This would be my first post on this forum, and if my next purchase goes through, not my last. I have wanted a 4x4 since I was a little boy and have been offered a good deal on a Pajero. I have never bought a off-road vehicle before, and would really appreciate some advice on the matter.
The beast in question is a beautifully preserved 2001 Gen3 3.5l V6 LWB GLS A/T. It has just short of 200,000km on the clock. The vehicle has only had one owner, who is an old family friend of mine. It has a full service history, and sits proudly on a new set of rubber. It is absolutely bog standard. The owner has agreed to do the 200,000km service before selling it to me.
I am looking to create an awesome overland vehicle to allow me to journey the road lesser traveled.
To get to the point, I have given this purchase much thought, and have heard many contrasting opinions on the matter. Many people think it is a terrible idea to purchase a vehicle with such high-mileage. Others think that the petrol cost's will bankrupt me. I previously had my heart set on a Hilux, but this passion was quickly quenched by the realisation that I would be spending far more than I could afford to get a reliable one. I only have to skim over this forum to realise that these cars are very lovable indeed, and the thought of owning one certainly gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.
My major concerns would be that there is an issue with drivetrain requiring extensive and expensive repair work.
So here we go ...
- What would be a fair price to pay for this vehicle? I have been told it has a trade-in value of R91,400 and a market value of R118,500. However others have said an offer of R80,000 would be fair. Any thoughts?
- I have never driven an automatic car, and would previously think it would be a terrible idea for a high-mileage car. However I have read that the INVECS-II gearbox is a bloody good piece of kit and nothing to be ashamed of. Is this something I should be wary about, or can I purchase this car without fear of a looming R40k repair job to replace the tranny in 6 months time?
- The fuel consumption is a (minor) concern, however I do not drive far to work in the morning and the bulk of the fuel costs will be my monthly long trips out of town. I currently drive an Opel Corsa which gets me about 8l/100km. I am budgeting for between 12-18l/100km around town with this vehicle which I can currently afford. Is this a reasonable expectation?
- As this will be my only car, I need it to be reliable. 200,000km sounds like a hell-of-a-lot to me for a car, but the owner has looked after it fastidiously, and this does increase my confidence in the purchase. What kind of problems can I expect to encounter, and is it silly to expect reliability at this mileage? The fact that the car is the GLS version with all the bells and whistles makes me worry that there is more to go wrong
However I am a mechanical engineer by trade and do not mind rolling my sleeves up and getting dirty. - Is there anything else I should look for with this car before purchasing it?
