I am new to jeeps and I found a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with 170K v6. It is a 2nd owner jeep and has all the paperwork for the past 10 years, including each oil change etc. It has been owned both times by a wealthy family and never taken off road, and driven by a female for the past 10 years. They also just put $1k of new rubber on it 5 months ago. They are asking $1500 is this a good buy?
I am new to jeeps and was wondering if the Grand Cherokees are good off road vehicles? I live in Colorado and will need 4x4 to make it up to my house. Can I take a grand Cherokee off road like a Cherokee? I know they are the luxury model. Is the drivetrain and engine as good for off roading? What are some things that I can do right off the bat on a college guy budget to improve the performance if I do buy it?
Also it has the select-trac 4 wheel drive. It has 4 different settings. How do I shift into each of them. Someone told me that I can be going 25-30 mph and shift into it, but I don't want to blow up my new jeep if I buy it doing something stupid. Can I shift into each one going 30 or do I have to stop and put the gear shift in neutral or something? Please be detailed with this as I have never owned a 4x4. Thanks.
Sorry for all the stupid questions, you all can laugh now.

 

Yes, wealthy families rarely go off road, it's mostly toothless, beer swilling, inbred hillbillies like us.

 

Yes, you can take a GC off road, and it's an I6.

 

ZJs do great off road bone stock, they will go anywhere an XJ will go. Buy it and enjoy it. You can shift into 4hi while you're driving, but you should be almost at a complete stop when going into 4lo.

 

Read the owners manual.

 

The what?

 

Whats that?

 

It's not a v6! 4.0L I6!!!!! Don't disgrace the name

 

Off road a grand Cherokee will have more flex then a Cherokee.The rear rear suspension on the grand Cherokee is links and coil springs which is why it will flex more and ride smoother on the roads.The same rear rear suspension designed jeep started using on the tj and newer wranglers.