Conference terri::cars_uk

    Before making any sort of comments, perhaps you could state what would
    be your main factor(s) in considering purchase of one of these ?
    
    I mean, are you looking for off-road capability, towing ability,
    carrying capacity, on-road performance, reliability, image... ???
    
    J.R.

My reasons for considering a Shogun:-

	* I have a caravan to tow

	* Towing off of wet grass, through muddy entrances. ie places where
	  conventional cars "stick", spin wheels etc

	* Ride comfort

	* Ease of driving, ( for wife )

	* Reliabability

	* Vision, can see more being higher up.

    OK, sounds like a perfectly reasonable set of requirements.
    
    I suppose most any 'off-roader' would suit, if you get the sort of
    model that includes creature comforts (not an L.R. 'Defender').
    
    One could say 'Why not get a Discovery ?' but I'm not a big L.R. fan.
    A different alternative could be a 4WD Espace, or even a VW 'Syncro'
    Transporter, but neither of these are as powerful.
    
    At least the Shogun has got (IMO) good looks.  Being Japanese does tend
    to mean that you expect reliability, plus various interior gadgets...
    
    With power steering, you would expect it to be 'easy to drive', but
    you should appreciate that it will still be quite different to a car.
    This goes with the soft[ish] suspension and high C of G that come with
    an off-road design.  This of course isn't a big problem, just that it
    may take some getting used to.  If you've driven this sort of vehicle
    before, then that doesn't need explaining.
    
    
    I don't *know* anything specific about the Shogun, other than various road
    tests that I have read in magazines.  Unfortunately, I don't keep
    those particular mag's, so cannot send them to you.  From what I do
    recall, there weren't any especially negative comments made on it.
    It is mostly a matter of comparing prices, balanced against your own
    personal preferences/beliefs (which are usually the major factor).
    
    
    Have you particular views for or against diesel engines ?  Perhaps the
    diesel unit(s) in the Shogun may produce better torque for towing.
    Having said that I would think the V6 would be quite happy with
    a caravan being pulled along behind it.  I guess you know of the
    caravanning conference (not one for me), have you asked for related
    comments in there at all ?
    
    J.R.

    
    Don't the Shogun's have biggish (> 2000cc) engines? Will cost you
    an arm and a leg (in tax) if a company car.
    
    Generally considered to be a slightly inferior (and dearer) Discovery
    competitor - I think the inferiority mainly relates to its off-road
    ability rather than any lack of gadgets or on-road ability (generally
    not something at which these bungalow-aerodynamics vehicles excel! :^))
    
    Mark

    
    Hi chaps,
    
    	I have a twin-axle 6.5m Avondale Leda Pentland caravan (1300Kg
    Gross) which I've been towing quite happily for the last 3.5 years with
    a Nissan Terrano I (in Switzerland).
    	We recently moved to a village which has easy access to a few of
    the lakes out here and have decided for a number of reasons to swap the
    caravan for a boat. The problem with a boat is it will weigh twice as much
    as the 'van......and then you've got to add trailer etc which will
    bring the gross weight up to around 3 tonnes.
    	Our Terrano is limited to 1800Kg passively breaked or 2000Kg if we
    fit air breaks. This is not enough as here in Switzerland they're
    pretty strict with their regulations. So, we looked at the Terrano II,
    which the wife likes (the Terrano is hers, by the way) but is only
    rated to 2800Kg (in Switzerland) with air breaks. We decided this was
    too close to the limit, and, after checking out the Discovery,
    Cherokee, Frotiera (OPEL - Vauxhall ?), Monterey (OPEL), ..... we have
    opted for a Shogun (called the Pajero out here!).
    	We've decided on the 3000 V6 Automatic which was the only way we
    could get ABS / Cruise control / Air-Cond and Leather. As we're having
    the dual tow-couplings and air brakes (rated to 5-tonnes) fitted, we
    decided to go the whole hog since we'll be keeping it a good few
    years).
    	This will be our first Automatic so I'm interested to see what its
    like to get used to. Anyway, we signed the paperwork yesterday and we
    pick it up in two weeks - so whatever you say, it's too late! Still,
    I'm interested to hear from anyone with Shogun experience.
    
    Jon B Goode
    
    Ps. Had the Terrano II airbrakes been rated to 3 tonnes, we would have
    definitely taken that. In 3.5 years of Terrano I driving we have had no
    problems. A few people have tried to dent it but only managed to leave
    the odd bits of their own body/paint behind. We've taken it through
    some pretty nasty conditions, particulary in the Swiss Alps in winter
    with the caravan. 
    

    
    Well, thanks a bunch for all the helpful replies 8-).
    
    Anyway, we've had the Shogun/Pajero about 6 weeks now so I thought I'd
    make a few comments in case anyone was interested.....
    
    Its very, very comfortable, has a very solid feel, steering nice and
    precise (cf Discovery), and very quite.
    
    Compared with the Nissan Terrano (I) which we had for 3 years, the
    Shogun is:
    
    i)		a bit heavier on fuel
    ii)		considerably slower - the Terrano was very quick off the
    		blocks for such a big car and there was plenty of power to
    		keep the speed up on hills. The Shogun is much slower to
    		get away and power falls off considerably at hihger speeds
    		leaving me slowing down on even slight gradients. If you
    		floor it, it drops into 3rd and spped up again but I don't
    		think this is too good for it at 140km/h!
    iii)	The rear cargo space was more flexible on the Terrano - the
    		rear seat had a 50/50 split and the rear windscreen opened
    		upwards	seperately to the rear door which meant you could
    		really load it up without everything falling out! The rear
    		door on the Shogun opens sideways so you have to be careful
    		that nothing's going to fall out. Because the are
    		effectively 3 rows of seats, the 2nd row only fold down and
    		forwards with the 3rd row folding upwards to either side.
    		This means the effective flat load area is considerable
    		smaller than on the Terrano (which I could get my freezer
    		into (just!).
    
    I had a problem with fitting a Pioneer Radio into it because the earth
    lead on the harness wasn't actually connected to earth (the standard
    Mitsubishi radios take evidently their earth of the ariel). The effect
    was that all the radio functions worked ok but no sound came out! Took
    me some time to figure that one out!!
    
    I'll put a reply in one day when we get around to towing with the
    Shogun....
    
    JBG