I have a different take on Toys. I had a 4x4 taco that was insane on the trails. That thing was the **** for offroading. I only drove it about 50k and traded it in on a 4runner. Now I drove that 4runner to 100k at it started and ran like it was brand new the day I traded it in. Loved that truck. Now I have an 01 cherokee sport, and have owned it for about 4 weeks now. It runs strong, but the PO did not do a good jobe with the regular maintenance. I have to replace the entire brake system costing me around 800 bucks, including some axel seals. The key is a good inspection and try to take it to a mechanic to give it a good look over.

 

on my take what i say will basicly give you the point the jeep i drive now is the 1 my parents got new off the lot in 94 its about to hit the 230k mark and i would drive it to he11 and back

 

I just paid $1400 for an 89 with 270k that runs like a scalded cat....

 

ouch. over paid

 

my cherokee has 168XXX and the PO has every service record for anything that has every needed to be down on it. I have only replaced the clutch @123XXX, radiator, tires, and battery registration is only $42 and its a '96. it runs today better than it did stock with my upgrades and i take it on 6 hour road trips from school to home and random road trips elsewhere too and it has NEVER let me down. preventative work is the key. everything else that i have done has been extra but i bought this as my first vehicle and it still is being driven today

 

On a scale of 1 to 10 I would rate the reliability of a Cherokee at a 9. My 96 with 200K has its little odd and ends that need to be taken care of, but nothing major. Starts up every time, even in 10 degree weather without hesitation. The inline 6 will last forever. Yesterday night it was raining real bad and all the roads were blocked off. There was a bridge with water over the metal safety railing and everything was blocked off with road barrels and a Mazda 5 was floating in the middle. My buddy tried convincing me not to go through it, but I didn't listen. I went through in 1st gear in 2 wheel drive and it didn't even hiccup. It pulled me through water higher than the bottom of the door and almost even with the headlights. I'd say that's reliability.

 

I have a xj with 288,000 miles the engine just gave up and I replaced it and expect another 100,000 miles. The only problem is uni body I have had problems with cracking and had to use repare kit otherwise no problems.

 

Haven't seen anything for cheaper around here that I would trust to be a DD for days the weather is crappy without a lot of work put into them, something I didn't want. Everything cheaper was either rusted out junk, had a slung rod or a blown up transmission, things beyond my will to fix.

IMO the things in good shape for a truck old enough to drink. Plus the guy had documentation for $300 in brake work he'd just had done (new pads, rotors, shoes and master cyclinder) plus a new battery, alternator and A/T tires with <10k on them.

Heck KBB says $1200 for a 90 in Fair condition. Knock a couple hundred off for it being an '89 and add a few hundred for the new stuff and I feel like I got a pretty good deal.

 

this is so funny cause i put almost the same question on a toyota site and they say how there 4runners are going like new at 260k miles and how they had jeeps that were trash.... and some of yall are sayin how toyotas are trash.... but yea ill definitly get someone that IS NOT attached to look em over.... personally i like both and have worked on my friends 4runner before (installed a 3 inch lift) and it wasnt that bad.... took ups 6 hours (2 days 3 hours each) but yea also the thing i like bout 4runners are stock 31's and lift 3 inches and u can run 33's without re gearing... but i like jeeps cause easy to work on and i could lift one 8 inched hehe but i would need sye and cv driveshaft. but with a runner i could put a 2 inch body lift on top of the 3 inch suspension and get 5 inches and mount 35's.... Why isnt there body lifts for jeep cherokees???? always wondered that but anyways should be buyin by the end of the month so im still debating.... thanks for all yalls help!

 

Its up to you man.. I know both Toyotas and Jeeps have a cult like following and a fever like effect.. I have been given the chance to take the Jeep route and I am loving it. I drive it 80 miles everyday on the highway for work.. every time I need parts it is usually cheaper than i expected.. Have to driven an XJ at all?


..No body lifts on XJ.. Unibody

 

I wasn't bashing 4runners or Toyota in general, just my particular one. Toyota is a decent brand, and I had a Camry that I drove for 230k miles before we sold it, an MR2 that I drove around 100k miles. However, they aren't as flawless as they want the general public to believe (case in point, recent recalls). And then there's money: I bought my Cherokee for less than the engine rebuild on the toyota cost, just machine shop costs, no less. Ever tried haggling with Toyota over a failed part, that shouldn't have failed, when the car is just out of warranty? Ugh.

 

yes you are right, late production 96-98 are the best years for a cherokee. try to get one with the chry 8.25 rear end.

cherokee was produced from 87 to 01 with very little changes. most parts are interchangeable so finding parts for them is really easy and really cheap. junkyards are full of them, and most auto-parts stores stock the parts in-store. I rarely have to wait for a special ordered part.

 

Its good to hear of all of these success stories. I hear the same thing I ever talk to about the jeep community. The inline 6 will go for ever. I ended up having a burned valve but i'm replacing the head and am convinced that the jeep will last a whole lot longer. Aside from minor maintainence i'd say its a pretty strong running vehicle. With a burned valve causing a misfire, it still ran like a raped ape. I did however start to fix the problem as soon as possible to prevent further damage. I'm also replacing the important stuff while i'm in there.

 

i like to stay with the 92-95. 95s always seem to have more power. and they are cheaper. Best part i ever bought for my jeep was the donor jeep i bought the next day.

 

I have an 89 cherokee laredo and my buddy has a toyota. it is all about the maintenance. and it cant be stressed enough. the problem in most cases is how it was driven and abused before you got it. my jeep has 183000 on it and because it was beat and never checked up on it just puked the torque converter seal and has had numerous other problems. one of my buddies has a toyota with almost 250000 on it with original everything and his is still runnin strong. in fact the motor and tranny are out lasting the body. i have another friend with an 89 cherokee and his has well over 310000 on it and with the proper maintenace is still runnin with original engine tranny and most of the drivetrain minus a few upgrades. ive seen some of the best and worst models and names rise and fall due to the attention and maintenance it recieved from its owner. they both can be good or bad depending on how they were taken care of by previous owners. jeeps are very easy to find parts for and toyotas are not as easy and whether new or used parts they are expensive. best advice get a mechanic with lots of experience around both and whom you can trust and then listen to your gut.