New 4wd - not LR. What to get?

The new Patrol should be out by May next year, i think they will have a new diesel engine, rumours are of a V6 TD from Peugeot to go alongside the 400BHP V8 Petrol.

The Partol would be my choice of what you are looking at, no questions in my mind at all, i owned a GQ 4.2D, old school, but bulletproof and arguably the best 4x4 ever.

Pajero's are pretty good, but you'd regret having one offroad, Dual cab id forget about unless you need the convenience of the tray, i have a Bravo (inherited) and while it does everything well, its not very comfortable to travel in, if you want a dual cab the D-max is the best.

As its a govt vehicle can you do modifications.
The Pajero's intercooler is very vulnerable to damage as it hangs low at the front. It needs the flimsy protection plates replaced with real ones.
Also inside luggage space is not much different to a D1.

Are you sure you won't consider a base model Prado ?

Regards

John D - Defender 110 2.4

Having recently spent bit of time in a NSW NPWS Pajero offroad, I have to admit I was impressed. It's not a Land Rover, but I'd seriously consider it. Was an auto diesel too! Friends have a Prado through work, but they like our Land Rover D2 better. Shame Land Rover has headed in the wrong direction in recent years - away from their roots; when it comes time to replace the D2 it may not be with another Land Rover. At least I'll still have the S2a.

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Originally Posted by jddisco200tdi

As its a govt vehicle can you do modifications.
The Pajero's intercooler is very vulnerable to damage as it hangs low at the front. It needs the flimsy protection plates replaced with real ones.
Also inside luggage space is not much different to a D1.

Are you sure you won't consider a base model Prado ?

Regards

John D - Defender 110 2.4

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Will be able to do some mods. I'll also spec up at time of purchase with bullbar/winch, suspension, roofrack and MT tyres.

Prado really isn't a consideration. They are close to $10k more than the equivalent Pajero, are underpowered and have terrible driving dynamics.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jddisco200tdi

As its a govt vehicle can you do modifications.
The Pajero's intercooler is very vulnerable to damage as it hangs low at the front. It needs the flimsy protection plates replaced with real ones.
Also inside luggage space is not much different to a D1.

Are you sure you won't consider a base model Prado ?

Regards

John D - Defender 110 2.4

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Judging by what I have read and with experience of having a new Prado in my immediate family,I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole.Also as mentioned in a previous post,you would be disappointed in the off road capability of the Pajero,IMHO.So you are between a rock and a hard place are you not?

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Originally Posted by Disco44

JAlso as mentioned in a previous post,you would be disappointed in the off road capability of the Pajero,IMHO.So you are between a rock and a hard place are you not?

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I'm curious why people seem to think that the Pajero will be worse than say a D1 off road? Pajero has pretty good traction control and for $600 can option up with a factory rear difflock, whereas D1 is all open. Wheel travel is worse in a Pajero but i think better traction makes up for this. Only real difference would be ground clearance and i think in real life situations it would be pretty marginal.

There are also so few difficult tracks around these days (particularly in the high country) that there is little point in going overboard with off road ability at the expense of day-to-day comfort. If i want to do anything hard, i still have the RR.

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Originally Posted by TuffRR

I'd expect that the Pajero will actually be more capable off-road than the D1 that it is replacing. D1 with open diffs vs Pajero with traction control and rear difflock. On road will be better too.

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Well you can expect that but compare the ground clearance between the two and you may come to a different conclusion.

Besides I didn;t think Paj's had a factory rear diff lock (unless its an option in which case you are comparing apples with oranges)

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Originally Posted by Redback

What about the new Challenger diesel, coil springs all round based on the Triton chassis.

From all acounts a good car.

Baz.

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We've driven a few as were looking at getting another vehicle for Emma (wife).

Great to drive, responsive and tow well.

With the dogs though we decided on GLX-R Triton with all the fruit and diff lock.

Tows our 2300kg Cat like it's not there.

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Originally Posted by VladTepes

Well you can expect that but compare the ground clearance between the two and you may come to a different conclusion.

Besides I didn;t think Paj's had a factory rear diff lock (unless its an option in which case you are comparing apples with oranges)

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Ground clearance isn't the be all and end all though. If it was, a D1 would be better offroad than a D4.

Factory difflock is an option on most Mitsubishi's. And at around $600 is very affordable. Apples with oranges - not really. Both are off the factory floor.

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Originally Posted by TuffRR

Ground clearance isn't the be all and end all though. If it was, a D1 would be better offroad than a D4.

Factory difflock is an option on most Mitsubishi's. And at around $600 is very affordable. Apples with oranges - not really. Both are off the factory floor.

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Yep the locker is an option, but it works in so that when you engage it, it turns of the traction control.....so for my money it would be say VRX then aftermarket air locker to have the best of all worlds.

For beach work the Paj with its big tyres as standard and the torque of the 3.2 TD would be hard to beat, but for trails the Disco is ahead in comfort and ability. There have been plenty of comparos between the Paj and Playdough off road and the Playdough just (just) edges ahead with that live rear axle. In reality though its very close it seems and for my money it would be Pajero every time over the toyota especially for towing heavy.

Cheers