I listened to John's review of the Pajero and bought the 2wd version and am very happy with the way it handles. The basic principal of driving to the conditions is just as true when my father taught me to drive 40 years ago as it is today.
I listened to John’s review on Pajero Sport, looked into it more and after 3months went out and bought the GLS 4x4, I’ve had it for 8months and have traveled 22,000km both on road and off. Fantastic car to drive, highway, city and off road. Sand Dunes up North are really fun to drive on, off road forest driving South Coast great 😊. Looking forward to next off road adventure next month 😎
Yep agree. I've done the suspension on mine and have A/T's on it although being the base model it doesn't have a diff lock. It does well off road and even though the ride as well as stock on road it's still a very comfortable long distance cruiser on road as well. I've set mine up for solo camping and can get plenty of gear in it now that I've got the things I need sorted.
I have owned the GLS for five years and nearly 100,000 kms. It has performed flawlessly. I have done some fairly challenging off roading, which it handled very well. I like the car so much, I would buy another one.
the 8-speed torque converter auto fixes up to 85% of the turbo lag the 2.4L i4 turbo diesel has. sadly there is still some turbo lag when doing rolling downshift between 30km/h to about 55km/h or basically from 5th back to 2nd gear.
@@nater1113 currently have 38,000 km and combined highway and city driving ie Wollongong to Sydney 8.4L per 100km, I drive 6 days a week for work. Driving fully loaded for a week off grid camping 10L per 100km. Driving on sand 15L per 100km. Hope this helps
A really good explanation, it's the person behind the wheel who is ultimately responsible through their choices, for getting to their destination safely, or having someone else pick up the pieces. AWD is definitely better than 2WD; however, people who drive sensibly should never need it. Thanks John, for another commonsense presentation.
I’ve got a AWD. What a difference compared to driving a 2WD in terms of traction, especially when driving on wet and icy roads. Just very thankful that I have a AWD now. Yes, I absolutely did my research by tonnes and then bought the vehicle.
yep once you learn how good AWD is (does not matter if it's constant or on-demand set up) you really should always be in 4A (AWD). If you have a Ford Everest then you get AWD as standard unless you bought the RWD (which not many do). the same can be said of soft roaders like the Ford Escape, buy the AWD version instead of the FWD version that applies to RAV4 also anything else that offers AWD option.
If you have to drive on ice, gravel or snow on a regular basis, an awd makes perfect sense. If you just drive around to work and Bunnings on tar roads, you really don't "need " an awd.
Love your videos John. I’m a bit of a Mitsubishi nut really. So loved the comments. I remember the days when we really only had rear wheel drive cars to tow the mighty caravan. Fords, Holdens and Chrysler’s my days towed with them all. I even remember the last car he towed a van with was a 1978 Sigma SE from the ACT where he bought it down Brown mountain which terrifies truck drivers to Bega. I don’t drive much myself now days and really miss it but still have 3 Lancers in the driveway. To date never had a 4wd.
There are 4 typical common systems. RWD, FWD, lockable transfer case 4WD and lockable center diff AWD. Over 20y ago I did my research and chose option 4, which Toyota back then called Full Time 4WD in its Land Cruisers. So glad I did... Funny thing is there is a button to lock the center diff which I have tested to make sure it works, but I have yet to ever actually need it in my +20y of driving that vehicle across every mainland state in this wide brown land. The dirt track to Halls creek, the Simpson, FNQ, Winter Melbourne, black soil cattle country.... Yeah, I paid more , but it was definitely worth it.
I drive a 4wd Ford F150 in Canada in the winter and keep it in 2wd 99% of the time. Good tires, and not being an idiot with the throttle and 2wd is more than enough. I expect all the utes from 30 years ago were rwd and people did just fine
I have always had trouble gaining traction with the Ming Moles during the wet tee shirt competition out in the Detailing Bay. No matter which brand of Rubber I offer, I still have issues getting traction.
Bought a Triton GLX-R with just 2WD, because I'm pretty much driving on highways... have no intention going off road. No regrets whatsoever. My work colleagues were mortified it didn't have 4WD, I then asked them how often do they actually engage 4WD in their vehicles, they said they hardly touch it.
Very well Said, about time somebody knew about The pajero Sport. Excellent vechile, have mine in 4x4High 99% of the time. Never had any problems with traction. Well Done Auto Expert.
Thanks John. Excellent advice re driving to 'the conditions' and reminding viewers that their lives and others depend on choices made and competency of car the driver and actions of others on the roads.
Towing a caravan, 4 wheel drive would be very convenient getting into the more awkward grass caravan sites, backing up a grass slope will be fun in a rear drive car..
I have always thought that not only should people have to do a practical defensive driving course every 5 years to keep their license but they/we should also have a license class to be able to tow a trailer. It would also give people hands on experience to see the difference between 2wd and 4wd on the road maybe. I know it will never happen but that is my dream to help MALS. Cheers Mark
Having owned a Prado in the past, and now having a V6 Hilux, I really miss having AWD on wet roads, accelerating requires so much finesse to avoid breaking traction (not having traction control doesn't help), given the option I would always choose an AWD drivetrain if it's available.
Good video. I have a Triton GLS and I think the ability to have AWD on bitumen is a good feature to have. I think the most important thing you said was not pushing the boundaries either in the vehicle, driver ability and road conditions. Sadly so many simply don't understand this. A speed limit that says a 100KPH is all well and good depending on what your driving and perhaps towing, also if it's pissing down so hard that you can't see the road and the possibility of hitting water then driving at max permissable speed is insanity+++. There is no substitute for common sense, sadly getting a licence is not about commonsense but passing the test.
Unfortunately the mantra from governments has been that speed kills, very little mention of driving to conditions. That's why so many still drive at or just under the "speed limit" in really adverse conditions. In their mind they're perfectly safe as they're not "speeding". No understanding of traction or braking distances.
@@Wdeane1957 agree but also the road rules are woeful. The fact you can overtake on the left , that people can sit in the middle lane with nothing in front at 100kph when the speed limit is 110 and the notion that travelling close to someone makes you get there guicker is a recipe for disaster. Me I always travel in the left lane where possible and I hate the fast lane as even if you are going quicker than lane 2 people still tail gate you If that happens I pull over and let them become someone else problem I remember going to NZ and they had signed that said, the speed limit is not a target. By the same token if your doing 70 in a 100 zone for no good reason that is also very annoying.
Thanks again John for another informed common sense advicermont - I now have a Hilux after owning several Subarus and the ute choice is purely for the ground clearance/transporting materials duties and the brand reliability that I found with Subaru - if I was in the market for an AWD ute-based SUV in Australia the AWD version of the Pajero Sport (née Triton) would be a no-brainer and yes the new Ford Ranger apparently has an AWD version but the poor fuel economy of the Ford ‘Land Rover’ V6 and woeful customer service culture doesn’t appeal to me.
the big advantage of awd/4wd is when you strike poor roads or conditions that you did not expect. i've spun the rear wheels of the ute towing uphill in the wet on the main highway. gravel roads can catch you out. however the downside is increased fuel usage. i dare say most utes/suv never get put into 4wd. we used to do a lot of mods to them to reduce the fuel usage caused by the 4wd system.
I have a 2011 Pajero - watch an earlier video from John explaining the benefits of all-wheel drive. Put it in 4H and never looked back (that is the open diff version). Have been towing with it, and can safely say that 4H has saved me a couple of times as the dash was lighting up traction issues on all wheels. The traction control system managed to supply power to whichever wheel had grip and got me through. Driver mistake for getting into the situation, but the tech bailed me out.
I always use the all wheel drive when towing and if not towing I use AWD if there is any likelihood of rain which as I live in Auckland NZ is most of the time. I have noticed I use 1litre of diesel per 100km extra while in AWD, so between $10 & $20 extra a tank full. Not using the AWD is like saying I will not pay for insurance as I haven't had a crash in the Pajero since I bought it 3 years ago. By the way I still love the Pajero Sport as much if not more than when I bought it. In summary I use AWD 70% of 45,000km I have done in it. A brilliant system.
I am a Pajero Sport owner who has experienced loss of traction in wet conditions while driving on 2H. This loss of traction is solely due to the lousy factory fitted tyres. Switching to a good all terrain tyre fixed up all issues while driving on wet surfaces even in 2H. There is nothing wrong with the mechanics of the Pajero Sport and all systems work really well whether in 2H or 4H.
RWD with modern stability control is plenty for wet sealed roads. AWD doesnt help with braking which is more the limiting factor in the wet on sealed roads. If your not going off road then its the right choice, I would assume the GVM is the same so you should also gain payload from not carrying around front diff, center diff, and transfer case.
Could I suggest doing a bit more research around AWD and how the front and rear wheels working together helps vehicle balance and tractive loading? While not directly connected to braking, it does help with balance before and after braking, particularly in evasive maneuvers 😉 I've done my own comparative tests on flat and steep inclines, up and down hill, wet and dry, in 2H and 4H (unlocked), traction control on and off. The dynamics are noticeably higher across the board in 4H before it gets 'messy'. And in my 38,000kms experience in the MY21 Pajero Sport, I've found about 0.5L/100 more fuel consumption in 4H over 2H on average... not a massive cost for higher dynamic limits 'in case you have to avoid wildlife suddenly appearing' 😂 The Mitsi engineers didn't invest all that effort and design in something that doesn't make much difference.
You seem to have missed the most important point: all versions come with Stability Control, and that includes what Mitsubishi calls Trailer Stability Assist. That means both the 2WD and the 4WD versions make full use of tire grip for cornering and braking in both dry and wet. There is no difference in tire size or active safety in the 4WD version, according to the "Key Specifications" table in the Mitsubishi Australia brochure. Thus no improvement from going 4WD. The difference will be the 4WD version will have better acceleration in low grip conditions, but I wouldn't call that safer. Maybe nicer, but not safer. Unless you're deep in the mud or snow.
You clearly don’t own the vehicle or have not driven it to the limit in the wet. The traction control and esp in the Pajero sport is quite… sporty in the 2wd setting in the wet. It will actually let the back kick out. As a driver, you need to be ready for this, else it will catch you off guard. The traction control and esp is much more reserved in 4H. A case of what’s on paper doesn’t translate to reality.
That's all entirely fair, the AWD is bound to be better in certain circumstances - but if you can't maintain control of a rear wheel drive vehicle just because the road is wet - especially when the vehicle has stability control - you probably shouldn't really be driving. The people who are complaining would do well to think of it from that point of view.
@@davidkelly3779 No, but I've owned rwd and now fwd, and I find it far superior to rwd. I don't need awd, as I stay on the tarmac. Awd has too many disadvantages like the tyre issue, where you have to buy 4 if one went bad. Plus the upfront costs and extra fuel consumption, doesn't make it worth it for me. If I had to negotiate high speed gravel roads, I would prefer awd/4wd☺
The biggest flaw with traction on any new Pajero Sport, is the tyres that they come factory fitted with. Toyo Open Country A32..... These tyres are unquestionably the WORST tyre that I have ever had the displeasure of driving on, on wet bitumen. They are downright dangerous. After only 10k, I had mine swapped out for a set of well known all terrain tyres. Instant transformaton - the car became completely predictable and controllable in the wet. My advice.... If you buy any car with Toyo A32 tyres, get rid of them as soon as you can, before they catch you out and you end up in an accident. They are that bad, seriously....
Yep well documented in all the groups woth many people having the same issue but ONLY WITH THOSE TYRES. Chuck a decent set of ATs and its perfect again.
As soon as towing is mentioned, it's gotta be 4wd (AWD) as the purchase. The difference in safety and grip when towing in the wet is phenomenal and it should be a no brainer
That's more the tyres then really. My v8 vf Commodore with sport tyres has no issues in the wet and no different to all my other rwd cars really. Even rwd dmaxes, hiaces etc, they have good torque now so will spin the tyres easily.
@@Low760 I agree it's partly the tyres, however as Chippo 51 commented, the the PS has a high C of G and the suspension is nothing like a car. I have had many RWD cars over the years none drove like the PS. As John said the 4WD version is better and in my experience the 4WD version is the only way to go.
@@Sparkadian Had my Pajero in 4WD for 12.5 years. Used about 33,000 litres of diesel, so I could have saved about $3300 at $2 a litre. I'll forego one latte a week and leave it in 4WD. Got a PS this year as well and it stays in 4WD too. My eyesight can't always spot the slippery surface these days.
John is spot on... again. We've been driving cars on and off the roads for over a hundred years in cars that didn't have half the safety features we have today with relatively low safety problems. Usually when there is an accident it is the fault of the driver and not the vehicle for the accident. Most people tend to overestimate their and their vehicles capabilities and place their need to be first in front of safety. These days with all the modern driving aids I feel it has made the problem worse and made the drivers worse because everyone relies on the ABS and such to make you stop on time or take that corner faster than you should. My first car was '63 Holden EH with drum brakes, three on the tree and no side mirrors from the factory. Years later I got VR Commodore. Much more capable car. Better brakes, ABS plus all the safety features of that time. I never lost control in the EH but I did in the Commodore. Tech doesn't take out the dickhead factor as John would put it. Like John said knowing your and your cars abilities and allowing for the conditions and even the unseen is your biggest safety factor. So if you can afford it and you want the more capable than go all wheel drive but just don't forget, it doesn't defy physics or a horny roo at 5am on a dark road.
Many van parks have grass sites which are slippery when wet ! 4wd is always better and it’s better to have something and not need it than to need it and not have it !
Personally I think the 2 vs 4 wheel drive is a question that should come after asking yourself why you need to drag a 2000kg dynamic load behind your family.
I don’t really see the 2wd being really anymore dangerous than any other RWD car (of course you have a higher centre of gravity but hey it’s an SUV). A lot of it comes down to not being a twat in bad road conditions.
Agree. On road it would not make much difference. I used to have a Mitsubishi van that had a 4wd system that could be used on road. I never used it on road. We used it a bit in more off road travelling like on beach tracks and on the farm. Man I miss having a 4wd vehicle. I’d really like to buy a Pajero Sport 4wd or something like it. The Pajero Sport seems to be good value as a new car compared to other 4wd wagons.
The ability to be safer towing through snow, the odd unsealed road or even kilometres of muddy roadwork in AWD high means get three AWD of you can afford it. Itt will also need easier to sell when that time comes
One aspect not covered is if you are towing a trailer or caravan and you are parked on wet grass or ground. Your ability to get out without getting bogged is so much better with 4WD.
I have owned a 2019 Pajero Sport Exceed since new. The only thing I have replaced, (other than standard service items) is the tires (same brand as original). I can hands down attest that in 2WD, the handing in wet, is, in my opinion, close to dangerous - even under medium acceleration, and particularly when coming from stand still. The challenge with the Sport is the turbo kicks in noticeably after about 3 second causing significant wheel spin (in the rear wheels) when accelerating from take off. If not in AWD, and it is wet, the traction control will kick in as the vehicle struggles to keep traction with the extra "boost". Handling corners at low / medium speeds is equally as unstable in the wet especially if you would like to accelerate (even slightly) out of the bend - the margins are very fine. My advice is, if you have the extra $5k for the AWD, I would highly recommend - even if it is just to increase the margin for error. I love the Sport, but I will seldom drive in 2WD in the wet anymore, same with gravel.
I found similar in my MY21 PS driving in 2H, on the stock Toyo tyres (known to be very poor in the wet). Once I put a set of Falken Wildpeak A/T tyres on, it was a night and day difference. Stability in wet curves, even in 2H, is noticeably higher and predictable. In 4H it's like a proper AWD system with LSDs. The tyres make a massive difference! I did my research before committing to the new tyres, and found most PS owners love the Wildpeaks... and they are so much better off road too 😉
Superselect 11 is something that I am so used to having that I wouldn’t want to buy a car without it. I’m not sure how it’s going to fit on any new PHEV’s down the track, pardon the pun.
Agree, 4WD that don't have Superselect are indeed "agricultural" as John puts it. I was watching WeberAuto talking about the electric drive(s) in the Mustang mach-e and the e-transit - beautiful piece of kit and available to buy for conversions etc. Reason I bring this up is that two of these electric drives gets rid of the need for transfer cases, transmissions, drive shafts and other complications, so pure electric 4wd vehicles are much simpler than PHEV or hybrids and deliver muuuuuch better off-road capability than their mechanical counterparts. I'm actually excited for the future despite having reached the pessimistic age!
@@Rockbottomsurf The key advantage that I see is dual motors allow control of torque for each axle. Some go as far as having a motor per wheel that ensures each wheel delivers maximum torque that is possible under any given conditions.
I had a rental 2wd mitsi Pajero sport for a month during the rainy season this year in FNQ and it was not stable at all. I was unintentionally drifting everywhere even at about 20kph. Particularly scary around roundabouts and long corners. A combo of the LWB, height and old tech mean they handle like boats. Sketchy AF.
Hi, pretty much the same argument with LSD Vs open center rear diff, so some people prefer the open center other the LSD - none are really what you call dangerous
Correct me if I’m wrong, I understand that on a 2WD or a 4x4 you get a puncture or shred a tyre, you can replace two tyres because you don’t want to replace one tyre with a brand new one and suffer problems because of different traction properties. So you replace two tires. On an AWD, you damage one tyre, the manual warns you about driving with one tyre that is different to the others including the spare. This strains the drive train. You can drive home but don’t drive for six months that way or the drive train poops it’s trousers inconveniently. Therefore if your AWD tyres are through half their life and one tyre has to be replaced, you may have to replace all four tyres so they all have the same wear pattern and don’t stress the drive train.
This applies more to AWD vehicles that bring in the other axle when there is slippage A CX-5 AWD for example is front wheel drive until the front wheels slip, when clutches are engaged to send drive to the rear wheels. If you have new tyres on the back, and used on the front, the car's ecu may think the front tyres are always slipping, and will send drive to the back all the time. This breaks and/or wears out components. As 4WD is engaged by the driver in the Pajero, this doesn't happen.
@@darylcheshire1618 my sister in law has an XV and loves it. That is a full time 4wd with a centre differential. Subaru says to have all 4 tyres the same within 2mm tread depth. Necessary? I dunno. But tyres are cheaper than differentials!
Exactly. And the biggest danger is people seem to get careless and reckless when it rains. Should be the opposite. That's what I do. Here in South Africa, I try to stay off the roads in the rain if at all possible.
which 4x4 do you advise bw PRADO and PS ? But PRADO is expensive right ? I have no idea bw the engines and motors , maintenance etc. Should I go with PS ? I am researching before buying. You have a lot of knowledge mate. Where are you located ? Are you in Adelaide.
My basic mental model of a differential is that it delivers power to the side that is easiest to turn (hence the need for limited-slip diffs, diff lockers, etc). By using a central diff, does that not effectively double the number of wheels that can become bogged or lose traction? If one wheel becomes significantly easier to turn than the others, the left-right diff will deliver any power it has to that wheel. In turn the front-rear diff will deliver its available input power to whichever of the front or rear diffs is easiest to turn. I know some cars (Subaru for example) do clever things with their diffs to ensure a more even power split front to rear (and presumably left to right). Does Mitsubishi do this with the Pajero, or is it just a straight open centre diff?
Quick question here then. Coming down a long descent, such as Mount Ousley Rd in Wollongong, would you use the brakes all the way down, or knock it back a couple of gears and let engine compression keep your speed steady? I know brakes are cheaper than transmissions, but I'm interested in your thoughts here JC.
A very important thing is the improved fuel efficiency of a 2WD. Less weight to drag around when not necessary and drag when in use. 1~1.5 liters per hundred in fuel is a conservative saving it could be more. Real world it can be higher. Repairs and servicing could also be more expensive. In parts of the world where *the road doesn't get icy* with tires in good condition the 2wd is just as safe when driving properly on normal roads. Don't be conned by the "AWD is better" when it doesn't apply to you.
i think you should retitle this, or make another. HOW TO DRIVE A CAR... SAFELY. (in the wet, in the dry maybe even when pigs fly) GREAT VIDEO by the way, i hadn't head of the center diff being explained so well, driving to the conditions and limits of the vehicle should be mentioned more often (kind of sick of seeing the police say "speed was a factor" in accidents. when clearly "driving to the conditions" would be a more appropriate response in most cases.)
Can you please enlighten us as to which spec Tritons got Super select? I'm currently looking to buy a used one around 2012-2015 and most of the sales websites don't differentiate. It also seems that a lot of owners don't know either because I've had some pretty strange responses when I send them a message asking the.
YES it can be dangerous! I've had a PS for 2 years, 1 yr with stock tires and 3 or 4 times I nearly shat myself when my big heavy car went sideways with NORMAL acceleration in the wet (normal acceleration in wet is usually fine in front wheel drive cars). Once I upgraded to AT tires it was much much better, now I usually put it in 4H when it gets wet (i used 4H WAY more often with the stock tires purely for safety reasons). Great car, crap / dangerous stock tires.
Been jumping into and out of different cars and trucks with different drive and engine layouts for quite a bit now (from tiny 1.5L sedans all the way to 6-ton Fuso aluminium vans). Having had this kind of experience, I must say the 4WD Pajero Sport is a bit of an anomaly in terms of its dynamic capability on- and off-road. Having driven the older Japanese utes and SUVs, some even as current as the new Isuzu Mu-X, the Pajero Sport drives more like a full size all wheel drive sedan than it does a lumbering SUV ala Fortuner, Trailblazer, etc. The Pajero Sport in 4H even on sodden mountain roads with heavy winds is a joy to use, able to hide its bulk and height and tracks very well as though driving on rails. We have a 2020 Subaru Forester, 2021 Mazda CX-9 and the 2016 Pajero Sport in our garage and having had a go in all of them in the same twisty roads and inclines, declines I have to say it has the best compromise of mixed terrain driving. Should the need to traverse a deeply rutted bit of uphill trail, flick the knob to 4HLc/ 4LLc and lock the rear diff, then be done with it. Whatever kind of terrain you need to point its nose at, it virtually has an answer to it. My only gripe with mine is that I bought one with a manual transmission and my left leg swears me to hell whenever I encounter heavy Asian city volume of traffic. 😅
Good breakdown on it all. Under normal towing conditions does AWD confer any benefits over 2wd? Obviously in bad conditions or trying to tow where extra traction is required is a no brainer. I actually pretty surprised at how good these things are in AWD even off road. I was driving mine on good sand tracks and decided to put it into AWD instead of 4WD simply because it wasn't needed and then I hit a big soft spot that was really chewed up on a corner/junction. I was sort of in it and didn't have time for the system to go back into 4WD so I just let it do its thing and hoped. You could actually feel it start to struggle a bit and then it started to work it all out and just drove out of it. No fuss and probably did it easier than the older 4WD in front of me.
On my driver's course in thr Army back when you had to dodge dinosaurs 🦕, the Sgt instructor said treat all other driver's as the enemy and think you may have a brain fart at any moment. In other words be prepared for the world to turn to poo and plan ahead. It may make me over cautious but better cautious than dead or responsible for the death of some other poor sod. Tanks for the enlightenment. Regards Tony
I have the Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian which is much the same as the Triton Just the name in reality here in the UK. I never put it in two wheel drive as it makes no difference to fuel consumption as it does not have front free wheel, my model has the auto box and as far as I can tell there is no real low range in the transfer box as when in low four wheel drive it only has two gears and the speed in each of those gears is the same as first and second in high range for the same engine speed.
@@RealHooksy - it would be very minimul as weight is only a factor in stop and start traffic, once your rolling it then comes down to all the variables like road surface, weather and and tyres.
I have an Escape AWD (so its On-Demand FWD bias AWD) and I can tell you now that the difference between a FWD Escape and AWD Escape in terms of fuel usage at most would be 0.5L difference in favour of the FWD, for 0.5L loss I don't care.
Does the 2wd have a rear diff lock? If so I reckon it would be good for a lot old people who go out and buy the 4WD version. Guess if I keep watching I'll find out
Except that you shouldn't engage the rear diff lock unless in very low traction conditions (Off road rock crawling/high mud areas). Turn a corner with it on in high traction and you will get diff wind up.
hi mate, I have a hyundai kona elite and planning to upgrade to a 4x4. I am thinking of a PS. I am from Adelaide. Can you please advise which one to buy bw GLX / Exceed/ GSR ? Any advise please. Can I buy a demo car so that I can get some discount ? SHould I sell my vehicle in a private sale and then buy a new PS or trade-in to the PS guys ? Please help. thanks.
John, the most important point to consider when buying a Mitsubishi Pajero. Is, do you want to drive a car that literally means "wanker" in Spanish. Pajero as a noun "wanker," as a verb "jerkoff." 😂
"....the poor bastards who have to come and pick up the pieces". Ain't that a fact. IMO not nearly enough is said about the amazing role these people play.
Are you able to go into how Super Select II actually works and how they can have 4WD on high traction? It seems like voodoo to me. And I guess related to that why do few other manufactures offer this? I have one on order and it was a big part of a decision.
@@DaveMuller Basically, yes. Even the humble Lada Niva from the 1970s had a lockable centre diff... and the ability to select 2WD low However since neither front nor rear diff was a locker... or even LSD... you could hang up with one front wheel and one rear wheel spinning in air.. not going anywhere... with the centre diff locked! Missed it by...that much.......
Super Select II provides 2WD, AWD and 4WD (Hi/Low). 2WD or AWD for road use (which you can freely switch between at anytime up to 100km/h while driving). 4WD (low/hi) for off-road use. Another added benefit of super-select II is engine braking via the front wheels when in AWD mode, very useful when towing a caravan through the mountains or when the roads are wet. You could certainly get by without it, but it really is the secret sauce of Mitsubishi drivetrains and what makes them special. I wouldn't go back to conventional 2WD/4WD drivetrain after owning Super-Select II.
Less tech the fewer things to go wrong. Less servicing costs and fewer breakdowns Does the 2 wheel drive have diff lock? This will assist in many off-road situations. Also the higher spec the more electronic gizmos to fail. The 2wd will usually use less fuel. Unless driving in serious off-road situations a 2wd will cope on average untarred roads
not just in the wet, at all times. then its there when you come around a corner to find sand or gravel or snow across the road. on my suzuki grand vitara there is no option of 2WD which is pointless.
I do not recommend the 2W version if you don't want to be spinning on your wheels when the bitumen is wet (it's like ice). The vehicle has too much power and torque.
" AWD is better" big statement. Just watch the car crash videos from east Europe on the icy road and you see just as many "AWD" car spinning out of control as you do 2 wheel drive vehicles. I drive a Pajero on gravel roads, 110kms per. I have driven it in "AWD" and 2 wheel drive. It drives better in 2 wheel drive. The ASC braking system in the Pajero helps in these situations once you get the hang of it. The vehicle seems to lose driveability in " AWD". Lack of power is one thing as you are now driving four wheels and it loses sensitivity I my view. But as the man says " do your only research". But what do I know, I only drive 70000 KMs per year.
I have a question for you, John. Why don't Tesla drivers use their turn signals? Are they afraid of draining their batteries? Maybe the Tesla drivers just think that the world revolves around them.
If ya gonna tow I would imagine the 4wd should be the go... if you think about it all that tractive force of your SUV and your caravan is going thru 4 contact patches rather than 2... its a no brainer... also the $5k you spend now means you'll get it back when you're selling anyway... the RWD model is only for people not towing and for sealed roads...
.... and then there's the resale value factor. Six years and 100km+ down the road, who the hell is going to want to pay big bucks for an old (by then) "poverty pack" 2 wheel drive Pajero Spugly? The comparison would be interesting.
Any 4 wheel drive will be easier to sell in 5 year than a 2 wheel drive shopping trolley .Id also say the 2WD is a ugly orphan that no one will want 2nd hand .
awd is a cheats way of doing a doing a traction aid and is a onroad only aid.. take it offroad it will likely fail at some point in its structural life.. looking at where speed limits are today on the burb roads you shouldn't be out of 2nd gear ....
Been driving rental Pajero Sport last 2 weeks - its an absolute shyte heap. ACC is atrocious, loses contact on sweeping right hand corners, suspension is jarring, rear auto tailgate is at best described as "intermittent junk". Just hate the car. I know you'll hate me John, but base Prado 150 annihilates this Mitsi.
I listened to John's review of the Pajero and bought the 2wd version and am very happy with the way it handles. The basic principal of driving to the conditions is just as true when my father taught me to drive 40 years ago as it is today.
Love AWD when traveling twisty wet roads .. I just feel very safe
I listened to John’s review on Pajero Sport, looked into it more and after 3months went out and bought the GLS 4x4, I’ve had it for 8months and have traveled 22,000km both on road and off. Fantastic car to drive, highway, city and off road. Sand Dunes up North are really fun to drive on, off road forest driving South Coast great 😊. Looking forward to next off road adventure next month 😎
Yep agree.
I've done the suspension on mine and have A/T's on it although being the base model it doesn't have a diff lock.
It does well off road and even though the ride as well as stock on road it's still a very comfortable long distance cruiser on road as well.
I've set mine up for solo camping and can get plenty of gear in it now that I've got the things I need sorted.
I have owned the GLS for five years and nearly 100,000 kms. It has performed flawlessly. I have done some fairly challenging off roading, which it handled very well. I like the car so much, I would buy another one.
the 8-speed torque converter auto fixes up to 85% of the turbo lag the 2.4L i4 turbo diesel has.
sadly there is still some turbo lag when doing rolling downshift between 30km/h to about 55km/h or basically from 5th back to 2nd gear.
hi curious on the fuel economy you're getting?
@@nater1113 currently have 38,000 km and combined highway and city driving ie Wollongong to Sydney 8.4L per 100km, I drive 6 days a week for work. Driving fully loaded for a week off grid camping 10L per 100km. Driving on sand 15L per 100km. Hope this helps
A really good explanation, it's the person behind the wheel who is ultimately responsible through their choices, for getting to their destination safely, or having someone else pick up the pieces.
AWD is definitely better than 2WD; however, people who drive sensibly should never need it. Thanks John, for another commonsense
presentation.
I’ve got a AWD. What a difference compared to driving a 2WD in terms of traction, especially when driving on wet and icy roads. Just very thankful that I have a AWD now. Yes, I absolutely did my research by tonnes and then bought the vehicle.
yep once you learn how good AWD is (does not matter if it's constant or on-demand set up) you really should always be in 4A (AWD).
If you have a Ford Everest then you get AWD as standard unless you bought the RWD (which not many do).
the same can be said of soft roaders like the Ford Escape, buy the AWD version instead of the FWD version that applies to RAV4 also anything else that offers AWD option.
If you have to drive on ice, gravel or snow on a regular basis, an awd makes perfect sense.
If you just drive around to work and Bunnings on tar roads, you really don't "need " an awd.
Extremely well explained John!
Love your videos John. I’m a bit of a Mitsubishi nut really. So loved the comments. I remember the days when we really only had rear wheel drive cars to tow the mighty caravan. Fords, Holdens and Chrysler’s my days towed with them all. I even remember the last car he towed a van with was a 1978 Sigma SE from the ACT where he bought it down Brown mountain which terrifies truck drivers to Bega. I don’t drive much myself now days and really miss it but still have 3 Lancers in the driveway. To date never had a 4wd.
There are 4 typical common systems. RWD, FWD, lockable transfer case 4WD and lockable center diff AWD.
Over 20y ago I did my research and chose option 4, which Toyota back then called Full Time 4WD in its Land Cruisers. So glad I did... Funny thing is there is a button to lock the center diff which I have tested to make sure it works, but I have yet to ever actually need it in my +20y of driving that vehicle across every mainland state in this wide brown land. The dirt track to Halls creek, the Simpson, FNQ, Winter Melbourne, black soil cattle country.... Yeah, I paid more , but it was definitely worth it.
I drive a 4wd Ford F150 in Canada in the winter and keep it in 2wd 99% of the time.
Good tires, and not being an idiot with the throttle and 2wd is more than enough. I expect all the utes from 30 years ago were rwd and people did just fine
You'd be surprised how easy a front wheel drive handles in the conditions you described. ☺👋👍
I have always had trouble gaining traction with the Ming Moles during the wet tee shirt competition out in the Detailing Bay.
No matter which brand of Rubber I offer, I still have issues getting traction.
You sir win the internet for a day.
Sound explanation. Thanks for the video John.
Got a Pajero Sport GSR.. No issues drive like a dream.
Bought a Triton GLX-R with just 2WD, because I'm pretty much driving on highways... have no intention going off road. No regrets whatsoever. My work colleagues were mortified it didn't have 4WD, I then asked them how often do they actually engage 4WD in their vehicles, they said they hardly touch it.
Cars with 4wd were driving through the Blue Mtns yesterday while other vehicles were stopped due to black ice.
Your work colleagues should be leaving it in 4WD - duh.
@@Rockbottomsurf African American ice... please be more inclusive of our ices of colour.
Can your work mates switch to 4WD on the fly like the PS? I always switch to 4WD in the wet
Good to have 4x4 in rain season!
Exactly what’s required thanks John appreciated (WA)
Very well Said, about time somebody knew about The pajero Sport. Excellent vechile, have mine in 4x4High 99% of the time. Never had any problems with traction. Well Done Auto Expert.
Thanks John. Excellent advice re driving to 'the conditions' and reminding viewers that their lives and others depend on choices made and competency of car the driver and actions of others on the roads.
Towing a caravan, 4 wheel drive would be very convenient getting into the more awkward grass caravan sites, backing up a grass slope will be fun in a rear drive car..
All good advice John . I would spend the extra $5000 . Much more sure footed and come resale time you would be glad you did.
I have always thought that not only should people have to do a practical defensive driving course every 5 years to keep their license but they/we should also have a license class to be able to tow a trailer. It would also give people hands on experience to see the difference between 2wd and 4wd on the road maybe. I know it will never happen but that is my dream to help MALS. Cheers Mark
Having owned a Prado in the past, and now having a V6 Hilux, I really miss having AWD on wet roads, accelerating requires so much finesse to avoid breaking traction (not having traction control doesn't help), given the option I would always choose an AWD drivetrain if it's available.
The prado often wore out the centre diff. Also common to covert them to old school 4wd to save fuel. Trade offs.
Traction control is your right foot 👍
Thanks John another great video!
Good video.
I have a Triton GLS and I think the ability to have AWD on bitumen is a good feature to have.
I think the most important thing you said was not pushing the boundaries either in the vehicle, driver ability and road conditions.
Sadly so many simply don't understand this.
A speed limit that says a 100KPH is all well and good depending on what your driving and perhaps towing, also if it's pissing down so hard that you can't see the road and the possibility of hitting water then driving at max permissable speed is insanity+++.
There is no substitute for common sense, sadly getting a licence is not about commonsense but passing the test.
Unfortunately the mantra from governments has been that speed kills, very little mention of driving to conditions. That's why so many still drive at or just under the "speed limit" in really adverse conditions. In their mind they're perfectly safe as they're not "speeding". No understanding of traction or braking distances.
@@Wdeane1957 agree but also the road rules are woeful.
The fact you can overtake on the left , that people can sit in the middle lane with nothing in front at 100kph when the speed limit is 110 and the notion that travelling close to someone makes you get there guicker is a recipe for disaster.
Me I always travel in the left lane where possible and I hate the fast lane as even if you are going quicker than lane 2 people still tail gate you
If that happens I pull over and let them become someone else problem
I remember going to NZ and they had signed that said, the speed limit is not a target.
By the same token if your doing 70 in a 100 zone for no good reason that is also very annoying.
Thanks again John for another informed common sense advicermont - I now have a Hilux after owning several Subarus and the ute choice is purely for the ground clearance/transporting materials duties and the brand reliability that I found with Subaru - if I was in the market for an AWD ute-based SUV in Australia the AWD version of the Pajero Sport (née Triton) would be a no-brainer and yes the new Ford Ranger apparently has an AWD version but the poor fuel economy of the Ford ‘Land Rover’ V6 and woeful customer service culture doesn’t appeal to me.
the big advantage of awd/4wd is when you strike poor roads or conditions that you did not expect. i've spun the rear wheels of the ute towing uphill in the wet on the main highway. gravel roads can catch you out.
however the downside is increased fuel usage. i dare say most utes/suv never get put into 4wd. we used to do a lot of mods to them to reduce the fuel usage caused by the 4wd system.
I have a 2011 Pajero - watch an earlier video from John explaining the benefits of all-wheel drive. Put it in 4H and never looked back (that is the open diff version).
Have been towing with it, and can safely say that 4H has saved me a couple of times as the dash was lighting up traction issues on all wheels. The traction control system managed to supply power to whichever wheel had grip and got me through. Driver mistake for getting into the situation, but the tech bailed me out.
Ours steps out in the wet and traction doesn't pull it up, which is nice for a change! Especially if you do a second gear start
I always use the all wheel drive when towing and if not towing I use AWD if there is any likelihood of rain which as I live in Auckland NZ is most of the time. I have noticed I use 1litre of diesel per 100km extra while in AWD, so between $10 & $20 extra a tank full. Not using the AWD is like saying I will not pay for insurance as I haven't had a crash in the Pajero since I bought it 3 years ago. By the way I still love the Pajero Sport as much if not more than when I bought it.
In summary I use AWD 70% of 45,000km I have done in it. A brilliant system.
Top advice. Thank you
Good advice thanks john.👍👍
Thanks John, I like my Triton Super Select four-wheel-drive system!
Also, $5k for SS2 is a bargain.
I am a Pajero Sport owner who has experienced loss of traction in wet conditions while driving on 2H. This loss of traction is solely due to the lousy factory fitted tyres. Switching to a good all terrain tyre fixed up all issues while driving on wet surfaces even in 2H. There is nothing wrong with the mechanics of the Pajero Sport and all systems work really well whether in 2H or 4H.
Agree 100% I put a set of Faulken AT’s on mine and the change was dramatic! A slight increase in noise but at highway speeds not noticeable.
I like your stuff ,
I admire your fluff.
👍
I'd like $10 for every time I've said that to a person...
Great video and great advice all round John!! Thanks :--)
RWD with modern stability control is plenty for wet sealed roads. AWD doesnt help with braking which is more the limiting factor in the wet on sealed roads. If your not going off road then its the right choice, I would assume the GVM is the same so you should also gain payload from not carrying around front diff, center diff, and transfer case.
Could I suggest doing a bit more research around AWD and how the front and rear wheels working together helps vehicle balance and tractive loading? While not directly connected to braking, it does help with balance before and after braking, particularly in evasive maneuvers 😉 I've done my own comparative tests on flat and steep inclines, up and down hill, wet and dry, in 2H and 4H (unlocked), traction control on and off. The dynamics are noticeably higher across the board in 4H before it gets 'messy'. And in my 38,000kms experience in the MY21 Pajero Sport, I've found about 0.5L/100 more fuel consumption in 4H over 2H on average... not a massive cost for higher dynamic limits 'in case you have to avoid wildlife suddenly appearing' 😂 The Mitsi engineers didn't invest all that effort and design in something that doesn't make much difference.
You seem to have missed the most important point: all versions come with Stability Control, and that includes what Mitsubishi calls Trailer Stability Assist. That means both the 2WD and the 4WD versions make full use of tire grip for cornering and braking in both dry and wet. There is no difference in tire size or active safety in the 4WD version, according to the "Key Specifications" table in the Mitsubishi Australia brochure. Thus no improvement from going 4WD.
The difference will be the 4WD version will have better acceleration in low grip conditions, but I wouldn't call that safer. Maybe nicer, but not safer. Unless you're deep in the mud or snow.
You clearly don’t own the vehicle or have not driven it to the limit in the wet. The traction control and esp in the Pajero sport is quite… sporty in the 2wd setting in the wet. It will actually let the back kick out. As a driver, you need to be ready for this, else it will catch you off guard.
The traction control and esp is much more reserved in 4H.
A case of what’s on paper doesn’t translate to reality.
That couldn't be any more false if you tried 🤣
@@jamiemckennon1944 I did, my shit stained pants begs to differ.
That's all entirely fair, the AWD is bound to be better in certain circumstances - but if you can't maintain control of a rear wheel drive vehicle just because the road is wet - especially when the vehicle has stability control - you probably shouldn't really be driving. The people who are complaining would do well to think of it from that point of view.
That's why I love front wheel drive. It's (almost) as good as awd on (almost) all surfaces. Far better than rwd. Rwd is getting outdated in cars.
@@BubblesTheCat1 You have never owned/driven an AWD, have you?
@@BubblesTheCat1 if you should lose traction then rear wheel drive is better in my opinion.
@@davidkelly3779 No, but I've owned rwd and now fwd, and I find it far superior to rwd. I don't need awd, as I stay on the tarmac. Awd has too many disadvantages like the tyre issue, where you have to buy 4 if one went bad. Plus the upfront costs and extra fuel consumption, doesn't make it worth it for me.
If I had to negotiate high speed gravel roads, I would prefer awd/4wd☺
@@doscwolny2221 and spin out of control? No thanks ☺
Very good advice. By the way, pajero sport is still pretty good car, the last good one from Mitsubishi (i count pajero sport/Triton as one car).
The biggest flaw with traction on any new Pajero Sport, is the tyres that they come factory fitted with. Toyo Open Country A32.....
These tyres are unquestionably the WORST tyre that I have ever had the displeasure of driving on, on wet bitumen. They are downright dangerous.
After only 10k, I had mine swapped out for a set of well known all terrain tyres. Instant transformaton - the car became completely predictable and controllable in the wet.
My advice.... If you buy any car with Toyo A32 tyres, get rid of them as soon as you can, before they catch you out and you end up in an accident. They are that bad, seriously....
Yep well documented in all the groups woth many people having the same issue but ONLY WITH THOSE TYRES. Chuck a decent set of ATs and its perfect again.
As soon as towing is mentioned, it's gotta be 4wd (AWD) as the purchase. The difference in safety and grip when towing in the wet is phenomenal and it should be a no brainer
Elite Edition my choice!😊
We have a 2019 4WD Pajero Sport and always switch to 4WD in the wet as it's like jumping onto rails compared to 2WD
That's more the tyres then really. My v8 vf Commodore with sport tyres has no issues in the wet and no different to all my other rwd cars really. Even rwd dmaxes, hiaces etc, they have good torque now so will spin the tyres easily.
@@Low760 I agree it's partly the tyres, however as Chippo 51 commented, the the PS has a high C of G and the suspension is nothing like a car. I have had many RWD cars over the years none drove like the PS. As John said the 4WD version is better and in my experience the 4WD version is the only way to go.
What's the point of putting it in 2WD
??
@@paulwalker9014 Saves Tyres and fuel
@@Sparkadian Had my Pajero in 4WD for 12.5 years. Used about 33,000 litres of diesel, so I could have saved about $3300 at $2 a litre. I'll forego one latte a week and leave it in 4WD. Got a PS this year as well and it stays in 4WD too. My eyesight can't always spot the slippery surface these days.
John is spot on... again.
We've been driving cars on and off the roads for over a hundred years in cars that didn't have half the safety features we have today with relatively low safety problems.
Usually when there is an accident it is the fault of the driver and not the vehicle for the accident.
Most people tend to overestimate their and their vehicles capabilities and place their need to be first in front of safety. These days with all the modern driving aids I feel it has made the problem worse and made the drivers worse because everyone relies on the ABS and such to make you stop on time or take that corner faster than you should.
My first car was '63 Holden EH with drum brakes, three on the tree and no side mirrors from the factory.
Years later I got VR Commodore.
Much more capable car. Better brakes, ABS plus all the safety features of that time.
I never lost control in the EH but I did in the Commodore. Tech doesn't take out the dickhead factor as John would put it.
Like John said knowing your and your cars abilities and allowing for the conditions and even the unseen is your biggest safety factor.
So if you can afford it and you want the more capable than go all wheel drive but just don't forget, it doesn't defy physics or a horny roo at 5am on a dark road.
Many van parks have grass sites which are slippery when wet ! 4wd is always better and it’s better to have something and not need it than to need it and not have it !
Plus low range lets you get the caravan nicely positioned at the Creek without riding the clutch...
Also... how good is having super select.. just BAM, AWD ENGAGE
Personally I think the 2 vs 4 wheel drive is a question that should come after asking yourself why you need to drag a 2000kg dynamic load behind your family.
I don’t really see the 2wd being really anymore dangerous than any other RWD car (of course you have a higher centre of gravity but hey it’s an SUV). A lot of it comes down to not being a twat in bad road conditions.
Hit the nail on head Chippo 51!
Agree. On road it would not make much difference. I used to have a Mitsubishi van that had a 4wd system that could be used on road. I never used it on road. We used it a bit in more off road travelling like on beach tracks and on the farm.
Man I miss having a 4wd vehicle. I’d really like to buy a Pajero Sport 4wd or something like it. The Pajero Sport seems to be good value as a new car compared to other 4wd wagons.
Mitsubishi no longer here in the uk where it was called the Shogun as apparently in certain languages was mot very complimentary!
Mitsubishi are still in the UK just reduced locations. They still sell the Outlander, L200, ASX and Shogun Sport.
The ability to be safer towing through snow, the odd unsealed road or even kilometres of muddy roadwork in AWD high means get three AWD of you can afford it. Itt will also need easier to sell when that time comes
One aspect not covered is if you are towing a trailer or caravan and you are parked on wet grass or ground. Your ability to get out without getting bogged is so much better with 4WD.
Short answer no.. but with awd youll be able to beat all those ss commodore utes at the lights in the wet.
And you'll be able to beat them around a roundabout in almost all conditions
I have owned a 2019 Pajero Sport Exceed since new. The only thing I have replaced, (other than standard service items) is the tires (same brand as original). I can hands down attest that in 2WD, the handing in wet, is, in my opinion, close to dangerous - even under medium acceleration, and particularly when coming from stand still. The challenge with the Sport is the turbo kicks in noticeably after about 3 second causing significant wheel spin (in the rear wheels) when accelerating from take off. If not in AWD, and it is wet, the traction control will kick in as the vehicle struggles to keep traction with the extra "boost". Handling corners at low / medium speeds is equally as unstable in the wet especially if you would like to accelerate (even slightly) out of the bend - the margins are very fine. My advice is, if you have the extra $5k for the AWD, I would highly recommend - even if it is just to increase the margin for error. I love the Sport, but I will seldom drive in 2WD in the wet anymore, same with gravel.
I found similar in my MY21 PS driving in 2H, on the stock Toyo tyres (known to be very poor in the wet). Once I put a set of Falken Wildpeak A/T tyres on, it was a night and day difference. Stability in wet curves, even in 2H, is noticeably higher and predictable. In 4H it's like a proper AWD system with LSDs. The tyres make a massive difference! I did my research before committing to the new tyres, and found most PS owners love the Wildpeaks... and they are so much better off road too 😉
Superselect 11 is something that I am so used to having that I wouldn’t want to buy a car without it. I’m not sure how it’s going to fit on any new PHEV’s down the track, pardon the pun.
Agree, 4WD that don't have Superselect are indeed "agricultural" as John puts it.
I was watching WeberAuto talking about the electric drive(s) in the Mustang mach-e and the e-transit - beautiful piece of kit and available to buy for conversions etc.
Reason I bring this up is that two of these electric drives gets rid of the need for transfer cases, transmissions, drive shafts and other complications, so pure electric 4wd vehicles are much simpler than PHEV or hybrids and deliver muuuuuch better off-road capability than their mechanical counterparts. I'm actually excited for the future despite having reached the pessimistic age!
@@MiniLuv-1984 good to know. I’ve seen a number of brands making off road electric vehicles but I didn’t know they were that good. Cheers.
@@Rockbottomsurf The key advantage that I see is dual motors allow control of torque for each axle. Some go as far as having a motor per wheel that ensures each wheel delivers maximum torque that is possible under any given conditions.
@@MiniLuv-1984 a motor on each wheel won’t leave something hanging off the axle to get hung up on when off roading?
I had a rental 2wd mitsi Pajero sport for a month during the rainy season this year in FNQ and it was not stable at all. I was unintentionally drifting everywhere even at about 20kph. Particularly scary around roundabouts and long corners. A combo of the LWB, height and old tech mean they handle like boats. Sketchy AF.
Hi, pretty much the same argument with LSD Vs open center rear diff, so some people prefer the open center other the LSD - none are really what you call dangerous
Correct me if I’m wrong, I understand that on a 2WD or a 4x4 you get a puncture or shred a tyre, you can replace two tyres because you don’t want to replace one tyre with a brand new one and suffer problems because of different traction properties. So you replace two tires.
On an AWD, you damage one tyre, the manual warns you about driving with one tyre that is different to the others including the spare. This strains the drive train. You can drive home but don’t drive for six months that way or the drive train poops it’s trousers inconveniently.
Therefore if your AWD tyres are through half their life and one tyre has to be replaced, you may have to replace all four tyres so they all have the same wear pattern and don’t stress the drive train.
This applies more to AWD vehicles that bring in the other axle when there is slippage A CX-5 AWD for example is front wheel drive until the front wheels slip, when clutches are engaged to send drive to the rear wheels. If you have new tyres on the back, and used on the front, the car's ecu may think the front tyres are always slipping, and will send drive to the back all the time. This breaks and/or wears out components. As 4WD is engaged by the driver in the Pajero, this doesn't happen.
@@cme2cau Yeah I have the Subaru XV which is full time 4WD and not front wheel drive.
@@darylcheshire1618 my sister in law has an XV and loves it. That is a full time 4wd with a centre differential. Subaru says to have all 4 tyres the same within 2mm tread depth. Necessary? I dunno. But tyres are cheaper than differentials!
Does the GLX now have a diff lock on the AWD version? I thought it wasn't available on the base model
You'd have to imagine it's less safe... But all cars are less safe, and by default more dangerous, when the road is wet.
Exactly. And the biggest danger is people seem to get careless and reckless when it rains. Should be the opposite. That's what I do. Here in South Africa, I try to stay off the roads in the rain if at all possible.
which 4x4 do you advise bw PRADO and PS ? But PRADO is expensive right ? I have no idea bw the engines and motors , maintenance etc. Should I go with PS ? I am researching before buying. You have a lot of knowledge mate. Where are you located ? Are you in Adelaide.
Lights may be awesome but processing and shipping is woeful
My basic mental model of a differential is that it delivers power to the side that is easiest to turn (hence the need for limited-slip diffs, diff lockers, etc). By using a central diff, does that not effectively double the number of wheels that can become bogged or lose traction? If one wheel becomes significantly easier to turn than the others, the left-right diff will deliver any power it has to that wheel. In turn the front-rear diff will deliver its available input power to whichever of the front or rear diffs is easiest to turn.
I know some cars (Subaru for example) do clever things with their diffs to ensure a more even power split front to rear (and presumably left to right). Does Mitsubishi do this with the Pajero, or is it just a straight open centre diff?
Quick question here then. Coming down a long descent, such as Mount Ousley Rd in Wollongong, would you use the brakes all the way down, or knock it back a couple of gears and let engine compression keep your speed steady? I know brakes are cheaper than transmissions, but I'm interested in your thoughts here JC.
he literally answered in his last vid, and the answer is your last sentence
I bought the wife the sport exceed and told her to leave it in awd because our roads here are so shit and I'm a fan of the superselect trans
A very important thing is the improved fuel efficiency of a 2WD. Less weight to drag around when not necessary and drag when in use. 1~1.5 liters per hundred in fuel is a conservative saving it could be more. Real world it can be higher.
Repairs and servicing could also be more expensive.
In parts of the world where *the road doesn't get icy* with tires in good condition the 2wd is just as safe when driving properly on normal roads.
Don't be conned by the "AWD is better" when it doesn't apply to you.
Wet slippery roads, negotiated while towing the caravan just after a rain has hit........4WD......
i think you should retitle this, or make another. HOW TO DRIVE A CAR... SAFELY. (in the wet, in the dry maybe even when pigs fly) GREAT VIDEO by the way, i hadn't head of the center diff being explained so well, driving to the conditions and limits of the vehicle should be mentioned more often (kind of sick of seeing the police say "speed was a factor" in accidents. when clearly "driving to the conditions" would be a more appropriate response in most cases.)
Can you please enlighten us as to which spec Tritons got Super select? I'm currently looking to buy a used one around 2012-2015 and most of the sales websites don't differentiate. It also seems that a lot of owners don't know either because I've had some pretty strange responses when I send them a message asking the.
YES it can be dangerous! I've had a PS for 2 years, 1 yr with stock tires and 3 or 4 times I nearly shat myself when my big heavy car went sideways with NORMAL acceleration in the wet (normal acceleration in wet is usually fine in front wheel drive cars). Once I upgraded to AT tires it was much much better, now I usually put it in 4H when it gets wet (i used 4H WAY more often with the stock tires purely for safety reasons). Great car, crap / dangerous stock tires.
Been jumping into and out of different cars and trucks with different drive and engine layouts for quite a bit now (from tiny 1.5L sedans all the way to 6-ton Fuso aluminium vans). Having had this kind of experience, I must say the 4WD Pajero Sport is a bit of an anomaly in terms of its dynamic capability on- and off-road. Having driven the older Japanese utes and SUVs, some even as current as the new Isuzu Mu-X, the Pajero Sport drives more like a full size all wheel drive sedan than it does a lumbering SUV ala Fortuner, Trailblazer, etc. The Pajero Sport in 4H even on sodden mountain roads with heavy winds is a joy to use, able to hide its bulk and height and tracks very well as though driving on rails. We have a 2020 Subaru Forester, 2021 Mazda CX-9 and the 2016 Pajero Sport in our garage and having had a go in all of them in the same twisty roads and inclines, declines I have to say it has the best compromise of mixed terrain driving. Should the need to traverse a deeply rutted bit of uphill trail, flick the knob to 4HLc/ 4LLc and lock the rear diff, then be done with it. Whatever kind of terrain you need to point its nose at, it virtually has an answer to it. My only gripe with mine is that I bought one with a manual transmission and my left leg swears me to hell whenever I encounter heavy Asian city volume of traffic. 😅
Fit a booster to the clutch..you've got one for your brakes????
@@JohnSmith-yv6eq I'll look into that. Thanks for the heads up, mate.
Good breakdown on it all.
Under normal towing conditions does AWD confer any benefits over 2wd?
Obviously in bad conditions or trying to tow where extra traction is required is a no brainer.
I actually pretty surprised at how good these things are in AWD even off road.
I was driving mine on good sand tracks and decided to put it into AWD instead of 4WD simply because it wasn't needed and then I hit a big soft spot that was really chewed up on a corner/junction.
I was sort of in it and didn't have time for the system to go back into 4WD so I just let it do its thing and hoped.
You could actually feel it start to struggle a bit and then it started to work it all out and just drove out of it.
No fuss and probably did it easier than the older 4WD in front of me.
On my driver's course in thr Army back when you had to dodge dinosaurs 🦕, the Sgt instructor said treat all other driver's as the enemy and think you may have a brain fart at any moment. In other words be prepared for the world to turn to poo and plan ahead. It may make me over cautious but better cautious than dead or responsible for the death of some other poor sod.
Tanks for the enlightenment.
Regards Tony
I have the Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian which is much the same as the Triton Just the name in reality here in the UK. I never put it in two wheel drive as it makes no difference to fuel consumption as it does not have front free wheel, my model has the auto box and as far as I can tell there is no real low range in the transfer box as when in low four wheel drive it only has two gears and the speed in each of those gears is the same as first and second in high range for the same engine speed.
ssangyong musso review
Does the AWD chew the juice but?
I see no evidence for why it would...
@@RealHooksy - it would be very minimul as weight is only a factor in stop and start traffic, once your rolling it then comes down to all the variables like road surface, weather and and tyres.
I have an Escape AWD (so its On-Demand FWD bias AWD) and I can tell you now that the difference between a FWD Escape and AWD Escape in terms of fuel usage at most would be 0.5L difference in favour of the FWD, for 0.5L loss I don't care.
Does the 2wd have a rear diff lock?
If so I reckon it would be good for a lot old people who go out and buy the 4WD version. Guess if I keep watching I'll find out
Except that you shouldn't engage the rear diff lock unless in very low traction conditions (Off road rock crawling/high mud areas). Turn a corner with it on in high traction and you will get diff wind up.
@@bikesandbits1000 yep absolutely, I just mean having a diff lock to get you in or out of an area where high clearance is not good enough.
hi mate, I have a hyundai kona elite and planning to upgrade to a 4x4. I am thinking of a PS. I am from Adelaide. Can you please advise which one to buy bw GLX / Exceed/ GSR ? Any advise please. Can I buy a demo car so that I can get some discount ? SHould I sell my vehicle in a private sale and then buy a new PS or trade-in to the PS guys ? Please help. thanks.
PS is much safe in AWD on road.
I never put mine in 2WD as I have had it spin at the back too many times when wet. I wasn’t even going fast.
John, the most important point to consider when buying a Mitsubishi Pajero. Is, do you want to drive a car that literally means "wanker" in Spanish. Pajero as a noun "wanker," as a verb "jerkoff." 😂
Tosser U R
I remember the one page newpaper ads......"Get a grip on yourself, with new Mitsubishi Pajero "
"....the poor bastards who have to come and pick up the pieces". Ain't that a fact. IMO not nearly enough is said about the amazing role these people play.
Woot!
Gold woot! Yessssss!
Quality tyres replaced every 5 years is a better bet for safety..
Are you able to go into how Super Select II actually works and how they can have 4WD on high traction? It seems like voodoo to me. And I guess related to that why do few other manufactures offer this? I have one on order and it was a big part of a decision.
@@Sparkadian ahh right the others just have a transfer case constantly sending 50/50?
@@DaveMuller
Basically, yes.
Even the humble Lada Niva from the 1970s had a lockable centre diff...
and the ability to select 2WD low
However since neither front nor rear diff was a locker...
or even LSD...
you could hang up with one front wheel and one rear wheel spinning in air..
not going anywhere...
with the centre diff locked!
Missed it by...that much.......
Super Select II provides 2WD, AWD and 4WD (Hi/Low).
2WD or AWD for road use (which you can freely switch between at anytime up to 100km/h while driving).
4WD (low/hi) for off-road use. Another added benefit of super-select II is engine braking via the front wheels when in AWD mode, very useful when towing a caravan through the mountains or when the roads are wet.
You could certainly get by without it, but it really is the secret sauce of Mitsubishi drivetrains and what makes them special. I wouldn't go back to conventional 2WD/4WD drivetrain after owning Super-Select II.
Less tech the fewer things to go wrong.
Less servicing costs and fewer breakdowns Does the 2 wheel drive have diff lock? This will assist in many off-road situations. Also the higher spec the more electronic gizmos to fail.
The 2wd will usually use less fuel.
Unless driving in serious off-road situations a 2wd will cope on average untarred roads
Damn!!!! I didn't even know the Pajero Sport came in 2wd!! That could have been a costly mistake!!
I might be the Nissan/Renault unholy alliance making its presence felt.....
not just in the wet, at all times. then its there when you come around a corner to find sand or gravel or snow across the road. on my suzuki grand vitara there is no option of 2WD which is pointless.
I do not recommend the 2W version if you don't want to be spinning on your wheels when the bitumen is wet (it's like ice). The vehicle has too much power and torque.
I don't get what's supposed to be sporty about a Pajero.
I am waiting for my 2.4 Turbo Subaru Outback .......
" AWD is better" big statement. Just watch the car crash videos from east Europe on the icy road and you see just as many "AWD" car spinning out of control as you do 2 wheel drive vehicles. I drive a Pajero on gravel roads, 110kms per. I have driven it in "AWD" and 2 wheel drive. It drives better in 2 wheel drive. The ASC braking system in the Pajero helps in these situations once you get the hang of it. The vehicle seems to lose driveability in " AWD". Lack of power is one thing as you are now driving four wheels and it loses sensitivity I my view. But as the man says " do your only research". But what do I know, I only drive 70000 KMs per year.
Is it true that the new Mitsubishi are now Nissans ?
It is a concern of mine. Either a 2022 Pajero Sport or an i30 for me.
I have a question for you, John. Why don't Tesla drivers use their turn signals? Are they afraid of draining their batteries? Maybe the Tesla drivers just think that the world revolves around them.
What ?!!! There are other drivers on the road ??!!!
Sincerely,
Tesla Driver
(I'm saving the planet)
My pajero sport i always drive 2wd on wet road, never had a problem lol people need to learn how to drive
AWD every day of the week. But John's gona say RWD
2WD is not dangerous. AWD is safer than 2WD, period.
If ya gonna tow I would imagine the 4wd should be the go... if you think about it all that tractive force of your SUV and your caravan is going thru 4 contact patches rather than 2... its a no brainer... also the $5k you spend now means you'll get it back when you're selling anyway... the RWD model is only for people not towing and for sealed roads...
.... and then there's the resale value factor. Six years and 100km+ down the road, who the hell is going to want to pay big bucks for an old (by then) "poverty pack" 2 wheel drive Pajero Spugly? The comparison would be interesting.
Any 4 wheel drive will be easier to sell in 5 year than a 2 wheel drive shopping trolley .Id also say the 2WD is a ugly orphan that no one will want 2nd hand .
awd is a cheats way of doing a doing a traction aid and is a onroad only aid..
take it offroad it will likely fail at some point in its structural life..
looking at where speed limits are today on the burb roads you shouldn't be out of 2nd gear ....
I'm so glad they don't call it that in spanish speaking countries XD
I believe it's simply called Wanker there.
Do you ever leave the Fat Cave and actually drive any cars?
Been driving rental Pajero Sport last 2 weeks - its an absolute shyte heap. ACC is atrocious, loses contact on sweeping right hand corners, suspension is jarring, rear auto tailgate is at best described as "intermittent junk". Just hate the car.
I know you'll hate me John, but base Prado 150 annihilates this Mitsi.