WHY I WON'T WORK WITH MITSUBISHI. Andrew St Pierre White
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ย. 2024
- I've set myself up for a lot of abuse from a small but highly vocal number of viewers with this one.
And again here, the pattern of reaction continues: "If you can't find an effective reply to the argument, attack the one presenting it."
It began in 2009 when my relationship with a group of viewers went south, and it was one of the most pivotal moments in my story as a 4WD journalist. It concerns a critical review I shot in Namibia (Southern Africa) and published in a magazine called Leisure Wheels the same year, and the subsequent uproar from South African Mitsubishi 4x4 Pajero owners. Never before or since has the magazine received so many letters regarding one article, and it changed the way I looked at producing my work. They wanted to silence my pen, but instead the opposite happened. Mitsubishi Mayhem is that story.
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I once was daft enough to own one of these horrid soft off road vehicles and Andrew was correct about it and if anything he was very polite about this plastic covered vehicle.
what have you disliked about your experience
Haha 😂 drive a Lada Niva do you ?
@@roytherhodesian4029 no i own two real defenders and just received my new Grenadier.
A review is not a review unless all points are covered, good & bad. Well done Andrew for sticking to your guns. Another great story.
he is just opinionated my toyotas all beep and whine like all new cars
They don't need to bloody beep at you in the bush! Give it a switch!
@@billcrowle under the Pajero's seat is a little connector that you can disconnect. In our fords fusebox is a fuse for the beep. There is actually an easy solution to the no more beeps, you just have to look a bit further, who knew :)
SA Pajero owner here. I appreciate the feedback. It lets people know the potential weaknesses of the car.
Its common for owners to raise the suspension, replace the bumpers with metal and put on reinforced/upgraded bash plates.
I personally think its a really well priced 4x4, especially the older Mark III models.
What a breath of fresh air, welcome to Australia. The Attenborough of road trips. Love your work
Thankyou for keeping it real Andrew, I am tired of bias journalisms for profit from sponsors. Hang in there mate, if anytime in Australia I'll have a beer with you.
People are "funny". They are capable of debating the most complex subjects, but the moment you critizise their beliefs, they transform into Neanderthals …
best thing heard in a while
Fanboys
Religious are the worst.
Arent all people neanderthals? That's basically what made humans.
@@neth77 in simple logic, people who are fanatics with their religious believe and people that hate them like you are much like the same type. The intelligent people would have just dont care.
I have a Pajero, but I am not a fanboy. I was on Fraser Island and recovered 5 vehicles of all different makes. The 6th one made me laugh. He refused to let me recover him. When I asked why. He said...No Pajero is going to recover me in my Landcruiser :) Later at Ngala rocks I got stuck. Guess who was happy to pull me out??? The same Landcruiser driver lol. I happily let him recover me, as I don't give a F%&k what people drive. Moral to the story. Just be happy with what you drive :)
Thanks for the story. That was a Toyota Fanboy in his LC, no doubt about it. Not taking a tow because of a badge. I bet if the tide was approaching he would have!
For my limited experience more than the vehicle and the driver (with the latter owning a BIG responsibility, of course)traction is mostly down to the TYRE and most of the time vehicles are always compared with different tyres on them (and in sand not ony the type but the pressure there is in)
Wholeheartedly agree. Proud owner of a 2003 Pajero Sport (Canada) here, yet I can't understand those readers'/viewers' reactions. Why would you NOT want to know that a given vehicle is not well suited to a given environment/usage? Please don't mind them and remain honest. And while I understand your position, it is sad indeed when vehicle owners push an honest journalist to the point where he won't review their truck anymore. Talk about shooting oneself in the foot!
Sort of same story. I live in snowy Norway and still drive my '01 Jeep Grand Cherokee I bought bright new. Recently, at an alpine center, a LC 200 had hit a ditch and was stuck deep in the snow. I stopped and offered to pull him out. "No way", I heard first, but he got cold after 30 min he came over and asked for help. And lo and behold, I had no problem pulling him through the 1 m of slush and on to the icy road (really icy). Why? Tires and power: new Cooper Discovery M+S with plenty of studs and a 4.7L V8 with low gear and diffs. Lesson: be happy what you drive, know where you steer and get 'em studs (though I had refused to pull a Tesla X - hahaha).
you made me click show more for a smiley :)
I prefer Honest reviews over bias. Thank You
x2
I fully endorse his review base on my experience as an owner of a similar vehicles unless if you have drven one
Sorry bro you had to experience it with your family but it is good to know that i myself a regular guy really dont have on the perspective on the passengers. Sure thing there is big difference when you are the one driving compare to just being a passenger. Nice story bro/
I prefer lies and deceit.
I don’t want the truth. I want to hear only good things.
@@larjkok1184 what if the good things were the truth? we would then have to lie to you as you. like the lie! what!!☺.
Thanks for your honesty Andrew. Not just about vehicles and product reviews, but about your driving and experiences. I think too many people in a media or "expert" position avoid admitting that they are learning too. just like the rest of us. and for me the learning is one of the best parts of this kind of travel.
The Traveling Together Journal very well said.
Well said, honesty is quality, you praised the vehicle for its good points and was honest about its bad points, what more could anyone ask? Your reputation is intact as far as I’m concerned. Every vehicle has its faults and as owners we compromise to suit our needs and taste, it’s a case of don’t shoot the messenger, best regards, Bill Westley
Reas
Yes . I love how u really be so honest .
@@billywestley9008 totally agree I have a twenty seven year old discovery - not the best vehicle ever produced but not the worst, you accept the bad with the good, I like my tractor, starts, runs, good enough on fuel, comfortable, what's not to like, addressing the corrosion!, but that's a Land Rover thing you live with it, most of those who complain and criticise have no first hand knowledge so their opinion is questionable.
Crossing the Simpson Desert I discovered the sand scoop “feature” of my Pajero. No idea why they designed it that way but was fixed with the next model. Spot on re the back seat but the beeping was a seat belt warning (safety). Love my Pajero and with a 2 inch lift was the only car to get across the Desert without needing a recovery. Love your show - don’t worry about the knockers and don’t try and fight the crazies.
The 3rd gen Pajero is a great vehicle which is capable of more than 95% of the owners will ever put it through. There are just better overlanders out there. I never lost the respect for it after watching your video. I learned about the limitations it had and decided if they outweigh the positives. In my case it works perfect. Thank you for being real and presenting it as it is. I really appreciate it.
Good work! This is why car reviews in magazines are generally a waste of time: The publishers are too afraid of offending the car makers. Instead of an honest review of a new SUV, we get bland marketing: "On the road, it drives just like a car" (apparently the journalist hasn't ever driven a car); "It's very capable in the mud" (photo of driving through a puddle that a front wheel drive hatchback would get through). It's hard to find a good independent and objective voice. Your review sounded reasonable: The Pajero was OK on the road, but a bit disappointing in the sand and not as comfortable as you would like. Well, not everyone needs to drive in the dunes and it's well priced. Seems like good info to help buyers decide!
I had the same problem as a boat tester and reviewer, you can't say anything bad or even slightly constructive as to improve their products, a French catamaran builder that made davits (to lift the tender) so low and badly made that when I was first presented with the drawings I told the guys,,,, davits bad, tender with outboards will touch the water and destroy the dinghy,,, took them two years to come up with a solution,,,
I’m a former Pajero owner. It’s just a car, I can’t possibly imagine why would someone get mad about Andrew’s review. He’s a very good professional. Very thorough review! Well done! 👍👍👍
Buying a Pajero because of their success in Paris-Dakar is like buying a Camry because of NASCAR.
Excellent! Can I use that?
@@4xoverlandBe my guest; but be warned, Camry drivers are no less vicious than Pajero drivers. You may get a clobbering from a grandmothers handbag to the head.
@@MrLeeJimi Too funny
@@4xoverland Nice to see to give credit where credit is due.
Fantastic analogy.
Timing and momentum is the number one priority on sand and also adapting a vehicle to a specific environment is a no brainer, some 4x4 vehicles come partially or completely adapted to pure extreme offroad conditions which then compromises their onroad abilities, comfort and driveability, so the question becomes one of what the primary role of the vehicle is going to be most of the time.
I find Pajeros are a great compromise vehicle which give you great onroad and handling ability while also providing a reasonable offroad capability in standard form meaning that if you are wanting to use a Pajero for a particularly difficult offroad environment that it will require some adaptation/modification.
If I were crossing dunes like the ones in the video I would certainly have the vehicle lifted 2 inches from standard and most importantly, have the bloody side runners removed! as I found these to be very problematic on soft/deep sand.It seems the entire issue you had on this trip was simply not enough ground clearance for the terrain - the bumper and sump issues both related to this. The bash plates are pathetic and made of plastic which is all but useless - these are the first and most common parts to be replaced, a real weakness for sure.
Having familiarity with the vehicle is also very important and I found moving from a Toyota to the Mitsi required quite a learning curve. Trying to learn a new vehicle on such a big and demanding trip is ill advised especially when it is loaded to it's maximum load rating.
As an everyday wagon and occasional offroad vehicle the Pajero is awesome but again it must be modified to suit any other specific usage whereby a lot of the issues brought up here would be resolved. It should be remembered that the Pajero got you to your destination across that desert in one piece and probably in more comfort than some of the other vehicles.
Also Andrew, I wonder if you knew the NT model which you drove requires the traction control to be manually switched off when using anything but low range 4x4 so if you were in high range 4x4 mode I can imagine major issues with traction control on soft sand and beeping too - lol.
Have a lifted Pajero with some steel bash plates fitted tackle the same trip, I'm sure you will tell a very different story my friend.
Yes agree everything you said.
perfect
You Sir, are one of the main authorities in 4x4 and off road! Thank you, for your honest opinion! You are the man! 👍⚡🐺
lol andrew from a paj owner in abu dhabi i want to give you a big hug on behalf of all paj owners in the world. 😊 secondly we are all well aware in UAE about the limitation of the paj thats why i got a two inch tjm lift, taller tyres, and rear bash plate. next time you are in dubai please allow me to take you out to the desert. btw i loved your part 1 review in the namib desert. and it gave me a heads up on what to expect when buying the paj.....I paid a bargain basement price of usd 25,543 dollars for a vehicle that can take me anywhere..... honestly the value i got for what i paid for it is pretty good. sorry for what you had to go through for stating your opinion but luckily it had an infamous effect on making you stand out as a motor journalist.
Thank you sir. Well said. In standard from they aren't very good off road. With some work, they can be quite good. And that goes for almost every modern SUV!
A lot of people in dubai underestimate the pajero..theyre very impressive offroad..yes they have their limitations..but for the money..there isnt any other suv which offers what the pajero does
The Pajero is great value in the UAE and can in stock form can handle wadis and moderate to hard desert driving - various friends have HD lots of fun in theirs, especially the larger engines model. Mitsubishi do need to do something about the ‘sand scoop’ rear bumper. Higher profile tyres are also preferable. A mate of mine has gone anywhere we’ve gone on our desert trips but tends to poor a tyre every tome...
Christopher Saul spot on
If you stay in the UAE you must know the best plaything is the SuperSafari.
Ha, ha the passion / ugliness of people trying to protect the resale value of their vehicles. I had one of the first current shape Pajero’s in 2001 in the UAE, a base level petrol vehicle without all the fancy traction control options and it performed as well as if not better than many of the vehicles in the UAE 4WD club including Nissan Patrols, land cruisers etc. I drove it as a recovery vehicle for the 2003 UAE desert classic. . I can’t believe they haven’t engineered a solution for the departure angle as I repeatedly ripped the back bumper off my vehicle as I transitioned from a steep dune descent onto the salt pans. It was a go anywhere vehicle for my young family with two in the rear seats and we drove throughout the UAE and Oman throughout the deserts, the mountains and wadis. In 2011 I decided to purchase the Pajero DID model based on my desire to fill it up with camping gear and to bump along tracks to some beautiful camping spots around Australia. I’ve done 180,000 km in it driving the beaches and dunes of Fraser Island, the Daintree Forest up through the Top End and the Red Centre. It’s not a hard core 4WD that you would want to take on a technical boulder strewn rock climb but driven within its limitations its a beautiful 4 passenger vehicle for long drives. You just need to understand what you are buying and your video achieves that. I wish there was more of this objective journalism available elsewhere. Unfortunately the advertising business model of 4WD magazines means you will never get objective articles and you have to rely on forums and channels such as yours to deliver sources of truth. Well done and a great video share !!!
Craig Banks I drove a SWB pajero in uae too, loved it. Rear bumper lasted 1 trip and front a little less. Cut ,yo teeth in a Suzuki dune bashing and always got surprised looks as it crested ✌🏻
tbh I think buying a Pajero is just a bankrupt if you hate yourself buy one
In KSA just bought the 3.6 V6 2020 Pajero, with a 10 year warranty !!!! I previously had a FJ cruiser which was great but I got sick of my Toyota dealership so I made the swap. Nissan Patrop super safari was second inline but I need the space of pajero.
As someone who has never owned an off road vehicle I found this very enlightening, thank you for your honesty its so rare in the motoring journalism industry.
Love honest, non biased reviews. Even though I love my Toyota Tacoma TRD 4wd, I love to hear opinion, good and bad.
Andrew, I must say the very thing that keeps me watching is your honesty and fearlessness of criticism. Keep up the good work.
Pajero was a good 4x4. Now it's a street car with a little lift.
@Leopold been a land Rover man since I was a boy, and I can't help but feel the new defender is just a lifestyle vehicle, the press will rave about it and it will be wonderful, but with no proper chassis and no van/pickup versions the utilities will not want it, the old vehicles adaptability was its strength and reason for being, the military seems to be moving away from simple transport vehicles the role that the old Land Rover used to fill so I can't see them buying it, so chunky tyres, big winch, and its set up for the carpark warriors!.
@@CrusaderSports250 It seems that many of the pros use the older frames and upgrade them with modified suspensions than risk breaking down with a new 4x4.
I suppose the next thing you are going to tell me is that the Toyota Camry they use in NASCAR is not the same as the one that my mom drives. 😉
ScoobyFermentation fantastic comparison well done I'm still laughing
me too
😂😂
😂😂😂😂
I love watching the old stock car races. Especially when the straight on the Daytona race was the beach. Imagine if the top drivers had to compete in modern stock vehicles on the old road courses? Much more entertaining than driving cereal boxes in circles.
Hi Andrew, thank you for your honesty and your reviews. I am planning a central Australia trip next year and you have highlighted some weaknesses of my NS Pajero. I love my Paj and I think it is a capable vehicle in the bush and a comfortable daily drive. I am going to replace the rear bar (the sand scoop) and upgrade my underbody protection. I have already fitted a front bar and a 12,500lb winch. Keep on doing what you do.
How did the trip go?
I just watched a 36 minute movie quality youtube video of a South African man roasting the hell out of mitsubishi lol what a time to be alive!
English man.
2000 NM Pajero GLX (base model - no annoying bells and whistles) ... yes, it has articulation issues, which can be addressed with a change in driving technique, the sump guard is made of plastic and the intercooler guard is very thin steel - I've replaced both with 4mm guards from bushskinz4x4. The departure angle is only 24 degrees stock and I've improved it with a 50mm suspension lift and 2 times oversize tires. The guards will actually accommodate 35" wheels. The rear bumper centre section on this model is steel, but I've removed the under-bumper guard which was plastic - no issues since with scooping. So, yes, in stock form, it needs some panel/bolt on changes to improve the overall experience. In other areas the Pajero will put other 4x4s to shame. Road manners and handling characteristics are definitely it's strong suite. Gravel/dirt roads or the beach/small dunes are it's best home in my opinion. However I have had it through some of the most challenging terrains all over Australia so I do speak from experience. I love it due to its versatility and reliability. I feel though that maybe it's time to move on? Bury the hatchet? Come visit Tassie and we'll do some tracks! 👌
Julian Fuller compared to nearly everything else, the paj is a poor platform for harsh terrain
Matt Thew horses for courses, mate. Mine does what I want it to do and I've made it that way through trial, error and modifications. To be honest, I don't see what everyone's problem is. Every vehicle will have some kind of design compromise. Owners learn to live with it, adapt, improvise and overcome. I can't believe that one single solitary experience has generated negative feedback to such a degree that a respected 4x4 journalist refuses to have anything to do with a vehicle that has as much heritage and pedigree as most if not all other vehicles in it's class/category. THAT is the real tragedy here, nothing to do with the actual vehicle at all.
As a Pajero owner and Patreon supporter of Andrew, I miss out on any kind of coverage of my make of vehicle in any of his productions EXCEPT for this particular experience. That's it, that's all I get for my contribution. And when I happen to mention what I've done and where I've taken my vehicle, I get: "you have to admit it's a poor platform for harsh terrain." It's definitely not a specialised rock crawler that's for sure. But 'general' harsh terrain, I have to disagree based on where I've traveled in my rig. I'm sorry you all have had such poor experiences, but spare a thought for us blokes who are happy with our rigs and happy with Andrew but still get slammed by others because of the vehicles we CHOOSE to drive due to the actions of a bunch of sooks on the other side of the world.
You'd be amazed at how far you can take a commodore, 90% driver, 10% car...
I’m not reading all of that sorry. But I have them as work vehicles and I’m a qualified instructor. So I’m not going off hear say or one off experience. It’s just a frank, honest and objective opinion. Late model Pajero is a tall car chassis and layout with a 4wd drive train. It’s just the truth. It’s a monocoque chassis, and thus is fundamentally flawed as a 4wd
Matt Thew if you're not going to read it, why bother replying? Monocoque is not the issue - It's actually the independent suspension.
It's so difficult to have an informed discussion with people if they refuse to consider anything other than their own viewpoint. Disappointing.
I have a 2003 Montero/Pajero and I love it. I have done many road trips with it and like Andrew said it handles good on gravel, I don't have any dunes to worry about here in Canada:) . Just got OME suspension for it to get more ground clearance as my gas tank already has two dents in it. Please folks understand that only opinion that you should be really worried about is yours if you like your vehicle and are happy with it that's all it matters not everyone likes same stuff. Andrew thank you for makings great inspirational videos and maybe one day you can explore Canada, we have some truly remote and beautiful places here as well :)
MARTIN L yup, not a sand dune in sight here in Alberta, I love my 04 Montero but his review was very fair.
How did the OME affect the ride quality and road manners?
Well...newer Pajeros dont have good articulation and they are low...thats a measurable fact. What is the big fuss about?
We need to hear the truth. Thanks Andrew! You are one of the best experienced off-roader.
Hi Andrew I have owned several pajeros and yes i am South African. It rattles , has no clearance and everything else you said but i still love it. Also have a ford ranger so you can imagine the hate i get from toyota fanboys. Glad you stick to your guns. Every person is allowed their own opinion . So sad that there is so many internet trolls
I own a second gen (here in the US) they called them Monteros, And I love it, but in my opinion the 2nd gen was the last good mitsubishi.
budgetoffroad b The 2nd gen was IMO the best Pajero.
hell yeah ive got a 95 sr on 35s
I do agree............. proper frame build 4X4.
budgetoffroad b I've been thinking of purchasing a Montero 2003-2006. The purpose is to have a vehicle to drive in Saint Lucia. The roads are crappy. What is your opinion on this build? I know if I purchase one I will have to replace the water pump, exhaust manifolds, fluids and belts over 100k miles. Anything else you would recommend?
I own a 2nd gen and its a great old girl
I’m no Mitsubishi fan but we have owned Mitzi’s for years never had an issue.
Hi. As a owner I agree on the beeping, the rear plastic and lack of clearance. However with the traction control off and rear diff lock on, the 3.8L petrol Pajero can go quite well in the sand. Also never had any complaints about comfort, much more comfortable than a 70 series Land Cruiser (which I also own).
Michael Atkin must be vs prado not 70. 70 is defender competitor
true, I would love to see a standard diesel prado 'perform' in the Namib dunes, heavily laden and all - that would be a fair comparison.
If you choose 3.8 liter pajero, 4.0 v6 prado much faster
Prado can't be driven fast unless road is straight. We have quite a few Prado's tipped over, this is a drawback of a solid rear axle - it helps to maintain better ground clearance and articulation (comparing to Pajero), but rear end of the Prado jumps badly on uneven roads, where Pajero just flies over. Other than that, both cars weigh almost the same, engines output is same 250 horses, so not much difference on the tarmac.
Murad dont choose prado if u only do mild offroad.
I appreciate you calling it how you see it, refreshingly honest with your opinion in this industry. I agree with your assessment of the vehicle in general. I do own and drive a Pajero, and while I love it I do recognise the faults. People get way too caught up in supporting "their team" mentality, but there's no excuse for resorting to personal attack. I would own a Toyota if I could afford it, but I really appreciate my Pajero taking me on adventures that I can afford. The stock Pajero definitely needs a 2" lift kit to increase the clearance for 4wding, and is very plasticy, and it's widely known for the most uncomfortable seats among 4x4s, but the engine and gearbox (my 2009 shares a gearbox with a prado I believe) are very good and regularly last well over half a million kms with regular servicing and common issues addressed. Thank you Andrew for your wonderful, entertaining and educational videos! Keep them coming please!!
My Father Own a 2015 Mitsubishi Montero/Pajero for off-road purposes most of the time and we love it, is not perfect but it’s a excellent 4x4, also very reliable :)
Thank you! I discovered your channel when researching new tires for my new Toyota 4Runner, this video and you comments in several others convinced me that I can trust you to give your honest opinion. As an aside, my first choice of tires was the BFG KO 2s because my first car, an 1985 Nissan pickup had the original BFG All Terrains which performed excellent and never flatted after thousands of miles of gravel driving here in Alaska. My second 4x4, a 1991 Dodge Dakota eventually mounted a set of BFG KO tires, which performed equally as well for 50,000 miles. So when I finally replaced it with a Toyota 4Runner this year a set of KO2s were my first choice of tire. I was very glad to see your review which gave me the assurance that they are as good or better than their previous versions. Thanks again for the great videos.
Your right about the middle seat in the second row!!! It's a pain in the butt!!!
I tend to think Aussie Pajero owners would understand the weaknesses of the vehicle such as Pajero wave with limited suspension travel. I have a 2014 Challenger and it has its weaknesses to. The major "hidden" weakness with Mitsubishi is lack of money to develop vehicles so the part bin gets worked over time and time again. The all wheel drive system of super select was an excellent system but it likely is limited by torque and power it can handle so instead of redeveloping it Mitsubishi kneecaps their motors. Same with CV joints. Fine when 100kws and 300nm was the best motors could offer and when vehicles were much lighter plus lower geared. Sad when thing are pointed out the writer gets attacked when pointing out weaknesses. Mitsubishi vehicles are now engineered too close to the edge. Operate them within their design parameters and no issue but push them even just a little and the lack of development shows along with weight saving such as tin foil protection plates. I like my Challenger and have spent a fortune on it but the basic issue is many factory components are operating at design limits due to increase vehicle weight and desire for power to keep place. Tritons used to sell because of excellent value for money they offered but expecting one to compete specification to specification is optimistic.
Paj owner here. Paris Dakar argument is ridiculous. Not the same vehicle at all. Good review. Respect
I owned 2 LWB Pajero's and still own a SWB.I travelled Namibia extensively and encountered all the things that was mentioned by Andrew and also extreme dust entry due to a faulty valve. My SWB is now used at the coast to launch ski boat, " thanks to all the plastic" not a lot that can rust off. And it rattles, and it has a stupid radio arial that cannot handle any bushes. There are more things I do not like but must say never left me stranded next to the road.
People need to understand that this is my experience and also my opinion about my Pajero. We have this love hate relationship. Now I own a G Wagon, and that is a piece of s..........Not even to mention MB's attitude towards problems.
Did you still have the same problem with the swb ?
Real men have Landcruisers
@@matteastwood87 men that fancy men, yea...
@@mrsociable1288 you can't afford one than
@@matteastwood87 real men DRIVE LandCruisers
After 8 years in the Omani desert, I found out the hard way that only a Toyota Landcruiser will survive the abuse. I've had a rear axle broken of my company Pajero. I've not had a single issue, even the smallest, with my LC 80.
Keep being honest to yourself, thats a huge human quality. Love the reviews!
title is misleading ..only way to find out is to start watching then find out that is an issue only with South African Pajero's owners and not Mitsubishi itself..therefore we consider it a click bait
I just bought a Pajero (new) I am 62 yo. Previous to this I had owned 2 Toyota 70 series “troopies” from new, I was always a Toyota bloke (I have the crook back to prove it) and would take my 70 series anywhere, and I did for work, crawling up and down goat tracks up the side of small mountains. So I carefully worked out what sort of 4w driving I would be doing over the next 10 years of my senior life and came to the conclusion my hardcore 4w driving was probably over. My needs were for a touring vehicle, something roomy, comfortable with the ability to take off road with stability when needed. Was not prepared to spend AU$100,000 for a Toyota 200 series at this stage in my life for what I was anticipating doing with it. So I guess the moral of the story is buy something that will be fit for your anticipated needs. For me the Pajero will suit my needs, my demands won’t be unreasonable. If I was still going to do hardcore 4wd ing then I would have probably bought a second hand Toyota 100 series with the 4.2 litre FTE motor and a lift kit. I would not have great expectations in taking a Pajero through that sort of terrain… just my 2 cents worth!
My Father owned a GEN 1 Pajero (The one that looked like a Range Rover Classic) We were quite Active on the 4wd forums in Southeast Asia, And the GEN 3 Pajero was always criticized as a "not a proper SUV".
We all agreed that it was a crossover with low range, all thanks to its monocoque chassis.
I can remember up until to this day back in 2003 when my Father and I went to the annual motor show to check out the latest Pajero (GEN3) I remember seeing his puzzled face, my father moaned on about how Mitsubishi screwed up his beloved Pajero line. He said it's no longer a durable SUV cause of its Chassis. I argued that Mitsubishi is just moving on with the ERA.
Fast forward to 2017 and oh boy my Dad was right Because the Montero Sport is outselling the Pajero. Why? Because the Montero Sport has the simpler ladder on frame Chassis just like the original.
The lesson here is that Fanboys with big egos and small brains will always be toxic to the community. I'm a proud Mitsubishi fan but I have to agree, that the GEN 3 Pajero is nothing but a glorified Crossover with low range. end of story!
Motoring 90 as an 12 year Montero sport and 1,5 year 2017 Montero sport, I couldn’t agree more.
Some comments are simply beneath contempt and I personally wouldn´t grace them with a response, however, I don´t live in the public eye. Stay calm, ignore the nitwits and keep up the fantastic work.
Whilst your review is correct, here in Australia hardly anyone goes 4wding with a stock 4x4 we pretty much pimp them straight away. 2inch lift, bash plates, bullbar, winch etc. To 4wd without any mods to a modern 4x4 especially a pajero is just asking for trouble. I know exactly what you are saying because I am a pajero owner myself, but I wouldnt do half the stuff you have done with a stock pajero
As an Aussie who’s owned several 4x4 there (and am now based in France), I generally - although not entirely - agree with your comments. Having a comprehensive understanding of the terrain you’ll be in, and the constraints of your vehicle, determines what if any modifications need to be made. Australia has a ton of technical terrain that you would be mad to go off-road in a soft-roader. Cape York, for instance, is a minefield of terrain. Driving up the beach from the Sunshine Coast, however, is not. And. Aussies are just as susceptible to over-re-engineering vehicles that were designed for the purpose we purchase them for as anyone else - South African’s included. This video suggests that as remarkably experienced as this guy is, he was reacting to known unknowns, and went into an environment that demanded a solid understanding of a vehicle that he was admittedly lacking an understanding of. Frankly, the title of this video is clickbait - in the opening moments he says that this is about SA Pajero owners, and continues to vent his spleen, and generally use his platform to attack the “fragile egos” of others, while falsely equating their behavior with the brand of their vehicle manufacturer. The Pajero is a solid vehicle that thousands swear by, and many of those owners have modified their vehicles to be more responsive to their environment. Just as Land Cruiser drivers do. The false equivalence is Intellectually indefensible, and blaming a vehicle for not performing immaculately outside of its actual constraints, is irresponsible - and I generally only have good things to say about this channel. Having just purchased a 2004 Gen3 Pajero here in Europe, I know I’ll be making some modifications, but I also know I won’t be installing a lift, or a winch, because I won’t require them for the terrain I’ll be in. I will also inevitably cut the rear bumper to eliminate the scoop, which is clearly a design flaw that adversely impacts its performance on steep ascents, and the factory steps will come off, and at some point in the future I’ll add sliders and plates - definitely before we head to Morocco. Not because I know my expeditions will require them, but because that just seems like adult behaviour. I believe in being prepared. I thought this guy did as well. But he drove off into the desert with his family in a vehicle that he didn’t understand, and experienced issues with it that were avoidable with a little more attention to his preparation. And fanboys of any brand are the devils playthings, and should require a license to use the internet.
Mitsubishi is the best King on the highway , cross country but if you're going off-roaders you have to swing it faster to get a strong momentum traction
Andrew, the vehicle looks like it's sitting pretty low on its haunches in most of the clips. Are you sure you weren't over GVM? No doubt you're aware that in a Pajero, you've only got 770kg cargo or so, and with 5 people on board you'd be looking at around 470kg. When you get stuck / "TI" at around the 9 minute mark, you are carrying 3 jerry cans (possibly 4) on the roof. (Earlier in the video, on the same trip, we can see 4... 2 each side). These are 70-90kg together, full. Plus a full roof rack (steel? alloy? Assuming steel given the weight carried and terrain traversed). Heavy regardless of the material, surely 25kg plus steel roof fittings. Add the shovel and no doubt a lot of other recovery gear.. snatch straps, air compressors etc. These all add up quickly. Fridge? Food? Tin cans? Clothes. Goodness me, even if you weren't over GVM, you are still tending towards pushing the limits of a vehicle that was designed to be, in stock form, just as comfortable driving to the suburban shops as it is a capable base for a touring vehicle, with relatively soft suspension. No doubt you were on stock suspension on this trip, given all the Mitsubishi logos on the side. For new viewers of this video, it's not hard (or all that expensive) for a Pajero owner planning to drive through the NAMIBIA to install good quality heavy duty (and raised) springs and shocks for extra ground clearance, especially if you're driving through arduous or sandy terrain. In fact, if one of my closest friends was planning to do a trip like Andrew's in a Pajero with stock suspension, with the luggage and number of people he was carrying, I would suggest that they are being silly not to consider heavier duty suspension. Furthermore, saying things like "A Corolla / MX-5 has better articulation than a Pajero" comes across as fairly immature and "salty" and in my view impacts Andrew's credibility without also providing the relevant suspension travel figures to support that assertion. Regardless, even if he is correct, a Corolla or MX-5 owner (and don't get me wrong, I've owned three MX-5s and love them) would not plan to travel the Namibia without, at the very least, some suspension upgrades either. A genuine review of the Pajero's capabilities as a tourer should ensure that the vehicle is equipped with suitable suspension (around 18,000 Rand) and one with a factory rear diff lock for extra utility.
Nice narration, Andrew, and much in line with my thoughts. I had a '99 Diesel Pajero LWB, and after my first trans-Kalahari trip ripped off the front and rear bumpers and upgraded suspension to OME. After that the vehicle performed awesomely, for hundreds of thousands of klicks. We waded to some camps through water for up to 4 kilometers with no problems experienced. Sand driving was actually a pleasure and the manual shift was great. However, the next generation of Pajero and after seemed really crap!
2:53 cutting edge German engineering: liquid cooled headlamp spotted.
Edit: after the whole 'bishy story instantly subscribed. Keep it up. Please. Too few, by far, do honest reviews these days, especially this "professional social media influencer" scallywags.
You are right and You were fair with everything even when shtf. Thank Your for that.
Let me state, I LOVE my Pajero Exceed!!!! But I LOVE your show and your viewpoint!! Everything you said is correct. I like my Pajero but it is not a Land Cruiser or Range Rover. I love it for what it's designed for. To me it's a soft rider.
My next 4x4 will be a Land Cruiser, but I will keep my Pajero also. I love the soft ride 90% of the time. The other 10℅ I will pull out the LC 😁😁😁😁
Keep up the good no not good AWESOME reviews.
And yet the Mitsubishi Pajero has less issues with the diesel engine than any other 4WD diesel not to mention that they won 13 Paris to Dakars and land cruiser zero
May I suggest you do some research in place of believing Mitsubishi's own marketing? The Pajero never won the Dakar in the standard class. They were all highly modified race machines with almost no components common to the Pajero sold to the public. Land Cruiser won the standard class for several years in a row with the 100 series.
@@4xoverland Are you going to lecture a mechanic with 32 years of experience under his belt?! How about you do your homework, as I said Toyota Land Cruisers have not been able to win a single Paris to Dakar event, despite being highly modified!!!!
And the rally spec Pajero was not highly modified get your facts straight mate,
Toyota Land Cruisers right across the board series after series had plenty of faults, both petrol and diesel engines, Ivw worked on plenty, Mitsubishi Pajero diesel engines are bullet proof, never seen too much of a problem with them, they are by far the most reliable diesel engine in any 4WD, better than the Mercedes Diesel engines even.
You're bias jealous and envious obviously.
It was 12 championships and you not picked me by being out by just 1.🤣
Humility is what you need my son!.
So that's 12 times highly modified Mitsubishi Pajero's have kicked highly modified Toyota's ass
I'm a South African Pajero owner living in the United Arab Emirates. I do agree with Andrew on some of the points and weaknesses of the Pajero. Ground clearance is not in its favor with the rear end scooping sand. We do a lot of dune driving and majority of the Pajero owners fit a rear skid late to prevent this issue. A front skid plate is also a must to protect the sump. Overall it's not a bad car, we only get the 3.5 and 3.8 V6 models, no diesel models available. I'm sure if the Land cruiser wagons received this kind of critique, people would have reacted the same way. I will drive my Pajero as long as I can, so far no issues with my 2014 with 155 000km on the clock.
Thanks for the video.
Thank you Andrew, honest review and You have to be glad to have adversaries for being right.,
Another good one. Obviously not seen by too many Pajero owners yet. I remember when that model came out the Aussie magazines had the same issues with bumpers catching and ripping off.
Land Rover Stage One - I read it. I own one. I liked it! Nice well balanced video! Rude people are every-freaking-where. And, I, like other Mitsubishi 4x4 owners feel their vehicles are under appreciated. When I go into the Colorado mountains, I’ve rescued, towed, gone for parts and tools and people for so many 4x4 brands I cannot count them all. Frequently they ride with me and always start out, go left, go faster, you need to make a run up this hill or you aren’t going to... watch out for that rock! Etc. Then they get quiet and often ask what kind of "car" is this again. I just smile.
I love it I'm watching this and I keep getting ads for Mitsubishi
I love the way how you critisized the Pajero and I am a Pajero owner and I find it informative as well as I was educated. thank you sir For I was fully aware of its strength and weaknesses.
I just discovered your channel while doing research on potential mods fit my Defender 110. This is only the third of your videos I’ve watched and I’m hooked!! I love your feisty style and your honesty. Too many motoring journalists suck the manufacturers teats for all they’re worth and take all the freebie perks and then have to be less than forthcoming about problems with the vehicle or the manufacturer. Chris Harris was blacklisted by Ferrari for criticizing their press cars as being “ specially prepared” which everybody knew was happening but would talk about. So it’s nice to see another writer who’ll tell it like it is. Looking forward to watching the rest of your content 🤙🏻🙂
Nice!
I, for one, prefer an honest review.
When I'm researching to buy something, it is other people's experiences of that product that I'm interested in reading or viewing.
I agree, that there will indeed be differing experiences. But that ultimately it is up to me, the consumer, to make a final decision about whether or not to buy a product.
I have my own experience of posting a negative review about a product from DD Tarps that leaked during a rain storm.
Not a particularly fierce storm, for Australian conditions.
The manufacturer claimed it was an extreme storm, and I still disagree with that.
The supplier, who agreed with me during a phone conversation, sent out free seam sealer, so that we could repair the tarps.
I think enough said...
I still use that tarp, and used it recently during another rain storm, and it performed great.
I may do a follow up video on that... lol
Thanks for your video - what a great story.
I am very happy with my choice of a Toyota Hilux 4X4.
Granted, my son is a mechanic, and avid 4X4er, and that's the vehicle he recommended for me.
Cheers
Shaz
I have a td4.2ti 2003 GU patrol. I love the thing. I was going to sell it and buy a 2009 Pajero 3.2 after driving one and it was excellent on fuel. 9.1L/100km on the highway.
You took an off road vehicle off road and it fell apart. What else are you supposed to say? 👍
I own one. Compared to others with Wranglers, Toyotas, Nissans, I feel underpowered and heavy. After lifting the suspension, adding a killer switch to turn off the electronics, adjusting bumpers, I can do pretty much what they can, but at higher rpm’s and I can’t let my guard down. In other words, it’s always a thrill and never pure relax. Will I make it or not? Pajero does not forgive any driving mistakes. However, the car is cheaper and parts are not expensive. It is what it is, a legend that takes me where I want, but I have to know where its limits are. Thanks for the preview
I own a Mitsubishi shogun and I disagree with the room in the back comment however the back seats are uncomfortable, and the third row of seats is a fancy bench where in most like the discovery you get two full seats so a little disappointing for the shogun. Also the wheels do lift a lot. The saving factor though is the engine that is bulletproof and the auto transmission is great. The worst thing about it is the tractor sound on the road can make it feel cheap. You give it a fair review and agree with most comments 👍🏻
Do you think the frustration shown in your original article was really more about the lack of preparation for the trip - both to the vehicle and the driver? I question the merit of taking a stock vehicle into the environment it was subjected, a simple change of rims & tyres could have resulted in a completely different experience. Did your vehicle have centre and rear diff locks - they are included in Australian versions? Did you find out what the beeping was? I found the comment on comfort most interesting, haven driven a range of 4wds I've found driver/passenger comfort in a Pajero is at the better end of the spectrum than most 4wds. Enjoy your reviews, I hope you keep them coming.
I have mitsubishi strada g wagon ranlly master but l'm not sure overseas how they call.
One of the biggest issues that I have had with Mitsubishi is that I ended up with lots of Bitsofmishi on the driveway each weekend.
I still find the reaction to the video and articles hilarious. Laughable how small minded supposed adults can be.
I love a good honest review from a good honest man, it’s something that has for the most been bought out by car manufacturers. Keep up the great work mate.
This is incredible, I truly enjoy the way you present information and talk to your audience. You seem to be an extremely educated gentleman, especially in this field. I am not at all regarded as an overlander, if given the opportunity I would absolutely take on the adventure as I am a driver through and through. However, the reason I have become a subscriber to your content is to learn more about these machines, vehicles, driving, challenges, equipment, and your experience. I can't even begin to imagine how one does battle against the openness of the internet, though I'm absolutely glad that you continue to put real educational content out for those of us who choose to actually learn. Thank you!
Yes you are right sir and another complain is about the oil pump too engine get over heated and gone
Anthony Sansom: Entertained, amused - definitely not angry
Actually loved your review, also loved my Pajero - BUT! Mine was not the same as yours. Mine was a 3.8ltr SWB 2010 that I lived with for a year in Dubai and took into the desert every single viable weekend (which means that I missed a few weeks in the summer when it was really too hot, and maybe 1 in the winter due to torrential rain). But to be practical here:
Tracton control: In around 1,000hrs of sand driving, this was by experience with traction control: 1. the very first time left the tarmac I got about 50 feet before I got stuck - and I admit that I hadn't adjusted the tyre pressures. To be clear, this was also my very first experience of sand driving 4 x 4. 2. I let the tyres down to 18psi - and I got about 50 ft before the traction control cut the drive to all 4 wheels. I then turned off the TC and never turned it on again. Total driving time with TC - about 60 seconds. My assessment: TC off road on loose surfaces is a total waste of time.It's just a manufacturers gimmick. Even in theory it only works if you keep below about 2 mph so that you don't get wheel spin. What you need is limited slip diffs ad that's all you need.
Transmission: But that said my Pajero had LSDiffs rear and central and they were truly excellent- once you turned off the ludicrous TC. While the 5 speed box in manual over-ride was equally excellent and with the selectronic change feature - very fast to use, making for a very fast drive.
Engine: Excellent. 100% reliable. The 3.8 is rated close to 250BHP (I think 238bhp), and that's pretty much the standard requirement for sand driving.
Trim: I have to agree with you. Every single time that I descended a dune on to a plain I get a horrible noise after I hit the transition. Some component of the front bumper would bend up and touch the wheels. The first time I heard the noise I thought the front diff had been damaged. It only takes a minute to bend it back out of the way by hand but your comments about the ground level plastic are correct.
Generally: I loved the thing and thought the build quality and the driving experience were superb. As stated above, it was fun and fast to drive. That said, I was usually alone and always lightly loaded - and I always thought the LWB was just a family picnic wagon, which is why I avoided getting one. Despite my great experience with my SWB Pajero, you've actually confirmed my suspicions about the rest of the pack.
RANT: OK, my personal rant: TC is just a politically correct waste of time off road. It's a gimmick to sell vehicles - and it definitely detracts from the fun of off road driving. If manufacturers want to keep producing it to sell cars by convincing drivers who never go off road that they are buying a genuine safety feature, then no problem. But please bear in mind that serious off road drivers have to be able to turn it off in order to make the vehicle perform properly. There is a hill climb in the UAE close to fossil rock that goes to the Jebel Malleha pass. It isn't always possible - depends on the conditions, but I've ascended it a hundred times - obviously with the TC turned off - and every time the Pajero is beeping at me like crazy that the vehicle is un-stable. That's part of the TC system - a sensor that still works even though the TC is turned off. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's annoying. But pointless and irritating would to true.
Bottom line: dune driving is a gorgeous experience that requires tremendous driver skill and no amount of automation will ever be able to replace that skill - nor is it desirable that it should.
Notice to all: Feel free to comment as you want to.
Thank you for your comments on the Pajero. As you mentioned, 'Defender is not for dunes; it is for mud and hill climbing,' I believe the Pajero is also a rugged vehicle that may not perform exceptionally well in dune driving.
Tell it like it is ALWAYS! Honesty is so useful to manufacturers in the long run also but the dealers will not agree.
Its only useful to manufacturers if they are the kind that take notice, and have the money to change the design. Mitsubishi Motor Corp has been close to bankruptcy for decades and that's why they have not invested in Pajero for such a long time.
They are building a plane now! :)) (of course, with the help of Toyota and others)
Absolutely, and that is why I say Hats off to Jeep! With their just-launched Wrangler JL, they have certainly listened to owners and addressed every possible complaint. They've even gone beyond and done things that were not asked for - like the folding windscreen. Let's hope they can fix the reliability issues that they are well aware of.
I’m a used car dealer in NYC and used to sell lots of Mitsubishi cars back in the 90’s, not anymore due to customer complaints and bad manufacturer service. Just like Saab there’s lots of hardcore followers that refused to admit that their beloved brand has flaws.
You hit the nail on the head. I own a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JK, and comparing it to the new JL, Jeep has most certainly listened to its costumers and fans.
Wow, lotta very heated comments on this. Tisk tisk . Personally, I don’t think it was a particularly good piece of motoring journalism, though that is not a title I feel is appropriate for you! I saw this “review” long before I bought a Pajèro, and I did so as a result of much research. I didn’t like the Prado, because I felt as though I should be steering it with a tiller compared to the Pajèro, although I have now driven a Prado on a long trip and realized that you can get used to that! Some of your points are quite accurate, others not. I have found it to be brilliant at steep sand descents! I feel that you ought to have highlighted the difference in the fact that the vehicle is of monocoque construction with independent rear suspension...a good “motoring journalist” would certainly not have missed that point, or failed to mention it! Also, I recently had the rear bumper off a Prado 120...now that, THAT is one very large piece of plastic indeed. But nevertheless, the Pajero rear “step” is poorly designed, and needs to be modified to divert sand downwards, as I have now done! It surprises me that over the years, you’ve not yourself realized the failings in your review, but, hey ho, who’s perfect? Lastly, shouldn’t your video be titled “why Mitsubishi won’t deal with me”? I do enjoy your work overall, the two TDB series being the pinnacle of it to date! I say that from the perspective that the TV style production values are more enjoyable than your more recent you tube style, imho!
Good points you make. Other vehicles have plastic bits too, but this was not a comparison. The Pajero was asked to stand on its own merits - what chassis type it has is irrelevant. Buyers don't care! What buyers expect if it is what counts. Odd that. I found it terrible in steep sand declines. It goes both ways - They won't deal with me, but more importantly I get asked a lot to do Mitsubishi reviews from fans, but I decline. So this title seemed more relevant. TH-cam and TV are not the same, and as the business model for TV collapsed in 2012/13. I had to change to be able to continue to do what I do because South African TV networks expect to paid to broadcast content. That's why my shows are not on TV in SA anymore, but they are on air in Europe. TH-cam is wonderful. Without it a few thousand people see my work. Here, a several hundred thousand get to enjoy it. Its altogether more fun and more profitable.
Talking about chassis and suspension type in the instance sounds more like an attempt at justifying poor performance. The point was that the car has a weakness, and you insulting Andrew and his journalism credentials just serves to make his point about Pajero owners.
I agree with Nick Boylen, you are another disgruntled Pajero owner , to embarrassed to admit you chose poorly imho too lol
Toyota has far more fanboys and propaganda in its favour than mitsubishi. Andrew is a classic example. They casually gloss over all the problems with landcruisers and pretend they dont exist. For one thing they are not nearly as reliable as their reputation (especially their diesels). Many toyota owners will lie to others that their vehicles are rock solid reliable when they often give trouble in various ways. The 70 series which is promoted as the 'gold standard for overlanding' is actually a terrible option for many overlanders. Yes they are very tough. But they are sluggish, uncomfortable, noisy and unstable on highways which makes them bad for many overlanders who travel alot on highways and want some comfort. Andrew himself has gotten stuck in his land cruisers several times but never blamed toyota. So far i have seen 3 examples of it. In namibia and australia in 70 series cruisers. Then in angola (or botswana) in a 100 series if i remember right. He is a hypocrite.
@@nickboylen6873 Just saw your comment, late I'm afraid, but it still justifies a response. The car has indeed, weaknesses, numerous, in fact. But overall, it is an excellent vehicle. In Andrew's review it can hardly be said that overloading the vehicle and still expecting it to perform to standard is reasonable. I will agree, and indeed chide Mitsubishi for that rear bumper (sand scoop) design, which I had to modify slightly after my second trip to Fraser Island, where it amply demonstrated its failings and had to have it's brackets bent back into place. (Still the same brackets that are on it ten yers later though, I would point out). Whinging about it beeping because he got out and left the key in the ignition is not a fault. Perhaps the other vehicles he prefers should be taken back for repair, for they should indeed beep under the same circumstances. It is also not the vehicle's fault that the roof load was not secured properly. I can also demonstrate the car's absolutely excellent performance at descending steep sand dunes, and hopefully will shortly post a video showing this on my return from the Simpson Desert. Driver experience of the vehicle seems to be the issue here. As for the vehicle's suspension design, it is, as with all vehicles, absolutely critical and very important to mention. It's what makes the Pajero the best "on road" 4 x 4, with rear wheel drive, all wheel drive, and four wheel drive both high and low range options available. It is not the best off-road 4x4 by far, but most people use their vehicles as daily drivers and occasional off road. My experience, over several years now, is that the Pajero is best for that. It is also immensely capable off-road, and I have demonstrated that many times. I also occasionally drive a Prado and other 4x4 vehicles, and after the first few kilometres I get used to the soft wallowing suspension, but there's no way I could drive in the same spirited manner as I can with the Pajero. Not that I do do that much spirited driving these days, but in an emergency swerve, my money and my life would be on the Pajero. Andrew's journalism credentials are clear for all to see. A motoring journalist he is not. What he is, is an excellent film producer, and I have watched all of his work for many years now. He also teaches documentary style video making, at which he is also excellent...avoiding the pitfall of being equipment focussed as so many are. His exploration "tag" is slightly questionable for he rarely, if ever, leaves the tracks; so that would suggest it's been explored before, although not by many of his viewers, I grant you. That does not mean to say that I dislike Andrew's productions, I love them, and watch them avidly, though I can't wait until he produces some actual adventure content again. I'd even say that I value and agree with the majority of his opinions. The vehicle builds are quite boring now, but even Ronny Dahl has had to resort to that to keep the TH-cam views up, because a lot of people do like that kind of content. I want the discovery and exploration...actually going places and using the damned vehicles.
To conclude, I am one of Andrew's biggest fans, and a contributor to his productions too. No intention to detract from his enviable and excellent career is intended. Simply to disagree with his "review". My opinion is based on ten years of ownership and use; his on a few days, so I believe my expertise on the subject is rather more reliable.
Thank you for coming to Australia, we are looking forward to your future participation in your passion and its publication.
I’ve owned several Mitsubishi products some good some not so, amongst a lifetime covering ownership of 50+ vehicles family owned and sometimes loved,included a SWB Pajero with a 12,000 pound warn + I’ve owned and loved a Toyota 80 series which I put 500,000 kms on it both were excellent vehicles with faults and obvious limitations, however the often obvious truth that many well appointed family AWD/4WD wagons/utes that’ are comfortable to drive on the road ( as you have discovered in the past and post coming to OZ) are usually trade off between a model weighted toward off road from scratch or the variants focused improved in either 4WD or standard road model. The after market sometimes regardless of GVM but mindful of the $ often say once raised and or purposefully customised with 4WD improvements fixes this , so in the purchasers mind the simple “soft roader”truth becomes blurred, I.e. that many comfort models are essentially designed for the black top with an “all road capacity” that essentially only extends to 2/3ds of actual 4WD situations.
Re your S.A. treatment
The middle seat issue is definitely an appalling cost saving or design ignorance issue that needed fearless exposure.
So again Mitsubishi and others you should be giving this honest man a job to enhance your design and development , sadly you probably won’t, it appears to me that we all needed to condemn this as “shame on you Mitsubishi S.A. for your at arms length retaliation aimed at his career via your advertising connections, hopefully this will not happen as frequently here.
And for any brand Zealots out there ,
FYI I’m about to take possession of the latest (2020) top of the line Triton being the best compromise for my needs value for $ etc
and hopefully being in Australia I won’t get a flood of trolling crap for my honesty when their is a problem I may share.
In my 62 years young experiencesI can honestly say all vehicles have issues whether it be comparatively unsuitable for a particular purpose or the comparative reliability and associated costs in a long term ownership situation when I have passed on the loved vehicles on to my family members.
In my case and probably most Australians, we remember and favour the vehicles whose dealerships have a customer focused company policy backed by both the car manufacturers and their local distribution chain, especially in the way by they deal with these individual and sometimes collective problems, some dealers are even smart enough to admit the limits in a particular area and up sell an acceptable solution up front whilst making an extra dollar or two and yes I find the reviews even the negative ones helpful in planning modifications to improve any particular negatives for example you can add a lift kit replace a seat etc with After market accessories and solutions.
Andrew, i completely agree with you point of view. 30 years ago i bought a Russian Lada Niva here in Australia. I was mocked at the time. The Lada Nivas had their downsides - poor brakes, underpowered for the 1600kg weight, propensity to rust while you looked at them. Upside was constant 4wd, great articulation and centre diff lock as standard.
But, they would go ANYWHERE! I was in Australia's Northern Territory (Limmen Bight near Arhnerm Land) and got stuck down to the body in soft sand alongside the river. I had been lazy, not wanting to deflate tyres, as it meant me having to use the (factory supplied) hand pump to reinflate. A Nissan Patrol and a Landcruiser arrived. The Landcruiser attempted to retrieve me. It sank to the chassis rails.
I deflated my tyres, did a 3 point turn in the hole I'd been stuck in, then proceeded to tow the Landcruiser out of it's hole.
The Landcruiser owner said to me "do not ever tell people your Russian junk rescued my Landcruiser".
Forget about marketing BS. Use the vehicle and be honest about it's capabilities.
Came across this video and i have been a pajero owner for the last 2 years. I like your opinion on this and i like that you are straight forward with reviewing a product. I can relate to what you mentioned what the pajero flaws are, hell i have ripped my bumper more then a few times,its not a comfortable car especially on long trip. Ground clearance is a problem and the front sump guard is poorly thin. But if you correct all these issues i can tell you this it is amazing vehicle to have. And it has impressed me and my friends on its 4x4 capabilities. On how the pajero owners in SA attacked you. I find disrespectful and it simply comes down to how you were raised. Keep up the work and like your reviews👍
Ps i am a South African Pajero owner 😂
I watched your original review before test driving my 2nd Paj to see the known bad points of the 4th gen, then since I liked it and it was good value i bought it anyway. I don't understand the hate some people spew at differing opinions. Also my particular Pajero never beeps and neither does my mates so not sure what's going on there.
A few good points raised, but also a lot of nonsense and bias. I own a Pajero GLS Exceed LWB, and a Pajero Sport 4x4. I love the vehicle as a family leisure vehicle, the super select to 4H on the fly as a safety addition in wet slippery roads. Basic Off road it is fine for most people. More serious offroad it needs a few mods. Hardcore no. Now I also own a Defender 110 Tdi. I have owned dozens of other 4x4's. Various Defender, Discoverys, Range Rovers, Landcruiser, Ford Ranger, Jeeps, Nissan Patrol and others. I have won the KZN 4x4 offroad challenge series twice and came second on the SA 4x4 challenge series. I have instructed on off road driving for a number of brands, insurance companies and Camel, G4 etc. I happen to know many of the top SA 4x4 competitors, instructors and journalists including John. Everyone has their bias and many articles and comments are not entirely objective. I also have my Bias towards my old Defenders. But i have enjoyed and at times hated everyone of my 4x4's. I still love my Defender's the most, and hated my Land Cruisers the most. His comments about the Defender is once again Bias. I have travelled through Africa with Defenders including the East Africa Adventure which was published in the Getaway magazine and TV show, therefore I know its limitations well, but also know its strengths and drive according to those. I agree with the rear bumper comments on the Pajero. Either way i have never placed much value in many of the journalists as they often don't really walk the talk. Those that do are often paid or sponsored by certain brands and obviously know which side their bread is buttered. So I agree with certain points in this clip, but can equally criticise just about every other 4x4 out there. Each have their strengths and weaknesses. Know them and choose what you prefer and according to your intended use. If intend serious off challenge types stuff most of today's offerings won't cut it unless you spend the time and money and do some serious mods.
Toyota has far more fanboys and propaganda in its favour than mitsubishi. Andrew is a classic example. They casually gloss over all the problems with landcruisers and pretend they dont exist. For one thing they are not nearly as reliable as their reputation (especially their diesels). Many toyota owners will lie to others that their vehicles are rock solid reliable when they often give trouble in various ways. The 70 series which is promoted as the 'gold standard for overlanding' is actually a terrible option for many overlanders. Yes they are very tough. But they are sluggish, uncomfortable, noisy and unstable on highways which makes them bad for many overlanders who travel alot on highways and want some comfort. Andrew himself has gotten stuck in his land cruisers several times but never blamed toyota. So far i have seen 3 examples of it. In namibia and australia in 70 series cruisers. Then in angola (or botswana) in a 100 series if i remember right. He is a hypocrite.
As a Mitsubishi fan and owner of a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander GT I am sorry for your experience with other Mitsubishi owners. I love your show and honest reviews. Keep being honest and keep moving forward.
Ive owed a Pajero I enjoyed my ownership. Never did heavy duty offroad work. Bought it for munching kilometers and it did that well.
The way I see it, is a person who just spent good money on a vehicle will always defend their purchase. Its a pride thing. They deep down know they bought a lemon but won't admit it publicly.
Probably because of you I'm into 4x4s . Keep on!
Your work is amazing.
And FFS I didn't now people could be so ridiculous because of one brand...
Coming from and land rover guy interested about other options ..maybe a Toyota .( couldn't care less about brands..)
All the best and be strong!
Nice upload I have owned a mk 2 pajero 2.8 diesel auto swb here in the uk, since 2006 it was first registered in 1996 I have never had a major problem on and off road, but you cannot expect to take an unmodded 4x4 off road without some modifications and expecting an unmodded vehicle to cope with all eventualities is a bit silly.
Pete radio ham io81ij you can expect it to compete well with its competitors though
Thank you Andrew. I just stumbled across this video because I am half considering a Shogun, mainly because they are a lot cheaper (in the UK) and crash worthy than a used Defender.
Your video article reminded me of a magazine in the UK callded Trail Bike Magazine - very small circulation, and a very small magazine at about 6" x 8" and most pages black and white in the early days. Anyway, they tested products and reported things as they were and one story was about a hot-poop new race bike. The bike was one of the then new breed of high performance four strokes but kick-start. His story was all about the heroic failures to get the thing started once it was hot. I remember crying with laughter at his travails during a race. His conclusion was what was the use of a bike you couldn't start, the marshalls couldn't start, symapthetic spectators built like outhouses couldn't start. The next month they reported that the distributor / manufacturer had blacklisted them so no more test bikes ever.
Most of the establsihed media are in hock to the advertisers and their reviews reflect that.
For my part I wrote a book about how shotguns perform - very hard to get any reviews in the mainstream press because the findings are counter to the message of the advertisers and regular writers. The response of one was: We are happy with our current contributors and sponsors. Thank you.
So, poor but proud we remain!!
@Acjb25, I would like to know the title of your book on shotguns. Cheers.
Pajero does not have the chassis. That makes ground clearance to be somewhat false. It is a reality. The body is all at the level of the minimum ground clearance . This makes it very easy sinking into the sand and remain suspended. The observations are correct , but with a standard machine , without the chassis and with tires unfit you can't have large claims. I agree that the pajero is not machine which is claimed but at the same time , the machine was the least prepared for route. A 4x4 without chassis is not a machine for off-road , is only a SUV .I like your channel and I like the story but you were a little too rough with poor pajero.
I owned a Pajero Gen 3, all of what you said is correct. It was a good car for what I could afford at the time, infact I loved it as It was my first 4wd. I own a V8 troopy now, oh my... how my opinion changed when I had something to compare it to. Anyhow, as always, brilliant content. Cheers andrew.
A 2 inch lift will solve the Pajero offroad problems. A lifted 3.8 petrol with rear diff lock is a weapon offroad. I think you received a lot off backlash because of your character, you are quite pompous and that doesn't go down well in Australia.
I am really sorry for my previous comment, sorry for being so stupid. I watched some of the videos and found out that your reviews are brilliant. Everything I wanted to know I found in your videos. Nothing personal, I have nothing but respect for you.
Liked that he made excuses for the landrover admitting its forthcomings and that they are acceptable but any faults with the mitsubishi aren't acceptable
Fair comment. BUT. A Defender (I assume that is what you are referring to) has so many admirable qualities, ruined by terrible build quality and penny pinching on behalf of those who make it. It's a crying shame. As for Pajero, its weak points . . . well, so what? No great loss to the motoring world.
Just buy something else. The Defender has no alternative.
except that with a lift kit and offroad tyres and some underbody protection they do an amazing job offroad. We're all entitled to our opinions but lets all just make it clear when we are sharing our opinion and not calling it fact. Landrovers admirable qualities are mostly nostalgic surely........The problem I see with pajero's is that they are unexciting. They just sit right in the middle and they'll struggle to evoke any emotion. You're a perthite now why don't you catchup with these guys for round 2 th-cam.com/video/RzJiXJu90O4/w-d-xo.html PS I bought a challenger because I didn't want the IRS and I wanted the standard rear locker. If I take it to the powerlines it will go further than a prado any day of the week. Take it to the sand and the auto gearbox lets it down big time and is just adequate. I guess all i'm saying is somewhere else you might have done the review and had a different opinion. I do tend to agree with you on the comfort side of things. Leather pajero's do have very stiff seats
Has Mitsubishi refused to sponsor?
Yes. So has Land Rover, Toyota, Ford, Nissan . . . I could go on and on.
The issue most Pajero owners have with this guy is that his problems with the vehicle stem from his own ignorance of the cars systems - perhaps if he took a few minutes to read the owners manual he would have been better informed and not 'suffered' the annoyances he bleeted about so loudly.
Fair is fair and if there's an issue by all means we all want to know about it but when it's a problem with the writers ignorance that's a different matter.
If you can't say what you mean..then you don't mean what you say, please keep up your straight forward no nonsense reviews. My very best to you.. James
Hi, love you program,keep it up.
in Denmark Toyota an Nissan owners are making fun of each other in a friendly matter... nobody is making fun off the pajero owners,there life is hard enough as it is..😉
Here in Canada, we call cars like these (and post 1999 Pajeros are cars) 'soft-roaders'. Really only meant for wet and snowy roads and shallow ruts to the cabin. That's about it.
The reason I watch you is because you are a straight talker.
I love my pajero. Bought it again after owning land cruiser. Mitsubishi represents higher level of engineering, advanced drivetrain, really better performance and safety. Won't buy land cruiser again.
Thanks for sharing. I'm considering a 3rd generation here in the US(Montero Limited).
Higher level of engineering than Toyota? No.
A Mitsubishi dealership in Perth needs to drop off a Pajero sports in your driveway . I would love an honest review of one
@brendon kelly Illegal dumping is an offence and Councils do crackdown on this. Contact a scrap collector to remove unwanted vehicles.
Haha. Better not have a yellow roof and be on a Thursday! Seriously though . . . I would gladly accept.
I am on my 4th Pajero. Pajero is all I have owned and driven these last 20 years. Before that I had a Toyota Surf (hilux 4 x 4). I don't do heroic expeditions into the desert with 50 other city slickers all in convoy camera at the ready, but I do go into places where it might be a month of Sundays before I see another vehicle and feel confident doing so. The Pajero is a good vehicle.
Misubishi South Africa are a bad lot (as with most/all SA distributor/manufacturers). My Pajeros have all been Japan made. Mitsubishi East Rand refused point blank to sell me spares when I needed them. Telling me I had a gray market import. My import is fully legal all taxes paid. There is nothing gray market about it. I had to wait to get back to Zimbabwe to buy what I needed and at a better price too.
I am not saying there is anything wrong with the Toyota vehicles. They are some of the best. But honestly the balderdash can be hard to stomach at times. This presenter imbues his commentary with an air of authority and certainty that is easy to front if all criticism is banished
I have not been rude here. If my comment is deleted, well ......
You obviously don't appreciate the utility of good Tupperware. Most vehicle manufacturers do not include bonus features like that.
I notice you also undervalued its ability to scoop sand.