So Mike, in the month I've had my D3 I've already had to spend $1400 on a transmission flush and steel pan gasket conversion on the auto box (search 'steel pan conversion' for more info) but that was mainly piece of mind, insurance and necessity for a car that had done over 200k kms quite obviously towing a caravan.
'07 Pajero DiD i'm working off will most likely be the same boat. There'll be stuff that will need to be getting replaced (i.e Suspension bushes, shocks, springs... just the age of it). The difference is Pajeros are a much simpler (read:traditional) sort of 4wd. Part-time 4WD, Pneumatic engagement of the front diff (IIRC), independently coil sprung.
The reason i buy Land Rover is simple. I'm lazy. My D3 has auto headlights, auto wipers, a lovely auto box and from past experience in my D2 Td5, all i ever did was engage the Centre Diff Lock and the car walked over anything! The D3 with the airbag suspension has been described to me as a sofa. The onyl issue my mate has raised with his DiD Pajero is its a little loud. Not Hilux diesel loud, but enough to eb noticeable. One ride in my D3 and he gets out saying "I want to get one".
As I say, its your decision. I can't comment on bang for buck because I reckon Pajeros and Land Rover D3s are pretty equal on price and fuel economy. It all depends if you can deal with the uniqueness of Land Rovers or if you want the easier, generic 4wd that is a Pajero.
Or a new MU-X :D
Ben.
