Faults:

The two main problems that have gone wrong with the Ole Pajero are the timing belt and the clutch:

-The timing belt went a few years ago, which is due to no fault of the old Pajero, but the fellas at the truck centre put the wrong one in, or it was on backwards or something. # hours waiting for RACV at 9:30PM.

-This year the clutch went, specifically the thrust plate and another part. I took it to the local truck centre where I live, and as I'm a P Plater, he suspected I had been out doing burnouts. As it was my dads car he rang him up and specifically told him I had been out dropping the clutch. When I got home and dad quizzed me about it, I said to him, Dad that car is a tractor, why would I do that to it, its not made for that. He agreed and no the clutch is fine again.

General Comments:

My parents have owned this car since I was 3 or 4 and I've grown up with some great memories in it. Its now mine and I drive it to uni and work. It's a part of our family. When ever we have friends around that we haven't seen in a while, they always ask us how the Old Pajero is going. We tell them its as strong as ever.

As far as speed goes, I guess my parents are glad I'm driving this car on my P's- With a bit of weight in the back, say, three of my mates, she struggles to get over 100km/h, but if I'm on my own it gets up to 120-130km/h when I over take, which is pushing it and I don't like to do that.

Fuel consumption I think is OK- I get around 10L/100Km, up to 13-14L/100km around town and stuff.

The Old bangers not the spring chicken it used to be, but I love it, I love every fault on it, its my friend and we look after each other.

Faults:

Driver's seat and seat belt were replaced due to wear. Took the chance to install front gas suspension seats which were an option on more recent models.

Stock stereo and speakers were horrible and needed urgent replacement with a Sony MP3 deck and Xplod speakers.

Gearbox is on its way out, sometimes grinding between gears. It seems to occur more frequently when downshifting, due to the higher revs I guess.

Bushes all through the front suspension need replacing.

Door seal on the drivers door needs replacing as it is torn in one corner and leaks water slightly.

General Comments:

This car is my reliable constant companion. It has been all over Australia on numerous camping and 4x4 adventures, most of them through Central Australian deserts. With a roof rack, bullbar and a good set of tires this car can go anywhere.

It isn't very quick off the lights, but the intercooled turbo diesel powerplant produces thoroughly silly amounts of torque without the equally silly engine displacement of some of its rivals. Driving revs are between 1000 and 2500 rpm and it idles at about 600. It can chug up a hill comfortably doing only 1500 revs without losing speed or getting the shakes. Furthermore, it tows a trailer with so much ease I forget it's even there (a big problem when changing lanes!).

The low operating rpm allows for great fuel economy not only for a car of its size, but its actually cheaper to run than a commodore, with around 9.5-10L per 100Km compared to a VT Commodore's consumption of around 13L per 100km.

It may not be quick, and heating the glowplugs, warming the engine up and cooling the turbo down all add a few more minutes to each drive, but it's reliable, economical and it can do anything.