I'm thinking about getting a Jeep for my new car. Most likely a 95ish 4x4. I don't really like the Grands.. and that would cost me more anyways.

So did you like them, hate them? Pros/Cons?

And I heard insurance was usually alot for them because so many people use them to do stupid stuff with, is that true?

I think Brian had a Jeep, but the ocean stole it.

the ocean stole it? what? I never heard about this...

And as I recall Brian is/was rather fond of his Jeep Wrangler.

I was considering the wrangler as well.. but I'm just so used to larger vehicles I think it would feel weird and not really be worth it. And I usually have alot of junk and could use the extra space.

Do not be like all the soccer moms and get a cherokee. Especially if you arent getting it primarily with the intention of taking it off roading.

I think he was driving on the beach or something and it got stuck...I think.

Not primary.. but obviously I'd do it.
And soccer mom cars > all. (I didn't know the cherokee was considered one though)
With my van cops almost NEVER pull you over. And I always hear about freinds getting tickets from cops that let me off.. in the rare chance I actually get pulled over.
Maybe it's the fact that they just remember me from when I was a kid. I used to love go on walks at midnight and talk to cops. But I still get pulled over alot less than I should have so .. I think soccer mom cars = cop proof.

I have a red '96 Cherokee, and it's definitely a tough car. I think it's a great car to have, although it's a huge gas hog. That's the only bad point I can think of is the gas mileage... definitely a car you want if you're worried about safety, because they're built to last.

I have a 1991 Jeep Wrangler currently, I have also owned a 1999 Cherokee and a 1987 Wrangler. You have three real options, don't even consider a Liberty.

Wrangler: Small, fun for off-roading, not very stable at high speeds, driveline vibrations when accelerating due to short drivelines (can be fixed with aftermarket kits). Loud inside due to wind noise and the fact that they have virtually no insulation (yes this is on the hard top, too). If you're going to buy a Wrangler, get one with a 4.0L I-6 engine. That's a 242, DO NOT get the 258 (4.2L) because they are old, unreliable, and in the later years, virtually impossible to work on. The 4.0L ones come with fuel injection and have 190HP, as opposed to the 4.2 which only has like 130HP. This is what I use as my regular vehicle as I love driving it, they are just really fun (esp. the 4.0L models). There are also about a zillion companies that sell cool aftermarket parts.

Cherokee: These are fun, smallish 4x4s. I would still definitely recommend the 4.0L FUEL INJECTED version. They also have a lot of models that have transfer cases that can be switched into ON-road All-Wheel Drive. This is VERY DIFFERENT than your typical 4 wheel drive, which would get shredded driving on dry pavement. The AWD option is great for rain, snow, or ice. These vehicles have unibody construction, as opposed to the body-on-frame of the Wrangler. They are much more stable at high speeds because they are longer and a bit lower to the ground. They are also a lot quieter and you can get more creature comforts like power windows, doorlocks, more models with AC, etc. The aftermarket parts scene is good but not as good as the wrangler. These vehicles can also be found for a LOT cheaper than their Wrangler counterparts because there were more made and therefore are more for sale and less in demand. Since they are cheap and easy to find, please don't settle for one with rust, be sure to check all the body panels. I also used one of these to tow my boat for a while. The engine was pretty strong but it definitely chugged going up hills. It was pretty good and easy to maneuver.

Grand Cherokee: These are big SUVs and I think they have body-on-frame construction. They come with cool V8 options, real 4x4 (unlike many "SUVs" nowadays), and a lot of creature comforts. They are definitely heavier than the other Jeeps and therefore get worse gas mileage. I've only driven one for a test drive and therefore I don't know much about them. There are some cool aftermarket parts like lift kits but they aren't as popular for off-roading due to their size, weight, and expense.

I would definitely recommend that you test drive a few. If you don't mind being gutless, there are 4cylinder options for both the Wrangler and the Cherokee, but you wouldn't see me in one of those if I had a choice. Sure they get good gas mileage but they are gutless and if you ever want to put oversize tires you will have to regear the damn things just to gain a couple of inches.

Oh, you can see my current Jeep in A Killing in the Woods: http://www.massassi.net/levels/files/3058.shtml

My dad had a '99 wrangler sport and I drove it quite a lot. Brian is spot on. They are noisy no matter what you do. They have virtually no insulation so they get really cold in the winter, and they are not too gas friendly. It was a bit high, and you could feel it. You have to start being aware that there is no way you can lock up your car. Even with the hardtop on it is 30 seconds work with a hex wrench to open one up, so you need to make a conscious effort no to leave stuff out in your car.

That said we had a manual transmission, and it was one of the best drives I've had. There was a LOT of tactile feedback from the car, and not just through the gear change, you could really get a sense for how the car was doing at all times. I took it off road quite a few times, and it was a blast. Nothing beats some of the back roads of Colorado for a good drive (not to mention fording 3 foot summer creeks with a load of camping gear in the back). It was also great in the ease of configuration, If need be I could remove the back seats and floor coverings to have almost as much hauling room as a small pickup.

I can also tell you, the wrangler held up really well during road accidents, though it is not cheap to repair (some of the body work can get damaged really easy, and is rather expensive to replace stock). She finally died during a four car pileup when I was rear-ended by a jeep liberty who had just been hit at a standstill by a Mercedes SUV going 50 MPH. In the end the frame was bent, and we had to call her a loss (my dad then took the insurance money and bought a Buick rendezvous ).

In short, for bad weather/ off roading/hard driving/ general utility stuff its a great car.
For highway driving it can really wear on you, and its none to friendly to everyday city driving either.

just my 2 cents...

Interesting to see your comments. I was wondering what you thought of the ZJs. I chose a ZJ because it offers, or at least used to offer, many full size truck and Jeep features in a relatively small package. The Grand is smaller than an Explorer yet, generally, packs a more powerful engine. The 4x4 versions feature fulltime four wheel drive. Both of the previous comments hurting fuel efficiency. They ride on a solid front axle adding to ruggedness at the cost of the smoothest possible ride. Being relatively small it is very maneuverable in city/parking lot situations. The only area where it is really lacking is in interior space but I would suggest that in order to find a modern SUV with signifigantly more interior volume and equal ruggedness you would have to jump all the way to a Ford Excursion. Quite a huge leap.

I would say the years to own are 93-98 which can be found for a very reasonable price now. Fully loaded, basically equating to a luxury ride, you should be able to pay well under $10K now. The 98s offered the biggest engine, the 5.9L 360 V8. Mine is a 96 with the 5.2L 318. Basically the same engine with different heads.



Eventually, I'll lift it a little and do some other tweaks but for now it's the wife's daily driver. Minus the trailer, of course!