Potential new owner
10-28-2016, 02:59 PM
#1
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Columbia, SC
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Model: Cherokee
Potential new owner
Currently I drive a 2014 Jetta TDi I bought new almost exactly 2 years ago. You may or may have heard of dieselgate aka emissions scandal so now VW is offering to buy back those vehicles, mine included
I used to own a 2001 Wrangler with the 4.0 and regrettably sold that. But I love that motor and with the TDi being bought back gives me chance to get another vehicle with it.
I am looking at Cherokee for a few reasons. 1) the motor 2) I refuse to get into another car payment. I will have approx. $4k cash after the buyback and the Cherokee falls in that price range 3) I want something with a little more storage space than the Wrangler had.
I am also interested in 4runner but those are outside my cash price range. And I feel I can work on the Cherokee a little easier since I have some familiarity with the motor. I will be using the Cherokee as my DD and will have few hundred each month to put into PM, scheduled maintenance, etc. So it needs to be clean/reliable day one but I can replace things that need replaced due to age/mileage along the way too.
I am hoping my buyback happens in Nov but do not have a date yet. I have read quite a few threads on here and other Cherokee forums (there are a lot, surprisingly)
I won't use it off-road much. Tow a Jon boat, dog will ride in back, will go down some easy trails for spots I hunt, etc. But it will primarily be a DD.
I am sure I will have plenty of questions, especially as it gets closer to me having cash in hand to buy.I live in Columbia, SC but willing to drive up to 5-6 hours to pick one up if worth it.
I used to own a 2001 Wrangler with the 4.0 and regrettably sold that. But I love that motor and with the TDi being bought back gives me chance to get another vehicle with it.
I am looking at Cherokee for a few reasons. 1) the motor 2) I refuse to get into another car payment. I will have approx. $4k cash after the buyback and the Cherokee falls in that price range 3) I want something with a little more storage space than the Wrangler had.
I am also interested in 4runner but those are outside my cash price range. And I feel I can work on the Cherokee a little easier since I have some familiarity with the motor. I will be using the Cherokee as my DD and will have few hundred each month to put into PM, scheduled maintenance, etc. So it needs to be clean/reliable day one but I can replace things that need replaced due to age/mileage along the way too.
I am hoping my buyback happens in Nov but do not have a date yet. I have read quite a few threads on here and other Cherokee forums (there are a lot, surprisingly)
I won't use it off-road much. Tow a Jon boat, dog will ride in back, will go down some easy trails for spots I hunt, etc. But it will primarily be a DD.
I am sure I will have plenty of questions, especially as it gets closer to me having cash in hand to buy.I live in Columbia, SC but willing to drive up to 5-6 hours to pick one up if worth it.
10-28-2016, 03:22 PM
#2
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Ocean County, NJ
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Sweet, post up your finds and give us some details about anything you're considering looking at. We'll help where we can. Welcome to the forum!
10-31-2016, 10:28 AM
#4
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Model: Cherokee
Thanks y'all
I have been looking at autotrader and CL, just to get feel for market
Two things 1) This cherokee seems awesome but also incredibly overpriced. am I wrong?
https://greenville.craigslist.org/ctd/5851660888.html
Clean, 5-speed, 1 owner, 103K miles. But almost $10k?
2) I prefer the Cherokee for the years I am looking at but I noticed the Grand Cherokees seem to be same price or even cheaper. How and why is that? The GC costs more when they both came out. If I was to keep eyes out for a GC is there anything to avoid or look out for? I know this is a cherokee forum but just curious. Maybe the GC from late 90s is not even worth checking out?
I have been looking at autotrader and CL, just to get feel for market
Two things 1) This cherokee seems awesome but also incredibly overpriced. am I wrong?
https://greenville.craigslist.org/ctd/5851660888.html
Clean, 5-speed, 1 owner, 103K miles. But almost $10k?
2) I prefer the Cherokee for the years I am looking at but I noticed the Grand Cherokees seem to be same price or even cheaper. How and why is that? The GC costs more when they both came out. If I was to keep eyes out for a GC is there anything to avoid or look out for? I know this is a cherokee forum but just curious. Maybe the GC from late 90s is not even worth checking out?
10-31-2016, 03:32 PM
#6
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Southern California
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Year: 1989 Laredo
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 Inline 6 Renix
One thing to look out for is the problem of the cracked head in 97-01 4.0 Cherokee. They have a weak point between cyl 3 and 4 which results in coolant leaking into oil! so if you find a REALLY clean one (like the one you listed) I would ask if the head has been replaced already because the crack WILL happen eventually... Welcome to CF and good luck!
10-31-2016, 03:55 PM
#7
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Ocean County, NJ
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
The poorly designed head was a problem in 2000-2001 4.0 known as the 0331 head. 97-99 XJ's did not have these heads and aren't known to be plagued by this.
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10-31-2016, 08:47 PM
#8
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Jax, FL
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Thanks y'all
I have been looking at autotrader and CL, just to get feel for market
Two things 1) This cherokee seems awesome but also incredibly overpriced. am I wrong?
https://greenville.craigslist.org/ctd/5851660888.html
Clean, 5-speed, 1 owner, 103K miles. But almost $10k?
2) I prefer the Cherokee for the years I am looking at but I noticed the Grand Cherokees seem to be same price or even cheaper. How and why is that? The GC costs more when they both came out. If I was to keep eyes out for a GC is there anything to avoid or look out for? I know this is a cherokee forum but just curious. Maybe the GC from late 90s is not even worth checking out?
I have been looking at autotrader and CL, just to get feel for market
Two things 1) This cherokee seems awesome but also incredibly overpriced. am I wrong?
https://greenville.craigslist.org/ctd/5851660888.html
Clean, 5-speed, 1 owner, 103K miles. But almost $10k?
2) I prefer the Cherokee for the years I am looking at but I noticed the Grand Cherokees seem to be same price or even cheaper. How and why is that? The GC costs more when they both came out. If I was to keep eyes out for a GC is there anything to avoid or look out for? I know this is a cherokee forum but just curious. Maybe the GC from late 90s is not even worth checking out?