Wrangler or Cherokee

[offroadordie]

alright guys im still looking for a jeep...need something not ridiculously lifted but something that i can still take off road and have fun in...must be a dd cuz that would be the main purpose...and not expensive...im only 19 and go to school full time any help would be great thanks!

[jeepin]

don't need a lift to offroad. my stocker does fine. if your a student and it's a DD then a lift would just cost more money in gas and probably repairs. keep it stock till you have time and money to screw around with it. just my two cents, put some nice all terrains on and it will go a lot of places.

[offroadordie]

ya...i mean i can afford the gas and all that but i dont want a ridiculous lift...4in max just enough to throw some 31s on it...but i dont know ill see wat comes my way

[village_idiot]

2" on 31s will work. If you get lucky like me, you can do a lift for as little as 65 bucks (20 bucks for coil spacers, free yj leaves for a bastard pack, and about 45 bucks for ubolts, center pins, and coil spring compressor)

[offroadordie]

wow haha thats sweet dude....but ya i dont know i would kill for a wrangler but i cant afford them for what most people are charging....and xj's are few and far between for a good one that i can see

[village_idiot]

What are you willing to spend, what are you criteria?

[offroadordie]

Idk I would have to say no more than 6 or 7k and under or around 100k and just something that can be a daily driver and still be rugged enough to go off road and not care what happens with the body

[mangotango]

I don't think you're gonna find much in either mod at that price unless it needs a lot of work (but you never know if you don't look). I've driven both and either can get you lots of places with the right tires. I assume you're talking about a 2-door wrangler. If so, and you want a dd, I'd go with a Cherokee. Way more room and the I6 engine is a workhorse that will outlast the body. Also, on wranglers you probably can do 33s with no lift at all (on JKs for sure), just adjust the steering stops so they don't rub at full turn -- that will cost you about 50 cents for washers.

[muddeprived]

For about 5-6 grand, i'd consider letting my xj go.

[Super Scout]

For 7 grand you could get a really really really really nice XJ. Those sell for dirt cheap. Hell buy muddeprived its gotta be well maintained. He put more though in brake pads than I did when made my will. Lol

[muddeprived]

for 7 grand you could get a really really really really nice xj. Those sell for dirt cheap. Hell buy muddeprived its gotta be well maintained. He put more though in brake pads than i did when made my will. Lol

lol!

[ezman]

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/2599125619.html

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/2599051297.html

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ctd/2598808244.html

[ezman]

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ctd/2589917891.html

[offroadordie]

i like that last one...kinda high miles though =(

[ridgerunner97]

i like that last one...kinda high miles though =(

No, not really, not that high for a cherokee

[offroadordie]

ya true...there is one up at the sendell dealership no price its a 2000 burgundy with a small lift and rims....not too shabby

[village_idiot]

The 4.0 is almost unkillable if you take care of it. Mine has 150k on it, and I would trust it to drive cross country as it sits.

[Super Scout]

I thought the 2000 and up 4.0 were junk ? A bunch of head issues or some garbage ? I had to put a head gasket on Libs at 115,000 miles. The rear main seal has leaked since about 115,000. I think the later years of the 4.0 are no where near as well built as the early 90s. JMHO tho. Do a quick google search on the 4.0 you will find out all you need to know.

[muddeprived]

I thought the 2000 and up 4.0 were junk ? A bunch of head issues or some garbage ? I had to put a head gasket on Libs at 115,000 miles. The rear main seal has leaked since about 115,000. I think the later years of the 4.0 are no where near as well built as the early 90s. JMHO tho. Do a quick google search on the 4.0 you will find out all you need to know.

And also the heat soak issue that plagued those two years (00/01). What a PITA it is to cure.......

[pittim]

The 4.0 is almost unkillable if you take care of it. Mine has 150k on it, and I would trust it to drive cross country as it sits.

If this ****ing idiot cant kill something, whatever it is is built pretty well.

[highlandercj-7]

Then he just has a good one. I know a idiot that used to pull a hole shot every time he took out in his 89 Z-71 with the Getrag 5 speed. It lasted 350k miles and through two 350 engines before he managed to break it. It had to be the best trans ever built. That doesn't mean all of them will take that abuse.

Most newer (2000-up) 4.0L's are no way near as stong as the older 4.0L's (I'd go as far as saying '95 back were the best years for durability) I figure it's because chrysler put their hands into the AMC greatness and fluxed something up. Check CL and see how many later model Jeeps are for sale needing a 4.0L engine or the POS 42re trans.

[ezman]

my 4.0 has around 220k on it. i've only had it for about 2000 of those miles. but it's still holding strong. hell that thing has been sitting for 4 months and started right up after i primed the fuel pump.

6-7k will land you a really nice xj or a pretty decen tj. don't worry about the miles.

but highlander cj is right. i've seen 4.0's shit the bed at 80k. just all depends...

[village_idiot]

As long as you keep some sort of oily liquid in the crankcase and dont over heat it (99 and older) it should work great for you.

[Sloth_Fratelli]

dude i was in your place a year or two ago, and im just now starting to get serious into my build. get a decent XJ with a 4.0, zone 3" lift kit and call it a day. i spend 9/10 of my time in the computer scouring here CL and a few other forums for cheap parts. its a slow painful process to get started but youll get there lol

[offroadordie]

see the thing is im pretty sure i can afford one but my parents think that they are nothing but problems and i told them i know somethings about cars...i can change oil and rotate tires and such but idk is it easy to work on a cherokee? i know i would have a repair manual for it...any suggestions?