Buying advice for Cherokee models of the late 90s

[ads85]

Hi to all,
Would be great to hear some feedback here – I am looking at buying a 96 (possibly other models give or take a year or two) Jeep Cherokee and are just after some advice regarding the following:

*An expected price for a 2nd hand 1996-1999 cherokee.
*Any common mechanical issues/problems/faults?
*Cost of spare parts – are they much more expensive compared to a Holden/Nissan/Toyota vehicle of the same age?
*Fuel economy?
*Engine temperatures – how the car copes in peak-hour traffic and low speed travel scenarios such as sand or ballast tracks etc?
*How well the car drives at freeway speeds for long distances – ie Sydney to Melbourne.
(With the 4.0l engine I assume the revs would stay fairly low at these high speeds?)
*How does car travel for long distances on dirt/gravel roads? Overheating issues? Does much dust get kicked up into the car?

Any other tips of stories would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Adam

[Steve F]

96 is a completely different interior to late 97 and up so first decide which you prefer or if it is even an issue. There are lots of things I dont like about the interior of the pre 97 but wont bother listing them as it is a matter or personal choice really.

Prices vary from about $6000 - $16000 for those year models and if you buy private or at a dealer. Remeber a 99 would have cost just over $40000 when new though.

Common problems, cracked exhaust, overheating if not looked after, original window regulators are plastic and strip gears

Spares are really no dearer than any other vehicle if you go to the right place and dont buy through the dealer, worst case scenario you import it from the US and pay less then those other brands.

Fuel economy, anywhere from 11lts/100 on the freeway and everything stock to mine (5" lift and 32's) 16.2lt/100 around town better on the freeway.

Mine has never overheated and copes fine in traffic and heavy sand like Stockton and Fraser Island

Great for long distances, crusies along with the big six and quite comfortable. Same with dirt roads. Errrm, yep, it kicks up dust, just like every other brick shaped 4WD

And my question to you, what is the intended use as this makes a lot of difference, if you plan to tour with 5 people in the Jeep forget it but if it's two up, or with young kids, or weekend crawler then go for it.

Cheers
Steve

[PK]

I love my 1998 XJ - don't like the pre 97 update dashboards at all.
I paid $8700 for a stocker with 140000kms, now have 2" lift and 31's. Shouldn't need to pay more than $8000 for a decent stocker.

Like to chew thru the juice around town, not too bad on the highway where it will cruise all day at 110 at just on 2000 rpm. Mine's now on LPG so don't care about fual usage!

Look after trhe cooling system and shouldn't have overheating problem, plenty of non genuine parts available, and some good Jeep specialists in Melb such as USA4X4 and Poly 4X4.

And of course join the Melbourne Jeep Owners Club!

[Highway-Star]

My Parents own a '96 XJ (actually November 95 production) Sport, anyway the only complaints about it are the fuel concumption and the pitiful rear seat leg room.

The Fuel eonomy varies from as low as 6km/L with the four of us in it, and towing Dads 760kg boat, with some town driving; up to around 8km/L on the highway not towing. Can't tell you what economy is like offroad, beacuse mums a bloody wimp and can't stand the thought of rocks or mud touching her car. All though this econmy might be poor, compre to other similar vehicles, they are no better really, and remeber most don't have the get up and go of the 4.0L beast (I'm used to a 1.3L zook).

They are high geared so yes they rev low at 100, they do have a speed limiter at around 170 (been there, done that (wasn't driving)). The auto was a bit dodgy when my parents bought it, it wouldn't change back, and had worse economy. But it got sent to an auto specialist, and it drives great now. As for dust-proof, yes if the windows are up; the air-con is good (not in the back seat though), the heater is overkill (refuse to use it). Never had overheating issues, though we do have an aftermarket radiator (copper not bloody plastic); yet Dad would like to drop the thermostat lower and see if the heater is more usable.

Issues we have had: Power window switches, Reversing light switch on gearbox (fixed itself?), ratly exhaust, skweay suspension, uneven wear on front LHS tyre (still getting 50,000+ km out of set of 29" H/T's).

Generally if I didn't love my zook so much, and I could afford the extra running cost I would own a XJ before I would own any other 4WD wagon (I reckon one with a 6spd manual would be great).

Aaron...

[ricduza]

I had a 96 Grand Laredo and the only problem I encountered was the central locking/immobiliser system. If I parked within cooee of a mobile phone tower, it would not operate. The problem was that within 30 seconds of exiting the vehicle it would automatically engage, but then you could not restart the motor. The only way to solve the problem was to shift the vehicle 100 M or so down the road away from the RF mobile signals. This could mean you need to be towed from the site. Had it out with Jeep and they admitted it was a problem but would not agree to fix it as it was out of warranty. Don't know if the Cherokee has the same frequency immobiliser system, but I would definitely test this by parking near a tower before I bought one.

Fuel consumption was a major reason I sold it. Absolutely appalling. I was dissapointed in the vehicle overall. Build quality, leg room, standard features. The older Pathfinder I sold to buy the Jeep shat all over it in every department except the motor, which had pleanty of towing power and was quieter and less revvy than the Nissan.

[ads85]

My thanks to all for your replies - Very generous in your time and info provided. I am taking all facts and suggestions on board and using them to assist with my ongoing research and eventual decision making.

what is the intended use as this makes a lot of difference, if you plan to tour with 5 people in the Jeep forget it but if it's two up, or with young kids, or weekend crawler then go for it.

For the majority of the time I will be the only occupant in the vehicle.
Travel roughly 200ks around town/suburbs each week, and aim to get out into the country for drives 3 or 4 times a month. With that being said its not your typical bush-bashing, more so freeways, highways, gravel and dirt roads with the odd loose ballast path and AJFeroza track thrown in enroute.

So looking for a car that can handle a decent amount of gravel/dirt road travel, freeway speeds and sufficient ground clearance for the AJFeroza tracks.

I currently drive a 87 nissan pulsar. Great car for around town, however not the best at speeds over 80kph due to the high revs and find after 5 mins of traveling along gravel road the dust factor get a little too choking.
Working on the theory that the higher Cherokee will counter this problem to a sufficient extent (?).

The overall length of the cherokee is also of interest to me. Not much longer than the pulsar and apparently smaller in length compared to cars such as the pajerio, partol, 4runner and jackaroo.

[Highway-Star]

The overall length of the cherokee is also of interest to me. Not much longer than the pulsar and apparently smaller in length compared to cars such as the pajerio, partol, 4runner and jackaroo.

Yes its interesting. My sister is looking at buying her first car and wants a lancer; guess what its approximetly 100m shorter than an XJ. Also they are low for a 4WD, yet still retain good ground clearance (my stock zook is taller than a stock XJ)

You will proabably find it more comfy on gravel roads than a pulsar too, though I couldn't comment on the other 4WDs for comfort.

[ads85]

Getting closer to making my final decision, but have another question to ask:

How do current cherokee owners find the fuel economy of your vehicles?
What sort of distance are you getting from $40 worth of petrol priced at $1.20/L ?

[franco]

Getting closer to making my final decision, but have another question to ask:

How do current cherokee owners find the fuel economy of your vehicles?
What sort of distance are you getting from $40 worth of petrol priced at $1.20/L ?

with my 96 XJ and a stuffed cat I average about 15L/100km on both UL and PULP

thats about 7km/L

so based on those figures, for $40 at 1.20/L = (40/1.20)x7 = 233.3km

Highway driving Ive reached about 12-13L/100km fully loaded

These figures were derived from an average of 18 data points (11UL and 7PULP) from suburban, highway and some offroad driving conditions. mostly using Shell fuel, 1xMobil and 3xCaltex. Suprisingly UL vs. PULP was not significantly different but still collecting data.