hi i am lookin at getting a 99 jeep cherokee. I currently own a 2003 land rover discovery...which of course is falling apart...yeah yeah i know...shouldnt have bought it. i was just curious as how well the cherokees hold up and repair cost.. i cant imagine it would be anything like a land rover. Just lookin for some feed back and maybe which year has less problems.

 

ok jeeps are freakin bullet proof if you put gas and oil in them they WILL keep running. it is by far the most reliabalt car i have ever drivin. parts are cheap and they are easy to fix to save many by doing it your self. there even pretty decent family cars because they are pretty safe. you cant go wrong with a jeep especially a xj!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

You will notice enough of a savings in the cost of your parts alone, coming from the Land Rover scence, to make the switch worth while, IMHO!!


BTW, moved to chat, this is not a technical issue. Welcome aboard!!

 

sorry to hear the Disco is letting you down.
'97 to '98 are essentially the same...
'99 got a revised intake manifold...
'00 got coil on plug...
'01 got a low pinion front axle.

Personally, I'd look at '97-'99 rigs.

They hold up very well, it's not uncommon to see rigs with up around 300k miles on them running perfectly.

Parts are very affordable (even when going with more expensive NAPA brand parts) and most everything can be purchased at Autozone.
Log on to Autozone, and search parts for an idea of $$$...
Radiator - $150.
Alternator - $140.
Brake pads - $20-$60.
Brake rotors - $25-$50.
Compare that to Disco parts

As mentioned above, most common repairs can be done at home (save on labor costs) with basic hand tools. I'm not a great wrench, but do 90% of repairs in my small garage with a Chiltons manual and a 280 piece craftsman tool kit.

They are a safe rig, but I would not put it in the same class as the Disco. With the Disco weighing in at over 5000lbs, having a fully boxed frame and 2 integral roll hoops... it out classes the Cherokee in safety.

 

Well welcome to the world of jeeps, i own a 99 and i must say, it has been the absolute best vehicle to me. Never broke down on me, never left me stranded, and even when it should have (due to my lack of $ for new parts on time lol)

I THINK the common census is that the 99 is a great year to get, better front axle than the 00-01's (high pinion D30 instead of the low)and better rear axle options you can find for it (29 spline c8.25 is available) and tons of other things that differ through the years (you can search on the site or maybe someone else will add more in)......theyre all great but i love my 99

As for problems, they all get problems lol it just depends on how good you check the particular vehicle youre looking at getting....more or less how upkept it has been...as for how much it costs to repair the parts are pretty cheap for the most part (also depends on where you get them), and labor is free if you do it yourself! lol

problems i have had and seem to be common for the 97+ models

Front speaker wiring going bad (easy fix)
Window lock button shorting out (again easy fix)
rear window washer pump going bad (easy again)
factory fog lamp switch (if it has them) goes bad
umm...im sure i forgot a few, but anyway theyre all pretty well minor things

hope that helps a little bit! Good luck searching for your cherokee!!

 

Wow, I have every single one of the problems you listed! Also had a hole in the drivers side floor, the sunroof doesnt work and leaks, the key doesnt fit into any of the locks (only can unlock it w/ the remote, which is fine, until the remore stops working), the hatch doesnt lock at all, that may be it for now. Mines a 99 Ive had for a few weeks, bought it strictly as a backup 4x4. If youre looking at it as a dd Id say keep looking or save up, wait and get something nice.

Ive heard nothing but good things about these engines, but keep in mind you are buying a Chrysler product, so expect to have a disproportianate amount of problems compared to other 10 yr old suvs. Also, its not gonna ride anywhere near as nice as your Discovery, which are beautiful vehicles, but from what Ive read prone to maintenance issues as well.

 

good luck with the switch you will not be dissapointed in a jeep

 

yep only thing that goes wrong with jeeps are thoes pesky little problems that dont mess up the overall functionality but really get on your nerves like window regulators, window locks, etc.

 

They really are great vehicles, especially for the money. '99 is IMO the best year. Just be prepared for the Jeep bug. Once it bites, you will never stop wanting to build your Jeep!

 

ITS A JEEP!

 

thank you for all the replies. Very helpful. From what i gather 99 is the better year model. Im excited to get into a jeep hopefully i want be paying 130 for little pieces of plastic like with land rover.

 

Just remember ... Jeep's don't leek, they mark their territory. They are pretty inexpensive to maintain, spend the extra money on good oil and good oil filter. The I6 engines are really tough and like a previous poster said last for a very long time up into the 300k range. They are relatively inexpensive to buy usually so you don't mind too much scratching it up or denting it up some. Parts are pretty inexpensive especially if you have a JY close by, due to cash for clunkers many Jeeps came to an early end so parts are available.

Just from reading through this forum and a few personal experiences I have picked up a few things that tend to go wrong with Cherokees

-Rear main seal
-Valve cover seal
-Radiators (some have a crappy plastic one that is prone to fail)
-If you get a manual trans and depending on the year the clutch master cyl is also prone to failure.
-floor pan rust
- The electrical can sometimes be pretty touchy

and this last one is something I have heard many different times when others have asked about what they should look for when buying one

-- be sure it is STOCK do the lifting and modding yourself. Just easier to start from a bare platform than try to figure out what the PO may have done.

 

Far as "10 year old SUV's" are concerned, I'd rate Jeeps higher than, say, the garbage GM was putting out there, and to a lesser extent, Ford Explorers.

I haven't had a fraction of the issues owners I know of those SUV's have had in the past.

Just my $.02.

 

Depending on the area you are from and how lucky you are, the cost of the Cherokee could be less than two monthly payments on your land rover. Buy one and don't look back.

 

Almost forgot - from at least 1988 - 2001, maybe longer (thats when I stopped being a Chrysler nutswinger and swore to never, ever buy a brand new Chrysler product again) Chrysler had no idea how to keep clear coat on the top surfaces of a vehicle. Mine is (naturally) starting to peel on the hood, but since its not a dd wasnt an issue for me. Just something to look out for. Small wonder theyre in the boat that theyre in.

Still, one day I will buy a USED Challenger, but Id never pay top $ for something off of their showroom floor. I bought the Cherokee cause it was cheap, and while Id love a 4 door Wrangler or an FJ Cruiser, couldnt afford a 3rd car payment.