I've Got A Weakness For The Cherokee

"wbizarre - OEM fetishist" (wbizarre) 10/14/2014 at 22:10 • Filed to: Cherokee

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Such upright, many honest, lots simple. And I'm not even into trucks... And before you ask, no, the Regular Car Review didn't have anything to do with it. And they can be had cheap enough to make a good winter beater. Even manual!

Anyone had one of these? What's the reliability story on them? I do ask for a reason, thinking of getting one for the winter. My worry is reliability and fuel economy on a mixed commute.

Viggen > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 10/14/2014 at 22:15

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There's five or six of us on Oppo that I know of who have or had an XJ. I say do it. I love mine. You'll get the usual late 1980s-1990s Chrysler/Jeep issues, but that AMC Straight-6 makes up for it.

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > Viggen 10/14/2014 at 22:16

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Oh my, what would some of those issues be?

Vicente Esteve > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 10/14/2014 at 22:20

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A cousin of mine had a blue one and crashed it on a gate. But I also adore them.

Viggen > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 10/14/2014 at 22:24

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Oh nothing major, and it might be more due to the age of the vehicle rather than that.

atfsgeoff > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 10/14/2014 at 22:36

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Had a '94 Cherokee, daily drove it for four years. Got it with 145k, gave it to my cousin with 260k. Replaced an alternator and a couple of starters (takes 20 minutes after you've done it once), otherwise it was rock solid. I put upgraded motor mounts and 30" all-terrains on it, and it was a beast off-road. Never left me stranded.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 10/14/2014 at 22:43

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I'm pretty sure everybody does, bro.

Coachrotte33 > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 10/14/2014 at 22:50

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High teens on fuel and had to do a water pump twice in 5 years of ownership, but hands down my favorite vehicle ever.

ToddyDotty > atfsgeoff 10/14/2014 at 22:53

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The alternator replacements... My gosh... I think I'm on number three...

ToddyDotty > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 10/14/2014 at 23:18

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Do it! I admit that the XJ doesn't exactly enjoy mild city traffic. But as long as you have enough back roads after your commute each day to blow off some steam/give the engine a stretch it will be great. I have replaced a few alternators, check your thermostat housing/gasket/temperature gauge, had a few serpentine belts, wipers fade fast, and make sure you change the water pump. Other than that just regular maintenance will keep everything in spec. I've got a 2001 XJ which stranded me once. Reliable, but keep a watch on that cooling system all together. I bought mine with 162,000 miles and it is about to roll over to 200,000. Look out for rust and make sure the brakes at least feel alive. Don't feel too bad when you break a stud off in the caliper the first time you try to get those puppies off(I was so embarrassed I took it to the shop just to have my "brakes checked") Sure it may have been my fault but it happens. Also expect every piece of suspension on it (whether its been "built" or not) to pretty much be worn to shit. Especially those dried out bushings. Either way it can be a happy motoring experience. Also when those battery cables are beat to shit or corroded to hell there is a great wizard of XJ electrical out Californiway who knows his shit and can set you up with solid parts and upgrades to the existing system. Mileage LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. High teens without traffic, mid teens with, and about single digits in stop and go. At that point its like a boat your looking at gallons per hour vs. miles per gallon. Freeways are great. Winter? Beach? Off Road? Did you ask if it was capable? UH. Without a doubt. Also... AMERICA.

JEM > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 10/15/2014 at 11:22

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I just bought a '96 Sport 2.5 years ago with 159,000 miles. It's got 215,000 on it now as it's been my DD ever since.

I love love love it and I've never been a truck person.

The 4.0L inline six is one the absolute best engines ever and should run to 300,000 without problems.

Most were automatics, the manuals are a little harder to find but they are out there. It took me a little extra searching to find one.

Mine is not lifted and has aftermarket exhaust and a K&N and I regularly get 20-21 combined MPG (mostly highway but with stop/go traffic). Highway was supposed to be 23mpg when new and I've seen that a couple times.

They are stupid reliable. So far I've done brakes, tires, battery and a couple random suspension bits like U joints/ball joints. Previous owner had done a bunch of upgrades like steering stabilizer to prevent the death wobble.

Oh.... speaking of the death wobble... if you get one, it will happen at some point, just be prepared for it. It means you need to fix something in the tire/suspension but contrary to what it feels like, the truck is not going to shake itself apart.

SaigaShooter - He's got an Impreza > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 10/15/2014 at 14:49

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If I could find a 4 door, I6, manual that wasn't rusted out I would be so happy. the 2 doors pop up on CL now and then, but they are usually pretty far gone.

bwp240 > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 10/15/2014 at 17:44

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My dad had a 98 Sport that I learned to drive in. Loved that car. Got rid of it after 207k miles. I was so mad when he did.

Everything except the engine, transmission, and radio was screwed up on that thing. The biggest gripes we had were the electrical system and the A/C which went out on us 2 or 3 times. The electrical system was silly, all the passenger windows wouldn't work unless you use the drivers door controls. The gauge cluster would occasionally crash to zero, but that was easily fixed by flipping on the right turn signal. The things that hold the car doors open broke. One of the leather straps holding the gas tank rotted out. All of those idiosyncrasies made it the awesome car that it was. I am sure most of those could have been fixed with a little work (maybe not the electrical though lol). However, the engine, transmission, and those crucial components (minus our minor power steering pump explosion) ran like a champ and could do another 200k miles.

As far as gas, it can go as far as a Toyota Camry. Mostly because the gas tank is bigger. That is the big downfall, expect 15-18 MPG average.

TLDR: All the crucial stuff will last, some stuff will break, 15-18 MPG, you will anger Green Peace.

It will definitely be that car I want back from my childhood. However, I think that I would upgrade to an 01 Limited. 4 wheel drive, leather, and heated seats, ultimate winter hoonage.

Viggen > ToddyDotty 10/15/2014 at 19:28

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Just had ALL the bushings in my front end replaced. Worth it though.

ToddyDotty > Viggen 10/15/2014 at 20:22

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What about your rear leafs? Have you had them replaced? How hard was it to redo all your bushings?

Viggen > ToddyDotty 10/15/2014 at 20:25

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Rear leafs are still good. No sag, plus I'll be lifting mine soon. You'd have to ask the mechanic how hard the bushings were.

ToddyDotty > SaigaShooter - He's got an Impreza 10/15/2014 at 20:27

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If there were a such thing as a two door, limited, i6, manual.... SSShhhhheeewwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeee.......

ToddyDotty > Viggen 10/15/2014 at 20:30

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Fair enough.

biker > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 10/19/2014 at 12:38

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I have one, its quite rare, a 2 door 5 speed, 4 cylinder, I have had it close to 4 years, it was a 1 owner, bought it for a song, as it had electrical gremlins, severall mechanics coulnt find, & I found & fixed. corrosion to electrical connector for headlights under the battery tray.

I have replaced the gastank which got a pinhole, found a perfect one on craigslist for $30 & painted & undercoated it so should last a long time, I have had to do brake job all around, driveshaft U-Joints, front axle U-Joints, front axle seals, & oilpan.

the 4 cylinder can get you around 24mpg, if you drive easy, interstate it will drop, as well as if its loaded with 4 people, but for a back & forth to work beater, solo, you cant beat it.

my Cherokee sits most of the warm months, as I ride my Harley most of summer, or my truck, but in winter, I drive the Cherokee I got it for a winter beater, & pretty much thats all I drive it during. & an occasional trip, right now I am still on the gas from last winter, as I think it was driven it under 20 miles & cranked it a couple times, I am waiting for it to get cold. then my truck will sit, while I drive it until March or April. plus I will still ride the Harley some. lol.