jeep cherokee 4.0.......am i mad?

[identity_crisis]

My vans failed it mot after 3 years of ownership and isnt worth spending any money on to keep it on the road so have decided to get another cheap banger to run into the ground. I originally was going to look at ford focus estate for around £700 - 800 as i know they are very good reliable cars but after having a think a 4x4 may come in very handy in the winter.

I live at the bottom of a private single track road so when it snows down here its pretty much impossible to get out unless you have a 4x4. I work from home running my own business so no commuting but do have to drive to the local sorting office everyday to drop off my parcels. Last year with the snow i had to stop my sales for nearly a week which cost me over £1000 in business so im thinking for the extra fuel i might pay it would be worth it to get out and get my deliverys gone.

You can pick up a jeep cherokee with the 4.0 litre petrol engine for under a grand. Obviously i know it wont be cheap on fuel but are they reliable? I used to rebuild the 2.5 diesels for a living so know they are prone to head problems so dont want to go down that route but know very little about the straight six petrol version.

Any advice?

[jamesson]

The 4.0 has a bulletproof reputation. Assuming the car itself is in decent nick I'd say it's worth the gamble. Jeep parts expensive in the UK but considerably cheaper bought over the internet from the US.

[littleandy0410]

Sounds like a 4x4 is a no brainer if it affects your business - although there's no guarantee that Royal Fail will get the parcels from the post office to their destinations anyway!

A tax-exempt Landy on classic insurance could be worth considering if you don't want a 4x4 all year round and can afford 2 cars, or if you could live with it all year round. £50 for an MoT, £150 for classic insurance, free tax. A year's motoring very cheap!

[pits]

jamesson said:

The 4.0 has a bulletproof reputation. Assuming the car itself is in decent nick I'd say it's worth the gamble. Jeep parts expensive in the UK but considerably cheaper bought over the internet from the US.

Sorry that should read Jeep parts ridiculously eye watering piss taking shafted right up the arse expensive in the UK, and reasonable if you buy online from the US, wheel bearing for a Jeep Liberty UK price £560+Vat+we will have to order it in, Jeep Liberty US price £120 shipped.

They take the complete piss when it comes to spares, complete nightmare.

[identity_crisis]

Ive got a traders policy so insurance isnt an issue. Just want something i can run for a couple of years without having to spend a fortune on it. I bought my van (an old 1.9 sdi caddy) for £900 and in 3 years other than tax and mot it its cost me nothing. I only did 6000 miles in it in the 3 years i had it which is why im really not to bothered about getting something with a big petrol engine in it.

[littleandy0410]

2000 miles a year!? I'd say it is your duty to buy the biggest V8 engined beast you can lay your hands on! I do that a month, so am quite jealous of people who have that option!

[jagnet]

I've been thinking of doing something similar with my van - it got through the last MOT fine but its list of niggling faults grows ever longer. Likewise, with a budget in the snotter range (I have an aversion to spending money on a workhorse when it could be far better spent on other things) the Jeep could be a good call with the potential for snow/hill fun again come winter. Either that or bargain estate barge on suitable tyres.

[Viper]

ive had a 4.7 V8 Jeep for nine years, it now sits on the drive most of the year
going out for the bad weather or when i need to shift stuff, or people and has proven to be pretty reliable (its covered 40k miles)

its only a couple of mpg worse than the 4.0 so thats why i went for it originally.

Edited by Viper on Tuesday 23 August 22:12

[sawman]

I ran a 4.0 cherokee for a couple of years in canada. it was totally reliable, just add fuel (plenty of it) and service regularly. Ours lived outside in -25 degrees and never failed to start

[R12HCO]

littleandy0410 said:

Sounds like a 4x4 is a no brainer if it affects your business - although there's no guarantee that Royal Fail will get the parcels from the post office to their destinations anyway!

A tax-exempt Landy on classic insurance could be worth considering if you don't want a 4x4 all year round and can afford 2 cars, or if you could live with it all year round. £50 for an MoT, £150 for classic insurance, free tax. A year's motoring very cheap!

Have you actually owned one?

[Leptons]

Always wanted a Jeep cherokee it's on my very long list of cars to own before I die. It stems from watching that secret agent show they had on BBC when I was a kid.

[Mr_annie_vxr]

Currently running a 4.7 v8 grand cherokee with 130k on the clock. It's a 1998 that has every bell and whistle. It cost me just over 2k and all that's wrong with it is a sear warmer and two speakers that have blown( common issue apparently). Just had to but a battery as I'd let it run down twice but with servicing it's cost me £250 and the road tax is cheap. It was unstoppable in the snow. I get about 18-20 mpg but only use it for short trips or the tip. It's cracking.

[jbi]

the 4.0 straight 6 is a fantastic engine... utterly reliable and plenty torque on tap

[minicab]

These Cherokees are an absolute doddle to convert to LPG too - the straight six will burn just about anything.

Try and find one that has already been converted if you can

[muckymotor]

I had one for three years and above servicing all it needed was a cracked rear spring replacing which is rather common. They are pretty swift away from the lights too for a 4x4.

[JM]

Bought a 4.0ltr Cherokee from Ebay and ran it for 18 months, then sold it for more than I paid for it.

Did around 30,000 miles, never missed a beat, but did need a couple of parts, one through necessity (battery) and others at my discretion for peace of mind. (radiator, rear springs)

MPG was mid to high 20's, managed about 28 on steady runs, more like high teens in town driving though, but not really an issue if only doing 2000 miles per annum!

Owners forums on the 'net are good for info and parts.


I'd get another one tomorrow if I had the space to keep it.

And as for comparing to an old Land Rover, hahaha, forget it, Jeep is far, far, far more comfortable (heaters work for a start) especially if you get a Ltd with leather interior and electric everything.

Edited by JM on Wednesday 24th August 10:47

[littleandy0410]

R12HCO said:

littleandy0410 said:

Sounds like a 4x4 is a no brainer if it affects your business - although there's no guarantee that Royal Fail will get the parcels from the post office to their destinations anyway!

A tax-exempt Landy on classic insurance could be worth considering if you don't want a 4x4 all year round and can afford 2 cars, or if you could live with it all year round. £50 for an MoT, £150 for classic insurance, free tax. A year's motoring very cheap!

Have you actually owned one?

I haven't personally, but a couple of mates have, including a series IIa with a Ford V6 engine. I loved driving it, and thought it was really good fun. It is very raw, and agricultural, but for a few miles a year, could be worth considering. I was just throwing it in as a leftfield option. Sorry for not suggesting an MX5 - this is PH, after all!

[EDLT]

littleandy0410 said:

2000 miles a year!? I'd say it is your duty to buy the biggest V8 engined beast you can lay your hands on!

Do this! I'd suggest a V8 Discovery/Range Rover but they are probably more expensive and no quicker.

[sim16v]

I've got a Grand Cherokee with LPG and i think it's great.

does 160-180 miles on £40 worth of fuel and it is usually towing.

In 3 years and 20,000 miles it has been reliable (now on 110,000) and i've only had to replace discs/pads/front calipers and two tyres.

If you keep away from the main dealer, parts can be very cheap, there are a few specialists bringing in parts from America.

[wolf1]

Or just buy another van and a set of snow chains?