Hey guys,

I've been thinking about getting a Cherokee for the past couple months, but I didn't want to spend too much on it. There have been very few Cherokees that I have found that have been in my price range (under $3000) and been in decent condition, more specifically under 200,000 miles. However, recently I found a 2000 Cherokee Sport listed on Craigslist for $1500 that was listed as a mechanics special, 180,000 miles, with three main problems. The first is a blown head gasket, which appears to be a common problem for 2000 Cherokees. The second is the exhaust pipe needs to be replaced. The third is a small amount of front bumper damage that I think could be easily replaced. However, the Cherokee is just over 3 hours from me. I was wondering if it would be possible for me to replace the head gasket before I drive back home and then fix everything else later. Or of it wasn't worth it to risk going up there and having the Cherokee break on me on the way back. Any feedback is much appreciated.

 

Skip it and be patient. A decent one will evebtually turn up.

 

I would pass if I were you, driving anything with age not knowing the history could be a real PITA. Even with a new head gasket, there could be other issues not known to you such as a cracked head or worse. The right Jeep will come along.