What's next? after a Gen 3 Montero, or Montero Sport...

[normal_dave]

What do we do, when it comes time to replace our beloved Montero, or Montero Sport?

I suppose for now, I'll keep repairing and cosmetically fixing our two trucks, but what happens when we really need something else?
I guess we won't see a Pajero Sport anytime soon here in the USA, that I could then wait and find a used one.

I'd certainly line up for one of these in the used market: Triton L200 Barbarian

But with what is available, I don't see a good path forward, (or have I just been drinking too much Mitsubishi Kool-Aid?).
A used Lexus GX470 which looks like the twin to my wife's '03 Montero Sport Limited, is unbelievably high priced in the used market, and I expect I'd have to do a bunch of catch up repairs to one of those as well.

As far as my '02 Montero Limited goes, I had a Jeep Cherokee rental awhile back, while the Montero was in the body shop, and it was nowhere close, although it did return good gas mileage.
Is a Toyota Land Cruiser the only reasonable answer? I think I could buy 2-3 nice Gen 3s for the price of a used Land Cruiser, and I'd still have the repair work to do.

What have you folks considered as reasonable replacements going forward? or do we just keep rolling along, grinning like the cat that ate the canary?

 

[normal_dave]

- like I think the Chrysler Aspen is an underrated platform in this context (yes really) with just a few tweaks and the Kia Borrego almost had promise. But low volume kills those really.

Interesting take on the Aspen. I've mostly been a Mopar gearhead in my drag racing/car show, motor and transmission building days. I read recently where the Aspen made a decent tow platform until they killed the body on frame structure. I agree they are off most folks' radar. I'll have to take a closer look.

Nothing planned for now, and a car payment probably not in the cards for us either, as long as I'm capable of wrenching my own stuff. Sometimes, at my age, a big job in the garage, on the daily drivers, can get a bit weary on the mind. But when I look at prices, and then compare real world reliability on our Mitsubishi's vs. other brands, well I don't feel so bad after all!

 

[offthepath]

Man I wish we could get 4th Gen monteros in the US. Ive been to mexico/central America a few times and love the newer monteros.

Realistically for the price? Nothing.

I do think the older Zz1 blazers offer a pretty good value for the money but not sure I'd ever get one. Rear locker etc.

If I had to move away from a 3rd Gen montero, I actually think I'd look at land rover LR3s first. For the money they seem like a good value and I've grown to like nice leather and heated seats.

Also, if you don't need 4 seats in a truck, Ford Rangers are a great value. Now that I think of it, the 800 series Yukon is another good value if you are ok with a larger vehicle.

Really, look through the forums and find the least supported vehicle and its probably the best bang for the $$. Lol.

 

[mires]

I went from a 2001 Montero Sport to a 2013 Xterra and wished I had done it sooner. I enjoyed the MS but was tired of working on it. The Xterra is dead reliable, dead simple, powerful and I get 18-22 mpg depending on the season. The 2nd gen dates back to 2005 so they can be found really cheap or you can pay a lot more for a newer model with more features.

 

[Toasty]

The new X-terra is kinda sorta a decent replacement for a Gen 1 Montero Sport, they're pretty old school. Reasonably priced due to their archaic suspension, look for models with the Nissan rear axle. Avoid the rear D44, it's weak sauce like a FCA Jeep D44. The IFS and front axle need attention if you plan to wheel and do the trans cooler mod and save yourself a transmission.

The new 4Runner is a good Sport replacement, better suspension, good engines. They're really small trucks with a big body though, my only complaint.


The Lexus GX is a good Gen 2 Montero replacement, awesome engine and transmissions, bigger than a 4Runner, swing out rear door (huge plus if you carry a boat on your roof) but rubbish suspension. Luckily they can use 4 runner suspension and there are several upgrade kits available, just plan on a couple thousand to address the issue because it's not set up for wheeling. The major drawback to the GX and 4Runner is the cost to get. The GX having the v8 returns pretty dismal MPG's, expect 13mpg stock.

This has been beat to death, the 200 series is the truck to get. Minimal issues, strong everything (actually front diff is a little weak) the huge deal breaker is the price tag. It's in G-Wagon territory used and the G-Class is pretty **************.

 

[coffeegoat]

I'm also interested in the LR3/4, many of the newer reliability guides are actually recommending it.

I'm curious how the Newish nissan Armada (or QX56/80 will look used in a 3-5 years. It's very similar in structure to the patrol overseas depending on the year. There are differences in the details, but it depreciates like a chest of drawers falling down the stairs and much the mitsu is well supported in the rest of the world.

Alternatively, I can hope that the new Montero Sport gets imported eventually, I can't find it now, but I saw an article where Mitsubishi actually sold more vehicles in the US recently than Land Rover...

 

[jeep-N-montero]

The current generation 4-runner is growing on me, I figure in 5 years a TRD PRO version will become an affordable option.

 

[plh]

I've driven a few of the current generation 4Runners and they do not do it for me. The interior is so cheap and super plastic feeling, like cheap plastic. I'm sure they will carry on the Toyota tax for a long time. Outside styling is nice.

 

[Toasty]

The new 4 Runner looks mean but to me it was like sitting in a bath tub. Pretty cramped inside to me, the GX felt more like a Montero. I'd get another, an early GX460 but I'd have to buy all new springs, shocks and some hard core control arms in advance otherwise I'd be all mad again after wrecking the IFS with casual wheeling.

 

[plh]

[QUOTE="I'd get another, an early GX460 but I'd have to buy all new springs, shocks and some hard core control arms in advance otherwise I'd be all mad again after wrecking the IFS with casual wheeling.[/QUOTE]

that is sad

I'll be back in Thailand again next week. My colleague there has a current generation Prada (diesel too) and it is finished off really nice, much nicer finishes than the 4Runner here. He does not take it off road, although some of the "normal" streets in Bangkok might count!

 

[Michael Brown]

I went through this very process when my '01 was wrecked. I looked at everything 4WD that I had seen on the trails and also some that were better people carriers. I also found a few Gen 3 limited/03+ models.

After outlining the features I liked/disliked of a 03+ Gen 3, I was given a list to compare for other vehicles:
Likes
-Longitudinal layout drivetrain (no FWD based crossovers)
-Similar gas mileage to other full-size SUVs
-Wheelbase and size not too large (I have been able to get anywhere that a 4-door Jeep fits)
-4WD with 2-speed transfer case
-AWD setting for wet/snowy/icy roads
-Come with 4.3 gears and can be easily swapped to 4.9/LSD without opening the differentials
-Traction Control system is as good off-road as LSD (Think Toyota ATS or watch this Dancing Pajero)
-Fit 33" tires without modification
-Tow 5,000 lbs to move race car and trailer
-IFS and IRS for more comfortable ride on and off-road
-3 rows of seating to move 7 people when taking friends/family
-3rd row can be completely stored in the floor for extra cargo space
-Rear heat/AC for all 3 rows of seating
-Seat warmers (I never thought this would matter, but I have used these more than the heater)
-V6 NA gas motor (no turbos for better reliability and fewer parts)
-Parts are shared across Mitsubishi, Chrysler, and sometimes Daimler (Also haven't changed much of the wear items)
-Has been easy to work on and maintain
-FREE Factory Service Manual online in an indexed PDF (go ask the F-150 forums about uploading a FSM to share)
-Large group of helpful people on ExPo, ADD forums, Facebook, and in Australia
Dislikes
-Tow bars hang low and tend to drag on trails (see Skidmark 4x4's hitch plate)
-Parts can be hard to find/more expensive for the Montero specific pieces
-Very little aftermarket support in US
-V6 could use more power compared to V8 vehicles
-Similar gas mileage to other full-size SUVs
-Interior is not as large as US brand full-size SUV/trucks
-Not as reliable as offerings from other brands (known part failures and platform quirks)
-Timing belt replacement every 60k miles or engine eats itself (exaggeration, but it is interference)

This list narrowed me down to a few other vehicles that I looked at as possible options. Each had clear benefits, but tended to compromise in other areas. I started with ones I had seen or worked on and expanded to a few others.
- 2012 and older Nissan Pathfinder/Xterra: My brother has an 07 Xterra, and my mother drives a 2012 Pathfinder. Reliable, can be had in 3-row, Pathfinder has IRS, decent aftermarket. Interior is smaller in all dimensions.
- Toyota Tacoma/Nissan Frontier: One uncle has an older Tacoma. Sacrifices the 3rd row seating for much better cargo capacity. Tend to command a higher price due to good reliability.
- F150/Full size truck: Father has 3 F150s. Sacrifices the 3rd row seating for much better cargo capacity. Trucks have gotten very expensive. Good reliability and great aftermarket support. Large size can be difficult on trails.
- Jeep Wrangler: Uncle has a JK, Grandfather drives a TJ. Very small interior. Low tow rating. Uncomfortable for long drives and on trails. Great off-road performance. Amazing aftermarket support. Reliability is also very good for stock vehicles.
- 4-Runner: Great all-around, but costs 2-3 times as much. Higher mileage vehicles are cheaper, but start to have more issues. Ones with
- Lexus GX: Matches almost all benefits of Gen 3 and comes with a V8. Smaller interior when 3rd row is not removed. Good examples can be very expensive. More challenge to modify for off-road use.
- Land Cruiser/Lexus LX: Matches almost all benefits of Gen 3 and comes with a V8. More expensive than Lexus GX. Size is comparable to full size trucks. Most ones for sale with good price tend to have very high mileage.

After looking at all of these options, the Limited/03+ Gen 3 met all of my needs well enough, at a very reasonable price, to overlook the other dislikes. That and I still had some Gen 3 parts in my garage that could be used. When I eventually have to replace it, I will have to revisit all of this again with a new list of current options. If I had to replace it right now with another vehicle, I would probably get a Lexus GX/LX from a wealthy family making an upgrade.
But I will look for the last good condition Gen 3 on earth before that.

 

[XJLI]

Don't overlook the Tahoe/Yukon and Expedition. Both have very reliable V8s (5.3 or 5.4), parts are cheap and everywhere, MPGs in the high teens to 20, three rows, available AWD settings and low range transfer case, can tow a decent amount, and both have a stout body-on-frame design. The Tahoes have G80 auto-lockers in the rear diff and the Expedition has decent 4 wheel traction control. They won't be crossing the Rubicon without some mods and help, but both fit 33s easily and work for 90% of what people what to do.

I'm not a Ford guy, but I really like the big windows in the Expeditions.

 

[normal_dave]

If I had to replace it right now with another vehicle, I would probably get a Lexus GX/LX from a wealthy family making an upgrade.
But I will look for the last good condition Gen 3 on earth before that.

Golden...

Well, I thought so. I suppose I'm in the same place. Sometimes I second guess myself, because I feel I make excuses for our maintenance 'gremlins'. From time to time, I wonder if it's worth it. At the end of the day, any vehicle needs proper maintenance, I think Monteros generally don't get the care and feeding they need, leaving us gearheads to clean up the mess of the previous owner. I suppose once we get over the hump, they are as reliable (often more so), than any other vehicle.

Kudos to Michael Brown, as his advice pushed me over the edge to purchase a Montero, (to join our Montero Sport in the yard), in the first place.

 

[lilkia]

I just bought a 2500 suburban to take over exploring/dog hauling for the wifes montero limited and my truck. The plan is either to eventually find her a low mile 06-07 monty or she wants a new outback. In either case the old Monty will be my winter commuter when we get moved back north.

 

[Toasty]

Ford makes a really good vehicle these days, my only gripes on the expedition is their visibility and driving position is not ideal for wheeling and they are geared into outer space. Like they can't even wheel stock, our group has a couple ford guys and it's like "what do you mean it won't go?" "is it in low range?" they seriously need a big v8 just to do their road and towing duties. PAJ_ERO has a newer Ecoboost v6 F-150 FX4 and it does fine but our other friend with the standard 4x4 v8 always needed to be pulled by a Montero to get there.