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Jeep Cherokee - Good or Bad


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Posted

Keep thinking that I want a 4X4 as its a type of vehicle I have never owned.

 

Quite like the look of a 4l Jeep Cherokee (M reg > S reg) as hoping to get it on a classic policy. Also would have to be an Automatic as the wife may want to drive it occasionally.

 

Vaguely remember there can be issues with the rear diff, if its not used in 4 wheel drive that often, but any other ideas suggestions on what to look for.

 

Thanks again.

 

Dave

Posted

I've had a couple of Grand Cherokees.

I really didn't like the steering in either of them. Precise it isn't.

They have a habit of flattening their batteries too over a very short period.

Strangely enough, if I left my foot on the brake pedal when I switched everything off and removed the key, the brake lights used to stay on.

Lovely sound system though - Infinity Gold.

I now have a Chrysler Grand Voyager, a different beast altogether. I can recommend those.

Posted

A friend had (a bad example of) one, and whilst it was fucking epic as we were all 18, it did ruin him.

 

Key points that I remember:

 

All the window switches shat themselves, resulting in the windows being open fully until we bodged power to them to get them up (120 with al lwindows open is gr9)

There was a 'go faster' switch on the dash, which resulted in sod all apart from crapper fuel consumption

His autobox shat itself in a big way, the smell was awful. He still caned it around though as he'd given up on it

 

Was fun though, I've looked at them before and got thinking, but the running costs put me off!

Posted

Rated highly by me. Yes, the steering is vague and cornering can be interesting on country roads, but a race car it ain't. They rust like rangies, so be wary; two the same age and one could be perfect and one a bucket of rust worm.

 

Great toys and comfort and smoothish ride and good value on the second hand market. Parts can be pricey.

Posted

Like the "look" of the Grand Cherokee, but would have no chance of getting the wife to drive it. Stand more of a chance with the Cheorkee, as its slightly smaller. (almost the same size as her Scenic - Well that's what I'd tell her)

 

Fuel consumption would not be that much of an issue as would be a weekend car only. Would still keep the Xantia as the daily driver.

 

Hopefully the supply of parts is quite plentiful, if they are a tad unreliable.

 

Keep the opinions coming.

 

Thanks

 

- Dave -

Posted

Rated highly by me. Yes, the steering is vague and cornering can be interesting on country roads, but a race car it ain't. They rust like rangies, so be wary; two the same age and one could be perfect and one a bucket of rust worm.

 

Great toys and comfort and smoothish ride and good value on the second hand market. Parts can be pricey.

 

Any particular areas to look for re Rust, or is it juct check everywhere

 

- Dave -

Posted

Cherokees rot in horrific ways. Check everywhere. I'd quite like one, but the Grand looks a better bet.

Posted

I have a 1995 Cherokee 4l manual and a 1996 Grand Cherokee 4l auto. Given a choice, i will always use the Grand. It is significantly more comfortable, has much better interior space and is MUCH more refined.

 

The Cherokee is more capable off road (it is 100lb lighter and is a manual) but it is just bloody AWFUL on road and spends about 26 days per month just sitting outside my house. Unless you need that extra 10% offroad ability I would say go for the Grand.

 

I doubt that the Grand is much bigger than Scenic, either.

 

EDIT: the Scenic mk1 is about 18" shorter than a Grand Cherokee, same width and 4" lower.

The dimensions of the XJ Cherokee are basically identical to a mk1 Scenic. That is why it is so cramped inside! It's a short vehicle with an engine bay big enough for longitudinal 6 cylinder engine so interior space suffers.

 

Differentials are OK but the viscous coupling in the permanent 4WD versions are a bit fragile and will wear out quickly if tyres are not exactly the same size. Try to get one with selectable 2wd/4wd if you can

Posted

Take one out in the wet. Approach roundabout, attempt to actually drive, no matter how slowly. Then tell me you still want one.

Posted

There are very few places the Grand / Cherokee does not rust. Sills, floor pans and boot floor are very, very common. Inner wheel arch goes to and may not be noticeable as it's covered in carpet.

 

I'd go the Grand route.

Posted

I just sold my wj(1999-2004) Grand Cherokee. It was a lovely old thing and reminded me in many ways of a slightly updated Range Rover Classic-big and comfy yet pretty agricultural underneath. Mine was a 4.7 V8 running LPG and was pretty cheap to run over the year I had it. I particularly enjoyed cleaning cobwebs off the petrol filler cap.

Posted

Cherokee, oh 
Marching on the Trail of Tears 

They were driven hard 
Across the plains 
And hoped for many moons 
Cause the winds of change 
Had made them realize 
That the promises of reliability were lies 

So much to bear 
And all that pain 
Let them rot in despair 

They had lost their faith 
And now they had to learn 
There was no place to return 
No wet roundabout they could turn 

 

Cherokee, oh 

Marching on the Trail of Tears 

Posted

Oh, on the Grand Cherokee, the balljoints are a press fit and quite an expensive job to have done.

Posted

Oh, on the Grand Cherokee, the balljoints are a press fit and quite an expensive job to have done.

Press fit yes (on the axle ends). Expensive to do? Not really and they last a very long time. Replacement is a straightforward DIY job (look on Youtube).

 

They do have a lot of balljoints - each end of the axle has 2, which hold the steering knuckles (hubs). The steering arms have a total of 4 tie rod ends (track rod ends) but actually that is no more than on a steering rack (inner and outer track rod ends). All are cheap to buy, easy to replace with conventional tools (including balljoint splitter), most are greaseable for long life and alignment can be done using two broomhandles and a tape measure.

 

Most of the balljoints and tie rod ends (track rod ends) cost around $10-15 each although there is one long one which is about 5 feet long and costs about $60

One problem is that because people expect the steering to be crap they don't replace worn joints.

 

In fact, overall I find both the XJ Cherokee and ZJ Grand Cherokee easy to work on

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