Pajero exceed or toyota prado, which one is better?

Hi Paul, Iam planning to buy a Mitsubishi Pajero Exceed but still biting my lips over the choice. I am not a van enthusiast, so however good the Noah is in terms of seating capacity, many friends have told me it is problematic. I have also been advised to opt for Toyota Prado instead of the Pajero yet I can’t foot the Prado bill. My question is how reliable is the 2001 Pajero? What about its fuel economy as in litres per 100 km? What is the cost of maintenance and ownership vis-a-vis the competition? Any information about the pros and cons is welcome. D. B.

Hello D.B, The Mitsubishi Pajero and Toyota Noah cannot be compared as ‘apples for apples’. Pajero is a four-wheel-drive station wagon while the Noah is a passenger shuttle van. Nevertheless, in comparative terms, the Noah will carry eight passengers while the Pajero carries eight. Pajero will give you better all-terrain accessibility while the Noah is limited to driving on good roads alone.
The misgivings with Toyota Noah in maintenance terms are largely due to the condition of the used car one buys and how or where you maintain it.
Putting the Pajero on a weighing scale with the Toyota Prado is a better comparison, though not the best. The Pajero Exceed 2001 model you fancy is a bigger station wagon than both the 1999 Prado TX and 2001 Prado GX. Pajero offers better legroom, shoulder room and luggage space. The Pajero tough off road credentials are almost at par with the Prado TX and newer post 2001 Prado GX as go anywhere vehicles. However, Pajero’s monocoque chassis (frame integrated in the body safety cell) gives it a more comfortable off road experience as opposed to Prado’s chassis on ladder frame (separate body on frame). On road, the monocoque chassis design gives the Pajero prowess as it provides better handling, road holding and maneuverability when driving fast around bends on the highway. This is complemented by Pajero’s lower roof profile, better aerodynamics (less coefficient of drag) as well as wider wheel base all of which give it better response to dynamic and torsional forces. Monocoque designs are a popular choice for modern high performance station wagons because of safety (better crumple zones), comfort and performance considerations above. In terms of fuel economy the Pajero 3.5L V6 is quite a guzzler. In city traffic it will give you 6-8 kilometres per litre if you are gentle on the pedal.
On the highway, if you drive with your pedal to metal all the time you will be hovering between 8-10 km/ litre. That said the Pajero’s engine performance is a thrill to drive as it delivers the power you need to execute manoeuvres if you are a ‘petrol head’. Maintenance and repair costs are higher than the Prado, but for what its worth, if the used car you find on the market is in a good technical condition - go for it.

Paul, I drive a Toyota Kluger 2001. Lately, it has been running poorly, experiencing loss of engine power when driving uphill and with weak morning starts. My mechanic says I need to replace the air flow meter. Why has this part broken down? Can it be repaired? Kakembo

Hello Kakembo, The air flow meter is found in modern petrol or diesel engines. The air flow meter or mass air flow (MAF) sensor helps to meter or monitor the volume and temperature of air intake.
This information is useful for the engine computer to adjust fuel supply for cold running and normal running. The information is also useful for modern engine ‘self adaptation’ to different driving conditions such as cold starts or uphill drives (altitude compensation).
The air flow meter will fail due to age after 100,000 kilometres or poor maintenance of the engine air cleaner.
A dirty or clogged air cleaner will develop micro-tears as engine intake air forces its way through. This will allow dust and debris to reach the MAF sensor element and corrode or damage it.
While the MAF sensor can be cleaned with carburetor cleaner spray to improve its performance, in most cases, this intervention is too late to reverse the damage or aging process. To remedy this situation, you need to replace the MAF.
Besides protecting your MAF sensor, the air cleaner plays vital engine protection as well as performance safeguard roles.
Fuels like gasoline and diesel need air with oxygen to burn. In vehicle engines, air must be clean before it is sucked into the air intake plenum or combustion chambers.
Allowing any kind of air into the car engine poses the risk of ingression of dust, debris and dirt which make the engine dirty, reduce engine performance as well as its life span.
Intrusion of dust and dirt particles in the engine can have an abrasive effect on fast moving engine parts such as pistons, cylinder liners and bearings. This will lead to expensive engine damage overtime.
Engine air cleaners facilitate the throttle to regulate the intake air. This is useful for providing a correct air fuel ratio, which is crucial for efficient engine running.
Air cleaners should be inspected at every oil change service to confirm that they are not too clogged with dust, pollen or debris. The frequency of air cleaner element replacement is therefore determined by how dusty the car working environment is.
Often, our service bay attendants blow out air filters and re-use them without considering the change of colour ie dark black or brown. Ingrained soot or dust pollen changes the air cleaner colour to grey or dark brown and renders it ineffective.

Hello Paul, My Mercedes E-class makes a thudding noise in the front when I take off. It also seems to shake when I am speeding. My shock absorbers are new, and my mechanic says that nothing is broken. What could be the problem?
Julius

Hi Julius, The suspension system of your Mercedes like most cars has different components, which include shock absorbers, springs, lateral arms, link and stabiliser bars.
These components are connected by ball joints and bushings which wear out or tear due to age or bad road force.
Whereas your mechanic may have changed the shock absorbers, there is a need to dismantle the front suspension system to confirm that the suspension lateral arm ball joints and bushings are not worn out.
The wear and tear of these parts may not be easily visible with a casual look over. You need to inspect them off the car. If found to be worn out they will be the cause of that noise and symptoms when you drive.

Ask the mechanic: By Paul Kaganzi 0772316145, send sms: mycar (space) your comments and questions to 6933, or email them to [email protected]