Why do you import JDM Pajeros?

[delicove]

Here is the explanation:http://www.tuningsolutions.biz/wetterauer.asp

[Green1]

It all depends what that particular diesel was designed for, diesels they put in cars ARE designed for speed, I had an old Mercedes turbo-diesel, and at 180kph there was still lots of room in the pedal (if not in my own risk tolerance!)
Diesels put in to SUVs and trucks though are designed for raw power, most people don't have any use for an SUV doing 180 (and considering the higher centre of gravity in an SUV vs a car that's a good thing because high speeds are even more dangerous that way!) but people DO want towing power, or the ability to climb ridiculously steep obstacles.

It's all about gearing.

As for why a JDM ______ vs a North American ______ there are many different reasons... some of the obvious ones:
- price for condition, a $10,000 JDM is usually equivalent to a $15,000 - $20,000 NA vehicle.
- features, North America got stripped down vehicles. To get all the "toys" you need to look overseas.
- diesel, North America just doesn't "get it".
- right hand drive, it's safer and more practical than LHD.

[jessef]

As for why a JDM ______ vs a North American ______ there are many different reasons... some of the obvious ones:
- price for condition, a $10,000 JDM is usually equivalent to a $15,000 - $20,000 NA vehicle.
- features, North America got stripped down vehicles. To get all the "toys" you need to look overseas.
- diesel, North America just doesn't "get it".
- right hand drive, it's safer and more practical than LHD.

The only point on your list that applies to Pajero (JDM) vs. Montero (NA) is diesel.

All the rest do not apply.

diesel - Pajero = 2.5 or 2.8 / Montero 3.0 or 3.5
features - Pajero and Montero are identical right down to the bouncy seats, gauges, folding mirrors, etc... All NA Montero SR's came factory with rear diff locker. That's a NA plus. And better highway gears.
price for condition - you can find a very nice mid-90's Montero with low mileage for around $5-6,000
right hand drive - it is not safer and more practical. It is the same. Left or right, it doesn't matter. that's a whole topic on it's own.

[Green1]

You're telling me every feature in the Pajero was also in the Montero around here? I'll take your word for it, but the Pajero's I've seen have been pretty fully loaded, the Monteros however not so much.

As for RHD. I stand by my assertion that all other things being equal, RHD is safer than LHD.
There are many reasons for this
- sitting further from the centre line means you are not as blinded at night by oncoming headlights
- you always get out on the curb side and not in to traffic (and before you go talking about how passengers don't, you tell me how often you drive with a passenger in the vehicle vs how often you drive with a driver in it.)
- you can better judge the edge of the road/the parked cars/cyclists to keep yourself out of oncoming traffic when passing oncoming traffic on narrow streets
- you are in a safer position in any head on collision (and again, there is always a driver, not always a passenger)

The ONLY places LHD has any advantage is in optional manoevers, such as passing or left turns, in both cases the advantage is slight, and any competent driver knows to wait until it is safe before proceeding anyway.

[loki]

You're telling me every feature in the Pajero was also in the Montero around here? I'll take your word for it, but the Pajero's I've seen have been pretty fully loaded, the Monteros however not so much.

I would imagine that the stuff that gets shipped over from Japan is the cream of the crop and therefore most of them will be very well equipped, as for the Monteros you have seen around here that is a much more random sampling of what is likely an even larger population of vehicles.

[jessef]

You're telling me every feature in the Pajero was also in the Montero around here?

Yes.

The Pajero's come in 3 models and the Montero's come in 3 models. They are identical with the exception of a few things in some years.

Extra's -

NA Montero SR Model 94-98 came with factory (not option) rear differential locker / Pajero was only a option
NA Montero 98-2000 were called Generation 2.5. They had really cool factory flared wheel arches that were part of the body instead of standard added-on wheel flares.

Some really neat config's that Mitsu offered on some Montero's that I've never seen on Pajero's.

All of the things you may think are only on Delica/Pajero's all came standard on North American Montero's :

winter package
hydraulic driver/passenger adjustable seats
front/rear/dual climate control
leather seats
rear 6/7th passenger jump seats
retractable rear moonroof/front sunroof
gauge pod - in/out temp - alt - incl
adjustable suspension - soft/med/hard
electric folding mirrors
electric heated seats
6-way foldable rear bench seat
full size up to 33" diam spare tire carrier
two tone color/mags,etc...

It was all here in North America since 1989. 1992 is when the 2nd gen Montero's were sold like Cherokee/Blazer/4runner's up here in Canada. Those are the one's that look like the Pajero's you see here in Canada now being imported from Japan.

The difference between the two is just the engine and differential gears.

NA : 3.0L V6 / 3.5L V6
NA : 4.265 / 4.90 gears

JDM : 2.5 TD / 2.8 TD
JDM : 4.875 / 5.29 gears

You see, Montero's in the US are the underdog of the 4WD 80-00's era. They are less than 1/2 the cost new of a Landcruiser, are a touch smaller outside/touch larger inside, seat 7, comfortable, locking diff,etc... but no diesel engine.

I had a Montero back in the early 90's and that is the reason why I went to JDM. I knew the 2nd Gen Pajero was due to be imported and when it was, I jumped on one. 2-3 years later the Delica's started getting popular and we tried one out and haven't looked back although the most time spent inside/camping/travelling in was our Pajero and it was unstoppable.

Driving a Pajero in the US is uneventful. The Montero's are everywhere so you don't even get a 1st look, let alone a 2nd look in a Paj.

The cool thing I like about the Pajero's is the same cool things I loved about our Montero. The diesel engine was the kicker.

Here's a JDM 2nd Gen Pajero :





Here's a NA 2nd Gen Montero :






Here's a NA Gen 2.5 Montero :

[mararmeisto]

jfarsang: I understand the SWB Montero was only available during the first generation - was this true?

[jessef]

Yes. That's a choice we have but US does not.

I think they didn't sell the 2dr Montero in the US because of the low sales of the 1st gen 2dr's.

People have been bobbing their LWB Monty's for a while.

Nice that we have the option to choose a diesel 2dr.

[mararmeisto]

People have been bobbing their LWB Monty's for a while.

"Bobbin"? As in cutting the middle out of them to make a SWB?

[jessef]

Yep

[Spider]

I thought they where just cool trucks.

[mararmeisto]

@spider: I was wondering when you were going to introduce your after-a-couple-of-beers chop. Looks good now that it's all painted and re-assembled.

[pajeroo]

I currently own the gen 2.5 NA 98 Montero and I love it... the only problem I had with it was it wasnt diesel. So I just bought a 95 Pajero at the auctions and it is on its way to me... there really is nothing like a Montero / Pajero. So Id say, the diesel alone is reason enough to get the Pajero... and once youve had one of these things, you really cant buy anything else... I am a SUV hater, but the utility of this thing is just amazing.... not sure how it compares to a delica since I've never been in one....

[jessef]

I was at your point in life until I drove a Nissan Patrol offroad.

Everything changed after that.

[pajeroo]

I was at your point in life until I drove a Nissan Patrol offroad.

Everything changed after that.

The Patrol is awesome, but id hate to wait for weeks for parts on order... with the Pajero, almost everything can be sourced locally.... but if I was in Patrol country, id be driving one right now......