Advice on picking an SUV: Cherokee vs Explorer vs Pajero

[TFTC]

Hi guys. I need to buy myself a 4x4 vehicle and would love your suggestion on whats the better choice overall. I will be doing a lot of work in the Eastern Cape rural areas this year and my Mercedes E280 simply cant take the punishment. My first priority is reliability and second is MPG. I dont think I will be using the 4x4 that much as I will be travelling in gravel and need something with decent ground clearance and being able to the odd 4x4 tasks when necessary. Being a non-SA citizen I can import a used car from Japan and I have narrowed my choices to the following:

(1) A 2002 Jeep Cherokee with a 3.7L engine and 80000km mileage @ $3200 - http://www.beforward.jp/jeep/cherokee/bf364839/id/469237/?mfg_year_from=2002

(2) A 2002 Mitsubishi Pajero SWB with a 3.5 engine and 108000km mileage @ $3600 - http://www.beforward.jp/mitsubishi/pajero/bf373045/id/478671/?mfg_year_from=2002

(3) A 2001 Ford Explorer XLT with a 4L engine with 64000km mileage @ $3500 - http://www.beforward.jp/ford/explorer/bf370600/id/475643/?mfg_year_from=2002

All cars are petrol engines (diesels are rare in cars made for the Japanese market) and the prices includes shipping up to Durban. I did some research on the Edmunds site and these cars scored very high on buyer satisfaction with most drivers commeding their reliability with most going up to 200 000km trouble free except for general maintenance. Would like to hear from those who have driven the cars on what they think and what is generally a better choice among the three cars.

 

[ahoudet]

Mitsubishi is very strong. It's also available in SA whereas the explorer isn't and therefore parts should be fine for the most part. The Cherokee has a higher fuel consumption compared to the Pajero as far as I recall

 

[boxerulez]

Yeah youll have a hard time with parts for the Ford pushrod V6.


Stay away.

 

[boxerulez]

Why not just a local vehicle? It is my understanding you can only bring a vehicle which you had already owned when living in the country of origin.

 

[Hemi300c]

Not Jeep and not a 4ltr Ford.
Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Toyota would be fine in older models. Is your petrol being paid for in full?
If yes a 3ltr in the above petrol or diesel if no a 2.5 to 2.7 diesel in the above.
Remember parts and insurance if it's a imported vehicle and a left hand drive is a no no in SA.

 

[OMB]

Pajero, 'nuff said

 

[Venomous]

Rather buy local. Servicing and repair spares are a problem with imported vehicles.

 

[Spizz]

Rather buy local. Servicing and repair spares are a problem with imported vehicles.

Too true. If you must import, check that the model is available on the SA market. For example, I brought a 2.0l VW Sharan from the UK some years ago and the model didn't exist here. After a couple of services and a blown AC, I had to get rid of it as parts were all coming direct from Germany and it cost me a fortune.

 

[Fazda]

If you have to import one of those, then it has to be the Pajero - wouldn't touch the other two with a barge pole.

 

[OMB]

Too true. If you must import, check that the model is available on the SA market. For example, I brought a 2.0l VW Sharan from the UK some years ago and the model didn't exist here. After a couple of services and a blown AC, I had to get rid of it as parts were all coming direct from Germany and it cost me a fortune.

he shouldn't have a problem with the Pajero

 

[TFTC]

Why not just a local vehicle? It is my understanding you can only bring a vehicle which you had already owned when living in the country of origin.

Not really. You can import a car when you qualify for the zero duty rebate

 

[TFTC]

Rather buy local. Servicing and repair spares are a problem with imported vehicles.

I was attracted by the relatively low prices and relately low mileage for such old vehicles because when I checked locally I couldnt see anything decent for my rather paltry R50k budget.

 

[Naks]

If you're working in rural areas, get a Defender - no one will even think about stealing it.

 

[Pitbull]

Hi guys. I need to buy myself a 4x4 vehicle and would love your suggestion on whats the better choice overall. I will be doing a lot of work in the Eastern Cape rural areas this year and my Mercedes E280 simply cant take the punishment. My first priority is reliability and second is MPG. I dont think I will be using the 4x4 that much as I will be travelling in gravel and need something with decent ground clearance and being able to the odd 4x4 tasks when necessary. Being a non-SA citizen I can import a used car from Japan and I have narrowed my choices to the following:

(1) A 2002 Jeep Cherokee with a 3.7L engine and 80000km mileage @ $3200 - http://www.beforward.jp/jeep/cherokee/bf364839/id/469237/?mfg_year_from=2002

(2) A 2002 Mitsubishi Pajero SWB with a 3.5 engine and 108000km mileage @ $3600 - http://www.beforward.jp/mitsubishi/pajero/bf373045/id/478671/?mfg_year_from=2002

(3) A 2001 Ford Explorer XLT with a 4L engine with 64000km mileage @ $3500 - http://www.beforward.jp/ford/explorer/bf370600/id/475643/?mfg_year_from=2002

All cars are petrol engines (diesels are rare in cars made for the Japanese market) and the prices includes shipping up to Durban. I did some research on the Edmunds site and these cars scored very high on buyer satisfaction with most drivers commeding their reliability with most going up to 200 000km trouble free except for general maintenance. Would like to hear from those who have driven the cars on what they think and what is generally a better choice among the three cars.

Pajero

Mitsubishi makes some of the most durable engines in the world. That Pajero I think was a Dakar winner anyway.