Badmunky

Hello.
Nice looking forum you guys have here.


I am hopping you guys can help me out a bit.
I have been in the sport compact scene for a long time now and am looking for a change of pace so to speak.
I currently own a 2007 Subaru WRX that I bout new and have done some work to, but have decided to sell it. So I will need something to replace it with. I have never owned a 4X4 before and decided I want to get one. I have looked around a bit and am thinking of a Jeep for my first 4X4. But I know nothing about them.

I have a few things I need the truck to do / have.
1: 4 doors.
2: 4WD.
3: I'm used to having 300+ hp and a light car so it needs to have some pep to it. (I understand the jeep will never be as fast, but some pep is a must.)
4: I don't wont to spend more then 6K to get in to it.
5: I don't want to go to much over 100k miles.
6: I need to be able to pull a 2,000lb trailer. (Yes I pulled it with the WRX, Yes its rated for it.)
7: I will lift it but not much. (Max would be 4" and I think even that might be a bit much for me.)
8: I will take it off road but not often, and nothing crazy.
9: I like manual transmissions but will buy an auto if I have to.
10: I only drive about 7-8k a year right now, but that may go up. I do need something that will last me a while.
11: I have looked at a few jeeps with the 4.0L motor. Is this a good motor? Common problems it has? What years are best?
12: I drive mostly highway. So it needs to have good road manners. I make a 400 mile round trip run every other month as well. So I want something that will be comfortable on a long trip as well.
13: I will put larger wheels/tires on it. But nothing to big. I'm thinking that 31s are about as big as I will go give or a take an inch.


I can fix anything that may be wrong with any Jeep I may buy. I have been working on cars as long as I can remember. (Oddly enough the first car I remember working on was an old JC7 my dad had when I was kid that had a Chevy 350 in it.) And have the tools I will need as well.
I understand that I have not done much with a 4X4 but I have done full restorations on 70s muscle cars as well as running a shop in the past so I'm sure its nothing I can't handle.


So what do you guys think would be the best Jeep for me given the above list? And what years should I look for? What years should I stay away from?
And why?

Right now I'm leaning towards a 97-99 Cherokee Sport 4 door 4X4.

Thanks for the help!

ol"blue

In your budget, the easiest choice is the '98 Grand Cherokee 5.9L V8 Limited. It was the fastest factory SUV until the SRT 8 Hemi Grand Cherokee came out. It can tow up to 5,000 lbs. You can find clean examples for between $2,500-3,500 and mint ones for between $4,000-5,000.

stumpdy_dumpdy

Go with an early to mid 90s cherokee laredo 4.0. The L6 engine is tough with good tork and easy to wrk on. Depends on how the last owner treated it to say wut kinda probs youll run into. I used to have a 91 that overheated alot, i changed out the radiator, prob solved. Im havin electrical issues with my 89. My opinion, cherokees are some of the best and toughest 4x4s out there....

Jmb94

4.0 = freaking bulletproof. 97-98 is your best bet for more modern styling/extra bulletproofness. Cracked headers are common but newer designs are available that are a hold up a little better. overall, great low end pull, not-so-great midrange acceleration, and not dissapointing top-end. AW4 automatic is a good transmission if you can't find a manual. It's not stupid like a lot of autos are.

Badmunky

On all the Jeep forums I have asked this on your the first one to recommend the Grand Cherokee 5.9L.
I will look in to that one for sure.
What are the HP and Torque #s for it?
Dose that one have an IFS? How that affect the off road ability of the rig?
How many miles will that motor topically last with normal use?
Was 98 the only year for it?
What kind of MPG will I be looking at?
I'm used to getting 24-28mpg average running 93 octane. Up to 33mpg if I'm trying for it. I understand I will not get these #s from an SUV but I don't want to be getting 10mpg ether.


Cracked header is not a problem. I would most likely replace it with an upgraded one even if it did not crack.
Is there any way to improve the mid range / top end power on the 4.0L?
What kind of MPG will I be looking at with that motor?
What are the HP and Torque #s for it?
Would it be hard to convert and auto to a manual?

Thanks guys!

ol"blue

It has a solid front axle like the regular Cherokee.
The 5.9 Limited Grand Cherokee was only available in '98.
It's a 360 Magnum (Chrysler small block) which like the 318, is a very dependable/proven engine. With regular maintenance they last quite a long time.
Some say it had 245 HP, some say 260 HP. With a Mopar comp. and a few bolt-ons it easily tops 300 HP.
Here's a write-up with all the specs and saying it was 1998 4x4 of the year. http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/roadtes...fications.html

ol"blue

I've never owned a regular Cherokee so I can't say much about them except I wouldn't mind having one.
You might want to check on a ZJ (Grand Cherokee '93-'98) with the 5.2L V8, 4.0L I6, or the turbo diesel also. Some early models came with a 5-spd.
I had a 5.2L ZJ for 6 years that I recently sold to my son and I loved it. It got between 18-21 MPG on a trip depending on driving. They're slightly larger than the Cherokee (XJ), and have four-link coil spring suspension front & rear, as opposed to the XJ's rear leaf springs. With coils they're easier to lift. IMO

Jmb94

Write-up with all the specs for 2.5/4.0 https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/ch...ck-specs-6345/
Write-up with all the specs for 4.0/5.2/5.9 + Performance info on 5.9
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f52/zj...fications-819/