Jeep Cherokee XJ buying advice?

[andrei1981]

Am thinking of getting a 98-01 Jeep Cherokee as a winter toy and for moving house. Aside from thirst, occasionally dodgy electrics and howling rear axles is there anything else to look for? Thanks for your response!

[camel_landy]

Rust, rust & rust!!! It's the rust that kills these cars.

• Across the top of the windscreen, under the rubbers.
• Rear spring mountings.
• Sills.
• Guttering.

Otherwise, just make sure that it pops in & out of Low/High/2wd/4wd and that the headlights & instrument lights work, dim, etc...

The 4.0 Auto is bomb proof but will struggle to give you 20mpg.

M

[downthepub]

Post 97 XJs are galvanised and don't suffer as much as the older ones. Although make sure you get both fobs, replacement key fobs need to be sourced and programmed by a main dealer, last time I checked it was about £220 for a replacement.

As said above the 4.0l is the best motor on balance out of the other two. I get 24mpg on a run, and around town 17 or 18.

If the steering is vaguer than an MP questioned about expenses, then that's pretty normal, they did that when new. In saying that, mine was improved no end after getting the wheel alignment done.

[ratboy]

yea get a post 97 facelift, look for saggy rear springs [common] mechanical noise from the diffs and transfer box and thats about it. if the engines looked after there fast and strong to last ages and run good on lpg.
had 3 now one lifted snorkle 31" muds etc
one stock on lpg and a total stocker in very very clean condition that i got for £290 off ebay.
my modded one avaraged around 12mpg the others around 18 but i do have a heavy right foot and lpg made a hell of a diffrence monetery wise.
i wouldnt personaly bother with a 2.5 petrol as they feel a bit limp and the diesel can be a mare if they have ever overheated.

[Marlin45]

As mentioned above really but one additional is a cracked exhaust manifold. Check for blowing at the joints as it is a very common issue that will hopefully have been addressed. A replacement is in the region of £100 and will take a day to fit if you are handy with spanners and do it methodically.

Edited by Marlin45 on Friday 2nd November 13:49

[echazfraz]

Sorry for the mild hijack, but does anyone know what the top speed of a 4.0L auto Cherokee XJ is?

[Fire99]

echazfraz said:

Sorry for the mild hijack, but does anyone know what the top speed of a 4.0L auto Cherokee XJ is?

About 110-115.. They may even be limited (if my memory serves but I may be making that bit up)
Mine happily sat between 90 and 100 on a motorway (far far away where these things are legal) and other than heavy thirst, was no issue at all.

Hope that helps.

[echazfraz]

Fire99 said:

About 110-115.. They may even be limited (if my memory serves but I may be making that bit up)
Mine happily sat between 90 and 100 on a motorway (far far away where these things are legal) and other than heavy thirst, was no issue at all.

Hope that helps.

Cheers, that confirms what I thought, and helps a lot!

[Konan]

echazfraz said:

Sorry for the mild hijack, but does anyone know what the top speed of a 4.0L auto Cherokee XJ is?

The handbook for the '96 says 112mph.

I aint brave enough to pass 70 in one though!

[Dave_ITR]

Rust, particularly the sills. They tend to go from the back first (I just had mine welded up so nice & strong for the winter).

Regarding top speed, I have no idea what it will reach but my TD Sport will happily sit on the motorway at 70 & it clearly has alot more should it be required.

Having just seen what these are going I am starting to think that selling it might not be such a bad idea even though I know how handy it will come in during the winter.

[Fire99]

Konan said:

I aint brave enough to pass 70 in one though!

To be honest it's pretty undramatic. It may be alleged that I was a bit late getting home and had the hammer down (4.0 lpg) and an indicated 90-100 was drama free. (though costly, as already said)

Would happily have another. Preferably a 97- mild facelift one, just for a change.

[mat777]

I very nearly bought one myself until I realised how awful they are. There is no space in the back, rar axles only last 80k miles before majorly whining, rear springs sag and they rust away merrily in the bodyshell.

Save a lot of hasssle and get a V8 Discovery 2

[bakerstreet]

mat777 said:

I very nearly bought one myself until I realised how awful they are. There is no space in the back, rar axles only last 80k miles before majorly whining, rear springs sag and they rust away merrily in the bodyshell.

Save a lot of hasssle and get a V8 Discovery 2

I know D2s prices have tumbled recently, but the Jeeps still start at £700 or so D2s are more like £2k and upwards.

Also, manufacturers are starting to reproduce Chassis for the D2s now which would suggest that rust is an issue.

[camel_landy]

bakerstreet said:

Also, manufacturers are starting to reproduce Chassis for the D2s now which would suggest that rust is an issue.

Rust is an issue with the Jeep too...

Thing is, at least with a D2, you can transfer everything across to a new chassis where as with a Jeep, you just have to scrap it.

M

[JakesterUK]

As others have said check exhaust manifolds, check shifts nicely through tx box, also check around the water pump for any seeps as they are prone to spitting pumps out.

Great winter hacks, we've had 4 over the years and the wife's got one currently, only downside I feel is the drivers 'cabin' isn't that roomy.

[Fire99]

mat777 said:

I very nearly bought one myself until I realised how awful they are. There is no space in the back, rar axles only last 80k miles before majorly whining, rear springs sag and they rust away merrily in the bodyshell.

Save a lot of hasssle and get a V8 Discovery 2

Get out of it. My Jeep was on 125k when I sold it and not the slightest hint of whine..
Rear springs do sag in time but they're about a couple of hundred quid for a new pair and hey presto. Another million years before they need doing again.

Rust? Worse than a Disco??? Not on your life.

[lestershaw]

Sold my RR vogue and bought this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160890960226?ssPageName=... couldn't be more pleased, even though at first it felt like a blancmange to drive now I'm used to it and it's a very nice place to be in this weather. You can pick these up at a quarter of the price of same year defender. Not sure what would be best value in the long run
Mind you I hope you have a small house and you are moving close, as I think it will take quite a few trips in it

[PoshSteve]

If you're really going to get into a Jeep, just make sure you keep the internet handy, because there are plenty of sites that have great Jeep modifications that you could use. Albeit, a lot of them are based in America. So Ebay may be your next option.
Check these sites, and if you have already bought the Jeep look into these magazines too.
4Wheeler.com
http://www.quadratec.com/default.php?sgsc=GPJPJP01...
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/jeep~rep.html
http://www.rustysoffroad.com/

Good Luck.

[Art0ir]

lestershaw said:

Sold my RR vogue and bought this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160890960226?ssPageName=... couldn't be more pleased, even though at first it felt like a blancmange to drive now I'm used to it and it's a very nice place to be in this weather. You can pick these up at a quarter of the price of same year defender. Not sure what would be best value in the long run
Mind you I hope you have a small house and you are moving close, as I think it will take quite a few trips in it

I bought a WJ V8 HO and couldn't be more pleased with it. Bought it for similar money to what I paid for the Disco and Trooper and it's twice the car.

[richyd]

thirst on short runs is a nightmare.... I average 3 miles each way to the station and back every day, and don't get more than 200 miles to a tank!! If you get a late c2000/01 XJ, they don't really rust, most this age are actually really clean. Rear diffs are made of cheese and both mine needed a re-build. Rad is a weak point too, many of these rot through. 4.0 with auto is bullet-proof, your rear speakers will give up at some point due to the wires corroding. If previous owners have had dogs, quite often the rear window heater element will be scratched away.

I'd say if you see rust, walk away. A lot have a minor drip from the rear main seal, don't worry about this, it's dead common and you won't loose much if any oil.

I have fitted a K+N induction system and hi-flow cat-back exhaust to mine - makes the 4.0 sound great and gives it a little more go, does bugger all for MPG though. And defo get it lifted an inch or two - they look so much better for it, and if you do it with quality kit (I've gone old man emu) the handling on-road is still marvellous, esp in 4wd.

Love these cars - they do not break down (in my experience) and are a total bargain. £1k could get you a cracker with heated leather seats, cd, air-con etc etc etc....