Anyone got a Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee? Thinking about getting one . . .?

Question

The Cherokee I've got my eye on is a 3.7 litre and the Grand a 4 litre.

To anyone who's got either model - are they good cars? Would you recommend them?

Do you have to pay loads of money in car tax?

Answer 1

I`ve got a 96 4ltr HO Cherokee Auto.
Being a disabled driver I need a reliable car !
The Cherokee has only let me down once in the 6 years that I`ve had it. (Crankshaft position sensor packed up, easy, if relatively expensive , for what it is, part )
I also tow a HUGE caravan with it
Car tax.......whats that, as a disabled driver I`m exempt ! But if its registered before , I believe 2003 ( ? ) the tax is the same as those little cars that keep getting stuck in the tyre treads !

Answer 2

You're right. You can get a very good buy on a used Jeep, mainly due to the high fuel prices. Jeeps typically do not get good mpg's, but the Cherokees are probably the best SUV ever made. Heck, any vehicle is going to need parts replacements at 100k miles - things wear out, but Jeep parts are fairly cheap compared to Japanese car parts, which can run you about triple the cost. So although you may need a few more repairs in a Jeep than a Japanese vehicle, it will still cost you less. The 6 cyl engine is legendary, while the 8 is a hog. BTW, Cherokee gets better mileage than Grand Cherokee. Cherokee is great for off roading, while GC is a smoother ride of the highway with more luxury stuff (and more weight).

Answer 3

I have a Cherokee Sport (XJ). It is the best car I've ever had by far. The four wheel drive is great, the gas mileage isn't as bad as some of those giant suvs, there is plenty of space for travel with luggage, hauling people around, and it's been very reliable. I've had it since new for 7 years and I'm thinking of retiring it and keeping it forever, with the idea of adding some modifications in the future and keeping it as nice as possible. I really couldn't say enough good things about it. If you want real inside info, you could reading the forums at naxja.com (North American XJ Association). They have links to other Jeep sites as well in order to find all the problems/issues people have had in the past and how they dealt with them.

In general, I've read experts who say the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee were probably better before 2001, but it's still a great vehicle. They were the originators of the true suv, including the real Jeeps and the Cherokees being the first family style suv, and they been made the same way for a while, so you know they're good. Like all cars, they use more plastic, cheaper steel, and parts that are designed to fail sooner, but that's the sad state of all cars nowadays as car companies look to cut cost. All cars need to be serviced and things like brakes and shocks fail sooner than they used to, so that's normal. My Cherokee has been great in the snow and it's been great besides those normal maintenance things. I highly recommend it.

Answer 4

If your going to buy a jeep buy one with the 4.0L High Output Inline 6. Those V6 engines and V8's are terrible on gas. The inline 6 is a bulletproof engine, and I don't understand why Jeep quit using them, but anyhow I have a 96 Grand Cherokee Limited 4X4 with 190,000 miles and it still runs great, and have had very little problems except for a new radiator and starter at 185,000 and 188,000 miles respectivly. Other than normal maintenance (i.e. oil/filter changes, transmission service every 55,000 miles) there's not much needed for these trucks to give excellent reliability into the hundred's of thousands of miles.

So yes, I would give a 100% recommendation to anyone wishing to buy a jeep. They're great trucks, and go anywhere. They have the best 4WD systems available. And are easily modified for offroad use, not as if they can't go offroading stock. And they don't come with a warning label saying not for offroad use like all the other SUV's.

Answer 5

My mom has a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo, it's been nothing but trouble bought it with 155,000 it's now at 176,967 and it chirps ticks and the transmission slips. I'd say if u can find one don't buy it, my moms was in like new condition and still is but has many issues and was bought from a car dealership it sucks and is terrible on gas. Definitely does not turn heads anymore :( They are horrible

Answer 6

I have a 1999 Cherokee Classic. This is our 2nd Cherokee. The first on was a 1986 Cherokee Loredo. We traded it at 168,000 miles.
There is nothing quite like a Jeep. I owned 2 CJ's previously.
The Cherokee is our favorite family car, solidly built, dependable, adaptable to many tasks, and easy to care for.

Answer 7

I'm on my second Cherokee, both with the 4 liter. I sold the first one just last month - it had over 300K miles on it. I took it (and the new one) off road some; maybe 10 or 12 times a year. The old one always performed great and I hope the new one, a '97, runs just as well.

Answer 8

I have a Grand cherokee with a 4.0 liter. its a great car. i go off roading with it all the time an i can go place guys with lifted trucks cant. Its not that bad on fuel. I get around 15-18 in town and 20-23 on the freeway. Its a great car.

Answer 9

I have a 4.0i Auto Jeep cherokee. I love it. It's a very comfortable, safe vehicle.... and has all mod cons...
If you can afford to run a Jeep .... Get one ..
Tax &Ins for me £1000year
Petrol £5 gallon. ...
If your not planning on doing a lot of milage a week & drive it gently ...it won't burn a hole in your pocket . I have spent over £100 a week on petrol.
L.P.G. convertion £1500. This will halve fuel costs.
I still run on Unleaded .....
Go for the 4 litre...
Jeeps tend to have had lots of owners...on their Logsheet/logbook... Why ...".Cost of running them "

Answer 10

They are VERY reliable cars, there will be some annoying fixes along the way but the motor goes and goes, get the 4.0 liter engine, I've had two jeeps with that and both were great!