C O V E R     S T O R Y

James Bond is one cool guy; there’s no doubting that.  Everything from driving (and subsequently wrecking) his Aston Martin V12 Vanquish to having any girl he wants, he’s surely any man’s fantasy life personified.  However, there’s a greater chance of seeeing pigs fly than for us slipping into a Brioni suit armed with an Omega Speedmaster with standard laser gun.  So what’s the next best thing to Bond?  McGyver. 

McGyver’s weapon of choice is something more accessible to ordinary us: a Swiss Army Knife.  People who grew up on this cheesy nineties action series would remember Richard Dean Anderson getting out of just about any imaginable situation with just the use of a 2-inch knife or perhaps the miniaturized Philips screwdriver. 

Of course, McGyver's use of his pocket knife is just about as realistic as James Bond switching a Lotus Esprit into submarine mode—the action’s been hyped for the show.  A Swiss Army Knife contains everything that a boy scout needs: knife, hacksaw, ruler, screwdriver, file, and scissors—however, don’t expect it do to perform any duty as well as specialized, single-purpose tools.  Still, you have this feeling of security, just knowing the ability is there somewhere.  

Much like a Swiss Army Knife, the Mitsubishi Pajero Field Master does everything quite adequately, but fails to excel in any particular department.  Though this is not necessarily a bad thing, the Pajero is stuck in a time warp where cars have to be something for just about everybody, rather than catering to a particular customer.  Despite its age, the current model struts along quite well, entering the twilight years of its life, as a new one will beckon next year. 

At the heart of this beast is a turbocharged 2.8-liter SOHC engine that burns diesel fuel.  Still employing the use of a Rotary Type Injection System, the Pajero’s powerplant is falling behind the more modern Direct Injection System used by its rivals.  Nonetheless, mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission, it still has the capability to haul two tons of metal with relative ease.  Though the 125 bhp output doesn’t seem adequate, the crème-de-la-crème is definitely the 298 Nm of torque available at a low 2000 rpm.   

The engine isn’t the smoothest or most refined choice out there, but it’s still surprisingly quiet for a diesel.  Overtaking is a breeze and compared to the previous version’s 2.5-liter powerplant, this one doesn’t seem to run out of breath even if it’s carry a full load of passengers and luggage climbing up the steep route to Baguio City.

Wrapped around the heavy-duty engine is a body that’s long been a landmark on Philippine roads.  That all-too-familiar shape has been given a mild facelift.  The standard body cladding, spare tire cover, rear tow hook, functional front hood scoop, chromed rear lamp protector and 16-inch tires give it a sort of Land Rover Defender appeal.  More resilient than Kim Jong Il, the Pajero’s boxy profile, flared and squared arches, and tall stance all give it a rugged and durable feel—a trait surprisingly lacking in its suburban-mommy-transport competition. 

Inside is where the Pajero feels every bit as old as Fidel Castro.  With a driving position that’s very upright, it’s more of a truck rather than a car.  This gives more driving confidence thanks to great front visibility, but it sacrifices the comfort level especially for long trips outside town.  It doesn’t help that some of the major controls such as the gear lever and handbrake need a bit of stretching to reach.

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