Hi all, I am in need of a new car and started looking at Cherokees! So I'm wondering if some of you guys think one would be right for me?

-I want a larger vehicle, SUV or Truck, with 4wd and some axle clearence for "off-roading", mostly getting to backpacking trail heads and other hard to get to places in Nor-Cal and Southern Oregon

-I want reliability!!! I am not a mechanic by any means, I can change filters, oil, rotate tires, and occasionally figure out why my car isn't working, but have never done any real mechanic work. I was looking at Tacomas for the reliability factor but the prices are just too high for me.

-Finally, I wanna spend around $5,000

Also, I currently have a 99 Explorer and love the rig but hate that its the most unreliable piece of crap I've ever owned , in the 6 months I have owned it it has developed catastrophic transmission and engine issues, both of which would cost more than its worth to fix.

 

Welcome to the forum

 

Sounds like a Cherokee would work for you. With that budget, you can get a built and stock one, depends on your preference.

 

I think you'll like a Cherokee. You can build them up more for off-roading than any of the other choices you mentioned and they are real easy to work on and find parts for if you do wish to learn a bit and do some of your own mechanical work. I spend most every weekend in junk yards tearing engines apart and the Ford and Toyota engines are just to cramped and cluttered to mess with.

 

i agree with rmoore1031...