Prado or Pajero

 Guys,

Looking at get a new toy to tow the boat and was interested in peoples opinions on which of these would be the choice from readers .

 

Prado VX  vs  Pajero exceed.

 

 

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CB


johno's picture

Posts: 468

Date Joined: 20/07/08

 Mate I have the new Pajero

Fri, 2013-03-08 10:42

 Mate I have the new Pajero exceed 2012 with the new 3.2ltr disel, awesome rig and finished off very nice.. Love it!

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Cockburn Power Boat Member (CPBA)

PGFC

EL SYD's picture

Posts: 599

Date Joined: 16/08/10

 same paj but the active,

Fri, 2013-03-08 11:40

 same paj but the active, turbo Diesel great fuel economy but then I dont tow, but when I do a road trip she is fully loaded to the point you cant throw a empty wrapper in the back without it falling on your head.

JohnF's picture

Posts: 2838

Date Joined: 07/07/10

I tested the Prado and Pajero

Fri, 2013-03-08 11:43

I tested the Prado and Pajero on the same day, then went and bought a second hand Land Rover Discovery....go figure.

 

Both good cars, but the Disco can tow 3.5 t and is a lot nicer to drive around town for the missus..........god help me if/when it breaks down! If you only haveto tow 2.5t, eitehr Prado or Pajero good options.

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Boston Whaler 235 Conquest......getting the flogging it was built for.

catchalittle's picture

Posts: 1875

Date Joined: 04/09/08

Ive got the Prado grande cant

Fri, 2013-03-08 11:44

Ive got the Prado grande cant fault it great for towing and general off road had no issues with it very reliable rig and has all the fruit

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Nathan

Perfish's picture

Posts: 103

Date Joined: 15/11/11

Tow rating

Fri, 2013-03-08 11:59

Depends on your tow weight - if I rememder correctly (and haven't had a look for a while) the Paj is rated to 3 ton and the Prado to 2.5 ton.

I've a paj which I've taken through some pretty hairy country with absolutely no problem, tows the tub without blinking ..... only wish was that it was a diesel but suspect an upgrade is on the horizon.  The current model has been out for a while so suspect that there should be an update or new model around the corner so might be worth checking before deciding.

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Man with line in water catches fish!

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tim-o's picture

Posts: 4657

Date Joined: 24/05/11

From a mechanic's pov, chalk

Fri, 2013-03-08 13:09

From a mechanic's pov, chalk n cheese, especially when u get the kays up, tojos cost more, for good reason. Any late model diesels, outa warranty id be nervous

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I am, as I've said, merely competent. But in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary.

Justo82's picture

Posts: 482

Date Joined: 17/10/11

 Prado shits on a pajero.  

Fri, 2013-03-08 16:33

 Prado shits on a pajero.   Especially for towing. 

 

Toyota has a full ladder frame chassis seam welded front to rear.  Pajero is a monocoche chassis, great on road, but when towing or doing regular off roading leads to a twisted body and doors that begin to not fit properly.  Yeah mitsubishi did stuff for the lunar explorers.  Don't really need great suspension when there no gravity and you're moving at walking pace.  

definitely get the Toyota.  

damo6230's picture

Posts: 2029

Date Joined: 07/06/08

pajero

Fri, 2013-03-08 18:43

bigger engine, very capable off road and way cheaper than a prado with more features and better warranty

toyota holds to many blind loyality customers

think of all the bling you can buy for the boat with the savings in purchase price.

tim-o's picture

Posts: 4657

Date Joined: 24/05/11

Iv worked on a few late model

Fri, 2013-03-08 19:18

Iv worked on a few late model diesel pajeros that shit the dpf, go into limp mode and are barely drivable above 40k/h, not a cheap fix either, take it to the dealer situation. Id hate to be 1000kms up north and this happen, regardless of warranty covering repairs, can ruin a trip. Doubt a dealer will cover the costs to tow the vehicle and boat back not to mention compensate the ruined holiday. Happened to a mate with his near new isuzu 3t truck, had to pull his 8m ally back from exxy in limp mode, flat to the boards did 70k/h down a hill and was at the dealer for weeks as they kept swappin shit till it fixed, cost him dearly as it was his work truck, out of action. You can remove the dpf and substitute it and modify the tune, I think chip it does it but will probably affect the warranty. But overall, across the range, bot jap manufacturers and both at each end of the scale imo, from a mechanic's perspective. Get what you pay for. Id always google up and see if there is any common issues on any vehicle you aim to buy. Itd be hard for me to by a diesel these days but if I had to tow big, Id be lookin at a 76 series, v8 td for sure

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I am, as I've said, merely competent. But in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary.

Posts: 219

Date Joined: 08/03/09

Pajero

Fri, 2013-03-08 19:40

I have had three turbo diesel Pajs for the last 10 years and before a Turbo diesel 80 series.  The Pajs kill it for 4 wd capability, I tow 2.5 tonnes all up Perth to past Karratha, don't have a problem, but had a bucket load of problems with the Toyota 80 series.  Toyota rebuilt the engine at 60,000km free of charge.  My 2003 Paj did 270,000 km without even wheel bearing changes or a clutch change (manual) but the last 2 have been autos.  Go to the Victorian Pajero club forum 4wd site and read about the complaints, then go to pradopoint and read about the complaints.  The auto box on the Prado is stuffed, overheating issues without towing and Toyotas answer is fit a gearbox cooler.  The Paj has problems, but not like the Prado.  The Paj diesel engine is basically 10 years old, proven, 147KW Vs the Prado at 127KW.  I drove my latest Paj from Melbourne to Perth new (cheaper in Melbourne) averaging less than 9L/100km not towing.  It uses 18l/100km towing 2.5 tonne at 103km/hr, less if you drop the speed.

I'm happy, with more bucks in my pocket and a 5 year warranty.

Justo82's picture

Posts: 482

Date Joined: 17/10/11

 The reason there would be

Fri, 2013-03-08 19:53

 The reason there would be more complaints about Toyota, is because there are more on the road. 

tim-o's picture

Posts: 4657

Date Joined: 24/05/11

Factory TD 80 series? Those

Fri, 2013-03-08 20:41

Factory TD 80 series? Those things are bullit proof, still pay 20k for a good one with 200000km, you definitely were an unlucky one

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I am, as I've said, merely competent. But in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary.

Posts: 5806

Date Joined: 18/01/12

there was 2 different ones,

Mon, 2013-03-11 14:04

there was 2 different ones, the 1-HDt (12 valve up to 96) and the multivalve 1HD-FT (same TD as 100 series except electronics) which is worth the gold.

The earlier ones had a bearing problem which Toyota addressed and are going well nowadays except not quite the power of the 1HD-FT

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 Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...

 

 

The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.

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upg's picture

Posts: 137

Date Joined: 25/06/07

Pajero is IRSWhen you tow the

Fri, 2013-03-08 21:53

Pajero is IRS

When you tow the rear wheels camber increases significantly. This chews out the tyres very quickly

baron's picture

Posts: 55

Date Joined: 28/07/12

Go Toyota

Fri, 2013-03-08 22:06

 Did you see the dependability study in the paper Lexus 1st Toyota 4th there is a reason for this because thay are the best vehicles on the road. I have had many 4wd and nothing better than Toyota reliability.

baron's picture

Posts: 55

Date Joined: 28/07/12

Go Toyota

Fri, 2013-03-08 22:06

 Did you see the dependability study in the paper Lexus 1st Toyota 4th there is a reason for this because thay are the best vehicles on the road. I have had many 4wd and nothing better than Toyota reliability.

baron's picture

Posts: 55

Date Joined: 28/07/12

Go Toyota

Fri, 2013-03-08 22:06

 Did you see the dependability study in the paper Lexus 1st Toyota 4th there is a reason for this because thay are the best vehicles on the road. I have had many 4wd and nothing better than Toyota reliability.

tim-o's picture

Posts: 4657

Date Joined: 24/05/11

http://news.drive.com.au/driv

Fri, 2013-03-08 22:51

http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-news/the-most-dependable-cars-20130214-2ee48.html?rand=1360792984575

Looking at it, with the brands associated in oz, I would have a similar order. I put toyota and honda at the top of my list with build quality and engineering, and reliability (less issues) some mazdas are good, nissans were ok, shit now, I wouldnt touch the rest.

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I am, as I've said, merely competent. But in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary.

Posts: 286

Date Joined: 07/04/09

 I have a paj exceed 07 love

Sat, 2013-03-09 09:24

 I have a paj exceed 07 love it goes anywhere not to mention the finish is awsome it's my 3rd paj and can't fault it! And my missus loves it it is her daily driver and she wouldn't swap it for anything easy to park great for the kid and very very comfortable! I also added airbags to the back and it tows sweet shots on the prado!

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 A1 quality plasterboard installed if needed shops offices housing u won't find better quality or value with my work! Ceiling master!

EL SYD's picture

Posts: 599

Date Joined: 16/08/10

my last paj i did 670,000km

Sat, 2013-03-09 10:02

my last paj i did 670,000km and my current one which is two and a bit years old has just clicked over 120,000km, I average 50,000km a year fishing and working remote I trust it, and I would buy another one, very comfy, but if you,re into after market bling and lift kits, prado is the way to go 

Posts: 15

Date Joined: 15/01/11

prado

Sat, 2013-03-09 13:13

 prado for me but paj has 1/2t more capacity i think

JohnF's picture

Posts: 2838

Date Joined: 07/07/10

Sweet.....I have a Land

Mon, 2013-03-11 13:41

Sweet.....I have a Land Rover, which came stone motherless last in the reliability tests.......hahaha. A good match together with the Mercury..........................

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Boston Whaler 235 Conquest......getting the flogging it was built for.

meersy's picture

Posts: 278

Date Joined: 20/04/10

Prado all the way, you get

Mon, 2013-03-11 20:13

Prado all the way, you get what you pay for!Toyotas cost more but also hold there value better.

quadfisher's picture

Posts: 1146

Date Joined: 28/09/10

A mute point for me

Wed, 2013-03-13 06:48

Its alright for some I guess , talking about new or near new vehicles, but try living on the other side

as alot have to buy 10 year old vehicles or more.

Thats when you really learn about a vehicles good/bad points and what they cost to fix!

Its always the 2nd or 3rd owners that cop the chizz on these things and quite often you get stuck between a rock

and a hard place as your $10,000 dollar 4wd does a electr inj pump worth 6k

or in the future a 6 or 7 speed auto, that will cost more than the things worth.

All the latest whizz bang gear is great for the new car buyer , but not looking forward

to future without things like bulletproof 4.2 gq,s and td 80,series.

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quadfisher

ironpirate's picture

Posts: 47

Date Joined: 20/09/12

prado

Thu, 2013-03-14 08:50

prado all the way 180lt fuel tanks on my 120series love it toyota....

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