Here's another attempt at keeping up a build/car progress thread.
Since my Volvo is down for the year (I’ll update that thread soon), and my IS300 failed MOT (very rusty sills), I needed a car to drive the coming weeks.
Sadly, with the current market, a 300 euro shitbox is not really feasible anymore. So spending a bit more for a longer term extra car was now an option.
Then a buddy of mine reminded me of a car they had sitting at his work for a while. Took it for a short spin, arranged for them to give it a fresh MOT before buying it and now I’m the owner of a 1996 Mitsubishi Pajero Junior.
The Pajero Junior filled the gap between the Pajero Mini (kei class) and the full size 3 door Pajero. In essence, it's a widebody Mini with a larger engine.
This engine, a whopping 1.1 liter SOHC 16 valve 4 pot, delivers 80 horsepower through a 3 speed automatic gearbox to either the rear or all wheels.
On paper (and on the doors) the car is a ZR-II edition. However, the ZR-II was only built from 1997 and on. It being a 1996 car and missing the ZR-II options, I believe it's a miscalled ZR-I with wrong doors.
The car was cheap, but that brought some flaws. The first day the battery wouldn't charge. After replacing the battery it was clear that the alternator had given up. I have found a second hand replacement on the Japanese auctions, bit that will take a little while to get here.
Also, a big issue is that the automatic transmission has a tendency to stop working. Its due to a faulty transmission controller. Luckily, they are still available on Amayama so a new one is on the way.
A new problem is that the indicators just stopped working, seems like an issue with the switch, as the hazards still work. Gotta take it apart and maybe spray it with some contact spray.
Window switches on the driver side are also faulty, just like the passenger side door lock.
And overall she's just pretty banged up. Scratches, dents, clear coat that's absent, but you know what they say, the first scratch hurts the most, so that's one less thing to worry about.
Now what are the positives:
The car runs like a dream. Sounds super healthy, doesn't feel like it's bogged down or anything. Also the undercarriage is in good shape. No weird rattles or noises over bumps, stable through corners, it's a pretty comfortable and quiet car to drive in and it has working AC!
Also, it's a JDM, right hand drive, widebody offroad car that will cost me around 50 euros per month in taxes and insurance, what's not to like about that?
So what's the plan:
Short term, making sure it's a reliable daily driver for the coming weeks or months. Even after the Lexus has MOT, I think I will use the little Pajero for the shorter daily drives.
After that, and I’m still happy to keep it, I'll probably source some little JDM offroad wheels, place some spotlights upfront, find a JDM OEM fender mirror and give it some all round TLC.
And obviously, were going offroad.
Since my Volvo is down for the year (I’ll update that thread soon), and my IS300 failed MOT (very rusty sills), I needed a car to drive the coming weeks.
Sadly, with the current market, a 300 euro shitbox is not really feasible anymore. So spending a bit more for a longer term extra car was now an option.
Then a buddy of mine reminded me of a car they had sitting at his work for a while. Took it for a short spin, arranged for them to give it a fresh MOT before buying it and now I’m the owner of a 1996 Mitsubishi Pajero Junior.
The Pajero Junior filled the gap between the Pajero Mini (kei class) and the full size 3 door Pajero. In essence, it's a widebody Mini with a larger engine.
This engine, a whopping 1.1 liter SOHC 16 valve 4 pot, delivers 80 horsepower through a 3 speed automatic gearbox to either the rear or all wheels.
On paper (and on the doors) the car is a ZR-II edition. However, the ZR-II was only built from 1997 and on. It being a 1996 car and missing the ZR-II options, I believe it's a miscalled ZR-I with wrong doors.
The car was cheap, but that brought some flaws. The first day the battery wouldn't charge. After replacing the battery it was clear that the alternator had given up. I have found a second hand replacement on the Japanese auctions, bit that will take a little while to get here.
Also, a big issue is that the automatic transmission has a tendency to stop working. Its due to a faulty transmission controller. Luckily, they are still available on Amayama so a new one is on the way.
A new problem is that the indicators just stopped working, seems like an issue with the switch, as the hazards still work. Gotta take it apart and maybe spray it with some contact spray.
Window switches on the driver side are also faulty, just like the passenger side door lock.
And overall she's just pretty banged up. Scratches, dents, clear coat that's absent, but you know what they say, the first scratch hurts the most, so that's one less thing to worry about.
Now what are the positives:
The car runs like a dream. Sounds super healthy, doesn't feel like it's bogged down or anything. Also the undercarriage is in good shape. No weird rattles or noises over bumps, stable through corners, it's a pretty comfortable and quiet car to drive in and it has working AC!
Also, it's a JDM, right hand drive, widebody offroad car that will cost me around 50 euros per month in taxes and insurance, what's not to like about that?
So what's the plan:
Short term, making sure it's a reliable daily driver for the coming weeks or months. Even after the Lexus has MOT, I think I will use the little Pajero for the shorter daily drives.
After that, and I’m still happy to keep it, I'll probably source some little JDM offroad wheels, place some spotlights upfront, find a JDM OEM fender mirror and give it some all round TLC.
And obviously, were going offroad.
