Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Gidday all,

I need to replace my rusty old FJ60 Land Cruiser, and browsing thru a dealers yard, I was surprised by the low price of second-hand Jeeps. Looking further on the Net, there seem to be quite a few with under 150,000km going for $8-10k.

Can anyone give me some advice on the 1990s models of Jeep Cherokee:

Reliability?
Fuel consumption (4 litre petrol)?
Performance off-road (mainly beach and sand tracks)?
Availability and cost of spare parts?
Anything else an ignorant buyer should beware of?

Any help would be gratefully received.

Thanx,

Mike

My comments are on XJs ...

Relability - Not bad. Lots of parts and advice on the net available if there are issues.

Fuel consumption - Bad. I average 15l/100kms in my 01 XJ Auto around town. On the highway it is better.

Beach - Very good. On sand the engine just has so much power it makes mincemeat of it. I've not done much beachwork in mine, but in sections of soft stuff where others were j-u-s-t making it through I cruised through in "D" 4Hi without a worry in the world Clearance is good due to the smaller diff pumpkins.

Spares - Jeep can be exxy. But lots of other sources from Aust or even US.

Anything else - Post 97 the interiors got a lot more friendly (not so American kitch), and the engine got better as the years went by.

they are very capable (even stock), bit thirsty, great engines. however, they are unibody frames (no body lifts), and although they stand up to offroad conditions, they are not considered as strong as ladder chassis ( i think post 96s or 97s were made more rigid), but becuase of this they are lighter than most 4bys of its size range, weighing about as much as a falcon or commodore, and drive just as comfortably. mild mods can really enhance its offroad performance.

xj's are great, easy to work, on lots of mods can be done, plenty of people can give lots of good advice, Parts easily areasonably cheap to buy
(you just have to look in the right place)
I really like the pre97 interior fawk the jap crap

Thanx for the replies. It looks like the Jeep goes to the top of the short list. The fuel consumption is crook, but not as bad as a petrol 'Cruiser.

Browsing the comments an American Jeep forum, it sounds like they are built like a tank. The only recurrent troubles seem to be cracking of the exhaust manifold and leaking main rear oils seals.

Thanx again,

Mike

wolfe 503 wrote: I really like the pre97 interior fawk the jap crap

Each to their own.

wannabee wrote: leaking main rear oils seals.

Common-as. Don't worry about it.

DionM wrote:

wolfe 503 wrote: I really like the pre97 interior fawk the jap crap

Each to their own.

Classic not plastic (thanks Dave)

cracking exhaust mainfol can be easily fixed by welding, or its a great excuse to get some headers.

wolfe 503 wrote:

DionM wrote:

wolfe 503 wrote: I really like the pre97 interior fawk the jap crap

Each to their own.

Classic not plastic (thanks Dave)

But that aint classic when is your old school monster going to hit the tracks

AussieCJ7 wrote:
But that aint classic when is your old school monster going to hit the tracks

Hey behave its as classic as your motor Dont talk to me about the other one . One day it will be done, one heap at a time

wolfe 503 wrote:

AussieCJ7 wrote:
But that aint classic when is your old school monster going to hit the tracks

Hey behave its as classic as your motor Dont talk to me about the other one . One day it will be done, one heap at a time

yeah but it would be good to finish them in the order you start them

What's better than having one dismantled Jeep project?
Multiple

AussieCJ7 wrote:
yeah but it would be good to finish them in the order you start them

Since when was that a criteria for starting a build.
Sorry I missed that memo .
Besides Im not Robinson Crusoe, just ask anyone with multiple jeeps

Go the xj