Hi,
I'm new to the site and also new to Jeeps. I've been looking into buying a used Jeep Cherokee and need to know what year I should be looking after. Also if you could give me some general pros and cons about them, that would also help.

Thanks for the help
-4x4Noob

 

Welcome to Cherokee world.

General pros and cons could take up a lot of topics and discussion. Suggest you navigate around the forum, read some threads that address what you want to know, then get back to us with specific questions.

 

91 and up has the High Output engine. If you want for wheel drive, pay attention to if it's full time 4X4 or not. I can't imagine anyone having a desire to own a full time four wheel drive, except if maybe if you live in Alaska or Russia. Especially when the @$$ holes crank up the price of fuel to over 4.00/gallon again. We may not see it this summer, but I bet we'll see it next summer.

 

it depends on what you have to spend and if you like the older body style or the 97-01 body style as for 97-01 you should look at the 99 i hear there better and they have dist.cap and plug insted of coil on plugs like my 00, if your looking at older XJ's try and find a waggy with the dana44 rear end.
as for pros and cons

pro's
there is a ton of aftermarket support for them
there very reliable trucks
they do very well offroad even with no mod's
easy to work on


con's
there is so many aftermarket things you cant choose what you want
somebody close to you will likely take you creditcards from you cause your spending all your money on parts
its hard to get the "JEEP WAVE" from wrangler guys
no areo dynamics
they mark there territory and there is nothing you can do about it

good luck on your new habit

 

X2 w/ Rew.

Pro's:
They're fun
Easy to work on
Fairly cheap (parts-wise as well as the actual Jeep)

Con's:
You WILL be working on it
You WILL be working on it when you don't want to
You WILL be working on it in some nasty weather/conditions.

But they sure as hell are fun...

 

I would definitely stay away from the vac disconnect front axles, they are nothing but trouble. Some XJs up til 91 had the disconnect, 92 and later had a solid right front axle shaft. 95 and later has the larger, stronger 297 u-joints in the front driveline. Whatever year you decide on, just remember...Jeep stands for Just Empty Every Pocket.