2001-2002 vs 2003-2006 Gen III Montero

[KyleT]

00+ sport is coil spring straight axle in rear.


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[beison8000]

For fun I thought I'd post a picture of the Retona, since most of you have likely never seen it. It had 2x4, 4H and 4L, but it was just a piece of crap. It got us around and we had some fun adventures, but everything broke on it except for the engine or transmission, and the thing only had 80,000 miles on it! I had it while living in Korea, and it's nickname was 똥차, "Ddong-Cha" meaning " ******t Car. It's actually the civilian version of the vehicle that the South Korean military uses for light duty work (think Humvee--> Hummer H1), however over there instead of being something that would indicate good build quality and reliability, it indicates the car was probably built worse!!

Sure looked cool though~

 

[kbahus]

The full size montero is a beauty don't get me wrong......it's just way more vehicle than people need unless you are hauling tons of stuff or people. The 3rd gen Montero is cushy and I love the way they ride/drive especially with the 5spd (which I wish the Sport had gotten). I don't love the weight and size though. I would rather have a Sport + honda civic for daily duty than a full size and that's really the difference in cost.

The Gen3 is not a very big vehicle, as a matter of fact I can't fit my wife, lab, kid, and a load of camping for the weekend inside the truck. The rear cargo space is poorly utilized with the way the plastics are designed (although I love the 3rd row seat storage compartment for gear) which makes it difficult to pack to the roof, especially with a large dog. The pro's of the Gen3, particularly the 2003+, outweigh any cost savings over other models in my opinion. I also feel the gen3 is a sports car compared to the 80 series Land Cruiser it replaced, weight and size are subjective. For the uses the OP stated in his first post the 03+ sounds like the best vehicle for his needs especially if kids are in the future. I saw an 03 pop up for $2k locally so they are out there, I paid $5k for mine with 140k on the clock for reference. Be patient and wait for the right truck to come along. I think the biggest problem with the Montero lineup in general is the lack of support and parts for the vehicle, even from the dealer.

Edit:

After I made my post I was thinking about the $4k budget. You can probably buy a truck for that price but you also should plan on bringing any used vehicle up to date with repairs and such. Timing belt, leaking valve covers, brakes, fluids, tires, worn out suspension, etc is all going to add up fast especially if you have to pay a shop to do the work. Just food for thought.

If you are located anywhere near me feel free to come take my truck for a drive and see if it will work for your needs. Are there other platforms you are looking at?

 

[PirateMcGee]

I would suggest driving both the Sport and Montero. The sport has a slightly harsher ride but as stated the later models have coils in the rear, they are also much safer so I would go that route. Keep in mind either vehicle at this age will likely need and not ride as well as they can.

Coming from the Retona the sport will feel huge. Like anything else both have their pros and cons but after having my Sport for quite awhile now and heavily considering (and driving) 3rd gen Montero's I find the Sport to be a better fit for me.

 

[PirateMcGee]

The Gen3 is not a very big vehicle, as a matter of fact I can't fit my wife, lab, kid, and a load of camping for the weekend inside the truck. The rear cargo space is poorly utilized with the way the plastics are designed (although I love the 3rd row seat storage compartment for gear) which makes it difficult to pack to the roof, especially with a large dog. The pro's of the Gen3, particularly the 2003+, outweigh any cost savings over other models in my opinion. I also feel the gen3 is a sports car compared to the 80 series Land Cruiser it replaced, weight and size are subjective. For the uses the OP stated in his first post the 03+ sounds like the best vehicle for his needs especially if kids are in the future. I saw an 03 pop up for $2k locally so they are out there, I paid $5k for mine with 140k on the clock for reference. Be patient and wait for the right truck to come along. I think the biggest problem with the Montero lineup in general is the lack of support and parts for the vehicle, even from the dealer.

Edit:

After I made my post I was thinking about the $4k budget. You can probably buy a truck for that price but you also should plan on bringing any used vehicle up to date with repairs and such. Timing belt, leaking valve covers, brakes, fluids, tires, worn out suspension, etc is all going to add up fast especially if you have to pay a shop to do the work. Just food for thought.

If you are located anywhere near me feel free to come take my truck for a drive and see if it will work for your needs. Are there other platforms you are looking at?

I've been working on the issue of space by going with smaller and lighter gear, treating it like backpacking with a few more luxuries, I've found I haven't lost any comfort but made it much easier to pack and unpack by being a bit minimalist.

 

[clmrt]

Simple vs complex. The sport is an AK47. The G3 is an M16. An early one.

I drive my Sport like a limo - slow and steady. And why not? The 3.0 is underpowered, it has 230K miles on the clock, so I take it easy. It rides fine. A little primitive over certain things, but fine considering it's a very rigid box on a good frame. No squeaks or rattles at all.

I drive the 3 like I stole it. I dislike the tiptronic thing, and the 4wd system needs a little fairy dust sprinkled on it now and then to keep it from ruining your day. I would say it's a little higher maintenance if only due to the luxury "extras" included like the option of rear heat / ac, auto-air, electronics packages...and I like Mitsu's fabrics vs their leather.