Jeep XJ Cherokee

[ReallyDirtyThirty]

Hey R3V. I'm thinking of picking one of these up at the beginning of March and was interested if anyone had any experience with these:



Ideally I'd like to pick one up with 4x4, 4.0 liter, 2 door, and a 5 speed manual. I'd be willing to compromise with a 4 door, but I want the 4.0 with the stick shift. I've looked around and they aren't that hard to find configured like that. Does anyone have any personal experiences (good or bad) with these?

Don't worry guys... I'm still keeping the beat to f&ck M42 car. It just needs to get laid up for a shit ton of deferred maintenance and its going to take me a couple months to do it all. Since its my DD right now, I wouldn't mind adding an SUV to the fleet. You never know when you're going to find something cumbersome and desirable at the junkyard...

Thanks in advance gents.

[Pac1373]

this is a good buy. the 4.0 is bulletproof (for the most part) and the Cherokee will get you pretty much anywhere you need to be, and often places you shouldnt be

I would not flinch to pull the trigger on one. I planned to pick one up this spring myself, but possibly a Grand with V8 instead of the sport.

[Roysneon]

I want one, so bad. 4x4, 4.0, 4 door but would greatly prefer an auto. I'm actually willing right now to trade one of my E30's for one.

[Joe G]

my Gf has one and its a really solid vehicle. My only gripe is the gas mileage isnt too great and there is a fair amount of road and wind noise.

[Mako18]

I have a ZJ grand cherokee 5.2 limited awd and its a little rough around the edges but I got it for $800.00 no rust or any car accident history. I will say the interior doesn't hold up but thats with any chrysler product. The 4.0 or even a 5.2 are pretty solid engines. I know one thing when it breaks if it breaks its basically pocket change to fix. I love my Jeep almost as much as I do my BMW's. The XJ is even cheaper to modify and actually has a better aftermarket if your looking to "wheel" but even the zj has a decent market just a lil mo cash...

[LJK]

Ive got a 2000. Love it. Has 135k, only had it for a little over a year. Just make sure the cooling system gets a good refresh. New waterpump, radiator, thermostat. They do have SLIGHT overheating issues, if you sit still too long on a warm day or are wheeling in 4LO for an extended period of time. But I've only had mine overheat once, it was when it was 108 outside, i started the jeep, a/c full blast, while waiting to finish a side job (ironically it was an overheating vehicle) then I looked over to see coolant spewing out of my jeep.

They're great vehicles.

[FJ40]

Honestly the XJ is kind of like the E30 (or Miata) of off-road rigs...cheap as shit and bulletproof (in stock config, axles are weak if you build it at all). I would love to pick one up, I'm having wheeling withdrawals...

[Nick_S]

I sold my XJ to buy my E30. It was bitter sweet. I miss it so much that I think I'm buying another. Bulletproof and plentiful so if it ever breaks there are parts EVERYWHERE. It was actually my second one I had, first car I ever had was a 90 Cherokee. Only downsides is watch out for the "death wobble", it can be expensive to repair if the front end was neglected too long. And what initially drove me away was the fuel economy. I average 16-17mpg no matter how I drove it. $80 fill ups once a week got pricey when gas was at $4.25 a gallon.

[ReallyDirtyThirty]

Thanks for all the replies guys!

Only downsides is watch out for the "death wobble", it can be expensive to repair

I thought this was only due to the steering stablizer unit. Kind of like a shock absorber thats transversely mounted to the steering gear? Am I wrong? Thanks.

[Nick_S]

Thanks for all the replies guys!



I thought this was only due to the steering stablizer unit. Kind of like a shock absorber thats transversely mounted to the steering gear? Am I wrong? Thanks.

Correct but that can only be one part of it. Mine did it twice before I sold it to a friend, I gave him a new steering shock and it hasn't done it since. However if you research it, there are a number of things that can cause it but generally a worn out steering stabilizer and track bar are the first to go. Alot of guys who lift theirs will run two just to be safe.



I've got some links about it on my home computer I'll post up tonight.

[Eric]

Its the e30 of sub's.

I've had mine for 4the years and it has never once given me a problem.

[drewtn87]

I DD an XJ, and they are also pretty safe. I was t-boned by a Toyota Sequoia that was going 50 and walked away fine, and my jeep still ran afterwards(drove it onto the tow truck).





and here is my replacement for it...

[LJK]

Death wobble can be fixed by making sure all your bushings are good, your alignment is in spec and your tie rod ends/drag link aren't shot. Plus that Y steering setup sucks, so if you lift, change it. I'll post what I've got on mine later.

[Danny]

Yup. Get one. I love mine.

[kway]

My first car was an '86 Wagoneer XJ (basically a Cherokee with a different grille and taillights). 2.8 v6 with the three speed slushbox. There is nothing good about that drivetrain, it was a DOG.

I effing loved that car though. Planned on keeping it forever, but eventually it started getting rusty, then it broke a valve spring and I ended up scrapping it. If I could go back I definitely would have hung on to it and fixed it back up, just didn't have the knowledge back then.

Anyway, great rig. I'd love to get another one someday.