Pajero io or 3.5gls swb or 3.0swb, please help

[The Lee]

Hi all

I am new and have a few questions that are spinning my head.
My wife and I have decided to buy a 4x4, besides the fact that we have 2 big dogs that need a bit more space, we also want to get involved with a fair amount of off-roading.
I have since gone through a whole host of different car options, My budget is 70-85k. From the start I decided that if we were going to be happy with the cars capabilities we have to have low range.

So far I am trying to decide between a 2001 5door Pajero io, a 1999 3door pajero 3.5 gls and a 1998 3door pajero 3.0 v6.
Now already all of you are thinking why the io?
Well firstly this is going to be my wife’s everyday car, it will be lighter on fuel and it seems more nimble than the others. My plan is to buy some descent off road tyres and to raise the car by 50mm (does anyone know if this is possible and what this would cost?) due to the low ground clearance. Secondly I am not loaded with cash…….yet(being positive) and so the prices around 75k and the idea of maintaining a 4cylinder is very appealing to me.

I came very close to buying a white gls but upon closer inspection it had been in an accident and was not very clean. I love the gls 3door and my wife prefers the look. But I am very nervous of fuel consumption and maintenance, I’d appreciate some honest feedback on experience here.
Another query I have is if I went for a V6, which is the better engine. The 3.0 or the 3.5. I know the later 3.5 looks better but I can’t have my wife stuck on the side of the road and problems on off-road trips.
What would be a safe mileage to consider?
Any advice, thoughts or criticism will really be appreciated. I really don’t want to buy the wrong car.
Thanks

[SimonB]

My 2c worth

we also want to get involved with a fair amount of off-roading.

While the iO is a great vehicle I think this statement would preclude getting the iO and I'd be inclined to its bigger brother.

Why are you fixed on a shorty?

The 3.0 and 3.5's are both bulletproof, and extremely reliable. They are thirsty, and expect around 6 to 7km/l. The 3.5 DOHC is has considerably more go than the 3.5 SOHC or the 3.0, but at the expense of a pain to get to sparkplugs when it comes to servicing. Not sure if the DOHC was available in the SWB though.

Maintenance... pretty reasonable (my last service was R850)

[The Lee]

Thanks SimonB

If i got the io and raised the car and got the tyres what would i still struggle with? All the websites say its the same super select and the swb gls is only 10mm higher of the ground than the io std?

Swb: as i said its going to be my wifes car, she wont be too keen to drive the lwb around, she's used to a hatch.
Besides surely the lwb is heavier and as a result slower and more thirsty?
I also thought the breakover angle would be better on the swb?

If i remember correctly the swb did get the dohc towards the end but the swb had less kw but more torque than the lwb.

Did you service it yourself or get someone to do it?

How long have you had yours?

[Joop Brown]

I currently have 3.0 swb. And if I had to chose over I would definitely go for the 3.5. The consumption is about the same but you have a lot more power available. The IO looks to be a nice vehicle but IIRC it has independent suspension all round which negatively affects the off road ability. Most of the 3.5 swb(Blister fender) and some of the 3.0 swb came with a rear difflock (Massive difference off road). The IO as far as I know only had a limited slip diff at the rear. The reduced flex with the independent rear suspension and the lsd will see the IO to struggle at a lot of places where the the 3.0 or 3.5 SWB will easily go trough.

Then again, the space in the swb is quite limited once you start packing stuff. So make sure that the swb will suite your needs. I currently drive around with the rear seats of my swb permanently removed. To give me the space I need.

[The Lee]

Thanks for the feedback Vaja.

Not having the diff lock has been an issue, i just wasn't sure at what point the diff lock starts to operate much better than the Ls diff. I did have a look at a 5 door io, it definately has a solid rear axle, so i guess with that it is a bit better?

What is the mileage on your 3.0? I found a 3.5 gls for 88k but needed a bit of work, it had 133 000 on the clock. But shows signs of accident repairs. i then found a very neat silver one but it had 177 000 and it was going for 99k. And thats pushing my budget a bit. What is a safe mileage to consider?

Anyone know what a suspension lift will cost on either of these vehicles?

More feedback from anyone would be great,