I test drove a used one with 50,000 miles. I liked it alot,. Are these
good vehicles? I had someone tell me to get the 6 cylinder model that
the engine was better as well as the mileage. Is this true?

I drive about 50 miles a day almost all highway. (5 days a week)

I have one. Its been a good dependable vehicle but is starting
to develope little problems at 9 years old and 60k miles.

The 4L gets about 13-14 around town and 17-23 on the highway
according to the onboard computer.
chuck

In article .com,
wrote:
I test drove a used one with 50,000 miles. I liked it alot,. Are these
good vehicles? I had someone tell me to get the 6 cylinder model that
the engine was better as well as the mileage. Is this true?

I drive about 50 miles a day almost all highway. (5 days a week)

Charles A. Sherwood wrote:

I have one. Its been a good dependable vehicle but is starting
to develope little problems at 9 years old and 60k miles.

The 4L gets about 13-14 around town and 17-23 on the highway
according to the onboard computer.
chuck

In article .com,
wrote:


I test drove a used one with 50,000 miles. I liked it alot,. Are these
good vehicles? I had someone tell me to get the 6 cylinder model that
the engine was better as well as the mileage. Is this true?

I drive about 50 miles a day almost all highway. (5 days a week)







I can't say from first hand experience, but about a month ago I started
asking around my usual mechanic (yea, I'd love to do it myself but no
time) as to vehicles to avoid. Almost in unison, 4 mechanics said
"cherokee". It could be just sour grapes but I'd dig a little deeper
before I bought one.


Koz

I can't say from first hand experience, but about a month ago I started
asking around my usual mechanic (yea, I'd love to do it myself but no
time) as to vehicles to avoid. Almost in unison, 4 mechanics said
"cherokee".

Well, Jeep makes a Cherokee and a Grand Cherokee. Significantly
different vehicles. which one were they refering to?

I own a 96 grand and several of my neighbors own or have owned
grand cherokees. One guy ran his grand to over 170K before getting
rid of it.

I think the ABS on the grand cherokee is just amazing.

chuck

Charles A. Sherwood wrote:

I can't say from first hand experience, but about a month ago I started
asking around my usual mechanic (yea, I'd love to do it myself but no
time) as to vehicles to avoid. Almost in unison, 4 mechanics said
"cherokee".



Well, Jeep makes a Cherokee and a Grand Cherokee. Significantly
different vehicles. which one were they refering to?

I own a 96 grand and several of my neighbors own or have owned
grand cherokees. One guy ran his grand to over 170K before getting
rid of it.

I think the ABS on the grand cherokee is just amazing.

chuck



one mechanic said "grand cherokee" the others said "cherokee" Again, I
can't say if it was anything but this one shop's experience.

And to start another debate, when asked about trucks they leaned toward
GM makes, feeling the repair parts were less money (although overall
repairs between makes was about the same with the exception of toyota).
Just repeating what was said

Koz (who waits for the great Ford/Chevy debate to rage)

(although overall repairs between makes was about the same with the
exception of toyota). Just repeating what was said

Was the implication that toyota didn't or did require more repair?

RellikJM

On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 16:33:26 -0800, Koz
wrote:

one mechanic said "grand cherokee" the others said "cherokee" Again, I
can't say if it was anything but this one shop's experience.

And to start another debate, when asked about trucks they leaned toward
GM makes, feeling the repair parts were less money (although overall
repairs between makes was about the same with the exception of toyota).
Just repeating what was said

Koz (who waits for the great Ford/Chevy debate to rage)

Only experience I've had with a Grand Cherokee was an old friend who
had one with a Big Motha 572CI Cadillac motor stuffed in. (And I DO
mean stuffed.) He had to put in a custom 4-row 4-pass baffled
radiator to keep it happy in traffic.\

-- Bruce --

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

What types of problems are you developing? Doe sit use any oil or leak
anything?

What engine did you have? Where you happy with it?

Charles A. Sherwood wrote:

I can't say from first hand experience, but about a month ago I started
asking around my usual mechanic (yea, I'd love to do it myself but no
time) as to vehicles to avoid. Almost in unison, 4 mechanics said
"cherokee".


Well, Jeep makes a Cherokee and a Grand Cherokee. Significantly
different vehicles. which one were they refering to?

I own a 96 grand and several of my neighbors own or have owned
grand cherokees. One guy ran his grand to over 170K before getting
rid of it.

I think the ABS on the grand cherokee is just amazing.

chuck

I'm 70k miles into my second 'regular' Cherokee (a Chrysler 1998 model),
with no undue problems with either. The first (a 1985 AMC original) got
to 165k miles, and was still running great, but the Michigan road salt
had done it's work on the body. Overall, I thought, enough of the first
to buy the second. I also looked at the 'Grand" when I bought the second
Cherokee ... matching feature for feature (as much as possible) it was
$4K more than the regular model in 1998. I wasn't THAT impressed. While
larger overall, the "Grand's" rear cargo space was actually SMALLER than
the regular Cherokee, with a smaller tailgate (a problem for some of
what I haul).

Unfortunately, the Cherokee is now history, replaced by the new (and to
me unimpressive) "Liberty' model. The Liberty does have more interior
headroom, but seemingly less ground clearance, and is substantially
taller than the Cherokee. Why is everyone now obsessed with taller
narrower SUV's? It would seem they're less stable at a time when the
'breed' is getting bad publicity for just that.

The Cherokee (and the newer Liberty) are among the few 4WD vehicles that
offer (optionally) BOTH conventional 4WD and AWD, selectable as the
situation may warrant. I've had good luck with the 'combo'.

The "Grand" offers only one, or the other, not both. The "Grand's" AWD
is more sophisticated, HOWEVER, than the regular model's AWD.

I've heard, but can't substantiate, that Grand Cherokees (a different
vehicle) have more problems.

Dan Mitchell
============

What type of mileage do you get?

one mechanic said "grand cherokee" the others said "cherokee" Again, I
can't say if it was anything but this one shop's experience.


all I can do is relate my personal experience.
I bought my grand new in 96 and I am the only driver. It has 6 cylinder
4L motor with select trac T-case. The select trac allows 2wd, full time
and part time 4wd. This is the primary reason I choose the jeep
over the other vehicles like the exploder and blazer which had
inferior 4wd systems (at least at that time).

This vehicle has 63k miles on it. I have done normal items like brakes,
battery, tires. I still have the original exhaust system. I replaced
the shocks because I wanted to and the monroes seem a little bit
better. I do all the routine maintainence myself which is pretty
much oil changes, grease and coolent changes. This vehicle is driven
regularly and was my only vehicle until the last 3 years. It is still
my primary vehicle. I drive it to work and I have taken it off road
in the mountains of Colorado. This vehicle gets washed about 5 times
a year whether it needs it or not and the body shows no rust.
It was rust proofed by the dealer when new.

The AC has been worked on a couple times and has always been covered
under warrenty.

Currently the shocks on the rear hatch need to be replaced, the
transmission oil pain is oily but apparently there is no significant
leak. I just noticed a oil leak in the transmision lines to the
radiator which could be minor or could be significant.

IMO this is pretty damn good for a vehicle that is 9 years old.
chuck

What type of gas mileage do you get? Did the air work well when it was
working?

My experiences with a Grand Cherokee:
99 model, 104K miles. Have had to have brake job
about every 20K miles. Warps the rotors very easily.
Live in Mountains. Last month cost me over $500
to have underbody leaks fixed: transmission cooler lines,
transaxle gasket, axle shaft. Passenger window
motor replaced at 66K miles. Engine, transmission,
transaxle, rear end seem to be fine and have had
no problems. Biggest complaint I have about it
is Brakes, Brakes, Brakes. It's an inline 6
cylinder so gas mileage and power are lagging. Is
durable and 4 WD is great.
For what it's worth.
sdh.

Charles A. Sherwood wrote:
one mechanic said "grand cherokee" the others said "cherokee" Again, I
can't say if it was anything but this one shop's experience.



all I can do is relate my personal experience.

What type of gas mileage do you get? Did the air work well when it was
working?

Now I get about 13.5 around town according to the on board computer.
It used to be 14.5. When the vehicle was new, I use to check
the mileage the old fashion way and it comparted fairly well to
the OBC.

I get anywhere from 18-23 on the highway. I think it depends on
the wind and the cruse speed but I have never really figured it out.
It seems like I get better mileage going east on I80 then going
west. I figure its the wind.

AC still works well. It will blow 35 degrees even on 90+ day.
My evaporator was replaced a couple years ago (under warrently)
and the AC has not been worked on since. I routinely check the
air temp. When it is colder at idle then it is at 35MPH, the
freon is low. I had it serviced several times under warrenty
using this diagnostic and every time it was low. They replaced the
receiver/dryer once and the evaporator twice. The first time
they replaced the evaporator the mechanic said they had a cronic
problem with them and they didn't have it figure out yet. The
second one has worked for over 2 years without any problems.
Of course now it will be a problem this year since I talked about it.

about every 20K miles. Warps the rotors very easily.
Live in Mountains.

That could be driving style. At 63k, I have only done
two brake jobs. Second time I went to pep boys and
bought new rotors for about 25 each. I ALWAYS use OEM pads.

I live in flat lands. I seem to recall that I had brake
problems when I came back from on of my Colorado trips though.
I did use low range coming down pikes peak!

"Charles A. Sherwood" wrote in message
...
one mechanic said "grand cherokee" the others said "cherokee" Again, I
can't say if it was anything but this one shop's experience.


all I can do is relate my personal experience.
I bought my grand new in 96 and I am the only driver. It has 6 cylinder
4L motor with select trac T-case. The select trac allows 2wd, full time
and part time 4wd. This is the primary reason I choose the jeep
over the other vehicles like the exploder and blazer which had
inferior 4wd systems (at least at that time).

Guess again. The Jeep transfer case was made by New Venture Gear. As was the
GM transfer case. Ford uses a bulletproof Borg-Warner on the later Explorers
(early ones used- you guessed it- the New Venture Gear transfer case).

The standard Cherokee is notorious for QC problems, sloppy workmanship, and
poor resale value. Jeep trades on their (formerly) good name just like
Harley does.

The select trac allows 2wd, full time
and part time 4wd. This is the primary reason I choose the jeep
over the other vehicles

Guess again. The Jeep transfer case was made by New Venture Gear. As was the

That is true. But in 1996, neither Ford or Chevy put a full time (ie AWD)
T-case into the explorer or blazer. They were part time that could only
be used on slipery roads or part time that was engaged by a computer when it
detected slip. Not to mention chevy used some goofy heat expansion to
move some pistons to lock the front hubs. Sounds like rub goldburg to me.
I talked to one ford owner who was left stranded because his computer
didn't see the slip and would not go into 4x4. No thanks.

I'm sure things are different now.

chuck

Charles A. Sherwood wrote:

The select trac allows 2wd, full time
and part time 4wd. This is the primary reason I choose the jeep
over the other vehicles


Guess again. The Jeep transfer case was made by New Venture Gear. As was the


That is true. But in 1996, neither Ford or Chevy put a full time (ie AWD)
T-case into the explorer or blazer. They were part time that could only
be used on slipery roads or part time that was engaged by a computer when it
detected slip. Not to mention chevy used some goofy heat expansion to
move some pistons to lock the front hubs. Sounds like rub goldburg to me.
I talked to one ford owner who was left stranded because his computer
didn't see the slip and would not go into 4x4. No thanks.

I'm sure things are different now.

chuck
I'm not sure of now, but at least until recently the Cherokee's "Select
Trak" was the only SUV 4WD system to offer BOTH 4WD and AWD, user
selectable. I'm well along on my second "Select Trak" Cherokee (170K
miles on the first, 70K miles on the current), and have had NO
transmission/transfer case trouble with either (knock on wood). The
'Grand' offers only one (4WD) or the other (AWD).

Overall, I've had little trouble with either vehicle other than routine
brakes (about 40K miles), tune ups, etc. jobs. After well over 100K
miles, I had to replace some U-joints in the old Cherokee, and a power
steering actuator. The first had a GM 2.8L V-6 engine that was real
sweet ... smooth and quiet. The new one has a Chrysler 4L straight 6 ..
it runs well enough, but is a LOT noisier. I see little difference in
power or fuel economy between the two engines.

When I got rid of it, the older Cherokee was still running well, but 14
years of Michigan road salt had done it's work on the body.

Dan Mitchell
============