WHY I WON'T WORK WITH MITSUBISHI. Andrew St Pierre White
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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Namib adventure in the Pajero: • Mitsubishi Pajero Test...
Full Mitsubishi Pajero review: • Shogun/Pajero Owners -...
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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 :)
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 :)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
@@nethiuz9165 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.
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 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!!☺.
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! 👍👍👍
I respect this mans honesty, we need much more of this. Well done sir.
As a Pajero owner myself I applaud you! Honest and correct assessment. Doesn’t make it a bad vehicle, just not the best for every purpose. For the purposes that I use it for its brilliant. Here are a couple of lessons straight from an owners mouth. 1. They need a 2 inch lift 2. Must have bashplates 3. Dont overload them, they have independent suspension which is very sensitive to extra weight. 4. The rear bumper is a joke 5. The tyres need to go up a 1 inch in diameter 6. Stick to 17 inch wheels (mine are steel) 7. The GL is the model to go for, no beeps, basic basic basic and ironically has a rear diff lock standard :) 8. Put quiet tyres on it, monocoque hates noise 9. Tint the windows 10. Save 10-15k on equivalent Toyota and enjoy 3-500k trouble free driving kms hopefully. Thanks for your work Andrew - great stuff!
@Rahmi Acar it still less expensive than Tesla X?
@Rahmi Acar cool. I want to move to Norway.
My mates one has 3 way lockers factory. But it also has all the beeps and binging.... And the bumpers have been removed and replaced with bar work.
Yup that's right. It lacks in many aspects and it's not a off roader for sure. I own one too.
unless its driven in a country with snowfall in winter, because they rot like mad
absolutely beautiful editing and work!!! Just outstanding quality Andrew. True professional.
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.
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
Mitsubishi gave you the Special Edition Road Runner Pajero... *beep....beep* :)
😁😀😅😂
What I love about Andrew is that he really knows how to define a review of a car well enough. It's not always about what you like about the car but also what you don't like. Thank you Sir Andrew, your work opens up new dimensions to the 4x4 world.
Yes, as mentioned below many times, THANK YOU for your honesty... it's sorely needed.
Love honest, non biased reviews. Even though I love my Toyota Tacoma TRD 4wd, I love to hear opinion, good and bad.
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.
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.
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 🤙🏻🙂
Thanks for this publication Andrew! I have been toying with the idea of a Pajero / Pajero sport / Triton for a while and since I didn't see your initial review of the Pajero before, I didn't know of the issues you mentioned. I would in all likelihood have stumbled upon it later on after doing my research but you saved me that trouble. I have always maintained that the only thing I wished I could change on my Triton was the seats as they are, on long distance travel, quite uncomfortable. Maybe my backside is not built for those seats but despite knowing that I still purchased the same model Triton at a later stage as I loved it the first time around. Now that I'm a bit older though, I thought I would prefer the slightly more comfortable Pajero, until you changed my mind that is. I became a 'fan' of Mitsubishi's around 2010 when I bought my first ever Triton, so as a supporter of Mitsubishi I have to apologize for the reaction you received from some of our fellow countrymen. It is appalling and uncalled for. If everybody had the same taste life would be very boring indeed. Incidentally, my first Triton was a 2009 model bought secondhand from the dealer and it happened to be the specific one that John Rich had as part of his annual sponsorship from Mitsubishi Umhlanga. Considering the time-frame it's thus quite possibly the same blue one seen in this video...
Second time watching this, a year apart, I love Andrews story time%:)
Keep being honest to yourself, thats a huge human quality. Love the reviews!
I've been a big fan of yours for quite awhile. I stumbled on your channel while looking for videos for a Range Rover Classic. As a Rover fan and owner I'm used to constant public criticism. I loved your honesty about the Rovers then and now. This video is another reason to be a fan of yours. Thank you for your honesty. Thank you for not giving into pressure to be biased. Thank you for all your efforts to bring the off-road world to light. I really enjoy your videos and reviews. I can't wait to see your Australia trek. Keep it up. Thanks again.
It is absolutely unacceptable that journalists are threatened or insulted because of their statements. You have all my solidarity, in addition to the admiration I already had for you.
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?
Thank you Andrew, honest review and You have to be glad to have adversaries for being right.,
You are awesome. I found your channel few days ago and watch many of your videos. I am subscribing. Very honest and direct review. There are lots of people with fragile egos that never grew up. They feel insecure if you point out issues with their car choice. I live in northern USA and getting into well .... "snow" - roading if I may call it that. I am on 3-rd generation Subaru (current one is Outback 2015, my wife just dropped 2013 Legacy for Honda) and started to get stuck with the car in specific snow/ice conditions with top of the line snow/ice tires. New Subaru models just don't perform any more as they use to (my 1999 Legacy was excellent). Looking into Toyota Tacoma or 4Runner. I did consider Jeep Wrangler but reliability and safety are not very good. And I need it to be daily driver too. Keep up the good work.
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.
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?
Andrew, I must say the very thing that keeps me watching is your honesty and fearlessness of criticism. Keep up the good work.
Hi Andrew. I love following your valuable experiences and spot on reviews that are perfectly unbiased and straightforward. Youre just irreplacable and one of a kind cars journalist, highly skilled and a great presenter with great articulatory skills of speech. I just love hear you even talk for that matter because youre such a careful man when it comes to choosing your words, which inrespect so much. An asset for sure in the industry. Alonside i follow Ronny Dahl a lot too. He looks like your student and im sure he is in some way your pupil. Now Im a little curious here, as an Indian (i come from Hyderabad, the capital city of a south Indian state Telanagana), i want to know your thoughts about the Indian brand Mahindra. Its the biggest Tractor manufacturer in the world and its SUV Bolero rules Indian terrains and many other cars aside like the Scorpio, XUV500, XUV300, and its legendary THAR 2020 offroader (while I own a small SUV'ish 1200 cc KUV100 NXT, base variant). Id love to hear from you some or atleast one line about Mahindra cars. I really appreciate if you think its worth giving any time. :) cheers !!
Great content...and honesty...keep going!
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!
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.
6 years later, I am here. For the past 3 years, I have owned a Pajero 3.8L V6 Gen 4. I bought it to go offroad, but very quickly realised it is more fun with the 6G75 as a mall crawler, some gravel by-the-beach camping, and campsites that don't require too much offroading. I have 20-inch rims with Toyo Proxes ST 3's with AP 390MM 6-pot brakes. I put TEIN Endura shocks. It had a BORLA custom exhaust and I will be doing my headers soon. We drive long distances, we do go off the beaten track and we enjoy it and sleep in the vehicle with a fan. Carry an awning from coleman is the plan and everything goes outside while we sleep inside. I love my Pajero, but if you want to use it nutsly, bash plates, 2 inch lift, 18 inch rims with nice ATV tires. The rear seats fold down. Chuck your fridge in and cooking stuff. Again, put it all outside, put all the seats down, remove the head rest and you have a double single. It's nuts. Bring pillows. Cooooomfy. As it is, as a Pajero owner, everything that is said here is true 👍🏼. But I don't give a s*it. I love my Pajero so much.
Very sorry to hear of the abuse you received. With your off-road experience, any opinion you find from testing a 4x4 is valuable advice to both new and secondhand purchasers.
The Dakar Pajero was a silhouette car, and even that wasn’t quite the same! Quite right Andrew, tubular frame etc etc ,keep up the good work, I absolutely love your videos 👍🏻
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
Granted this revue have been up for some time but I've just found it. I'ts YOUR findings and conclusions unfilterd. I love it.
not been following for long ,only recently subscribed,but am liking your work and you sound somewhat decently honest..
First video that I saw about you Andrew was the Pajero owners don’t watch review video. And I thought you were very hard on the vehicle and pretentious. Even though it was hard to digest I also thought it was refreshing and brutally honest. With that mixed feeling I started watching more of your videos. I learned to love your work and I’ve been enjoying your KZhead channel since. I didn’t own a 4x4 back then and your honest reviews and videos helped me so much to learn about 4x4 and overland. I appreciate you sharing more of the backstory behind that video. I didn’t know about the magazine article and all the fuzz around it. I think your review about the pajero is spot on. Unfortunately plastics is a trend for all vehicles now. Same for electronics that try to help you but nag you instead. Incidentally I bought a new Mitsubishi l200 in 2016. Because in Mexico it was the only 4x4 with: A Diesel engine and decent range A manual gearbox No electronics. E.g. a manual lever to activate 4h and 4 low instead of a button in the dashboard Abs and decent security Underbody protection and rear bumper was really thin and bended quickly. I even need to replace the radiator after hitting a bump in the city. It’s my first 4x4 so I can’t make comparisons. I don’t consider myself a Mitsubishi fan boy but rather was the best option at that time. The hilux just got in with twice the torque but fails the moose test. I am tempted to switch to the hilux. Keep publishing videos!! Great work!
Thanks Federico. You have misused the word 'pretentious'. I was being opinionated. Now I'm being pretentious :-)
Oh you are right!
I didn't know they had moose in Mexico 😀!!!
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.
I love this review, well done. Honesty, nothing more nothing less. :-)
We need to hear the truth. Thanks Andrew! You are one of the best experienced off-roader.
Your right about the middle seat in the second row!!! It's a pain in the butt!!!
You Sir, are one of the main authorities in 4x4 and off road! Thank you, for your honest opinion! You are the man! 👍⚡🐺
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.
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.
I love it I'm watching this and I keep getting ads for Mitsubishi
Do a review on the Patrol and say how it inferior it is to a Landcruiser. You'll soon forget all about the Mitsubishi owners.
Ha ha. Quicksand!
New patrol? I dont think so
Rhys Wilkinson that makes me laugh! Watch a lot of 4x4 videos with Toyota & Patrol’s and the patrol wins every single time. Toyota is so badly overhyped in every way. Jeeps will make fools out of any Toyota model and I’m not talking about reliability and build quality because jeeps are built like crap. They are however unbeatable off-road. My buddies xterra has pulled out land cruisers, Tacoma’s and many Land Rover defenders. So don’t brag about your land cruiser.
2 down in your comment section. haha.
@@canuckpeoplerule You just proved Rhys' Point, LOL!
I loved your review, I now know what to avoid, and people have criticized things I own that I love, and fairly too, it just means I know it's weaknesses and how to use my gear better and make the best choices I can at the time. Keep up the hard hitting reviews.
We need more people like you who give true reviews. Love from India. 👍. I follow your channel and love the videos you post.
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.
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 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.
Andrew, I really appreciate your honesty in all your videos. Your honesty is, of course, based on your extensive knowledge. Please never change!
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!
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.
Keep up the honest - passionate reviews
Good for you Mate! Thank you for being honest and saying like it is. From a Defender driver.
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 must say that am lucky to own a 1st Gen SWB Pajero and what a superb machine it is.Your review is spot on please carry on with the good work. Your No.1 fan
legend
I totally agree
Andrew, thank you for posting this video. I’ve been overlanding around the west half of the United States for about 20 years. When I started, I didn’t know there were these polarizing groups for automobile makes. I’ve driven a TJ Wrangler, NAS Defender 110, FJCruiser. I now own a Jeep JK, an ‘83 HJ47 dual cab Landcruiser, and a Ford Raptor. Since I’ve started, I’ve learned that the very worst aspect of overlanding are the extreme loyalties to auto makes. The very worst thing. I have many friends guilty of this, and I hate it. I absolutely detest being part of any group that’s centered around a vehicle make. It feels like a vehicle version of racism. I’ve loved all of my vehicles for different reasons and happy to have discussions about various vehicles with folks that are mature and open minded. Thank you for making this video and standing your ground.
Appreciate your video and surprised to hear that some folks were inappropriately reacting .... I have a Montero in the states - there are a couple outstanding features of which one could boast, but there are also some short comings with the stock package which show up in more extreme scenarios (...and compared to a Panarjo, the Montero has even less HP -- no turbocharger and a 3.5 gas/petrol...). Just like a full size, stock Ford Bronco I once drove, I would do some modifications before a long trek in sand dunes
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.
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.
You are so entertaining...and love the fact you dont pull punches...well done!
Great job keep it coming keep it simple honest and to the point
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.
Great story Andrew....in my opinion !! Ps....where's your nice looking fleece from ?? :-)
Tactical 511
I always appreciate honest reviews. My only wheel time in a Pajero was during a deployment to Kuwait. Took it from Ali Al Salem Air Base to Camp Doha on the road the GIs referred to as “Dead Sheep Highway”. I didn’t get any dune time in it (that’s what the HMMWV’s were for!), but it handles dirt, gravel, and potholes well. Even did ok on a bloated sheep carcass one of my fellow GIs somehow couldn’t manage to avoid due to oncoming traffic. Never had issues with the extreme heat of the desert summer either.
Top story just found your channel and it is great . Been driving my challenger for 10 years now hasn't ever let me down been across Australia twice but I will say there is always that lack of confidence in he back of your mind when driving down a track that I didn't get in Toyota's
1. I love story time with Uncle Andrew. Please keep this up. 2. Honest reviews are where it is at. I prefer to have honest reviews that I can consider and then make my own opinion based on those reviews. 3. Those Pajero owners are just insane.
Keep up your good work! Love your video’s and lessons. I’m a previuos owner of a Pajero as you drove.Fantastic vehicle on road, gravel, snow and as a 4pers. Family car. Now i do more off-roading and chose for a Defender 2014. I also chose a Defender for affordable parts, and very big community off enthousiast fans. For me its an Icon. Keep going strong Andrew! Greeting from Holland.
Lol! Well done for saying it like it is. I clearly remember your article and I remember defending you in the forums. Truth is truth. Thanks for making this video :)
I appreciate that you were honest with your review. Good to see, I think Mitsubishi has taken on some of your advice. They have improved on the newer Pajero Sports.
Thank you for your honest and comprehensive review of the Pajero.
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
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.
Absolutely amazing story!!!! I AM ADDICTED TO THIS CHANNEL!
A1 review love the honest opinion owned one for years ,it was my 1st & last mitsi suv
Subscribed. Thank you for your honesty.
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 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.
nice to see an honest review
Thank you for the aesthetics and the essence of these 36 minutes video.
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 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.
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
I'm new to your channel, new to overlanding, and a new subscriber...When did an honest opinion, backed by personal experience, become hate speech or at best trolling? Love your style and I look forward to seeing more of your work, thanks.
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
4xoverland, I am a Pajero owner and a Land Rover owner and I also owned Mercedes G Wagen and also a UMM. Your evaluation of the Pajero is correct it has all the drawbacks you pointed out. It has almost no articulation and the rear diff lock is mandatory. But I can't believe that all Pajeros owners are like that, maybe some are, but for sure not the majority of them. There are brand fanatics in all the brands.
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.
Discovered you and your work not too long ago, and i love your candid view of equipment and how to go about this hobby...awesome job Mr St Pierre-White Now quick question. What would you say about the Nissan Xterra and the R51 Nissan Pathfinder; not necessarily as an overlander but for more of weekend warrior offroading and remote camping trips?...thanks and greetings from Sandy Dubai
I’m no Mitsubishi fan but we have owned Mitzi’s for years never had an issue.
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 😂
Really interesting video. Well done. Maintain your honesty always.