Pajero 2nd Hand or New Jimny

[Diesel:D]

Hi guys. A friend of mine is planning on purchasing a New Jimny Auto which she'd like to use for trips to Bots etc. She also wants the vehicle to be 'city friendly' and then there's the Labrador that needs to fit.
Of course she's sold on the Jimny but my opinion would be to get a used 2 dr Pajie instead.
Would like an unbiased opinion from the community. I personally look at the Dealer network, spares availability and resale value as well but that doesn't seem to be a concern... of course.

[Riaan van Wyk]

Unbiased opinion would be to buy a Fortuner, spares and dealerships are everywhere and when she sells it she will get double the price she paid.

Biased opinion would be to buy the new Jimny, if it is just her and a dog it will be ample and to boot, brand new.

And on page three of this someone will suggest a Patrol or Amarok. Just to keep things interesting

[Flip Marais]

For me, the two are so far apart that if she is seriously considering the Jimny, she probably won’t be happy with the Paj at all.

[Poen]

A big dog, Botswana, a lady and a Jimny? I know of a few ladies who seem to have a love affair with their Jimnys. However, they did not buy them for rough stuff or big dogs, but to commute with on tar, and probably a bit of an image thing. In any event, there is no room for a big dog to wag its tail in a Jimny. I like a Jimny, if only it was bigger. Build it the same it is but the size of the Terios, then it is more practical and can also be a small family car..

In the early eighties I knew a guy with a red Affasud, who permanently carried a surfboard on its roof. After two years the part of the car that stayed in the shade was a bright new red, and the rest a dull bleached off-red. He was more concerned about his image than practicality. I don't think he could stay on a surf board, but that didn't bother the girls with whom his recipe worked!

[jelo]

2 door Paj any day of the week.

[natand]

Would love a two door. The power difference is significant to say the least whilst being city friendly. The fuel bill and maintenance will be a lot more though....

[Redman]

If it was me?

https://www.autotrader.co.za/car-for...o/3.2/25693273

Only about R10'000 more than a new Jimny.

However fuel & maintenance will be more expensive though.

[4eTouareg]

Are these two vehicles competitors?

[FantomBadger]

I have had a Gen 4 Pajero and currently a Gen 2 Pajero and Jimny Gen 3.

They couldn’t be further apart. Fitting a family of four in Jimny is difficult. Fitting two people with luggage in a Jimny is difficult. It is by far the most fun I’ve had in a vehicle though.

They are not for everyone, it is not a particularly comfortable vehicle, when compared to a Pajero. Fuel consumption won’t be that big of a difference between the diesel Pajero and Jimny.

You however smile in a Jimny. I do anyway. Not when driving above 110 km/h though. Mine at least.

The suggestion of a 2 door Pajero might be the best middle ground.

Second edit: what about a 2 door Jeep JK in diesel?

[jelo]

A jeep diesel is Russian roulette.

[Nature_Calls]

I have the 4 door gen 3 pajero so bias is included here. I can’t picture my self driving another car I absolutely love my pajero. However, I’ve seen a few Jimnys and they are weapons off-road mainly due to the size and weight aspect. The unfortunate downside of that size is that for a family car it’s not the best option out there. The Pajero, and lots of other similar cars fill that category of family car and good/great off-road. I wouldn’t trade my Pajero if I was paid to do it but that’s just me.

Nature

[Estee]

The Jimny. For no other reason than that is what she is sold on.

Too much money involved for "what if I....." or "if only I had......."

It might be tight in there with stuff and a Lab but she will figure it out. And if she likes the lifestyle she can trade up later

[Graham]

Its a tough one actually.
Similar money, but the one you get a brand new vehicle and the other you get one with over 100 000kms on.

I dont know what I would do if I had to. head says jimny. heart says old, used pajero.

[Mr.G]

I am a pajero fan BUT..If it was just me and the wife with no kids i would have a new jimny in my garage.I love the look and the drive,it is a s said very fun..And not usuing the rear seats there is plenty place for packing..
That said i suggest she drives a shorty paj..its a super comfy drive..The engine makes it less effortless and it actually very nimble for a big car. I think she might think twice about a Jimny after a Paj test drive

[whatyamacallit]

Sounds familiar

I once bought a Jimny second hand with very little mileage and it took me everywhere and did everything well UNTIL MY FAMILY GREW and then with sad heart I sold it and got a second hand pajero sport with about 160k km on the clock. Pajero has been much more expensive to run but has the power and space. Jimny cost me nothing but services. For a single person or couple without kids the jimny without back seats is brilliant and is a no brainer cost wise, as soon as you need to use those back seats its terrible.

[Hennie84]

Of the above mentioned a Pajero, hands down.

Instead of a Jimny why not a diesel Duster?

[Dvan]

I have both at the moment.
Gen 3 Jimny and Gen 4 Pajero albeit lwb.

Chalk and cheese. ( in no specific order).

Drive both.
Sit in both.
Take pictures in both.

Biggest smile wins.

I agree with “do not have regrets”. Buy what you want. If you do not look back after you parked it, it was the wrong decision.

[roxenz]

Nothing compares to a Jimny for fun factor. If you learn to pack light, it is good for trips with 2 people. We (wife, 2 small kids and me) did a 2 week trip through the Kalahari, of which half was camping with no facilities, in an SJ413 Samurai (Jan 2000 Millenium trip). Needed to be careful around fuel and water, but we managed. Took back seats out, packed everything in tight fitting crates, tent and sleeping bags on top of crates, kids on top of everything. In wifey's new Jimny, 2 weeks bush trip for the two of us is a breeze - lot's of space.

There are days when I miss the LC80 SW, with which we did so many memorable overlanding family trips, but when I fill up the Jimny, I'm happy again...

However, like a lot of expensive things, it is a lifestyle choice. So the best advice, mentioned by quite a few folks here, is to go test drive the Jimny / shorty Paj / Jeep / Duster (highly underrated, but woman alone in rough parts of Bots?), etc. Then she'll know which is the right one.

PS, if you don't know how to pack light, do a 3-week 5300km road trip with your other half on a motorbike. You'll discover hidden talents...
PPS. If your lady friend doesn't have good "out in the sticks, on bad roads" driving skills yet, encourage her to do a good course. And basic skills like changing or plugging tyres. In my experience, most folks we have come across in the out-there with car trouble or being stuck, was because of being "innocents abroad".

[richarddonkin]

She should take a look at a Fiat Panda 4x4 too. It's very good on dirt roads, has significantly more space than a Jimny, is way more comfortable than the new Jimny, and is great for city driving and fuel consumption. And according to me it definitely has the fun factor (I bought one ).

[BobMabena]

Show her this:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...TfHdPJWSSJn6vi