NW Paj vs Prado

[Doggy]

Hey there,

We are tossing up between an NW Platinum and a GXL Prado for my missus, she currently has an NM exceed with impco gas injection and 2" lift, light etc.

I know asking this question on the Paj forum will probably lead to one answer, however I'm sure others have had this same question. I'm leading towards the Paj as the current was has been great. The missus also liked the drive of the Paj better, plus more bang for ya buck. Will mainly be used for daily drive and towing a couple of horses

If anyone has pros and cons that would lend weight to my Paj argument it would be appreciated.

Cheers

[psproule]

The Prado is overpriced, underpowered, overrated, overweight and handles like a big blob of jelly. Good NVH, a bit more back seat room,and a toyota badge are the good things though.

[Bundyk]

Points in favour of the Paj:

Cheaper,
More power and torque
Better fuel economy
More options (as you are talking a Platinum)
Better warrantee
Much better looks IMO
More comfortable (again, IMO. I am a big bloke though)
Drives better
Lower boot floor
Remove rear seats for even more storage
Rear Air Con (dont think a GXL Prado has it, never paid that much attention)

Points for the Prado:

Long range fuel tank,
Engine a little quieter
Umm...

These differences are my point of view only and, naturally, everyone is entitled the theirs.

[03EXCEED]

My brother in law just bought a new Prado, He likes it, said it drives nice, but also said he will never take it offroad, it's just a shopping trolley.

They might be alright around town and stuff. You are right with getting the one answer though on a Paj forum. lol I would have to agree with the above comment.

I bet this didn't help you one bit, lol. Go the Paj!

[Doggy]

Thanks Bundy, all good points. I think the 3 tonne vs 2.5 towing will also help my argument.

[Bundyk]

Thanks Bundy, all good points. I think the 3 tonne vs 2.5 towing will also help my argument.

No probs, forgot about the towing bit.

[Dion]

Some cons of the Pajero ...

- Cheap quality interior plastics that scratch easily
- Not as big a range of extras from the big companies
- Only 5spd auto
- Extensive towing and IRS rear needs to be managed well with airbags/ suspension

Cons of the Prado:
- Expensive
- Stupid 7-seater design with seats on top of floor
- Underpowered - the TD is old and while it was good in the 120 struggles with the 150s weight
- Low seating position needed to get legroom in front if you're tall

I ended up with the Pajero (obviously). I was to-ing and fro-ing the pros and cons but one of the big deciders was my wife's opinion - she hated the Prado's driving experience (reckoned it reminded her of our badly handling XJ Cherokee! ... I think she was being a bit harsh) but anyway, she ruled it out immediately after a test drive.

[reformedjeeper]

Doggy, for all the above mentioned I have just traded my Jeep on one.
However, if you purchase an Active (no rear aircon) you can add an 80Lt LRA (Lillydale) long range fuel tank, perhaps not important to your wife, but highly recommended if you plan to tow a caravan.

[marquis]

If no rear air con the pajero can be fitted with a 81L LRA tank for about $1700. Towing range will be over 1000km to 1200km with a 2.5t caravan at 90kph, more with a smaller lighter trailer.

With all main mods and towing a 1t camper should get 12.5L to 13.5L per 100km at 95 to 100kph

[Quietguy]

[QUOTE=Doggy;230047]Hey there,

We are tossing up between an NW Platinum and a GXL Prado for my missus, she currently has an NM exceed with impco gas injection and 2" lift, light etc.

I know asking this question on the Paj forum will probably lead to one answer, however I'm sure others have had this same question. I'm leading towards the Paj as the current was has been great. The missus also liked the drive of the Paj better, plus more bang for ya buck. Will mainly be used for daily drive and towing a couple of horses


I went through this decision a little while ago, and in the end for me the Pajero won out because of its abiliy to tow a van well, much better than the Prado. And as I will be doing the trip around the block with a 21ft van the Paj tow ability sealed the deal.

However, I reckoned the Prado is a much nicer car to drive - being quiet and comfortable, with Toyotas build quality and proven reliability it would have won out if I was just doing a lot of non-towing km. Also, having driven a Toyota 4WD for the past 20 years (and 480,000km) without a breakdown or major fault and still running well I am a Toyota fan.

So for me the answer is... towing 25% = PAJERO TOWING 5% = PRADO

But of course thats me, not you

David

[Jenko67]

I had the same problem last year... To me the Prado GXL is like a poverty pack compared to the features of the Pajero RX2 that we bought.... at the time Toyota were not doing deals either so i bought the pajero for 10K cheaper.... happy as... We have a new GXL Prad at work and the pajero drives heaps better....

[Gus]

Hey there,

We are tossing up between an NW Platinum and a GXL Prado for my missus, she currently has an NM exceed with impco gas injection and 2" lift, light etc.

I know asking this question on the Paj forum will probably lead to one answer, however I'm sure others have had this same question. I'm leading towards the Paj as the current was has been great. The missus also liked the drive of the Paj better, plus more bang for ya buck. Will mainly be used for daily drive and towing a couple of horses

If anyone has pros and cons that would lend weight to my Paj argument it would be appreciated.

Cheers

vvvvvvvvvv

Points in favour of the Paj:

Cheaper,
More power and torque
Better fuel economy
More options (as you are talking a Platinum)
Better warrantee
Much better looks IMO
More comfortable (again, IMO. I am a big bloke though)
Drives better
Lower boot floor
Remove rear seats for even more storage
Rear Air Con (dont think a GXL Prado has it, never paid that much attention)

Points for the Prado:

Long range fuel tank,
Engine a little quieter
Umm...

These differences are my point of view only and, naturally, everyone is entitled the theirs.

A good family friend of mine just purchased a Prado..

Although he has admitted the Pajero was a better vehicle in all areas apart from the Prado being quieter in tha cabin..

His reason.. "Just couldn't bring myself to purchase a Mitsubishi branded vehicle.

My comment to him was

Gus.

[Aussie_Dan]

It's a no-brainer to me.
The only thing the Prado has going for it is the 150L fuel capacity. But as others have said, this is easily remedied on the Paj for $1500 to $1700 with a LRA tank.
The Prado is overpriced compared to the Pajero and Toyota still only give 3 years and 100000km warranty which is to be honest, sh1t in this day and age. Do they not trust their product?
All common rail Toyota's also appear to be plagued with injector related problems. You don't hear on here of people with common rail DiD's complaining of injector related issues. Bad luck for you if you own a Toyota with injector issues and you are outside of your piddly little warranty.....
I have a good friend with a 120 series D4D, he got told last week that his #4 injector is on its way out, his car has not even hit 100000km yet.
And comparing his Prado to my Pajero, Mitsubishi just seem to have designed things better from a maintenance point of view. Things like oil filters, fan belts etc etc are a far easier job on the Mitsubishi.
As for tacky interior plastics that are easily scratched and scuffed, all modern cars have seemed to go down that path. Toyota seemed to pioneer the sh1t plastic trend though. Go and take a look at a 2003 - 2006 120 series compared to a 2003 - 2006 NP Paj. The interior of the NP Paj may not look as 'flash', but it is far hardier.
If the price and warranty of the Toyota was on Par with the Mitsubishi there would be some competition. Not at the moment though.....
Cheers, Dan.

[achjimmy]

Having had a new prado for a few days in NZ this week, it was interesting to drive one again. This was the VX. The noise levels and ride were great, it handled better than I remembered. There is more room in them, and more around your legs, although to raise the seat only lifts the back so it tips you forward. This was the kiwi model without aux tank and the spare fitted underneath instead. What a pleasure to open the door without needing the strength of Atlas at times, the tailgate window also lifts up but TBH is too high to be of real use. All the comments above are valid. It certainly doesn’t have the acceleration and power of the Pajero but it has enough to pull itself around nicely and it delivers its power smoothly. The auto was good although 2 yrs ago when I back to backed them the Pajeros Asin made the Toyotas box feel rough.
My Pajero at 20k had more rattles than my kluger had at 120k, the Prado has that same feel I think would be much more solid. Under the bonnet is roomier and tidier than the Pajero and fitting accessories (toys) would be more fun and easier. TBH I was quite taken and will be considering one again in 12 months when my current lease is up. The concerns/drawbacks for me will be the 2.5t tow rating (but the Paj also here as I don’t consider dropping the ball rating an option) the power, and the fact that I have seen some dead D4D’s in Hilux’s lately!!!! And the obvious Toyota badge tax.

Have fun don’t reckon you go wrong with either.

edit when i say new it had 4k on it. also being a rental used for ski season the back cargo area had a fair few scuffs already and i dont reckon the plastic will hang in any better.

[JoshF]

If you read other forums one of the biggest factors is the resale value, because you pay more you can except a higher trade value....seems logical too me except 10k more to get less seems like strange logic.