Cherokee Model Query

I'll probably get seriously jumped on for this comment but my viewpoint runs something like this... You see a lot of GC's available because they have so much "luxury" crap and half of it goes wrong all the time and the owner can't stand it and dumps the vehicle. People who have "plain vanilla" Cherokees seem to keep them until the wheels fall off (and then they get them lifted and put bigger wheels on, until the snap an axle then upgrade the axle...oh, sorry, getting carried away).

Anyway, I'd really take a more basic Cherokee sport over an overdone GC any day. Power everything is nice until the electrical gremlins start (ugh). Drifter "I've been here, I've been there..."

Welcome Monroe,

The Jeep lettering notations can be confusing at first to a newbie. Regular Cherokees (XJ) were produced from 1984-2001 with few major changes. The years you are looking at are, of course, in this range. The Grand Cherokees from 1999-2004 are the WJ series and this is the range you are investigating. Good, low mileage versions of both the XJ and WJ are out there.

WJ Information:

XJ Information:

Information from Edmunds.com

Click on "More Information" then "Research" I had a 2000 XJ (Cherokee) Sport with the I-6, automatic, and Command Trac. It averaged about 20 mpg with conservative driving. I currently have a 2002 WJ (Grand Cherokee) Laredo with the I-6, automatic, and Select-Trac.

The Grands are more plush and have more options than the standard Cherokees. They are also a little bit longer and weigh about 700 pounds more. The Limiteds are the models with all the options, Hoo-Ha, and bling-bling.

For towing a utility trailer or winter transportation either model will do just fine. The towing capacity for both with the I-6 is 5000 pounds/20 feet. The V-8 will get you a little more towing capacity and only lower your mileage about 1 mpg.

For winter or off-road use you should consider a set of quality All-Terrain tires to replace the Wrangler STs that came from the factory.

Wrangler STs can be described as 'low bid', they are number 60 of 63. Everyone has they preferred tire. Mine are Kumho Venture AT825s. Many of the others here prefer BFG ATs for their off-road reputation but you should read the ratings here and at Consumer Reports and decide which categories are important where you drive. Not all manufacturers are listed though, your local tire retailer may have different brands.

The Command-Trac transmission is a part-time only four wheel drive. I prefer the Select-Trac transmission as it gives me the ability to have and use full-time four wheel drive or part time. Both transmissions were available in the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee as standard or options. The Quadra-Drive and Quadra-Trac transmissions were also available in the Grands as I recall. They are full time AWD which has its own benefits/drawbacks but for your projected use any of the available transmissions will do. (Different combinations were available in different years) If I were to get another one I would again chose the Select-Trac and if one with the limited slip were available that would be my preference.

A lot of it comes down to money, all other things being equal, (and they never are) you will be paying about $3000 more for the WJ over the XJ

There is a lot of accumulated knowledge here and advise/opinions are generally very good. If anyone give you a bad or questionable answer plenty of others will jump in to provide their opinions.

Some of the Jeepers here are a bit cranky at times and a few of us can properly be labeled curmudgeons but we try to be helpful most of the time (when we are not arguing about off-topic (OT) things.

Think about your questions and ask away! (or don't think before you ask, those questions may be better)

Options do mean extra expense in both the purchase price and in maintenance. It all depends on what you want or need.

I have it in the back of my mind to get a 2000-2001 XJ and build it into a (streetable) off-road machine and keep my WJ stock as a daily driver but that is a different conversation.

Point of order (as long as we're educating a newbie here)... "Regular" Cherokees were designated by SJ and were produced from the

60's to the early '80s. The XJ was a redesigned, downsized Cherokee.

'96 XJ Sport, 4 dr, 4.0L HO :-), Command-Trac (4H for snow, heavy rain, gravel ... 4L to pull the boat outta the creek and creeping down some "trails" to get to some lakes for fishing/camping ... else rear wheel drive,

4 spd auto (overdrive, lockup torque converter) ... idles along the highway at about 1800 rpm, open differentials ... my requirements don't include lockers ... and since it's my daily ride, I don't want to chance stressing an axle, then getting up on the highway for example and have it snap. No power anything ... well ok, steering. No proper frame (unibody, uniframe,???) as such so weighs about 3100 lbs which all adds up to reasonable mileage on regular gas. Add ons ... transmission cooler, Ride Control air on the back end (for trailering, hauling stuff like roofing shingles), snow tires in the winter. Mileage ... 286,000 kilometers ... it's looking like with regular preventive maintenance (just replaced rotors, pads ... no problems so far ... I hear the GCs may have problems in this area) I'll be taking this vehicle to the grave with me ... well, that's the plan :-)

What he said!

Our old 'plain jane' 88 Cherokee has about 310,000 km on it and is still going strong.

Wheels haven't fallen off yet, but I do have the lift ready for when they do...

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Let's consider when the XJ hit the market, 1983. At that time AMC-Jeep was owned by Renault. So there's plenty of European influence in it's basic design and it's a very utilitarian vehicle. For the first few years they used various GM engines and they were mediocre. Then they gave rebirth to what some say is a 1929 Nash 6 cylinder engine by adding electronic fuel injection (1987 as I recall). Then they started looking for a automatic transmission for it. They did not use the previous Chrysler auto but instead ended up with a Japanese Asin AW-4 that's rumored to be a re-engineered Ford tranny that has Borg-Warner electronics, hence the W. This tranny is used in some Toyota Supras and other car maker's products. Later the engine got Chrysler electronics in it's HO configuration. (90 or 91). The engine was used in Cherokees until they stopped making them in 2001. There were some 4 cylinder models made though. The 4.0L engine and Asin AW4 tranny are a unbeatable combination. In a little over a year I've owned a 89, 96 and now a 99 that I hope to have a long time. In 93 Chrysler introduced the GRAND Cherokee that was supposed to replace the Cherokee. As a result they didn't mess it up because it was supposed to "fade away". That didn't happened and sales of the XJ soared. My daughter got a 93 GC new and recently a used 2004 GC but I find them harder to get into and out of and it does not seem as spacious. It has bells and whistles out the ying yang. My XJ has power windows and locks with remotes and heated remote mirrors, plenty for me! I was a VW fan for many years and find the XJ very similar many respects. When you get a XJ put on a HIDDEN HITCH and wiring harness available from etrailer and you'll be very happy.

JoBo

"Monroe" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

Only 1 GM engine was ever used in XJ. A carbureted 2.8L V6. Your basic boat anchor.

I'm lurking on this group since a while and found it just great. The indiviuals here are very knowledgeable and helpful. It you go beyond 'the dealer will fix it' care for your vehicle this group becomes a huge point in favor of Jeep.

Markus

Hmmm ... 2.8L? You sure it wasn't a 3.8L V6 odd-fire ... often supercharged ... like the one in my boat ... speaking of boat anchors?

Nope, 2.8 liter boat anchor. Reliable and fairly long-lasting, if the Chevy S10 I owned was any indication, but underpowered. It has about as much power as the four cylinder offerings from the same years. If you find one of these in an otherwise acceptable vehicle, however, it is certainly worth a second look.

Earle

Also note that a 3.4L V6 long block is a drop-in replacement. My 2.8L quit after about 200k miles and I had it replaced with the 3.4L. Required adding an electric fuel pump but otherwise it was a pretty straight bolt-up. With the exception of making sure you use the right oil pan. There's one better suited for the 4wd front axle. The added .6L doesn't really give much in the way of performance improvement, but since my 2.8L threw a rod it's not like I had much in the way of choices.

That's a load of crap. It was a GM engine, and GM was using it at the same time AMC was. GM had already come out with a 1 piece rear main setup and was selling AMC the 2 piece engines. Some of the AMC ones even had the crankshaft knurled backwards, turning it into a 2.8L oil pump.

Rear main seals weren't the only place that leaked oil on those though. Valve covers, intake manifolds, fuel pump o-rings, etc... Anything that could leak, would.

Add to that the fact that it couldn't even get out of it's own way, and you have your basic boat anchor.

Well, not really jumpin' on ya, but I think you see a lot of GC's simply because they're good looking and quick as hell (V-8).

The only thing I've had go bad on my 2000 GC Limited in 70K miles is the turn signal flasher module ($50). I adore this vehicle! You can't beat the heated seats in winter, nor the dual climate control, nor the Quadra-Drive in deep snow. It's just a comfortable, incredibly powerful vehicle.

OTOH, my luck with Cherokees hasn't been so good. I like them too, but I've replaced engines at 80K, had transmission and header troubles, etc.

Of coure, everyone's experience varies. But no, I don't think you see a lot of GC's because the luxury stuff goes bad, especially not the

1999+.

Best, Kev

There were also a lot of them sold... so more make it into the used ads.

There will be a lot more XJs, ZJs,and WJs on the used car market now because of the 'family plan' pricing being offered by the manufacturers.

If I had the money available I could probably find that buildable XJ (or ZJ) that I have been thinking about for a very nice price.