New Offroader and suugestions for rig?

[99WJGrandCherokee]

So Im new here and wanted to talk a little about jeeps because I just wrecked my Mustang and got insurance money to buy a new car. I have always wanted to get a Jeep/4x4 type vehicle to have some fun in.
I live in Charlotte,NC and I have been looking around local ads, ect to see about finding a good jeep at a lower price. so far the best offer I believe I have found is a Black 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited w/ a 5.2l V8. it comes with a set of street tires and mudding tires and I believe that its a 4x4? the only question I have is at 97,000 miles do jeep engines hold up well?
I need this to be reliable because it will be my daily driver, but I do want to use it for some offroading... nothing too extreame just old fire roads, ect out in the back country. The seller only wants $5000 for it so with the other $1000 I had left over I was going to invest in some rocksliders, a 2" lift, and maybe bigger tires they only look to be in the 27-30" range.
Here is the only picture availble

 

[RatLabGuy]

Just FYI, that $1000 will not come close to covering all that added stuff.

 

[jeepercreature]

I would not go with a grand get a TJ.

 

[chromerunner]

better yet get a toyota lol.

good luck with the jeep hunt, and i second the comment on the 1k. that might cover some tires.

 

[BIGWOODY]

That 5.2 isn't the best thing the've ever built, I wouldn't look for too many more miles out of it and the tranny.....oh my what a turd it is too. If you want the SUV thing I'd get a toyota of some sort or regular cherokee (xj)with a 4.0 in the years you are looking at.

 

[BRUISER]

just take that $6000 and put it towards this .... and finance the rest.. it will be great D/D and no more additions needed, except maybe a winch

http://www.nc4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12599

 

[jeepercreature]

just take that $6000 and put it towards this .... and finance the rest.. it will be great D/D and no more additions needed, except maybe a winch
http://www.nc4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12599

I knew that was coming BRUSIER

 

[78broncoboy]

theres a 1990 or so full size bronco up the road for $1,350, its advertised to run great, and has A/C. but im bronco-obsessed, pay no mind to me.

 

[ShimShim]

Another shameful plug. Ready for the trail and the street. Like bruiser said, put the 6 grand down and finance the rest.
Click here: 2001 TJ

 

[johnski]

$4500 gets you a very capable comanche here:
http://www.nc4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12586
If I had money to play with (or at least a wife not to stop me from spending it) I'd scoop this thing up tomorrow.

 

[78broncoboy]

thats a purdy commanche, but i think the 'duece in the background would be more fun.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Buy A FSJ
LOL
Big , good off road , Cheap and with all the money you save on the price you can make it run nice too.

 

[Chris_M]

hell, go with your original plan. but offer the guy 4500. sliders can be done for a couple hundred, and a a front to rear sprng swap is super cheap on these trucks, ~400 total if done right and gets 3-4.5" lift. Then tires are 600 at most for some good 31's or 32's , and you've spent 1200 plus 4500 = 5700 leaving 300 to get it registered and pay taxes, plus do a good tune up just n case.

The ZJ CAN be a great platform to build off of, check out WWW.MALLCRAWLIN.COM for all grand cherokee info you'll need