yes, but late production 96 is when they started using the stronger 29 spline 8.25, plus the (slightly) beefier dana 30 up front (I think that started in 95? correct me if I'm wrong). since all the new emissions standards didn't take effect till 99, you can bolt in the 99+ manifold for the extra horse power boost. thats typically why people like late 96-98.

 

I have had both. Years ago I had an 86 4runner. 22R motor, can't kill them (I had a 78 corolla [also 22R motor] I put the millionth mile on). It was fun to play in, but I needed to be careful because it was so light, but it was fun. I now have a 95 XJ and a 96 XJ. The 96 has about 120xxx on it. PO did not take care of it and it shows it's wear. It's still reliable, starts right up everytime, doesn't burn oil, keeps cool. Only real issue with it is temp sensor doesn't work cuz he broke the stem off in the head. but as I said it shows it's wear (motors not as tight as it should be and tranny is sluggish sometimes). For fun, it's a tank (3 inch lift, 31's) and goes anywere. The 95 is a project I bought. $200 no rust. Freeze plug corroded through after 249,984 miles. PO did regular maintenance and had records to prove it. I have opened that motor and it's in perfect condition. I can easily get another 100k out of it. I am putting a fresh motor in it out of a 93 that had 177xxxon it. When I opened the motor it showed some wear, but not bad.
I think you should take somebody that knows these things to give them a complete look through. Then decide which is a better deal.
I am biased, if it was me I would buy a Jeep.

 

nobody is bashing yotas there just a bit more expensive and complex to work on there is not a body lift for the cherokee because they have a unibody constuction in a sense the frame is part of the body but i dont really see the point in a body lift anyway it dont give any more ground clearance

 

Holy Jesus. I thought only the Swedes could do that, I read about a Saab and a Volvo that ran over 1,000,000 miles.

 

Don't forget Mercedes--especially the diesels.

 

"Reliable" Is Relative, What I consider reliable might be different from what you call reliable. Depends on your experiances etc.
But overall Jeep's are considered reliable. The best part is they are easy to work on compared to most other trucks.
And I dont claim to know why but these dam things will go places stock that others cant go with Lift and Tires etc...


The Bottom Line ::: JEEPS RULE

 

okay body lift does help in ground clearance as a 2 inch body lift will allow for about 3 inch bigger tire depending on the size of the wheel well.


anyways guys i would love to buy a nice cherokee its just my old man is convinced they are junk when i tell him how ppl on here have gone 300k + but i would like a jeep cause price mainly... i basically have about 5k that we have been saving... so i get 5k... if i can find a nice jeep for a steal of a deal for say 2500 to 3000 that leaves mucho dinero for lift and tires and wheels...... BUT the whole sye and cv driveshaft thing scares me along with having to re gear for 33's. 4runners dont need to be re geared until into 35 range and no sye or any of that crap is required.... i like the part with the jeep being easy to work on but i am only probably capable of doing a small lift and some stuff like that idk about putting a new engine in cause if one blows up and i find another engine for a deal its still gonna be expensive to install... so im still on the fence. my brother drive a toyota tundra and its super nice and reliable for being a 03 with 160k hard miles. but yes whichever vehicle i go for i will definitly inspect thoroughly. thanks for all yalls input. and ppl on the toyota forum are trying to destroy the cherokees.... i just think its hilarious how attached ppl get to the brand truck they drive.... but im sure ill be the same way whichever one i choose. hahaa thanks again and keep the suggestions coming and convince me more about the cherokees please

 

My cherokee has never let me down, the previous owner beat the living sh** out of it, and it has never left me stranded or not started!

as everyone has said "Maintenance is everything", it's true, my neighbor's cherokee lasted over 500,000 kms before he sold it, and it ran like new!

My dad's cherokee lasted to over 340,000kms before rust was to bad to handle!

it's really a matter of preference, I love jeeps, and always have, I may be biased, but I have never had too serious a problem, or been stranded by one!

 

the 22 RE in the yotas is bulletproof. so is the 4.0 liter. I had a 1989 Cherokee at 260 water temp till the engine bogged out. twice. didn't hurt it a bit. parts for cherokees are uber cheap for the most part and they are extremely EZ and cheap to modify. The late 80s and early 90s runners had IFS which is weaker than than any solid axle IMO.

 

Dude, for 5 grand you can get one heck of a nice Cherokee. Go with your guts. What ever money you save by buying Jeep over Toy, you can put in upgrades, repairs (seriously doubt that, tho), and partying . And, overall, everyone says, Jeep is nothing short of the Toy's reliability. Don't take our word for it, look it up. I got mine for $1,200, it's my DD. I do regular maintenance, put gas in, and don't worry one bit.
Reliability wise, you prolly can't go wrong either way.

 

OK when I bought my XJ I threw it in 4wd and made some bad noise. I got the price down and a warrenty added and 3 months later I was having the transfer case replaced. I bought it with 87000 miles and have had to do some replacements. It was originally purchased as a company delivery vehicle so most likely good maintenance but harsh driving. Just know what you are getting and follow my fathers rules of thumb when buying used - expect to drop a grand on it in the first year to get things fixed that the previous owner did not repair (regarless of truck, car, Jeep, toy).
Now for your regrear, sye, etc. etc. I am running 4.5" of lift with no sye and no issues. My son is running 33's with 5.5" lift with no sye and no regear (Chrysler 8.25 rear) on his 92 again with no issues but not great top end and not great gas milage.
Now for the choice of what to get. you are buying used - it is a crap shoot no matter what you get but here is what to keep in mind. WHen I was looing to get my TJ I had someone tell me the best thing about Jeeps is that they are like tinker toys; there are a million parts to add, swap, replace. Wranglers have a lot more but Cherokees have soooo many aftermarket parts available. I don't think there is any vehicle that has more available parts options available and a reasonable price.
That is my two cents.

 

Definitely a good idea to take someone with you who knows his stuff about Jeeps (or Toys, if that's what you are looking at), or cars in general. I have a friend who can tell you after 1/2 hour of inspection in the lot and 10 min test drive, what the problems are with the vehicle and what you can expect to get out of it.

 

you dont have to regear...you will want to though! You really can do a lot of stuff to a cherokee for dirt cheap.

The rear main seal goes out on a lot of cherokees, but if you can replace it yourself it is cheap (im gonna try this one this weekend). Some people get a cracked flexplate. If you are capable of fixing cars a cherokee is a great choice because they are easy to work on. For 5000 you could get a cherokee with everything you ever wanted on it and you sye and cv and all that. Craigslist is great for mods.
I have had two cherokees. One was 2wheel drive and when I enlisted I gave it to my brother-in-law. He delivers pizzas in it and it is at 220000, going strong. The one Im in now is a 4x4 and has 150000. Both were 99's. Both of them have had the ac compressor go out on them. So far so good though.
My in laws have a 4runner (also a 99) and they love the heck out of it.

On a funny side note, last weekend I went wheeling with 2 other cherokee and a 4runner. One cherokee had 35's and the other two had 31's. The forerunner had 32's. The forerunner was the only one that took any damage

Also, what did you expect to hear posting this question on the forums. We all obviously love our XJ's. Especially enought to track down a forum to talk about it.
One more thing, if you are wanting to work on it a cherokee is a great one to learn on. Things are easy and there are articles all over the internet on how to fix all the common problems.

 

My dad used to have toy tacoma it was a little truck it was old skool and he liked it so much. We got it stuck and trailed it a lil but when it came down to it we sold it cuz it started to rust.No telling about it now but i grew up in a cherokee and when i say grew up i mean since i was a baby and now its my dd. i also used old toy off road stuf on my jeep such as lights and brushgrd but some things u got to look at is aftermarket there are so many places that offer jeep stuff i even read today there a corp that will make it a anfibian for a lil money i love my jeep and i think you will love yours if you decide to get 1.

 

i would love to find a cherokee for a good price and lift it but my old man would kill me if i bought one and something expensive broke within a yer.... he would tear my *** up. ha and that would be my luck. also he still isnt convinced and i think im startin to **** him off cause its all i talk about.