JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE - Talk me out of it

[gadgetgricey]

Got a hankering for a cheap 4 X 4 to have some fun in. Never owned one, so looking to scratch an itch as it were. (Did own an Sj410 a while ago, but that does not count)

 

What's the general opinion?? Good or Bad, anything to look for.

 

Hopefully might be able to get it on a classic policy so looking at stuff R reg or earlier.

 

Cheers

 

- Dave -

[gadgetgricey]

Got a hankering for a cheap 4 X 4 to have some fun in. Never owned one, so looking to scratch an itch as it were. (Did own an Sj410 a while ago, but that does not count)

 

What's the general opinion?? Good or Bad, anything to look for.

 

Hopefully might be able to get it on a classic policy so looking at stuff R reg or earlier.

 

Cheers

 

- Dave -

[Cavcraft]

Have a drive of one first, ideally round a roundabout when it's even slightly damp.

[Cavcraft]

Have a drive of one first, ideally round a roundabout when it's even slightly damp.

[ashmicro]

My mate had one which was a total 'mare, but Pete-M of this parish rates his one most highly.

[ashmicro]

My mate had one which was a total 'mare, but Pete-M of this parish rates his one most highly.

[JohnDeere]

My next-door neighbour's got a P-reg, bought for loose change as a stop-gap. Everything still works (unlike my mate's P-reg Disco), lots of toys, comfortable and shifts. Blows on the manifold a bit (common apparently). He did the brakes the other week - easy job and cheap parts. Can't recall if it's the 6-pot or V8, but you do need to tow a fuel bowser of course.

 

I could be tempted if I hadn't just started looking at SWB/90 landies on the bay of Es.

 

I did drive a much newer Grand Cherokee a couple of years ago when I hit the rental car jackpot in Canada and had a (literally) brand new one from Avis. 7 kms on the clock when I took it out (600 when took it back the next day). Main problem was huge on the outside but pretty cramped interior, same problem on the older ones.

[JohnDeere]

My next-door neighbour's got a P-reg, bought for loose change as a stop-gap. Everything still works (unlike my mate's P-reg Disco), lots of toys, comfortable and shifts. Blows on the manifold a bit (common apparently). He did the brakes the other week - easy job and cheap parts. Can't recall if it's the 6-pot or V8, but you do need to tow a fuel bowser of course.

 

I could be tempted if I hadn't just started looking at SWB/90 landies on the bay of Es.

 

I did drive a much newer Grand Cherokee a couple of years ago when I hit the rental car jackpot in Canada and had a (literally) brand new one from Avis. 7 kms on the clock when I took it out (600 when took it back the next day). Main problem was huge on the outside but pretty cramped interior, same problem on the older ones.

[Timewaster]

Why doesn't an SJ410 count?

I'm pretty sure you could get more places in one of them than in a Heep.

[Timewaster]

Why doesn't an SJ410 count?

I'm pretty sure you could get more places in one of them than in a Heep.

[mk2_craig]

A friend had one a few years back. I don't rate them. Mainly because the back axle is made of chocolate and when the limited slip diff goes it is major ball ache or expense to sort out.

 

Driving experience not great either. Steering pretty vague and rolls around like a boat. Plus you get that good ol American build quality thrown in

[mk2_craig]

A friend had one a few years back. I don't rate them. Mainly because the back axle is made of chocolate and when the limited slip diff goes it is major ball ache or expense to sort out.

 

Driving experience not great either. Steering pretty vague and rolls around like a boat. Plus you get that good ol American build quality thrown in

[fiatdaft]

I have had mine nearly a year now ,its purely a cheap winter car,currently fitting it with 31 inch tyres for the omg snow chaos,btw they are built in austria !

[fiatdaft]

I have had mine nearly a year now ,its purely a cheap winter car,currently fitting it with 31 inch tyres for the omg snow chaos,btw they are built in austria !

[wuvvum]

I had a turbo diesel one until recently. Wasn't a bad thing, very well equipped and comfortable, although I would imagine that if you can stomach the fuel bills a 4-litre auto would be a better bet - the 2.5 VM diesel is adequately powerful but hopelessly unrefined for something masquerading as a luxury vehicle, and the manual gear shift isn't the best either. Steering is vague as Craig mentioned, and they do wander about a bit, as does pretty much any 4x4 with beam axles. Good stereo though. Sills rot and brakes can give hassle, especially the handbrake. Rear diffs and centre viscous couplings can get tight, so do a few full lock manoeuvres and listen for clonks or scrubbing tyres. Jeep do sell an additive to cure diff issues, but it isn't a permanent fix.

[wuvvum]

I had a turbo diesel one until recently. Wasn't a bad thing, very well equipped and comfortable, although I would imagine that if you can stomach the fuel bills a 4-litre auto would be a better bet - the 2.5 VM diesel is adequately powerful but hopelessly unrefined for something masquerading as a luxury vehicle, and the manual gear shift isn't the best either. Steering is vague as Craig mentioned, and they do wander about a bit, as does pretty much any 4x4 with beam axles. Good stereo though. Sills rot and brakes can give hassle, especially the handbrake. Rear diffs and centre viscous couplings can get tight, so do a few full lock manoeuvres and listen for clonks or scrubbing tyres. Jeep do sell an additive to cure diff issues, but it isn't a permanent fix.

[RichardMoss]

They re crude, tough, capable, unrefined! Cheesey, badly trimmed and easy to work on. I have a 1996 4l Laredo with 245,000km on it which I use for dune bashing in the UAE and it's very capable, especially with. 2" suspension lift and slightly wider tyres.

 

A thread on it can be found here: http://www.rover800.info/forum/viewtopi ... =28&t=7860

[RichardMoss]

They re crude, tough, capable, unrefined! Cheesey, badly trimmed and easy to work on. I have a 1996 4l Laredo with 245,000km on it which I use for dune bashing in the UAE and it's very capable, especially with. 2" suspension lift and slightly wider tyres.

 

A thread on it can be found here: http://www.rover800.info/forum/viewtopi ... =28&t=7860

[Ian Nexus]

Our old Cherokee still keeps delivering the goods, 248,000 miles and needed a new oxygen sensor - the steering is vague and its tail happy in the wet ...we put around 50,000 miles on it over the last 2 years since we moved to the US.

Getting 22 MPG driven sensibly so at $3.20 a gallon its not too much of a problem here.

[Ian Nexus]

Our old Cherokee still keeps delivering the goods, 248,000 miles and needed a new oxygen sensor - the steering is vague and its tail happy in the wet ...we put around 50,000 miles on it over the last 2 years since we moved to the US.

Getting 22 MPG driven sensibly so at $3.20 a gallon its not too much of a problem here.

[fiatdaft]

Grand cherokee won't be tail happy in the wet,its permanent 4x4 .

[fiatdaft]

Grand cherokee won't be tail happy in the wet,its permanent 4x4 .

[ashmicro]

So's my X Type. I can get its arse out.

[ashmicro]

So's my X Type. I can get its arse out.

[fiatdaft]

There is a huge difference between them! ,i think people are getting confused with the cherokee that is rwd unless 4wd is selected.

[fiatdaft]

There is a huge difference between them! ,i think people are getting confused with the cherokee that is rwd unless 4wd is selected.

[John F]

You need talking out of buying an american car? Oh dear, lol.

 

Buy a Lada Niva instead, and bask in the envy of other motorists.

[John F]

You need talking out of buying an american car? Oh dear, lol.

 

Buy a Lada Niva instead, and bask in the envy of other motorists.

[droofer]

i bought a 4.0 auto limited from an auction for work, god the thing flew! straight 6 ,and someone i work with bought a 2.5?? td, of the same year and approx same miles, the derv one (that was on the road was absolutley rotten! the petrol one was mint. he replaced the derv woth another later model cherokee and that spat its diff out on the way home from buying it!. so i would have one, but it would have to be mint and cost the same as a pack of kp cashew nuts.

[droofer]

i bought a 4.0 auto limited from an auction for work, god the thing flew! straight 6 ,and someone i work with bought a 2.5?? td, of the same year and approx same miles, the derv one (that was on the road was absolutley rotten! the petrol one was mint. he replaced the derv woth another later model cherokee and that spat its diff out on the way home from buying it!. so i would have one, but it would have to be mint and cost the same as a pack of kp cashew nuts.