I just bought a '99 WJ a couple weeks ago.

I'm obviously not an authority on the mechanics of the thing, but I can tell you why I bought it after looking at (and previously owning) XJs:

I personally like the rounded lines better.

Although it's fairly capable of going off road, some say as much as an XJ is, the reality is that it will be a rare occurrence for me.

Like you, I want a daily driver that can also handle snow and occasional light mudding. I live in Utah. It's going to be cold and snowy very soon. I want to be able to get to work and home reliably no matter how bad conditions are. The WJ should be more than capable enough for what I'm doing in it 99.9% of the time.

I like gadgets and comfort. It's not just the seats, which ARE nice. I like the sunroof, the temperature and compass, the trip computer, the hvac, etc. etc. I'm not a hardcore off-road, doors off, roll-cage kinda guy. It looks fun, but I'll rarely if ever do it. For almost all the time I like having "car comfort" along with the capability of a jeep.

And for me at least, it's not just the seats themselves but the way the jeeps are made that make the WJ more comfortable for me than the XJ. I'm fairly tall, and in an XJ have to have the seat all the way back on the rails to fit. Even then, I don't fit real comfortably. But when the seats all the way back, the back of the seat is behind the pillar, so I'm knocking against a metal post every time I'm getting in the thing. The seats in the XJ are lower to the floor as well - again not as comfortable for me as the WJ.

To me, it came down mostly to which one I liked best and which was more comfortable.

Lot of little electrical problems with the 94 grand that I had. Not near the off road machine either. Not that it matters.

i like gadgets also. but some vehicles go a bit overboard. and what kind of electric problems we talking? are GC money traps? i understand where parts are a bit more pricey, where luxery doesn't come free. i know the GCs come cheaper. my neighbor has a 99? i think it is with the i6 and he burns it up. like smoking the tires and what not and all that's going on is lifter tick. i got more respect for a vehicle...don't like replacing stuff every week. the GC sounds good for all i need. something with a bit more leg room would be a upgrade. and the rounder corners look like it would save a few extra miles to the gallon. im in ohio and we get snow, that is probably the most its going to see. my Cherokee don't see mud. im all stock if that tells you anything.

now whats this I here about the GC having bad brake rotors? do these people just have bad driving habbits or are they really bad enough to replace every 3000 miles

Jeep is odd the limited could be inline 6 or v8 but the v8 was only offered in the limited trim.As far as the brake rotors it could be lack of maintenance or just cheap brake parts.

Still waiting for someone to post electrical problems other than the VIC on GCs..something that rivals the endless threads about rust on XJs...or innumerable engine problems with the "bulletproof" I-6.

I'm waiting for the old folks who live by my mom's house to give up driving and sell the CLEAANNNNNNN XJ sport that they only seem to drive once in a while. its that weird dark gold color, but the thing is spot less and I know those two 80 year olds dont hammer it....

I rather have a Grand Cherokee most was used at mini vans never really off roaded.Most xj around me are rusted bad or have a lift and been beat on,The rare nice xj ones here sell high because they are nice.For 3k i can pick up a nice zj maybe wj or 3k i get a ok xj with rust or a ton of miles on it.

I agree they are littered on craigslist for 3k and most are 99. that's the year I want to.
Also a little extra leg room for everyone sounds like a plus. the GC looks like it might be a little bigger than the standard

After daily driving my 7'' XJ on 33s, I decided to make it a dedicated trail rig, and I'm actually picking up a Niner in a few days for a DD. It's powerful, comfortable, handles great. I'm looking forward to it!

When there's a strange sickening smell and a lot of flies buzzing around their house, it's time to make your move and get that XJ.

Man that's f'd up. I love it.

Which would be better a 99's model or. A 94-98 model

I would rather have the last of a body style then the first one of a body style,With most the last they got it almost prefect and the first your kinda a guinea pig.The 98 back had a bigger v8 the 5.2 and the 5.9 was one year only 98.The 99-04 had the 4.7 v8 in them and the 99-01 4.0 had the same head problems the last xj had also.