The best Cherokee?

R Q

R Q

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2005
Location
Charlotte
I've been looking at Cherokees for my kid who will be driving before long.
Which is the best one that meets my criteria?
*Latest model we can afford...+/-$3k
*4wd, 4.0 ltr motor, A/C,
*not wheeled or owned by a kid before
*Lifted with tires and rims ok
*Tow package if possible
What else do I need to look for or stay away from?
 
Id look for a zj or a wj honestly with 4.0 5.2 is a mess on most used grands also if ya can find out get them without the 42re trans ive replaced two so far they dont hold up all that well especially if wheeled! or any xj you can find they all rock!!!
 
OK my buddie had a 01 sport with aw4 and it took one hell a beatin until sold honestly any with 4.0 aw4 are great choices in my opinion!!!
 
99 is arguably the best year. You get the 29 spine 8.25 rear end and it's the last year before the bad heads (2000 and 2001) However, You hear about some electrical gremlins with the 99's... I know mine has them but it hasn't been anything major, mainly just gauge and dash stuff... I own 4 currently and by far the 93 has been the most bulletproof for me.

Newer models are more prone to lift complications (DW/vibes) also... The pre-96 models tend to be more forgiving.
 
NCXJ said:
99 is arguably the best year. You get the 29 spine 8.25 rear end and it's the last year before the bad heads (2000 and 2001) However, You hear about some electrical gremlins with the 99's... I know mine has them but it hasn't been anything major, mainly just gauge and dash stuff... I own 4 currently and by far the 93 has been the most bulletproof for me.

Newer models are more prone to lift complications (DW/vibes) also... The pre-96 models tend to be more forgiving.
Click to expand...

and lots of 2000-01 got the turdy five rear, had low pinion D30 up front, and some crazy dual pre-catalytic converter thingies.
I liked my 95, except for the turdy five rear. It had a non-disco front D30 with the bigger U-joints. Its the last year before OBDII...cheap NC inspections :huggy:
The new interior came in 1997, some people really like that.

I like my 99, it does have the electricall gremlins. Driver is the only one who can control the power window (supposedly I can clean the swithc), the fog light switch melted (I fixed that once), and hte fuel gauge goes crazy between full and 3/4-tank. I've heard of the power locks going spastic crazy on 99's, but hasnt happened on mine.
 
NCXJ said:
99 is arguably the best year. You get the 29 spine 8.25 rear end and it's the last year before the bad heads (2000 and 2001)...

Newer models are more prone to lift complications (DW/vibes) also... The pre-96 models tend to be more forgiving.
Click to expand...

This.

I always liked '97-'99, and like renegade said, the '95s I've had have had good front axle setups and simpler electronics/fuel management systems (IIrc there are 2 less o2 sensors? Been a while since I looked).

2000+ can be prone to head issues, had LP front axles, and I seem to remember that the t-case got switched so that the output shaft had smaller bearings or something like that?
 
We loved our 01 til an uninsured motorist totaled it for us . Minimal issues and it made ok mileage . I have been looking for a 97 or newer 5 speed and they are hard to come by unless they have a ton of miles .

The only gremlin we really had was the speaker wires all broke going to the doors .
 
My 95 has been bullet-proof for the last 2+ years I've had it. I'd go with an OBD-I (95 - older) but I do like the looks of the 97+ better (both interior and exterior).

4.0 and AW4 is a rock-solid combo.
 
RenegadeT said:
I like my 99, it does have the electricall gremlins. Driver is the only one who can control the power window (supposedly I can clean the swithc), the fog light switch melted (I fixed that once), and hte fuel gauge goes crazy between full and 3/4-tank. I've heard of the power locks going spastic crazy on 99's, but hasnt happened on mine.
Click to expand...
My 98 has had ALL those problems, plus the guage cluster problem and window regulator problems. But it has never left me stranded. My fuel guage will show 1/8, cut it off then get back in later and will be below empty which almost left me stranded once! Still wouldn't take just anyting for it.
 
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