Looking at buying a Jeep Cherokee, any probs known out there?

[snooper2]

I looked at a lot of reviews and everyone seems to like them as long as it has the 4.0 and not the puny 4 banger.

I'm already approved for a loan and my dealer friend is looking at an auction for a nice one right now. He called me on a 2000 model like this... Thoughts?

[Robb]

1. Drive one

That's all I'd suggest. I'm not a fan of the "Jeep feel" on dirt roads or snow, but some people are nuts for it.

Your "dealer friend"? That's just great. Look, although drug dealers always have cash around, I promise you, he's going to mess up the numbers on the financing. ;)

[snooper2]

8. He's making $600 on the deal...

In Texas you have to have a dealer license to go to auctions and that's where you can find some of the best deals..

I've driven my friends Wrangler many times, and this is basically a Wrangler with real doors and room to haul shit.

Gas mileage is kind of shitty, around 18 average I hear. I read on a couple sites with a couple hundred dollars in mods you can raise that to 22-23...

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

2. Other than sucking a lot of gasoline?

Oooh damn! I'm gona get myself flamed before I reach 100 posts...

[Superfly]

15. I'm getting 23 mpg with a 4.0L inline 6

That's pretty good for a truck.

[treefrogjohn]

3. I've got 97,000 miles on my '97 and love it

My favorite vehicle in nearly 40 years of driving. No major maintenance surprises so far and the body and interior still look really clean. I just wish the mileage was better in city driving.

[agingdem]

4. 2002

I drove a 2002 Jeep Cherokee Limited (my husband drives it now) and I loved it. Never had any problems with it.

[HEyHEY]

5. What year?

Early 90s and late 80s are pieces of shit stay right the hell away from them. I had an 85 once, made by AMC, it was a great vehicle. But then chrysler took over and the cherokee went to shit for a few years.

[snooper2]

9. Iooking at 99' or 00'

eom

[HEyHEY]

18. oh that should be fine

[Old and In the Way]

21. Pieces of shit?

Gee, I've got a 93 S6 4.0L, manual 4WD. I've had "0" problems, runs great. Wouldn't part with it.

[bif]

6. They get stolen a lot

From what I hear.

[CanuckAmok]

31. Yes, that's true...

...they are an easy steal, and, like most vans and stucks, they are preferred by thieves because you can cary lots of (stolen) stuff in them.

Get an alarm, or at least have an alarm shop install a flashing red LED on the dash for you.

[Another Bill C.]

7. I've had 4.0 Jeeps.

If you keep the oil changed, this is one of the most reliable engines ever made. I drove an '87 Cherokee (4.0) for 6 years and have been driving a Grand Cherokee with a 4.0 for the past couple of years. The GC is coming up on 200K and it's still running great. If you can, stay away from a Command-Track transfer case (you won't be able to drive on dry pavement in 4wd). If you get a stick, your trailer hauling capacity is 2k instead of 5k with the automatic. The mileage isn't too bad with the 4.0 -- something like 21 hwy and 17 city.

[snooper2]

11. Thanks!

I tend to trust DU'ers more than the "other" boards... :)

[GOPFighter]

10. Good for dirt roads and deep snow

As a Jeep owner I can tell you that Jeeps are best suited for dirt roads and deep snow (which is why I have one). They are very rugged vehicles, but they ride like a truck. As you probably know, the Cherokee is no longer made anymore. If you are looking for something for driving around town or on open paved highway, I think there are better choices. Consumer Report readers also report Jeep Cherokees are lower than average in reliability. My Grand Cherokee has 135,000 miles and is still going strong.

[XNASA]

12. Do you off-road? Do you need towing capacity?

If no to both, then I wouldn't buy a body on frame vehicle.

Just bought a new Tribute. Basically a better looking Escape. It'll will do everything better than a Cherokee, except off-road and tow, with more room and better gas mileage.

If I was buying a body-on-frame SUV, I'd buy an Xterra.

[snooper2]

19. Yes and No

I plan on buying a boat down the road and have one I can borrow whenever I want is one reason. I do plan to get back into the off-road scene again and the solid front axle is a must. I like the Jeep because the 4.0L is supposed to be bulletproof.

[XNASA]

20. It's a solid, albiet ancient design.

On the other hand, the 3.0L DOHC engine in my Tribute was designed by Cosworth, has more HP and Torque than the Jeep I-6, and........

is the standard engine in the Jaguar X-Series.

If it's good enough for Jaguar....

[OldSoldier]

24. If it's "good enough" for Jaguar, run away!

There is a reason why a Jaguar owner's favorite phrase is "my car's in the shop right now."

[XNASA]

25. That used to be the case, but no longer.

Jaguar's current reliability record is quite good. Since Ford bought them, they've made a lot of progress.

[CanuckAmok]

28. I second that--my XK8 ran like a Rolex

[Richardo]

13. Careful. We had an early 90's model and it was one prob after another..

Go in with your eyes open and a mechanic's name in your pocket.

[WWW]

14. Our 93 Jeep is a beast

In fact, I think it handles better in the snow than our 2000 Blazer. But the Blazer has a more car-like ride, smoother and a lot more confortable, way better for long trips. The Blazer also has more leg room in the back. It all depends on what kind of driving you do and who your riders will be. As far as problems, I took the Jeep in for a complete overhaul a couple of years ago and the total bill was something like $263. The bottom panels of the doors also got some rot, but that was fixed to the tune of about $250 last year. The only other nasty thing that happened is that I can only get one radio station in the Jeep now. A Clear Channel One!

[billbuckhead]

17. The 4.0L inline six is capable of 300,000+ miles

One of the few domestics capable of that kind of longevity.

[Superfly]

16. 1997 Cherokee Sport -104000 miles - 0 problems

I love this truck. I do baby it, but it has taken care of me.

[mlawson]

22. 'Fix or repair daily' is not an exaggeration.

I had a 96 Cherokee Classic. For a while it was great, then things began going wrong, and then more, and more, until finally I was reluctant to take it more than a mile or two away from home.

Other Jeep owners I know have had much the same exprience. Finally I traded it for a 98 Subaru Forester. Much, much better!

[leftofthedial]

23. problem--it's a frigging SUV

find something that uses less fuel and poses less danger to other drivers.

[amandae]

26. My thoughts exactly

:thumbsup:

[CanuckAmok]

29. Blind anti-SUV hatred is just splitting hairs.

I thinks it's unfair to judge someone's vehicle purchase unles you know them, where they live, and understand what they want/need out of vehicle.

We have two Toyota trucks, is that alright with you?

All vehicles destroy the environment and are capable of killing people.

[guitar man]

33. I agree,Canuck

Vehicle choice is a personal matter.

I drive a 2000 model Ford F-150 4x4 extended cab with the big 5.4l v-8 option and shift on the fly 4 wheel drive. It will pull a boat or camper trailer without breaking a sweat and gets me in and out of all my favorite bass fishing spots without slipping a wheel. But right now,I am 90 miles from home at my job and it is snowing like crazy. they are predicting up to 10-12 inches by the time I leave and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world right now. I am not worried about getting stuck in the slightest and I may wind up rescuing some stranded travellers along the highway.

When the weather is nice,I have a 1995 Lincoln Mark VIII I make the trip in,getting 26-28 mpg highway. When it snows,I am expected to be at work,so I will break out the 4x4 and hit the road.

[CanuckAmok]

34. I might have come on a little strong...

...but that's my personal bugbear.

Do you know what the difference in environmental imact is between a Honda Civic and a Lincoln Navigator? About 5 years.

We're going to squeeze every drop of crude oil out of this planet before we're done, and I really don't see the difference between consuming 100% of the oil in five years or fifty.

It's just the samctimonius tone of these people who seem to believe that their small car is less a part of the problem than is my pickup. Incidentally, my newest truck is 13 years old, so it's manufacture hasn't been an environmental issue since 1990. What's the impact of a new Prius? I don't know, but I bet it's not great.

BTW, I get about 22mpg on mt 4-cylinder truck.

on edit: I also log less than 15,000 miles a year on both vehicles COMBINED. That's 7500 miles annually on each vehicle. Somrtimes, when the weather's nice and I'm not working, they sit, undriven, in the garage for weeks at a time, and we use our bikes.

I refuse to be painted with the same brush as someone who drives his H2 three blocks to the corner store.

If you put 40,000miles on your Civic every year because you choose to drive everywhere, who's the bigger villain?

[Ernesto]

27. I wouldn't get a 4x4 anything

and I live in the country. The thousands you pay for it and reduced milage are WAY not worth the feature.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

30. more info here

http://auto.consumerguide.com/auto/used/reviews/full/index.cfm/id/2359

[Stuckinthebush]

32. They flip easily

But so do all SUVs

[CanuckAmok]

35. If you drive like a moran, that is.

Again, that was a problem in the 70s era CJ series, which has since been remedied. Driving responsibly and knowing your vehicle's limitations is the responsibility of the driver, not the manufacturer.