyota,Nissan or Mitshubishi.
If you have a passion for vehicles yes buy the Landrover! :)

[Rich84]

To be fair have you asked this exact question on the Pajero & Prado forums?

Deep down I think that anyone who asks such a question here really wants a Landrover but just wants some sort of comfort that others here are happy with their purchases.

The majority here will say yes - we love our vehicles.
They have "Character"
I am often asked should I buy a Landrover?
I answer with "Do you look after your vehicle and keep an eye on it mechanically or do you just drive it?"
If you just drive it - buy a Toyota,Nissan or Mitshubishi.
If you have a passion for vehicles yes buy the Landrover! :)

That would be my advice too!

[djambalawa]

Proof of Toyota hype!!!

The entire fleet here are no more reliable than any other brand..

Often 1 or 2 have some issue or another!


Lol first time I've been accused of Tojo bias! :)

Like I said I'd rather own a disco any day and do. I think there a probably more things in an early D3 to get you stuck somewhere (suspension issues, park brake, computer isses etc) and you'll probably be more likely to get home in an old crappy prado...

But yeah plenty folks here say otherwise... I had a '07 D3 that was pretty good but had a few issue... loved it though :)

[Ashes]

All these vehicles have the good, bad and the ugly. Except LR, they aren't ugly.

Do your test drives of each and you will find the LR is the most comfortable and has the best interior space with fold flat 2nd and 3rd row seats. Whatever you get in the 5 to 6 yo range will have ongoing maintenance needs. A few get into vehicles at this age and unreasonably complain that things aren't right with the car.

I was in a similar position a few years ago and decided on a 2nd hand 06 D3. While the car has had a couple of character moments...it is by a long way the best car I have owned and I don't intend moving away any time soon.

[Tombie]

Lol first time I've been accused of Tojo bias! :)

Like I said I'd rather own a disco any day and do. I think there a probably more things in an early D3 to get you stuck somewhere (suspension issues, park brake, computer isses etc) and you'll probably be more likely to get home in an old crappy prado...

But yeah plenty folks here say otherwise... I had a '07 D3 that was pretty good but had a few issue... loved it though :)

Not accusing, but its amazing what people see Toyota as...

Or an electronic 'safety' eg D3/D4 suspension lock down as a safety issue.

I can drive on low suspension, I cant drive on failed coils any better.

I can manually release the park brake (I dont use it offroad unless parking on steep hills where I have no choice anyway)


Our Prado(s) - 150 series, all suffer issues, we got rid of 8 and replaced in under 80,000km (no they dont go in Pit - just roads / tracks) and they all will cost about 10k to sort for sale..

We've had every failure I can think of too... Including an ECU that decided to just stop working...

I wouldnt say the Toyota is reliable...

The Mitsubishi Pajero is...

[tmpolice]

Thanks for the fast replies. Yes I´m looking for little comfort because I never owned a Land Rover before and the reliability been problem in the earlier cars. And yes I have asked similar questions on Toyota and Mitsubishi forums.
I have looked at the LC 100 4,2TD but they are rare and expensive here. Pajero are in my price range but feels they haven´t changed so much (except 2007 model). But Mitsubishi claims that if it is not broken=do not fix it. They are without question a good car.
The 120 prado are more expensive then a Disco 3 but have a reputation that they are reliable and have good service centers.
I found the Disco 3 when I compared cars and it seems like the newer models like disco 3/4 are really good cars.
I want a car that is modern, good off road, good on road, have all the good things as good seats, space in it, reliable, a tourer for the family, good automatic gearbox, good driveline, fuel efficient.

I´m going to get some suspension control, diagnostic tool, front and rear bumper and better tires, that´s it. Do I need anything more?
Keeping it simple.
If I go for a Disco 3 it will be a HSE-version.

I think I get the most bang for the buck in a Disco 3 as they cost less here.

[Steve223]

I used to only drive cars but since i bought my D3 TDV 2005 I actually get involved and learn about cars and the forum has been an awesome source.

So far my D3 has not let me down on or off road (beside one blown turbo hose) and i actually purchased a second D3 to replace my Forrester.

Buy a D3 I say..

[tmpolice]

Took a TV-free night yesterday and went through all the 142 pages of discussion, well didn´t read all but the interesting threads.

I´m getting more andre more sure that the Disco 3 is what I look for with a bulletproof engine (almost, in anyway a really good one), bulletproof automatic with manuel change, lot of space, good off road, good on road, flexible, pretty reliable (according to all I have read on this page but also on the UK page.
A modern car, one of the last offroader (on/off roader).
I´m looking....