Jeep Cherokee XJ... sub/circa £1000 4x4s

[Alexg]

Summer's long gone and so now has the Golf Cabrio, punted off to some bloke in London. Winter's coming, so naturally I'm considering investing the takings in a 4x4...

 

Actually there's a bit more to it than that. Mrs G has a bun in the oven, due in February (not fishing for 'congrats' etc here BTW), and as she's considered 'at risk' must travel to Pembury in Tunbridge Wells to pop the sprog. Maidstone Hospital, our local, still delivers babies but are no longer cut-out for the potential complications. I used to work in Tunbridge Wells and the journey can be a bit of an arse and, although I don't usually pay attention to Daily Express style insane SNOW TERROR warnings, I feel it prudent to be prepared. I did the same journey one morning in a Punto after a heavy snow fall and half the roads required weren't gritted or cleared. Ok I did make it eventually, but I was 2 hours late after getting stuck twice and almost colliding with some nutcase involuntarily overtaking me sideways down a hill.

 

And if you don't buy any of that, I just fancy one OK...

 

So I have £1000 for a 4x4 with good MOT that I'd like to obtain before the mere hint of sleet instigates panic-buying of ropey old AWD vehicles, and everything quadruples in value. It needs to be comfortable enough for a highly strung pregnant woman, dependable (as much as £1000 worth of 4WD can be) and I'm not bothered by fuel consumption (emergency/back-up use mainly). I might as well make circumstances work for me too, and I've had a strong hankering of late for one of these....

 

 

I figure these look brilliant and should be a proper weapon with a set of snow tyres if it ever came down to it. I figure the 4.0 petrol is the one to plump for but I seek knowledge as I actually know very little. So the collective shite brain, what do we know about these Yanks?  

 

Also any similar/better alternatives that should be considered?

[Cavcraft]

CONGRATS M8

 

 

 

'Also any similar/better alternatives that should be considered?'

 

Each to their own, but I'm genuinely struggling to think of anything worse. To be honest, instead of the usual suspects I'd consider something like an Outback, Volvo XC70 etc.

[purplebargeken]

Car Mechanics did an article on these several years ago. I think rear diffs can be an issue or they may be expensive to replace, one of the two.

 

I like 'em. I'd have one if the situation warranted one.

 

Congrats too. 

[purplebargeken]

http://jeep-club.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=9

[Alexg]

http://jeep-club.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=9

 

Cheers. I was to investigate the Jeep forum too. It's just Roverlicking HGF deniers have taught me to also ask outside the fan-base.

[anonymous user]

If it's not already gone, for just a little more I suggest BV72's Series 3

[CHRIS1980]

Cherokees are good motors. I looked at a few rot boxes though before I got the Frontera. I was always pipped to the post on the good ones though.4.0 should still be cheap even near winter. Speaking of Fronteras though the one I've had has been great. Utterly reliable,1 ball joint that went squeaky in 2 years so far. I see 30 mpg average on veg oil with its 4 headed monster VM. If you look at Cherokees lift the boot carpet and see if the floor is still there. And as has been said,diffs go due to a 20p shim. I think my next 4x4 will be a jeep.

[Lacquer Peel]

Winter tyres > buying a cheap 4x4.

[CHRIS1980]

True. But it's more fun in a 4x4.

[Alexg]

Winter tyres > buying a cheap 4x4.

 

True, but I have a company car that goes onto the forecourt with a price in the screen when I get to work and an Allegro.

[Lacquer Peel]

Jeep Cherokee XJs are certainly appealing, 4x4 or not. 4-headed monster please.

 

They seem to rot quite badly, especially around here.

[Jon]

Jeep Cherokee XJs are certainly appealing, 4x4 or not. 4-headed monster please.

 

They seem to rot quite badly, especially around here.

 

Worse so in Canada, as I found out last month:

 

 

Another vote on a Legacy and winter tyres, though that's not as fun as lording it above others in a 4x4, although a Cherokee is probably no higher to sit in than a Juke. Ssangyong Musso or Korando fit the bill? Maybe even a Daewoo version of the same. Or one of those Hyundai Terracans, though I'm so far removed from UK prices these days, I'm not sure what's available under £1000. I'm just plucking obscure 4x4s out of a hat that have some modicum of perceived comfort.

[Bren]

Congratulations.

 

For a grand i'm thinking maverick/ terrano.

[Felly Magic]

Found a Daewoo Musso for £1300, badermatic flavour in Kettering 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Daewoo-Musso-2-9TDi-auto-Mercedes-engine-1295-Px-welcome/201436990255?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D33424%26meid%3D12a01a6b908c42c8b5b30a947d99a06c%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D171942919659

[Bone]

Shogun/Pajero. One thing to consider with a heavy 4x4 on snow or ice is that if it does start to slide then thats a lot of inertia to try to recover, and it will probably stop sliding when it wants to. Ask me how....

 

A Subaru Justy AWD on winter tyres, if you can find one, would be about as good as it gets.

[Junkman]

I sold them new back in the 80s when they sold like there is no tomorrow. So I usually had a demonstrator to my disposal. I always found them quite nice to drive and they have something Tonka Toy about them. There was little in terms of warranty work. In the late 90s, I bought a used 4.0 Limited and again was very happy with it.
The XJ was also selected in 2011 as one of "10 cars that refuse to die" by Kiplinger.
 
Would I buy one again? Absolutely.

 

Make sure it has Select-Trac, that's the only one you can leave in 4wd permanently, and never switch it off.

[Lacquer Peel]

Did you ever sample one with a Renault diesel engine Junkman?

[Tetleysmooth]

I know this is a Grand Cherokee, but looks and sounds ok for the money.

 

https://www.gumtree.com/p/jeep/jeep-grand-cherokee-orvis-angel-tuning-hpi-clear/1137314418

[purplebargeken]

North London! Can have a look if needed

[2MB]

I'm in a very similar situation to you OP, baby due in February, other half wanted to trade up to something 'a bit bigger with 5 doors'. She's only been driving for a year and the only thing with reasonable insurance and buying cost was a Discovery. No need whatsoever for a 4x4 but it was an itch to scratch. I'm quite impressed with it so far, but could be another story come MOT time. They like veg as well but I hear xj Cherokees do also

[oldcars]

This ;- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-KIA-SPORTAGE-XSE-BLACK-4x4-87k-great-history-/121781347375?hash=item1c5abbe42f:g:cEUAAOSw0JpV6p0B

 

Has a low box and everything. Be a winner in Korea.

[Junkman]

Did you ever sample one with a Renault diesel engine Junkman?

 

No, only 4.0 automatics and 2.5 petrol manuals.

[Pete-M]

XJ Cherokees aren't bad. The diffs aren't strong and the exhaust manifold is made from cheese but they tend to keep on rocking.

 

Grand Cherokee is much nicer to drive (working suspension) but the centre Quadra Trac viscous coupling is often knackered.

 

The Grand Cherokee Limited is worth it just for the infinity stereo.

[PiperCub]

Are these the ones that suffer trans or diff failure/wear if they get used with differently worn tyres (ie: one new, other more worn so rolling radius differs)? Or does this affect all 4x4's to a degree?

[dollywobbler]

To be honest, most sub-grand 'proper' 4x4s are pretty crappy. Not sure I'd want to have to rely on one in an emergency. No, I'd far rather put my faith in a Subaru Legacy equipped with winter tyres. Great heater, proper permanent four-wheel drive and pretty much guaranteed to start first time and actually get you there without bits falling off.

[DVee8]

I would buy a Nissan X-trail but i would say that.

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/nissan/x-trail/postcode/dh23hx/radius/1501/price-to/1000/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/body-type/suv

[eddyramrod]

I was looking at one of these Jeeps a while back, a 4.0 auto.  That combination would be my default choice, I have to say.  It was lovely to drive, but perhaps not as roomy as you might think.  Rear floors are prone to rot, as I believe are the fuel tanks.  Although it didn't happen for me on that occasion, there's no saying it won't ever...

[Junkman]

I'm with eddyramrod here.

These aren't really SUVs, they are smaller and monocoque, more like what would probably be called crossover today, although they actually can go offroad.

I haven't encountered any severe rust issues on them, however, this doesn't necessarily mean they don't have any by now.

[gordonbennet]

Another vote for Scooby.

If fuel isn't a problem, then a 3.0 H6 Outback 99 to 03 is the shiters perfect winter hack, chain cam drive too... lovely auto box, the thing to look for (and you can see them from above) is the front inner CV boots perish cos they're right above the CAT's, piss easy to change though as the drive shafts are fully circlipped so you can dismantle 'em easy peasy, don't even need to remove the shaft from the box cos the inner joint is on a spline held in by a roll pin, made to be worked on like all cars should be, apart from the spark plugs which are a bastard to change.

[skattrd]

My brother has the ex-Wuvvum Jeep (4.0 pez auto iirc) with caramac leather, it's still providing decent service and he rates it.