+1 on what's been said, with an endorsement on the Gen III. Being an avid follower back in the day of the Paris/Dakar when it actually went there, I became a fan of the Gen III, and, granted what remains factory in that competition is minimal, the performance and durability of the Gen III's platform won me over. I've owned two, my current one an '03 Limited. Surrendered the first one in a divorce.
Mitsubishi missed the marketing train on the Paris/Dakar victories, an opportunity to position the Montero nicely against British and other Japanese offerings, not to mention the big three's SUV inventory. Instead they focused on rice-burning AWD rally cars with Subaru in their sights. Not to mention Mitsu's almost devastating $0 $0 $0 campaign from which they're still recovering.
This not only made the Montero a wall flower, it squelched any incentive for aftermarket development for both the Sport and full-size platform, a good thing for folks like you in purchase price, and the bane for all of us looking to modify. Stock, the Montero already has a robust drive-train, some models with standard limited slip differential, and respectable nine-inch ground clearance. Outward visibility is terrific, rearward by comparison is great, and the cabin is well-appointed and thought out with one of the largest sunroofs offered.
Apparently Mitsu figured the American market would stick to Jeeps, leaving the Gen III Montero with plastic bumper caps and a departure angle rivaling UPS trucks. Aftermarket wheel offerings are limited given some models' air pressure sensors (as if, right?) and the V6 has a tendency to pressure oil through the rear main.
That said, all things being equal, I'd buy another.
