Hi all, newbie here.
I have never owned a diesel vehicle and I am not too mechanically inclined.
Today I test drove a Pajero, 93, turbo diesel and it seems like a great car. I will be doing moderate winter driving and off roading so I have some basic question:

1) Since I am not a heavy do it yourselfer and I have no clue about diesel systems, do I have any business buying such a car?

2) Why are the kilometers so low on these cars, this one has 82K.

3) Are these reliable and dependable as far as not breaking down?

4) What are some of the best dealers to buy these in or near Vancouver?

5) Where do I get these serviced that won't hose me?

Thanks for your time.

Amigo

Well I hope this helps:

1)I bought my pajero knowing nothing about engines or diesel systems and have had a good time figuring things out with help from the posts on this forum.

2)The japanese have really strict laws about emissions on older vehicles (5 years old I believe, feel free to correct me). However, I have heard that it is not illegal to roll back the odometer. That being said, everyone's pajero seems to be in the 80,000 to 150,000km range.

3)The 4d56 engine is supposed to be extreamly reliable (2.5L). The 4m40 engine (2.8L, probably the one you test drove) is from what I've heard, not built quite as strong but has obviously more horsepower.

4)I got mine from global garage in nanaimo, taking the ferry was a pain. I'm sure theres tons of places on the mainland (saw one in Burnaby I think).

5)I take my pajero into crown tech auto in North Van when I have issues that I can't deal with myself or use them to order specific parts (just ordering a new intercooler fan through them from japan). Despite making a mistake once, they have been very good to me there.

I have had quite a few issues with my pajero, but those could easily be associated with bad luck (blown head gasket, auto transmission needed reconditioning).

But I do not regret buying it and have learned a lot about them, which is cool.



If anyone has anything to add or tell me I'm wrong about anything please feel free.

thanks a lot,
that is great info. Crown tech auto happens to be down the road from where I work so that should work out fine.

I saw a few nice PJs here:
http://www.maxoverdrive.ca/default.asp?id=MITSUBISHI

be nice to see if anyone has dealt with these guys and their experience.

I bought my Pajero through Terra 2 imports who were in Vernon but have moved to Vancouver. They were really good with me, but like other car dealerships, you may have a good experience or a bad one. You will find mixed reviews on probably almost every importer mentioned in this Forum. Personally I had a very bad experience with Max Overdrive, that being that I had an inspection done on a Bighorn and the transfer case was zap strapped in....That being said, I am not trashing them, just an example of how differing opinions will be found in this site. I used terra 2 and picked a vehicle in Japan at auction and had a successful bid, which was a very good price for my truck which had only 64075 km on it.

First off I will say, I LOVE MY PAJERO! It is by far the best 4x4 I have ever owned and now that all of the kinks have been worked out, it has been only routine maintenance that I have had to deal with. There has been issues to get it up to par but it is a 16 year old vehicle; upkeep is a must but a bit of work and a willingness to put a few bucks into it and you will have a reliable and efficient vehicle that will last years. Mine is 2 years old now and I plan on keeping it for a few more at least. Keep in mind that vehicles in Japan that come over here are usually pretty dirty. It seems most people smoke there so don't be surprised if you find cig butts in the ash trays that are as old as the vehicle. A good cleaning and they look amazing. Most, I think, come with a surprise fault (if buying in Japan not off a lot in Canada). Mine had a rusted sunroof that I repaired and works fine now. my advice is to test drive or buy from a lot in canada and/or privately and get one that has already been complied and all the initial repairs done. This will allow you to just enjoy the vehicle and worry about problems that pop on occasion rather than having to spend a bunch of money up front and turn you off of these amazing vehicles. This is maybe the best way for someone like you who is maybe not looking to try out their mechanical skills.

I guess what I am trying to say is that I have no regrets in purchasing my Pajero, it is bomb proof. Yes there are issues that arise, like all vehicles 15 years old or older but this is a great solid reliable used car with character. These trucks really are diamonds in the rough. Usually a little cleaning and a few new parts to replace the ones that wear due to age and the truck is going to be a great purchase for you.

Parts for these trucks are all the same as the Montero except for diesel parts. Even steering parts despite being RHD are the same. As far as repairs go from a reputable shop, I am sure most will agree that Butch at CVI in Richmond is the man to go see. He is reasonably priced and was a Pajero Mechanic in the Phillipines. He knows these things inside and out. I drove from Calgary to Vancouver and left it with him for a tune up based on the reputation he had on this site. It was well worth it. There is a fairly comprehensive parts list for x-referenced part numbers here in Canada on this site. Things that are common maintenance items like brakes, belts, water pumps, u-joints, filters etc are listed in this forum thanks to the guys that have been here since the start (not me) who have experimented with parts to see what fits. The list has helped me out and makes it easy for the everyday stuff,

Hope that helps. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Thanks, that is great info.
You are right, I too feel that the best option for me is to buy from a local dealer. I definitely do not want to nor capable of getting right under the hood right away and trying to sort out problems.

I will definitely do the regular maintenance and won't cheap out on that. And it seems there are very good resources, like this site, you guys and outfits like CVI to tackle the bigger problems that may come up.

Thanks, I am feeling much better about purchasing one.

I saw a pretty clean 93, 2.8L, 4door from a good dealer. It has 134K km on there, is that a lot of milage for these cars?

Its a TRUCK not a car <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />
134kms is not high as the engine will probably last until 500kms.

I think the guys have well-covered the basics. I will say, having owned both the 2.5 and the 2.8 that the 2.8 is a much more drivable engine. Smoother, better power, better cold starts. As far as it being not as tough, I beg to differ. Timing chain versus belts, just to start. But everyone has an opinion I guess.

I will say, whatever you get, don't be fooled by how clean and new-looking it is. Most are. BUT it is still 15 (or 16 etc) years old, and some things are getting on in age by now. The cooling system should be your top priority, followed by things such as hoses, belts etc. Rear brake calipers tend to get sticky as well.

I am on my fifth Raider/Montero/Pajero and second diesel. The combination of comfort, toughness, and character that these vehicles have is shared by few other suv's out there, IMHO. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> You may have to spend a bit after you get it, to get it to like-new running order, but once you have, if you look after it, you should be able to get some serious miles out of it, with few problems.

Ok, thanks guys. That info helps me a lot in making my decision.
I was told by a few other people as well that 2.8L might be a better choice for me.
I think so far from what I understand, if I put a couple of thousand aside to inspect it throughly and get whatever old parts need changing changed, then I should be good to go.

One other thing if you guys can help me with:
I would like to get a two door pajero as I have limited garage space, but I was told 2dr have a tendency to spin around/fish tail in icy or rainy conditions, so a 4dr would be a better choice. Is this true?

Yes, any short wheelbase vehicle will fishtail more easily, but the all wheel drive 4x4 mode will help with that. It's probably more important that your tires are n good shape for the conditions than the wheelbase though. I wouldn't let fear of a spin sway my decision, there are a lot of other reasons to choose one over the other. The LWB will ride a lot better too, for one.

ok, thanks.
I think a swb is a better fit for me and the space I have.

I'll starting hunting for a 2.8L one.