Discovery or Mitsubishi Pajero/Shogun

[froddan]

I am looking for a cheap 4x4, which makes better sense, Defender or Pajero?
It must be diesel, fairly well equipped, automatic, aircond, reliable.

Thanks

[rich 36]

froddan said:

I am looking for a cheap 4x4, which makes better sense, Defender or Pajero? It must be diesel, fairly well equipped, automatic, aircond, reliable.? Thanks

[froddan]

Soz, I meant Discovery, not Defender. Is that more reliable?

[church]

Defender/Discovery essentially same reliability except Disco has more toys to go wrong, all down to buying a good one in the first place. As for cheap 4x4, the Jap stuff is cheaper to buy for the reason that parts/servicing is more expensive and parts are less readily available.

[froddan]

The parts/servicing wouldn't be a problem, since the car would be in Sweden most of the time and the Landie parts are far more exotic there than Mitsu parts.

[falcemob]

church said:

Defender/Discovery essentially same reliability except Disco has more toys to go wrong, all down to buying a good one in the first place. As for cheap 4x4, the Jap stuff is cheaper to buy for the reason that parts/servicing is more expensive and parts are less readily available.

What toys does a cheap Disco have? nearest thing to toys mine has are electric windows and mirrors.
It has been reliable in the fact that the only time my 200tdi has let me down in 6 years is when a small wire fell off the starter and it wouldn't start until I found the problem. it has had it's faults (general wear and tear) but nothing that has left me stranded.
Parts are readily available and can be cheap if you know where to look. On the down side it is slooooow and uncomfortable.

[rich 36]

toys THAT go wrong

leaking glass seals
gearbox
clutch (option apparently)
Steering
suspension
engine cooling/fuel pump (diesel)
ignition (diesel)
switching off (diesel)

rear door
seat mounts front
soaking rear floor

[church]

Disco has lots of electrical goodies to go wrong, some of these will be optional but certainly not standard or even optional on any Defender pre-98......

ABS
Central locking
Electric sun-roofs/windows/mirrors
Stereo and stereo controls
Heated seats/screen
Air-conditioning
Electric seats
And so on....

What I'm getting at is the drive train and principle elements are the same for reliability purposes, (i.e. a 300 Tdi engine in a Defender is no different in reliability to Discovery application) but the car like creature comforts are the bits that go wrong that a Defender doesn't suffer from.