Cherokee or Liberty???

The Cherokee is my choice.

It is super easy with their solid axles to just put a lift block kit to get a couple more inches clearance and the Cherokee can keep all 4 wheels on the ground 'far' better than the Liberty with it's independent suspension.

We take our Cherokee on all the forestry/hunt access roads we take our CJ7 on up here in Canada. I have a 2" lift kit I got for it about 5 years ago, but just haven't needed it.... Save it for the next one I guess...

We have gotten some wild looks from ATV'ers when they come across us figuring we 'must' know some other way to get in other than the one they just spent a half day sweating on to get to us. LOL!

I also think the 4.0 engine is the better one and there are tons of Cherokees out there so parts are easy to find, new and used.

Mike

While the liberty would work fine for your stated purpose, as a matter of principle you should avoid it. Don't contribute to rewarding DC for diluting the brand.

I mean really, if you're not going for a real Jeep, why not buy a Toyota or a Nissan or even a Kia. You'd just be paying for a name otherwise.

"Clap Trap" wrote in message news:681ca$43a9c074$45490842$ snipped-for-privacy@KNOLOGY.NET... : While the liberty would work fine for your stated purpose, as a matter : of principle you should avoid it. Don't contribute to rewarding DC for : diluting the brand. : : I mean really, if you're not going for a real Jeep, why not buy a Toyota : or a Nissan or even a Kia. You'd just be paying for a name otherwise.

Other than the cheap shots, you won't find many admirers of the Liberty in this group. Change is hard for some to take and a lot of people curse what they do not understand or what does not suit their particular purposes. If you want a better perspective of the KJ, then go here:

The KJ is a popular, good looking little rig that (in my case) averages

If you get a Liberty, be prepared to take some flack over it not being a "real Jeep" but no matter what anyone says, it IS a Jeep, and they can just learn to live with it.

KJKate

I respect what you're saying, but at this point my main prinicple is to find a durable, reliable vehicle that can do what I want for something I can afford--whatever the pedigree :) I want a competent full-time

I have owned two CJs in my past life, and found them to be a lot of fun, but not much for a daily driver. As far as features, obviously the Libby will be better accomidated, but the Cherokkee is a helluva nice rig. I have nothing bad to say about the, I wanted one for a long time, and was looking for one when I found that they had been picked out of the herd and replaced with the KJ....

Not wanting a used rig, I got the Liberty. In your case, Like I said, you already know what you want, so go find a good one and get er done!

:)

Kate

Why would you consider a Liberty and not a ZJ or WJ Grand Cherokees?

That you are considering a Liberty implies to me that you have interest in more than just a utilitarian vehicle.

If your interest is to upgrade the vehicle for more off-road you will find ZJ parts plentiful and ZJs went to Select-Trac as the standard autobox in, I believe, '96.

As for your budget you can buy a lot for $16k.

Seriously, if durability is prime, go with a Japanese offering. Toyota in particular is terribly hard to beat. If I were to ever by something with IFS, it would be a Toyota, hands down. Dunno if they have a Selec-Trac equivalent though. If they don't, check out the Subaru Outback. Good reliability and nice AWD system. No low range though. But if you get the auto, it probably would be fine.

Even though I'll dis the libby every chance I get, it would be just fine for what you want. If you go that route though, at least spring for the diesel.

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote:

I've owned both. I started out with an '89 Cherokee (new), then a '99 Cherokee (new), my wife traded in her Intrepid on an '02 Liberty (new) and, after the 4.0L in the '99 broke a connecting rod and punched a hole in the crankcase, I went out and got an '05 Grand Cherokee (new).

Opinion: Despite what you may or will hear, the Liberty is a Jeep. It is rugged and capable of doing "Jeep things." Just because it does not have flat fenders and round headlights. . . The only drawback is that the Liberty seems a bit top heavy, like it has the wheels spaced too narrow for its height. Parked side-by-side with the '99 Cherokee, the Liberty was taller!

Also opinion: Don't put too much weight in my '99 throwing a rod. That could happen to any engine any time.

In my For What It's Worth Department: On the advice of the salesman when I bought my Grand I donated the '99 to a charitable organization. The vehicle, with *no* engine brought $2500 at auction! Not bad for a machine with >104K miles and no motor!

Bottom line: Either vehicle will do for your stated use. You might be happier right now with the Cherokee for, as an earlier poster stated, accessories and parts are easier to come by for the Cherokee only because the Cherokee has been around longer than the Liberty. But, I think the Liberty is going to catch up and catch on (my opinion, again).

Good luck,

Turner

I agree, I bought my 2000 Grand Cherokee Limited WJ (with selec-trac) with every possible amenity except heated seats (including sunroof, leather, dual power seats, etc) with Why would you consider a Liberty and not a ZJ or WJ Grand Cherokees?

I hear ya....the rig I'm replacing is a '94 Toyota xtracab pickup which I'm just nearing 270,000 miles on. 'Nothing but routine maintenance needed...very reliable. 'Decent 4wd system for the backcountry; not real great for at all for snowy roads and ice. I thought about the CR-V and Subaru because of reliability. Our local mail carriers love CR-Vs and I've seen them move through gumbo roads that were sticking tractors. 'Better mileage too. But I'm not convinced the AWD systems of these are better than Jeep's, and as you say no true part-time 4WD and 4low. And limited ground clearance too. Also as far as service...Jeeps may be less reliable but in my rural neck of the woods they can be fixed by just about anyone...not as easy for Honda or Subaru... :) I'd like that diesel if I could afford it :)

Well I've got an '02 Liberty and a '04 Wrangler. I liked the Cherokee and was upset when it was discontinued, but the V-6 Liberty kind of grows on you. The gas mileage is better than the Cherokee and it is more manuverable in tight places. Of course it will cost more than a '99 Cherokee...duh! And it will go darn near anywhere I can take the Wrangler. Great ground clearance and a bit narrower than the Cherokee.

Then you should avoid the Libby for sure. All the shade trees will probabaly not know about it. Seems that's the case for me here (not that I need anyone yet)

KJK :

I was thinking about the Grands, but had some concerns about reliability (JD Power, Consumer Reports); they seem to be rated worse than most. I even remember seeing some posts in this group cautioning others about the late 90s/early 2000s Grands. Obviously you've had good luck with yours...

The Cherokee is tried and true and will not let you down. Libby is 'probably' just as good for what you need.

Carl

I'd go with a Cherokee, especially if Select trac. and if you really need bombproof traction and ground clearance off road. Fairly straight forward for DIY repair. MY current XJ Cherokee is at 340K miles and still looks good ... and everything has has been replaced/rebuilt at least once but probably can go another 150K with TLC, etc. The recirculating ball and sector steering is exceptional for slow and twisty driving. Tight turns on glare ice can be a problem. due to the lack of CV joints on the front axle, not a problem on a Lib.

For highway /daily driver a Liberty is much less of a bone shaker. the downside is the 'german' influence of 'over-engineer everything possible' which makes it bit more complex and although many of the drivetrain components are still "JEEP". I can push 21-22mpg on the highway in my 02Lib (26-27 if I 'draft'). Its a damn comfortable and quiiet vehicle for long distance driving. For deep snow you will be dragging the front control arms on a Lib. The Cherokee is tops for deep snow ... probably has better weight distribution than the Lib. The rack and pinion steering on a Lib is a PITA on slow and twisty stuff., super on the straights. Lib handles better on glare ice. The Lib is more top-heavy (would probably be happier lying on its side - another common German truck/SUV quirk).

I have a Scoobydoo Forester .... bombproof highway vehicle with great milage (~33 mpg)... not so hot off road where the AWD isnt as good a good old 'part time' on a Jeep. For deep snow there simply isnt enough ground clearance.

"Clap Trap" wrote

-snipped- : Even though I'll dis the libby every chance I get,

Now, I am not trying to start a flame war here bu I have just about had it with this crap.

Why exactly IS that? Seems like a playground chant to me!. "My Jeep's better than YOUR Jeep nyaah nyaah nyaah na!"

Bullwash.

The Liberty is a good vehicle. Just because there are things about it you don't like, doesn't make it any less a Jeep. It is simply more civilized.

Do you think Liberty owners are going to run inside and cry because you have made fun of their Jeeps? Not Likely. More likely than not you will see more and more Libertys doing things that you think they can not or should not be doing because the vehicle doesn't fit your particular criteria for what a "Jeep" should be.

Each vehicle has it's strengths and weaknesses. The Liberty isn't a stripped down - off the line rock crawling - extreme off road - bare bones vehicle but it's a damn nice package on top of a comfortable, capable 4WD drive train. I'll take the IFS and a little top heavyness over a rattling, noisy, drafty, hard to heat, hard to cool back breaking, bone jamming, overgrown ATV any day. Been there, done that and have no interest in doing it again for a daily driver.

Most of the people that do any REAL off road driving modify their Jeeps on several levels. I'll bet that you have. Liberty owners are doing the same and more and more modifications are coming available all the time.

There are already mods in the works that will extend the articulation of the IFS considerably and enable taller lifts even solid axel conversions for the front end.

Most people that own Libbys like them a helluva lot and they are going to be around awhile So get used to it and get over it.

There! Now at least *I* feel better!

KJKate

I object to the Libby because of what it represents. I never said it wasn't a fine vehicle. You'll note in this thread I even told the original poster it would be fine for what he wants.

The IFS and its commensurate rack and pinion steering are my main objections. They detract from the original intent of the Jeep and reduce its offroadability. Does that mean that IFS is not a capable offroad system? Absolutely not. Does it mean the Libby is a piece of junk? Absolutely not.

The Libby and the latest Grand Cherokee are fine vehicles, they just represent a terrible direction for the Jeep line. There's nothing wrong with Jeep wanting to go after another demographic, in fact I'm all for it. In fact, blasphemey of blashphemies, I'd be first in line to buy the Icon if they'd build it. I don't object to any of these new, more refined vehicles. They would be great *additions* to the Jeep line. The travesty of it is that they are *replacements* for the utilitarian vehicles that Jeep has always been known for. They are watering down the brand to the point that there is really no longer any reason to pick Jeep over some other brand. They've turned Jeep into something that is just as roadworthy as any other brand. Consequently, they have widened the choice of vehicles I can pick from rather than continuing to produce the only vehicles I would ever own.

KJ.Kate wrote: