9 month’s worth of (reasonably) modern VW ownership turned out to be enough for me (nice car but too impractical) and so after a few weeks of advertising my Beetle GSR sold, to be replaced by something more up my street.
It had been on my radar for a while and after a recent price drop I made a speculative offer which was accepted, the deal was done and collection was arranged.
1997 Mitsubishi Pajero ZR-S Wide GDI V6 3500 to give its full name (as far as I can tell from Google research). ZR-S spec is decent, digital aircon and in-dash CD player to compliment the single-din radio/tape deck.
Saving grace is the full Recaro interior which I have not seen in any other Pajero, the Evo has same seats but in different trim and colour. Super comfortable, in my 22 years of driving this is the first Recaro interior I’ve experienced
Personal import by previous owner in 2020 and has done 45k miles in 25 years, ridiculous really, very little wear and tear on it and looks to be solid underneath and well looked after mechanically. All Japanese paperwork and had major work done on arrival here.
3.5 V6 sounds meaty enough through the standard exhaust, auto box is smooth as and manual mode is nice and surprisingly quick. 240bhp standard back 25 years ago, with similar lb/ft figure, not going to set the world on fire but decent enough.
Not saying this is a performance beast but it is torquey enough and sounds the part.
Can’t get over the fact it has active suspension (from 1997 remember, pretty advanced!) with 3 modes, along with 4 mode ‘Super Select’ 4wd, rear wheel drive as standard with switchable 4wd and diff lock, which I have not touched yet! The 3 suspension modes are listed as ‘Soft’, ‘Normal’ and ‘Hard’, which equates to ‘Nope, Slightly Better and Reasonable in terms of cornering on a normal piece of tarmac. No doubt the true handling characteristics are exposed somewhere more taxing.
So far I’ve done basically nothing apart from cleaning it and installing some Dakar-style rally flaps. Had a coolant leak from a two inch long piece of hose on top of the engine, replacement piece of hose supplied FOC by local motor factor at half 4 on a Friday sorted that issue.
Have been struck down (again, the joy) by the C19 lurgy so laying low until that clears and I can get a good run out in her.
Future upgrades will hopefully include a Gruppe M intake and stainless exhaust at some point.
In the absence of a sensibly-priced peak 90s Dakar Pajero Evolution this should scratch my itch. Just love this era of car tbh.
Will get more pics up when I’m fit for it
It had been on my radar for a while and after a recent price drop I made a speculative offer which was accepted, the deal was done and collection was arranged.
1997 Mitsubishi Pajero ZR-S Wide GDI V6 3500 to give its full name (as far as I can tell from Google research). ZR-S spec is decent, digital aircon and in-dash CD player to compliment the single-din radio/tape deck.
Saving grace is the full Recaro interior which I have not seen in any other Pajero, the Evo has same seats but in different trim and colour. Super comfortable, in my 22 years of driving this is the first Recaro interior I’ve experienced
Personal import by previous owner in 2020 and has done 45k miles in 25 years, ridiculous really, very little wear and tear on it and looks to be solid underneath and well looked after mechanically. All Japanese paperwork and had major work done on arrival here.
3.5 V6 sounds meaty enough through the standard exhaust, auto box is smooth as and manual mode is nice and surprisingly quick. 240bhp standard back 25 years ago, with similar lb/ft figure, not going to set the world on fire but decent enough.
Not saying this is a performance beast but it is torquey enough and sounds the part.
Can’t get over the fact it has active suspension (from 1997 remember, pretty advanced!) with 3 modes, along with 4 mode ‘Super Select’ 4wd, rear wheel drive as standard with switchable 4wd and diff lock, which I have not touched yet! The 3 suspension modes are listed as ‘Soft’, ‘Normal’ and ‘Hard’, which equates to ‘Nope, Slightly Better and Reasonable in terms of cornering on a normal piece of tarmac. No doubt the true handling characteristics are exposed somewhere more taxing.
So far I’ve done basically nothing apart from cleaning it and installing some Dakar-style rally flaps. Had a coolant leak from a two inch long piece of hose on top of the engine, replacement piece of hose supplied FOC by local motor factor at half 4 on a Friday sorted that issue.
Have been struck down (again, the joy) by the C19 lurgy so laying low until that clears and I can get a good run out in her.
Future upgrades will hopefully include a Gruppe M intake and stainless exhaust at some point.
In the absence of a sensibly-priced peak 90s Dakar Pajero Evolution this should scratch my itch. Just love this era of car tbh.
Will get more pics up when I’m fit for it
very cool
