terribad16

Hey guys, I'm letting my parents have my JK because I cant handle the car payment right now while I'm in college, and was hoping to buy a cherokee outright, so i have some questions....

What's your honest opinion on the cherokee?

I was wanting to get a 2001 because it would be the newest one... is that a good choice? If not, what year should i get and why?

How reliable are they? I realize every older car will have problems but I've got class 3 days a week, and work the rest of the week, so I want to know I wont have to fix something with it every week.

How is the power in it? I would like it to have more than the Jk did... As much as my parents suburban would be nice...

How much should one that is ready to be a daily driver cost?

Bottom line, is this a good choice? I would really like to not have a car payment, or atleast a very small one, and i would like whatever i get to be a jeep... But if you have any suggestions on a different vehicle you think i should get please post em up and let me know why.

Everyone's help is really appreciated...

terribad16

c'mon, no one has anything to say about the XJ's?

Sharkey

I had a '91. It was the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned, but I have heard of some people having the opposite experience. I sold mine with about 150k on it and never had to put money into it apart from standard maintenance.

toymaster

Yes they were good vehicles, especially with the 4.0 inline six. But you are talking about a +10 year old 4wd (I assume 4wd). Anything can break at that age.

From experience if you drive an old 4wd you either are a good mechanic, are becoming a good mechanic, or have money to pay someone to be a good mechanic. Not actually trying to deter you but just expect break-downs. You have to do what you have to do in life and for some ungodly reason the worse you have it the better person you become.

nofr13

Traded my 2001 Limited for the JK. JK has a better ride and tons more comfy. With that being said, I loved my XJ. Select Trac is the optional transfer case which gives you AWD feature.

Mine was reliable for the most part, in 2001 they moved the EGR valve to the fuel tank, so a $200 repair turned into $750 as I was not going to drop a fuel tank in a Minnesota winter in the parking lot.

One point of note, my insurance agent hated this Jeep. They tend not to have ABS. Now many of the high school kids are getting them and wrecking a bunch. My liability rate was the same for full coverage on the JK. That's with me being 34 and no violations. My agent would call me every 6 months and beg me to get rid of it.

Bottom line, simple to work on, great to drive, and a blast to own.

trickynick

Good luck on the search. Sorry to hear about the JK bro, hopefully you can get it back when your out of school....

yjnick95

They are pretty bullet proof. My 97 XJ has 202,000. I drive it 120+ miles a day. It does get run hard on the highways. I should be easy on it but why it runs a 5500rpm till it get to highway speed and still it averages 20 mpg. The 00 and 01 did have a head cracking issue. Because of a bad casting just google it 0331 head and you will find all you want on it.
The EGR thing the nofr13 was talking about is misleading. XJ's haven't had a EGR since the renix engine. I assume he meant fuel pressure regulator which is part of the fuel module. But pricing has come down on those and it easy to change in about a hour in the driveway. Good vehicle to own, btw my wife has a 00 with 153,000 mile on it too.

nofr13

My bad, I did mean fuel pressure regulator. Only on the 2001 is it in the tank, pre 2001 it's in the engine bay.

terribad16

Well I understand normal wear and tear, but I was told the reliability for a car that old was pretty great. So just wanted to see what some people that owned the vehicle thought.

Shadowman

I owned an '86 XJ for 6 years, the only reason I sold it was because the JK became my new toy.
my XJ was the 4 banger with over 300,000 km.
the thing ran like a top, and the guy I sold it to loves it like you wouldn't believe.
I will say that the XJ was the 2nd best vehicle that I have owned.
My JK being the best.