Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi all,
I'm a regular on the Daihatsu forum, but will be moving onto a larger 4wd real soon, so I need advice on purchasing a Cherokee.

I will be moving to the Pilbara (Northern Western Australia) in a few months and need a vehicle that can take the daily grind of living in an outback town.

My wife, who will be mainly driving the car, has already ruled out Patrols and Landcruisers (too big) and has settled on either a Jeep Cherokee (approx 1999) or Landrover Discovery (approx 1997). Looks, style and comfort were obviously a big factor.

I need to ensure that either of these vehicles will cut the mustard in the Pilbara. I don't intend doing much bush bashing (the work car will be doing that) but still need it to hold up against the endless corrugations and moderate off-road tracks which I will hopefully covering each weekend.

Is the Cherokee up for it? Are parts a problem away from big centres? Are the standard shocks going to last?

Thanks,
Darren
Perth WA.

Have had kj cherokee for a year but little off-roading so far. Been waiting for suspension - see my car in this forum "kj lift".
BUT DO NOT GET A DISCOVERY. We had a 96 v8 auto which spent more time at the dealer workshop than in our garage. Put it this way, Land Rover itself extended our warranty without us asking, our problems were so vast and varied. To mention a few - 3 radiators, rear dif centre, transfer case, roof had to be re-welded after cracking all around, left cylinder head, dash was replaced, bucket full of oil seals...... and the list goes on. Needless to say, when the warranty was up, up it was traded in on GU Nissan patrol - best 4bie we've had.
So far kj has been great. I love it; leather seats, sun roof full specs.
Highly recommend ome suspension for the kj. Rides brilliantly and none of the american over-soft suspension thud.

My wife's got a 98 XJ chero and heck we drive & thrash it more than we do my modded TJ..... they are a capable performer and ovften overlooked.

Regarding parts - generally parts aren't a problem is you know where to look. Also naturally it helps to be orgainised.... My parts suppliers are generally Mascot Motors Nowra, Hunter Spares Lemon Tree Passage (near newcastle), Auto Alliance (castle Hill)....most places will HAPPILY ship overnight to anywhere in Aust and will stuill be a heap cheaper than the local dealership.....

BTW Don't forget to get on over to the AusJeep site & say G'day....

I may be Jeep biased, but DONT get the Disco...I friend offloaded his at a massive loss, just to get rid of the POS. Soooo many things went wrong with it, at great expense, it was an absolute joke.

Buy anything else, just not a 2nd hand Disco...