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I'm about to buy my first Grand Cherokee and looking for some advice. First, this will not be our first Jeep, we have a 2000 TJ with a 6" lift and 35's that I just finished doing a complete rehab on - http://www.flickr.com/photos/9834165...7632711385539/

And the wife drives a 07 JK Unlimited with a 6" and 40's - http://www.flickr.com/photos/9834165...7635295390826/

That being said I'm looking at either a 99-04 WJ? or a 95 up. I see there are Lorados, Columbia's, Overlands and Limiteds. What's the difference in the trim packages so I can avoid what I don't want? I do want V8, Leather, heated seats would be nice. Do they come Standard or are they all automatics? What should be looked for, what should be avoided? How about mileage? I see a lot around 100,000 which I would assume is fine. Are there problems to watch out for, Im in the north east, any areas to watch for rust, etc.

I'm probably planning a 4" with 33's for this

Any input would be greatly appreciated, other posts to look at etc.

Thanks,
Todd

CherockeeXJ

I just bought a 97 Grand Cherokee Limitied with a 5.2L V8 at 200,000. The thing runs like a champ. The limited is the "fully loaded" version. I have power locks, windows, seats. Heated seats. Sun roof.

So being a 97 with so much electrical it's "fully loaded"... with problems. Make sure to test everything if you don't want to end up hunting down frayed wires.

Paco182

This is all about 99-04 and it is very extensive. Tj looks good. Not many Jk's on 40's, there should be.

dnuccio

the 4.7 in the WJ was kind of a turd IMO. they liked to wreck cylinder heads if they got hot. 5.2/5.9 found in ZJs was a more durable engine. my 5.2 was running for 15 minutes with no coolant in it until it finally locked up. im sure engine temp was well over 300*. try doing that with a 4.7

po0dingles

The guy I bought mine from wouldn't let me on the highway to test drive it at higher speeds because it wasn't insured. I didn't have enough experience driving Jeeps to know the difference but I ended up buying a 98 with a little bit of play in the steering and a rubbing noise coming from the rear diff that (to me) sounds like a bad bearing of some sort.

The previous Jeep I drove had way worse steering so I thought I was mint. It might still be fine, not sure since my only other vehicle is an 02 vette with considerably different driving behaviors.

If you go power options, make sure the front and rear locks work. Both rears on mine also do not work.

I also have a brake fixture that's on its way out that is keeping the rear brake lights on when the vehicle is off and parked (just lift up on the brake itself to fix this).

dave1123

My 2000 WJ is the basic Laredo model. It doesn't have options like power seats, lighted vanity mirrors, automatic climate control, or fog lights. It does have the optional 245/70R16 tires. It is a 4.0 with selectrac 242 transfer case and no tow package. The interior is standard grey cloth. It has a radio/cd/cassette player. and A/C. It also has cruise control.

It's everything I wanted and nothing I didn't. IMHO, simple is better. I would have liked the tow package, but this vehicle was in immaculate condition with maintenance records. Hard to pass up.