I'd like to buy this Monty, but...

[madcowdungbeetle]

Hi All,

I just posted this on the Wire, and thought maybe you fine folks may have an idea what piece of the puzzle I'm missing.

I'm looking at a Montero, and had a few questions. I miss my '01 Trooper and '89 FJ-62 something awful, and I've never owned a Monty, so I've been reading up. I think I found one I like, and will try to work out something with the seller if you all tell me this is all kosher.

Here's where I'd have linked the AutoTrader ad, but that's not working for some reason too technical for me to figure out. If you want to see it, Google "Affordable Imports Auto Sales, Inc.", in Temecula, CA, and look for the silver "2000 Montero XLS" - the "XLS" is their word, not mine. If you don't want to bother (who can blame you), it looks like a clean, silver / grey, GEN II Monty (no fender blisters). According to CarFax and the VIN decoder from Mitsubishi's own site, this is a 2000 Montero with a 3.0L SOHC V6. My question is how? From my reading here (and on the Wire), and every other site I've been to, a MY 2000 Montero should be a "Gen 2.5", with fender blisters and the 3.5L SOHC V6 mill. This one (apparently) has neither of those things.

Conceivably, I suppose the VIN could be from a different 2000 Montero, but why would it still come up with a 3.0L? Or if it was from a Non-USA model, why would CarFax show it in Cali all it's life? Also, given what they're asking for it (which seems a little high, if I'm honest), all that seems like way more trouble than it's worth. What am I missing here?

Thank you all in advance for any light you can shed on this... I'm truly stumped.

Kind Regards,
Kevin

 

[off-roader]

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...mmt=[MIT[MONT[]][]]&listingId=361923246&Log=0

 

[jlocster]

Yeah, that probably is a year 2000. But it's an import model, most likely from Puerto Rico or some other part or the Caribbean. If you look at the grill, you'll see its chrome instead of black plastic. That's one of the distinguishing features along with the fact that the body is painted one color and the bumper ends are color matched. Cloth interior, lack of center mounted dash gauges, and those particular aluminum wheels are other traits specific to the import models. It's basically the equivalent to an unoptioned Gen 2 LS model. They pop up from time to time. Miles on that one are low and it looks clean. Price seems high to me. Good luck.

 

[madcowdungbeetle]

Thank you off roader for fixing the link (electronics are allergic to me). And thanks jlocster for the tip, that would explain it.

One more question if you don't mind me one-timing you: Since it's the 3.0, does that mean it has a light(er)-duty tranny and the smaller R&P? And would that even matter? (I should mention that the gnarliest off highway trails I plan to do are two-tracks through a pasture on my way to a fishing hole. This will be a DD and will likely never see tires larger than 255/85, if that.

 

[PirateMcGee]

Hold out for one with a locker and the 3.5