we are looking at getting a new car and we have narrowed it down to a Prado or a Pajero (prob looking at getting a diesel version).
Would any one have any experience with these cars? pros, cons?
No contest - prado - have driven both on long varied hauls but not back to back - my dad was faced with the choice when becoming a grey nomad so we hired and did test loops of 1200km - highway, back roads, well graded gravel and then heavy corrugated rutted stuff
Imho Better drivetrain in the prado
I still have concerns about monocoque bodies (Pajero) for heavy towing / off road long term.
If u are towing a van the rear door is troublesome to access
Not really sure about load space / family friendliness
Problem is Mitsubishi discounting is very good ATM
Good luck - I reckon modern cars are all very good it's just the last 10% and dollars that make the difference
Spend the extra coin and invest in a 200 series cruiser.... Twin turbo v8 diesel
Cant go wrong!
I see a lot of Nissan and Mitsi diesels in the 5-10yr old range blowing black smoke under load. Doesn't fill me with confidence, could just be injectors or could be worse.
Parents in law's 8yr old Prado has had a couple of $1000+ fixes, last month the air con died half way back from Darwin, they loved that, 3 days of driving in 40 degrees. The engine is still strong and smoke free, even if a bit tappety/agricultural.
The mechanics & toyotas thing is a bit of an urban myth, ie confirmation bias - they're no better or worse generally than other japanese makes.
Their Prado is quite small inside, if you look at them they have a pyramid shape, bigger wheelbase and small cabin sitting on top. But it looks like the 2012 grew a bit with the landcruiser shape.
I have a 1998 Pajero petrol (last of the skinny ones), in 3-4 years it has cost very little, 2 front power windows have gone and it's had 1 service and radiator flush. I had a drama caused by a dodgy mechanic but they ended up paying to fix it on insurance, so that cost nothing, which was lucky as it was a 2.5k bill.
I probably wouldn't pay the extra 20k for top of the line Prado over a top of the line Pajero.
Go the Prado ... mine is a 2006 turbo diesel (inline injection) and just clocked over 250,000 km today. Had it from new and is still going like a dream, couldn't be happier ... 
Onto my second Prado. Petrol and love it. Great on the beach and loads of power on the open road. 
Navara turbo diesel , Patrol diesel . d4d 4.5 Landcruizer or d4d 3.0 hilux. Prado is for posh city folk Youu **** them luxarys first time you drive off road. !!!! still a rock solid motor.
What you planning on towing
Only 2 choices apart from the izuzu dmax.
Nissan or Toyota.
Dude i come over your house and slap you in the face a Mitsubishi over a Toyota???
Dont even bother with a petrol 4wd. turbo diesel 100%. It will gho the distance with oil changes at 5,000
Hooksey typical conversation at work. Most are Diesel Mechanics, or of that background.
Lots of "My Padj can do this, my Padj can do that, My Patrol can do this my Patrol can do that, My Jeep can do this, My Jeep can do that and so on.
You know what Toyota Landcruiser owner lads say.(me included)
Yep but mines a Landcruiser, end of conversation.
If you cant get into a Prado, or a 200 series, take a look at the workmates (4 door) only issue is they don't come with auto.
Mine is a 105 and not auto, but then again, I can go though rough area's no worries about scratching this or that and not worried about repairing a manual box. Wife wants an auto, but not wanting the cost to upgrade.
Son has a Pajero,and yep it handles itself on the beach no problems, we ran it down near Hamlin bay a few weeks back. But….I have a Landcruiser
Im a heavy duty diesel mechanic running a (extremely) busy workshop specialising in auto electrics, air conditioning and mechanical repairs and I love my petrol manual Navara. 
Mineral my oldies towed a caravan loaded to the hills (swaybars etc) around Australia on a 4.2 Landcruizer did not stop.The only other competition for that sort of towing is the Nissan patrol. I just got the cheap mans landcruizer a d4d common-rail duel-cab hilux. Not that comfortable but a work machine. Parts are so relily available for cruisers and patrols. Go for a drive up north. Nissan or Toyota. My brother has owned navaras sine 2006 and there like the hilux version on the patrol/landcruizer/hilux
Funny last week we were trailing a person out of geraldton with a 30 foot boat towing with a frigging ford falcon 6 cyl??? wtf. Boat weighed more than the car no swaybars etc. Dangerous if you see a load swinging back and fourth pull back and wait for an overtaking lane !
Mineral my oldies towed a caravan loaded to the hills (swaybars etc) around Australia on a 4.2 Landcruizer did not stop
Bustawa, so did I in 2010/11, legend of a vehicle. They call them ol Smokey's, but never missed a beat the whole 32,000 k's
New van is a tad heavier, so need more Killer Wasps, so next is the upgrade to the black engine Factory style Turbo with all the correct bits to suit. Could buy a newer unit, but cant justify the extra coin to get to next model, with auto (200 series
pretty common decision round these parts.
Pajero way faster on sand tracks vs prado better rear end for towing
as for parts they all need to be sent up from Perth
biggest problem with pajero is you can't get vinyl floor
Prado is also more comfortable. We used to drive from Hedland to Broome with another couple who owned a patrol. They would get out and stretch thier backs etc, whereas we'd feel like we had just driven around the corner. 
It's like this, Go for what your comfortable with, no matter where you ask you will always get the same type of answers as here, "no not that, get this" I would recommend diesel over petrol though if you are towing heavy loads.
How serious about the rough stuff are you Hooksey? Prado will go more places easier than the Paj but you'll be caning the crap out of it before you really notice any difference. Paj is a brilliant tow vehicle and fantastic in the sand.
Is it something you're going to keep for a couple of years and trade on another new one or something you'll keep for ten yrs or more and build up?
If it's just a few year option to be traded whilst still in warranty it doesn't really matter which you go with as long as you keep it in pristine condition.
If you want something that you can take down walk trails and climb trees with then find an old Landry/patrol/cruiser that's been a mum mobile and throw 10-15k at it and turn it into something you'll keep forever.
Personally I prefer the last option with a live front end and little to no electrickery.
The diesel Pajero has more power and more torque than the diesel Prado. The third row of seats also fold flat under the floor leaving the cargo area clear. The 3.2 DiD diesel has been around for a decade with only minor changes to injection and turbo and has a reputation for being bullet proof. If you like going around corners at more than walking pace you will prefer the Pajero, the Prado has more understeer than an oil tanker. Yes, the Prado has "better" resale than the Pajero. That's because you pay 10K more when new. Google Prado cracked dash boards.
I have friends with both older and newer models of each and the Pajero owners seem to really like their cars and the Prado owners seem to try to justify the extra price of their cars whilst bagging the Pajero. The Prado is smoother and quieter to drive than the Pajero so you really have to have a good drive of both and see what suits you. The Pajero also has a 5 year warranty.
I know people who work for Mitsubishi and for Toyota and whilst neither cars are lemons one has more problems than the other. Like others have said if it's a short term car it doesn't really matter but if it's a long term investment you really need to do your research.
Good luck.
Fair enough question, but did you really expect anything more than "I own xxxxx and I love it." Always make me laugh.
love my landies but...................for the wifes sanity and more importantly family comfort I bought a paj early last year. Tows the jayco outback with ease and on the posted speed limit (or maximum for towing vehicles) and quite economically too (head wind returns approx 16lt/100km - towing in 4th, auto). I'm not a fan of toyota's as most sites I've worked only have them so I've driven all their models released between 2005 - 2012 - prado & hilux would have to be the weaker of the lot, just hard to say which one exactly. Prado's lack of ground clearance is a concern...........but hang on you bought a paj you said...........well yes I did, I'm realistic about where I need to go - which is primarily family orientated these days on well formed tracks/sand & this represented the better value choice. If you want to go hardcore & to sacrifice creature comforts, go a landrover defender or a g wagen with a lotto win, if you want a capable all round vehicle & true value get a pajero. Car like performance, as you'd get from a prado, but an all round better vehicle IMO - and the off road debate is an arguement that will never end - primarily its down to an individuals ability to read the terrain and judge what input or line is required -'specially now all the driver aids take the fun out of it. Regardless what you end up purchasing enjoy it and whenever you go off road remember to ask youself 1) is my vehicle capable?, 2) am I capable? & 3) do I really need to go there? Please stay on the tracks - enough of this country is being closed to access due to the minority driving where they want because they think they can.
Try researching each vehicle on forums that aren't run by the manufacturer - hopefully it'll give you hindsight on what can/may/will be the fault of each vehicle.............paj forum is what sold the car to me.........bugger all to go wrong.
Can you lease it and get the tax benefit. Mate of mine rolled up with a brand new 200 series V8 diesel just yesterday and he explained it this way:
Total cost of vehicle: 85k
Balloon payment is : 40k
Leased over 5 years:45k or 9k p/a
Depending on your tax situation could only be 6k p/a or $115 p/w
Trade in at end of lease and upgrade again. I havnt done this but this is how it was explained to me.
Check NRMA site as an independent advice. Or check Red Book or even car sales of a few 3 year old ones and then compare the new car price.
Diesel Prado is probably #1 value resale car on the market. Why? A Popular car new, popular second hand. Do not break and extremely reliable.
have both prados and pajeros in work fleet, and to be honest they're both great cars. Mitsubishi has a better warranty, 5 years as opposed to prado 3 years. Pajero slightly more powerful but sounds like a tractor. Pajero more car like. toyotas have generally been more reliable in our fleet, but nothing really between the two. I personally prefer toyotas, however if it was my own money i would very happily drive the paj. great car and a truck load cheaper than a prado. In my humble opinion you wont be disappointed with either.
