1996-2000 jeep cherokee for student?

[slag]

Yay or nay as a school car for my son? Looking to get rid of the rustbucket maxima and get him something else, something that can also tow the jetskis. Which is better, the 5.2 or 4.0? Both seem pretty bulletproof. I've seen lots of jeeps with 250k plus on them and test drove one to find out it was a leaking sieve of a vehicle. I just saw another about 70 miles away with 150k on it that looks decent (4 liter).

Concerned with overall reliability and must do maintenance. I see lots of threads of jeeps with parasitic loss battery problems and rust issues, but the one I'm looking at looks good rust wise from the outside at least, I haven't looked underneath it yet.

 

[MongGrel]

Have had a couple 96 Cherokee 4.0 HO myself, still have one. We sold one because with just the wife and I didn't need 3 vehicles, she had 180K on hers at the time and drives the Mazda 3 now, I use the Jeep.

The 4.0 is reliable and has plenty of umpf to it, for an old vehicle if it hasn't been ragged on a lot.

It's all in how it's been taken care of of course.

 

[WiseUp216]

Make sure you get the 4.0.

Maintenance isn't bad at all. I learned a lot as a newbie doing all the maintenance on my Cherokee.

I got rid of my last XJ 6 or 7 years ago and I still miss it. I would love to have that straight six in the Wrangler I drive now.

 

[slag]

This is what I'm going to look at if the seller gets back with me. It has seat covers on the front seats but the rest of the interior looks good. Probably needs new tires before too long which is a negotiating point.

 

[Yuriman]

I drove an F150 while I was in college, and as a result, I drove very little. I would not want to inflict a gas guzzler on another young person if I could avoid it.

Regarding the jetsk's, I tow a small camper behind my hybrid. You will probably be fine with any Corolla or Civic and a U-Haul hitch.

 

[NutBucket]

Grand Cherokee and Cherokee are not the same beast

 

[lxskllr]

I have a Cherokee sport in my driveway. It needs work to get it road worthy, but everything's solid. I don't want to put the money into it cause It's got 220K on it, and sinking 1 or 2k n to get it right is sure to anger the gods, and the motor will blow a week later :^D

I bought it with 60K, and put in two water pumps, and a fuel pump. I also replaced a brake line. That's the only unscheduled work that's been done. It still has the original shocks and clutch. It needs an oil pump and a radiator, as well as stuff like shocks that I should have done awhile ago. It's been a reliable vehicle, and I wouldn't hesitate to get another.

As said above, get the 4l straight 6. Inline, and horizontally opposed are the best motor designs. Robust, with great low end torque.

 

[slag]

I drove an F150 while I was in college, and as a result, I drove very little. I would not want to inflict a gas guzzler on another young person if I could avoid it.

Regarding the jetsk's, I tow a small camper behind my hybrid. You will probably be fine with any Corolla or Civic and a U-Haul hitch.

It will sometimes pull an 18 foot boat out for a close friend as well and things like that. My son's total drive is about 4-5 miles a day round trip so it won't be too bad. We are just looking for something with another hitch on it that is fairly reliable and not another truck.

 

[thescreensavers]

Its a great car but If your son does not know how to turn a wrench it may not be the best idea does need some work being an older car.

How well the previous owners took care of it will mean difference between a headache or smooth sailing.

Dont rush into the first few jeeps you see, drive a few make sure they aren't crap, spend a little more for the perfect one..etc

Good luck

 

[MongGrel]

Grand Cherokee and Cherokee are not the same beast

Nope, if I were buying an old 4.0 Cherokee I'd avoid a Grand myself. Not even sure if they made any Grands with 4.0s, had never looked into it at the time.

I knew several people had many problems with Grands in that age range, even when they were new. The one I have still is an old Sport.

 

[slag]

Thanks for the advice. He's 15 and is very good at turning a wrench and working on stuff. We just rebuilt a mercarb last night and he's helped me reassemble engines, do suspension work on our vehicles, etc.

 

[BurnItDwn]

There is a beautiful 93 XJ for auction on bringatrailer
http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-jeep-cherokee-sport/

I want it, but I don't wrench, and I already have a subaru, and I need to buy a car for my woman instead.

Had had several friends who love & swear by XJs and the venerable 4L.