Rambo Penguin
Member
I agree with the cross shopping. Gen 1 and 2 montes are similar enough, but gen 3 is a totally different thing, which advantages and disadvantages that make it hard to compare the models at all
Montero reliable?
- Thread starter Amateuroverland
- Start date
Doing_Dirt
Active member
Reminds me of when I wanted to get into classic cars. I always wanted a 1966/1967 Nova in high school. Determined to have one, I spent $900 saved from summer jobs on a very tired 350 sitting in a rusted shaped car. After realizing how much of a money pit it was, I hated that car. Did not seem like the ones I saw in hot rod magazines...
I'm sure a few more coins saved and a little more time shopping around, I may have found one that I loved.
Amateuroverland
New member
I'm looking into Monteros because I truly want one. What is fuel economy like? Both highway and city?
Amateuroverland
New member
I've been looking at sports. Are there differences I should be worried about
Swank Force One
Adventurer
Not sure about stock, or if you're looking at Gen2 or Gen3. Our Gen3 got 13-15mpg around town, 17-19mpg highway.
My Gen2 is atrocious. 11-12mpg around down, 13-14mpg highway. But it's lifted and on 35s and i haven't regeared. It did about 1-2mpg better on 33s. The poor thing is reporting engine load around 65-70% just to cruise at highway speeds on flat ground. It could use a motor making about 400hp/500ftlbs.
Worried about? Probably not. They're smaller inside. Other than that are pretty similar. I'd suggest only looking at them with a 3.5 motor, and there are unicorns out there with the factory rear locker, but they're few and far between.
Amateuroverland
New member
All the ones in my area have the 3.0 and they're most 2000 to 2003
Swank Force One
Adventurer
3.5 Sports don't really cost more, because Sports don't cost anything substantial in the first place. I'm sure there's people who love their 3.0 Sports. I wouldn't bother buying one.
Just remember: The lower the cost of entry, the more likely the chance of neglect.
Just remember: The lower the cost of entry, the more likely the chance of neglect.
Rambo Penguin
Member
In general, the sport and full sized Monteros have almost nothing in common besides the name. You can do some gear swapping between the two models but they truly are different rigs
Amateuroverland
New member
Is it more or a difference in size or reliability? I know one is smaller and ones bigger
Swank Force One
Adventurer
I'd maybe contest that there's a lot the same, a ton that's similar, and not much that's completely different. 
Same motor, same trans, same size diff(s), body-on frame, stick axle rear, independent front, similar/same front brakes, etc.
Same motor, same trans, same size diff(s), body-on frame, stick axle rear, independent front, similar/same front brakes, etc.
Se7en62
Adventure Seeker
Any 20 year old truck will have reliability issues, but that's primarily due to prior maintenance or lack thereof. I have a 1999 that I bought bone stock with 194k on the clock back in December. Now it has 198k and I've driven it daily and taken it on a cross-country trip with no issue other than a radiator cap seal failing, which was an $8 fix. - The following week, a pinhole in my lower radiator hose which was another $12 to replace with a new hose. - These things are very over built, but no matter what vehicle you drive old and aging rubber will begin to break down, so simple maintenance is necessary.
I'll add that I absolutely love these things now and really enjoy talking about them with other 4x4 enthusiasts who aren't aware of their quality and pedigree. If you want to follow our's along, we're on Instagram @overland_pajero and you can find the link to my build thread below.
P.S.-I also built a Cherokee 4x4 last year and liked it, but not quite to this extent. That build thread is also below.
I'll add that I absolutely love these things now and really enjoy talking about them with other 4x4 enthusiasts who aren't aware of their quality and pedigree. If you want to follow our's along, we're on Instagram @overland_pajero and you can find the link to my build thread below.
P.S.-I also built a Cherokee 4x4 last year and liked it, but not quite to this extent. That build thread is also below.
Amateuroverland
New member
I know that parts will get old and wore out and that simple maintenance will need to be done. But is there anything catastrophic I should be looking for?? Or is there something I should keep a close eye out for
Doing_Dirt
Active member
Just a side note, here are the top things that really shine for me on my 3rd gen Limited over my XJ:
1) Interior space. I love the room in the rear cargo area with the spare outside. Also by removing the 3rd row seat, I have an instant built in tool/storage box below the floor.
2) Suspension. Independent 4 wheel suspension is so nice on the road. Its mostly a daily driver and weekend warrior, and I don't do much crawling (any at all) but play around enough in sand and fire roads to know I don't need solid axles front and back. There are plenty of youtube vids showing 3rd gen Pajero/Monteros doing as well as 4Runners and Jeeps at Rubicon Trail so in my opinion articulation is not top of importance.
3) View. As a truck driver, I'm use to being up high seeing over traffic miles ahead of me. It has such a nice high view over the hood. Not really sure if windshield size has anything to do with it, but its like driving an old cabover International. Besides road safety, I'm sure some find it helpful to find lines on trails.
I don't want to get into style and fashion, but in my area, I don't see many Limited models at all. That's a huge plus in my book, but not why I would side over one vehicle or the other.
Anyways, hope you find what you are searching for. My grand dad use to always say never tell a grown man what to do with his money. So I try to share my opinion from experience. I have not owned mine long, so take my replies with a grain of salt.
1) Interior space. I love the room in the rear cargo area with the spare outside. Also by removing the 3rd row seat, I have an instant built in tool/storage box below the floor.
2) Suspension. Independent 4 wheel suspension is so nice on the road. Its mostly a daily driver and weekend warrior, and I don't do much crawling (any at all) but play around enough in sand and fire roads to know I don't need solid axles front and back. There are plenty of youtube vids showing 3rd gen Pajero/Monteros doing as well as 4Runners and Jeeps at Rubicon Trail so in my opinion articulation is not top of importance.
3) View. As a truck driver, I'm use to being up high seeing over traffic miles ahead of me. It has such a nice high view over the hood. Not really sure if windshield size has anything to do with it, but its like driving an old cabover International. Besides road safety, I'm sure some find it helpful to find lines on trails.
I don't want to get into style and fashion, but in my area, I don't see many Limited models at all. That's a huge plus in my book, but not why I would side over one vehicle or the other.
Anyways, hope you find what you are searching for. My grand dad use to always say never tell a grown man what to do with his money. So I try to share my opinion from experience. I have not owned mine long, so take my replies with a grain of salt.
Swank Force One
Adventurer
Not really anything catastrophic. Crank bolt maybe. If you snap a timing belt, you're gonna have a bad time. If timing belt tensioner fails, you're gonna have a bad time. Leaks are generally more annoying to fix on these than an XJ, plus with the side "benefit" of trashing other stuff if you ignore them, unlike an XJ for example, which mostly just makes a mess. Heater cores seem to fail/clog a lot, which you should be used to coming from XJ Land. Downside: Heater cores cost a lot of money (no aftermarket replacement, and OEM is about twice as much as an OEM XJ unit), and they clog/fail because they're tiny absolute pieces of garbage. Replacement job about on par with XJ.
In terms of inherent weaknesses? Nah, don't really have anything major or worth worrying about. 99.99% of issues you'll have are simply due to the newest one being 18 years old and likely with a good chunk of miles and neglect, not due to any flaws from the factory.
HMSEndeavour
New member
I have a gen 3 and it's a solid and generally reliable car. There are a few issues that most Gen 3's will run into but many are not mechanical in nature. For example, the lock on the front glove-box and the rear door latch often end up stuck. They are easy fixes, but having your rear door latch stuck out in the woods is pretty inconvenient. Mine also had pretty heavy vibrations between 1500-2000 RPM caused by 2 big rubber blocks (damper of some sort?) Mitsubishi installs behind the transfer case and rear diff. Removing them solved the vibration issues. On the bright side, it never leaked any fluids, starts easily and well in all weather conditions, doesn't overheat, doesn't rust nearly as much as other cars, never broke down and is surprisingly capable offroad. Its NOT graceful at all offroad and lifts wheels all over the place, but it somehow always ends up clearing obstacles.
Maintenance is also quite expensive unless you are able to do it yourself since most dealerships and independent garages are not familiar with Monteros. The vehicle is also very finicky with the brand of fluids you use. IF you are willing to use OEM fluid and carry out maintenance outlined in the owner's manual, you should have no major problems. Monteros dont really have "surprise" breakdowns or issues and as other users mentioned, neglect is the main cause of mechanical problems.
The combination of comfort, versatility, and general reliability are the gen 3's biggest advantage. If you want a vehicle that will be abused and used purely for heavy offroading, you probably want a different vehicle.
Maintenance is also quite expensive unless you are able to do it yourself since most dealerships and independent garages are not familiar with Monteros. The vehicle is also very finicky with the brand of fluids you use. IF you are willing to use OEM fluid and carry out maintenance outlined in the owner's manual, you should have no major problems. Monteros dont really have "surprise" breakdowns or issues and as other users mentioned, neglect is the main cause of mechanical problems.
The combination of comfort, versatility, and general reliability are the gen 3's biggest advantage. If you want a vehicle that will be abused and used purely for heavy offroading, you probably want a different vehicle.