1998 Pajero - Is it worth buying?

[sajands]

Originally Posted by JayD

I believe this is the same car which was being peddled by a dealer from chennai. if so, stay away, as Khan sir has mentioned, its way too molested.

Actually finding a good SWB Paj has become a very hard task. There was a North KL reg one too which keeps popping up for sale. pretty well loaded(suspension adjust etc), but someone has painted the interiors in beige! Car seems decent at first sight, but is a mess underneath, and slower than a nano. Stay away from that one too.

Thanks for the heads up JayD. I am now looking at other available good SUV's to own. SWB Paj's are indeed rare getting one in its original well maintained is tough luck.

-Sajan

[vroom666]

Just noticed this thread. Good you didn't pick this Sajan. I too had opted to go and take a look at it some time back when I was contemplating a 4x4. It is with a guy named Vikram right now - correct? Had taken my friend who has a Pajero and he too advised me to drop the idea of buying this vehicle. Definitely not worth it!

[sajands]

Originally Posted by vroom666

Just noticed this thread. Good you didn't pick this Sajan. I too had opted to go and take a look at it some time back when I was contemplating a 4x4. It is with a guy named Vikram right now - correct? Had taken my friend who has a Pajero and he too advised me to drop the idea of buying this vehicle. Definitely not worth it!

Hi vroom666,

Not sure about the guy. wanted to check in the forum even before I called him up and glad I did. Better safe than sorry later. So, you looked or looking at any good suv's of late? let me know as I am also looking for a good used suv to buy.

-Sajan

[autobahner]

Originally Posted by sajands

Thanks for the heads up JayD. I am now looking at other available good SUV's to own. SWB Paj's are indeed rare getting one in its original well maintained is tough luck.

-Sajan

I couldn't agree more. Took me ages to find one in decent nick and she has just finished a 4 month "near factory spec" restoration. Some pics attached!

Paint - still original even after 20+ years. Built to last indeed..

[sajands]

Originally Posted by autobahner

Paint - still original even after 20+ years. Built to last indeed..

Wow, looks as if it just rolled out of the factory line yesterday. How easy were the parts to source? Would love to take a TD of this beast some day

[autobahner]

Hi! Sourcing most of the parts was not too bad. Had to primarily import loads of it from Japan and Dubai. City Motors at Opera House in Mumbai were able to help most of the time, price wise a wee bit more expensive then direct import. To put it in context, the local post man and me are now on first name terms

[JayD]

Originally Posted by autobahner

I couldn't agree more. Took me ages to find one in decent nick and she has just finished a 4 month "near factory spec" restoration. Some pics attached!

Paint - still original even after 20+ years. Built to last indeed..

That looks absolutely stunning, autobahner. Please do start a thread with detailed photos. I'm sure many of us would love to see the transition.

Have you installed any suspension lift? The rear looks a lil taller than the front.

Also, are the round lights a year or model specific detail? I've seen a few with these, mostly 3 doors.

[HappyWheels]

Originally Posted by autobahner

Took me ages to find one in decent nick and she has just finished a 4 month "near factory spec" restoration. Some pics attached!

Paint - still original even after 20+ years. Built to last indeed..

That is a very neat looking vehicle! 20+ years and still a head turner!

A true mountain goat!

Congrats on the buy.

[samarth.bhatia]

That is one gorgeous vehicle.
Slurp.

[autobahner]

Originally Posted by JayD

That looks absolutely stunning, autobahner. Please do start a thread with detailed photos. I'm sure many of us would love to see the transition.

Have you installed any suspension lift? The rear looks a lil taller than the front.

Also, are the round lights a year or model specific detail? I've seen a few with these, mostly 3 doors.

Hey there JayD, thanks for your kind words sir. Much appreciated! do pardon the lag in reply, its that time of the year .

In reply, i will try to start a thread on this sometime soon, though pictorial point of view there is very little to distinguish the pre and post restore phase, as was fortunate enough to find her in a decent enough nick. The restore mainly hovered around getting all the little systems and gizmos to work as the day she left the plant in Japan.

The round lights for me are really an enigma. I know for sure that the first of the 2nd gens circa 1993 had round ones, then comes the fuzzy phase, when the models had the rectangular as well as the round ones. From the original JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) catalogues dated 1996, this particular version did come with the round ones. Trust Mitsubishi to make things interesting for the purists

The rig on the day i acquired had off-road spec aftermarket suspension setup front and rear. The rear had a lift kit installed. We have since got rid of it and restored the OEM KYB shocks front and rear and new springs on the back. This was mainly to re-activate the electronic damper control on the struts (front and back). The off-road springs were way to stiff for the damper to function correctly. Since there is negligible difference between the OEM springs in the back between the SWB and LWB, for convenience we used the LWB Pajero springs, which are a wee bit taller and higher cross-section profile than the SWB springs, so the slightly increased stance in the rear. This is now much less pronounced since with daily running, the springs at the back have now settled in nicely.

Originally Posted by HappyWheels

That is a very neat looking vehicle! 20+ years and still a head turner!

A true mountain goat!

Congrats on the buy.

Many thanks HappyWheels.

Originally Posted by samarth.bhatia

That is one gorgeous vehicle.
Slurp.

Thanks for the compliments, bro.

[Kaboooooom]

Hi All,
I am very interested in picking up this 1998 Pajero - https://www.olx.in/item/pajero-4x4-1...n-IDTJzq1.html
I will have to go from New Delhi to Mumbai for that. So, need a little help. Does anyone have any information about it and what would be your view, shall I go for it or not, right pricing? I dont mind putting in some extra dough to bring it in good shape after purchase if required.

[vikramvicky1984]

Originally Posted by Kaboooooom

Hi All,
I am very interested in picking up this 1998 Pajero - https://www.olx.in/item/pajero-4x4-1...n-IDTJzq1.html
I will have to go from New Delhi to Mumbai for that. So, need a little help. Does anyone have any information about it and what would be your view, shall I go for it or not, right pricing? I dont mind putting in some extra dough to bring it in good shape after purchase if required.

Would recommend buying an Indian one over this.
Reasons:
1. It does not really give anything substantially above Indian versions
2. Imports of 90's- papers are often suspect
3. 2500 engine- weaker than 2800 cc and also auto, 2800 itself is underpowered
4. No airbags/ ABS : available of Indian version
5. Mumbai car: Rust chances much higher than Delhi
6. Auto transmission: most cases would be in bad shape
7 Sunroof: not mentioned but i guessed would be there: source of rust and leakage
8. Price: attractive, which makes its all the more dangerous- you might spend a fortune doing it up

If it were a 2 door SWB then one might still pursue.
Rather get an Indian invoiced car up north with service records. Up-front costs will be higher but much more peace of mind and better resale too.
NCR/CH/PB have loads of pajeros lovingly maintained by 1st owners.

Keep in mind total ownership costs and not just upfront.
pajero is a dream car for many ( including me), get the best one you can buy and then improve it further.