caseykm79

I know this is a loaded question as there are many that may think that one year might be better than others. I don't own a Jeep as of right now but I am looking for one. I really don't know a whole lot about them but I am very mechanical and love the outdoors.

I was wondering which Jeeps I should be looking at. Should I be looking at the Cherokee or the Grand Cherokee and why? Also are there certain years I should stay away from? Engine?

I just want a good Jeep that will last a long time and that I can have fun with. Some light wheeling in the hills and trails but something that in the future I could build up.

Thanks

OOdynamite

Well any jeep will last a long time, and you can always have fun it them lol. But really its just what you want. Grand cherokees are more luxury then regular cherokees. I just got a 2001 cherokee sport and couldn't be happier. It has the 6 cylinder engine in it so it has plenty of power and doesn't suck gas like crazy.

88Cherokee4x4

NO DONT GET THE GRAND CHEROKEE!!!!
Why?? Becuase its some $hit!
Get an XJ with a 4.0 inline 6, trust me youl never regret gettin the XJ!
You can build the Xj up for ever, There like nothing that you cant do to it.

OOdynamite

plus I think that most grands come with the v8...

caseykm79

Good to know. I really could care less about luxury lol. I was thinking the I6 would be the best engine overall, bulletproof, good on gas and loads of torque.

caseykm79

Thanks guys this helps out huge. Now I know at least where to start. So were there many changes the the XJ charokee between 84 and 01?

Looks like I should look at those just wondering if one year was better than another?

OOdynamite

Yea, we buy jeeps cuz they get us from point A to B, over any obstacle in the way, not to be comfy (necessarily). And yea my I6 has 132XXX miles on it and it runs better then the V4 with 120XXX miles from my old car. Its pretty much a tank lol

alloutperform

ok sorry but the 2000-2001s have lowpinion fronts the IDEAL XJ is the 1998 4.0 2dr 5speed....i love my 98 4dr auto but thats the one i really want

alloutperform

if you want a quick breakdown wikpiedia jeep cherokee (xj) has a good quick guide

caseykm79

Thanks

OOdynamite

All i know about year is that the 97-01 are basically the same. And of course, newer is better. But when it comes to any vehicle, its not the miles that count, its how well it has been maintained. Yes my cherokee has 132XXX on it but it has more new parts then I can remember when I bought it. A car with over 200XXX miles and is maintained well, is much better then a car with 80XXX and never been to the garage

OOdynamite

Whats a lowpinion front?

jeepmanjc

best year to get is a 98 or 99, 99 has the upgraded intake manifold but the 98 is a bit more basic and tends to have less electrical issues. but the newer you get the more electrical so its a trade off.

now as far as which one to get i would go with a cherokee, yes im biased but because ive looked at both. i like both but my cherokee has 203k on the original 4.0, trans, and tcase and is far more reliable than the 5.2 which is in most of those grands, now if you find a 5.9 that might be worth looking into. but if you want a bullet proof all around 4x4 the cherokee is your best bet. plus they look a ton better haha

alloutperform

ok on this site you will see hp and lp dana 30s that refers to the way the pinion gear is made into the front end a high pinion (hp) front will give you better clearance and angle for your front driveshaft (important when lifting) it also contacts the ring gear differently providing slightly stronger outcome...for daily driving it doesn't matter also 99+ have a different head that is more prone to cracking (not sure why) but it isn't a huge concern

OOdynamite

Oh ok, well I'm not planning on lifting it so I guess no need to worry, thanks