CrispyCracker
Roamer
So the deed is done, for better or worse. This past Friday my wife and I brought home a 2001 XLS. I had narrowed our options down to two vehicles. A plush, one-owner Limited version with good maintenance records but higher miles sold just before we arrived – – as the owner put it, "the guy beat my door down to pay the asking price." So it was down to the XLS, and after a long test drive and extensive tire kicking we all approved...with admitted reservations about cosmetic and mechanical issues.
THE BAD
- Guy selling it had only owned it for a matter of months and had no extensive maintenance records
- Rear bumper was clearly smacked at some point and repaired with Play-do and a fingerpaint set
- Bottom of the motor is slick with oil that the owner attributes to a rear cam seal leak
- Somewhere along the line the poor old Pajero was subjected to a chain smoker who serially inflicted burns to its seats
- On the drive home the truck bucked strangely at a light (amost as if it was tapped from behind) but never lost power
- The day after purchase, on a short drive, the temp gauge crept up. I pulled over as it pegged on high. After it cooled down we drove home without issue. Hmmmm
- Features a poor man's lift comprised of inexpensive shocks, struts, tower spacers and big-******** 34" retread tires (not the vision I have for durable suspension and quality rubber)
- The rear springs are sagging a bit...but they'll be replaced soon, regardless
- Wanders a tad at higher speeds like most lifted trucks – – something I believe a more conservative lift (OME, ADD?) and slightly smaller tires will remedy
- Once up to speed there's a slight side-to-side shimmy in the steering wheel. I suspect an out-of-round (cheap) tire
THE GOOD
- Ample room and comfortable seating, as advertised. Fambly approved
- Engine bay and components very clean and seem well maintained
- All easily-checkable fluids full and clean
- Runs strong and smooth and has low-end grunt. Certainly lacks juice but does not feel cumbersome
- Crazy nimble for a big, heavy, lifted vehicle; turning radius is stupid good
- Factory hitch already in place and does not look to have been used much
- The PO is an avowed Mitsu guy who was open about stuff I should fix asap. (He drives a 2000 Montero with 400K on a motor he has personally rebuilt twice). He threw in a top-end gasket set and a tranny filter kit since he was planning on doing those himself
- Cigarette burns and chunky bumper aside, overall the truck is clean. The Florida-friendly white paint is in very good shape and the gray interior is redeemable despite a few flaws
- Lifted stance is far more beefy and appealing than stock setups
- Not a fan of the 285/75/16 Treadwell tires (just my bias against remoulds) but they are essentially new so Craigs-listing them should somewhat offset a new tire purchase
So, I'm in that funky place between new-purchase euphoria and buyer's remorse that will not resolve itself until all maintenance issues have been addressed and I drive the truck for a while. I've ordered timing belt, water pump, accessory belt, upper gasket kit, cam seal, plugs, plug wires, coil packs, Rotella oil, LSD fluid, cooling water line o-ring, new radiator cap, thermostat, temp sensor, etc. -- the whole nine yards (with patient coaching by seasoned poster Michael Brown along the way). The revival of Fuggly is at hand. I'll post updates as time permits. Truth be told, this'll be more of a reverse-build than a ground-up build since I'll be disassembling the current lift, tires, suspension components, etc. and replacing them with my own choices. And none of THAT is gonna happen until the old XLS proves to be reliable for a month or so after the extensive maintenance work is complete. And full disclosure: I lack the experience and talent of the resident wrenching magicians so it's gonna be a slow journey.
Why "Fuggly", you ask? Because "Fugly" was not available when we ordered the custom plate...and "Fuggafrigginlicious" just wouldn't fit. :ylsmoke: And because – at the risk of offending some of the locals – I don't find the Gen3's overly attractive. That is, from odd angles they are appealing, but the elaborate cladding is bizarre. Frankly they look like the twisted creation of a talented Japanese designer who, on the cusp of industry immortality, submitted a once-promising-concept-gone-wrong after bingeing on LSD, Buck Rogers' reruns and a bad batch of sake.
But it's all good. Once modified with beefier tires, lift, bumpers, etc. they become a rugged, hyper-unique and endearing form of fugly – sort of like a bowlegged bulldog. I've already noticed several "What the hell is that thing?" stares. I really hope she proves reliable since Fugly is growing on me like a fungus.
Thanks again to those in here whose advice has proved invaluable so far. Glad to be a part of this group.
Some pics just after I removed the side-steps yesterday:
THE BAD
- Guy selling it had only owned it for a matter of months and had no extensive maintenance records
- Rear bumper was clearly smacked at some point and repaired with Play-do and a fingerpaint set
- Bottom of the motor is slick with oil that the owner attributes to a rear cam seal leak
- Somewhere along the line the poor old Pajero was subjected to a chain smoker who serially inflicted burns to its seats
- On the drive home the truck bucked strangely at a light (amost as if it was tapped from behind) but never lost power
- The day after purchase, on a short drive, the temp gauge crept up. I pulled over as it pegged on high. After it cooled down we drove home without issue. Hmmmm
- Features a poor man's lift comprised of inexpensive shocks, struts, tower spacers and big-******** 34" retread tires (not the vision I have for durable suspension and quality rubber)
- The rear springs are sagging a bit...but they'll be replaced soon, regardless
- Wanders a tad at higher speeds like most lifted trucks – – something I believe a more conservative lift (OME, ADD?) and slightly smaller tires will remedy
- Once up to speed there's a slight side-to-side shimmy in the steering wheel. I suspect an out-of-round (cheap) tire
THE GOOD
- Ample room and comfortable seating, as advertised. Fambly approved
- Engine bay and components very clean and seem well maintained
- All easily-checkable fluids full and clean
- Runs strong and smooth and has low-end grunt. Certainly lacks juice but does not feel cumbersome
- Crazy nimble for a big, heavy, lifted vehicle; turning radius is stupid good
- Factory hitch already in place and does not look to have been used much
- The PO is an avowed Mitsu guy who was open about stuff I should fix asap. (He drives a 2000 Montero with 400K on a motor he has personally rebuilt twice). He threw in a top-end gasket set and a tranny filter kit since he was planning on doing those himself
- Cigarette burns and chunky bumper aside, overall the truck is clean. The Florida-friendly white paint is in very good shape and the gray interior is redeemable despite a few flaws
- Lifted stance is far more beefy and appealing than stock setups
- Not a fan of the 285/75/16 Treadwell tires (just my bias against remoulds) but they are essentially new so Craigs-listing them should somewhat offset a new tire purchase
So, I'm in that funky place between new-purchase euphoria and buyer's remorse that will not resolve itself until all maintenance issues have been addressed and I drive the truck for a while. I've ordered timing belt, water pump, accessory belt, upper gasket kit, cam seal, plugs, plug wires, coil packs, Rotella oil, LSD fluid, cooling water line o-ring, new radiator cap, thermostat, temp sensor, etc. -- the whole nine yards (with patient coaching by seasoned poster Michael Brown along the way). The revival of Fuggly is at hand. I'll post updates as time permits. Truth be told, this'll be more of a reverse-build than a ground-up build since I'll be disassembling the current lift, tires, suspension components, etc. and replacing them with my own choices. And none of THAT is gonna happen until the old XLS proves to be reliable for a month or so after the extensive maintenance work is complete. And full disclosure: I lack the experience and talent of the resident wrenching magicians so it's gonna be a slow journey.
Why "Fuggly", you ask? Because "Fugly" was not available when we ordered the custom plate...and "Fuggafrigginlicious" just wouldn't fit. :ylsmoke: And because – at the risk of offending some of the locals – I don't find the Gen3's overly attractive. That is, from odd angles they are appealing, but the elaborate cladding is bizarre. Frankly they look like the twisted creation of a talented Japanese designer who, on the cusp of industry immortality, submitted a once-promising-concept-gone-wrong after bingeing on LSD, Buck Rogers' reruns and a bad batch of sake.
But it's all good. Once modified with beefier tires, lift, bumpers, etc. they become a rugged, hyper-unique and endearing form of fugly – sort of like a bowlegged bulldog. I've already noticed several "What the hell is that thing?" stares. I really hope she proves reliable since Fugly is growing on me like a fungus.
Thanks again to those in here whose advice has proved invaluable so far. Glad to be a part of this group.
Some pics just after I removed the side-steps yesterday:
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