Why has Jeep become THE answer?

I'm curious to know why Jeep has become one of THE answers in what car threads. Which model jeep? Why is it so loved by the GRM crowd?

4.0 Cherokee, if I'm not mistaken.

It is so loved because it is cheap, easy to repair, and tough as a rock and reliable as the sun.

I personally hate the things, but can understand the appeal of them.

Cherokee XJ specifically. Because they're cheap, reliable, simple as an anvil, plentiful, and strong. Plus they really can do the work of a larger vehicle in a smaller package. I got mine with a tow kit and all, for a Ford Taurus. 5000lb towing capacity, REAL 4wd.... it's all there.

mtn wrote: I personally hate the things, but can understand the appeal of them.

I hate them too and don't understand the appeal. Of course being a city boy I never have the need nor the desire to drive slowly over rough terrain so I have never used one for their intended purpose. I have however been forced to drive one in town for a while and can't understand why anyone would do it on purpose.

XJ's (although they can be built to be) really aren't "off-roaders". I think you guys are getting confused with the Wrangler/CJ/original Jeep. The XJ Cherokee is just a dirt simple box. It's the best way to get a lot of towing and hauling capacity for a GRM budget. Think of it as the way to tow your Miata to the track, or pull the dilapidated old car out of the field you just bought for the Challenge, or a way to haul your engine to the machine shop under cover. It's a remarkably versatile little thing. You can even buy them in 2WD and/or 2-door form.

ditchdigger wrote:

mtn wrote: I personally hate the things, but can understand the appeal of them.

I hate them too and don't understand the appeal. Of course being a city boy I never have the need nor the desire to drive slowly over rough terrain so I have never used one for their intended purpose. I have however been forced to drive one in town for a while and can't understand why anyone would do it on purpose.

You've just described my feelings about them exactly, but like I said I can understand the appeal--namely off roading, reliability, inexpensiveness. That being said, for roughly the same price I can get a full sized pickup or Tahoe that will do almost everything that the Jeep will do (excepting the off road stuff), and be much more comfortable to drive as well. Gas mileage should be similar too.

Yeah, I'm not really a fan of the XJ. I much prefer my full-size Broncos.

NEver understood it when my full size crew cab truck hauls more people, more cargo, tows more and gets better gas mileage, is just as reliable, will run as many if not more miles and is actually COMFORTABLE to drive and ride in.

The XJ is the best compromise. The Wrangler is smaller, rougher ride, more expensive and can't really tow. The Grand Cherokee is more advanced, and less reliable but softer riding. I've had 14 Jeeps and my XJ's were really the best ones for DD use. And Jav, I gotsta disagree with you. They are off-roaders. In stock form they can go 99.99% of the places a Wrangler can go.

Bobzilla wrote: NEver understood it when my full size crew cab truck hauls more people, more cargo, tows more and gets better gas mileage, is just as reliable, will run as many if not more miles and is actually COMFORTABLE to drive and ride in.

Now park your truck in a parking lot/side street/parking garage. Also, it costs 10x as much.

Bobzilla wrote: NEver understood it when my full size crew cab truck hauls more people,

Yeah, a F/S truck can haul 6 (if the guys up front are REAL friendly) and the Cherokee hauls 5. Slim victory.

Bobzilla wrote: more cargo, tows more

Yeah, that's what it's made for.

Bobzilla wrote: and gets better gas mileage, is just as reliable, will run as many if not more miles and is actually COMFORTABLE to drive and ride in.

If it's a diesel it's possibly better, just as realiable? Gotta name the truck but I'm going to call B/S on that one. The comfort is subjective, but the XJ is quite comfy for me. And nobody buys a XJ for max towing/hauling capability. That's like me saying your F/S truck sucks because my miata will out-handle it, by Honda Insight get's better mileage, and my Ferrari is faster. The XJ is the best compromise out there, and you can pick one up for $2,000 that'll run for 5 more years and ask little more than a crank position sensor and some oil.

I like having a capable truck without the feeling that i'm driving a vehicle bigger than my apartment.

Like Boost is saying, it's the best compromise available. Better gas mileage or not, i'm not making SWMBO drive a full sized truck, because it's huge.

I find it comfy as hell, and more than enough truck for anything i do with it. Rock solid anvil-like reliability is good as well. 180k miles on mine, looks great, not a spot of rust, runs and drives quite literally like it's brand new.

Not bad for $3000.

ZOMYGOSH!!!

XJs rock the Casbah!

Cheap . . . They go for about $500-$2K around here, with the sweet spot right at $1200. For $1200, you get small, but capable SUV that cost almost nothing to maintain and litters pull-a-part and salvage yards in large numbers . . . I've considered picking up one just because.

Javelin wrote: It's the best way to get a lot of towing and hauling capacity for a GRM budget.

Sorry, that's in no way shape or form true.

Too bad I don't have any lifted pictures.

I MIGHT rather have a lifted Astro.... but to make the Astro into the true equivalent of an XJ as nice as mine, i'm spending more.

I looked, trust me... i wanted to believe.

I can't see the appeal either. A van seems to be a better choice for towing and hauling stuff so minus off roading, I don't see how a Jeep XJ is better then a van.

93EXCivic wrote: I can't see the appeal either. A van seems to be a better choice for towing and hauling stuff so minus off roading, I don't see how a Jeep XJ is better then a van.

I don't think an Astro will tow any more than an XJ. Hauling might only be easier because it's not so high off the ground.

I can sleep in the back of an XJ comfortably, so i don't need any of the perceived extra space.

My big want for an Astro over a Jeep is awesome van captains chairs for long hauls.

Just empty every pocket. Fits ALL the models.....

Ranger50 wrote: Just empty every pocket. Fits ALL the models.....

Errrrrr.... say what, chap?

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I don't think an Astro will tow any more than an XJ. Hauling might only be easier because it's not so high off the ground. I can sleep in the back of an XJ comfortably, so i don't need any of the perceived extra space. My big want for an Astro over a Jeep is awesome van captains chairs for long hauls.

An Astro is a much better tow vehicle than an XJ. While I haven't had that pleasure, I did tow a boat recently with a Wrangler, and even if the XJ towed it 1,000 times better, it would still be terrible.

As for space, like I said in the adventure vehicle thread: you can SLEEP in just about anything. In a van, you don't have to unpack to do it.

I love XJs, I almost bought one before my FJ62 (and would probably still have it had I gotten one instead), but the only things an XJ has on the Astro is it's slightly smaller, and has a low-range transfer case. Ok, and aftermarket.

Bobzilla wrote: NEver understood it when my full size crew cab truck hauls more people, more cargo, tows more and gets better gas mileage, is just as reliable, will run as many if not more miles and is actually COMFORTABLE to drive and ride in.

Never understood owning a full size crew cab truck, when my ocean liner hauls more people and cargo in comfort.

Not everyone has the desire or need to own vehicle that large.

In reply to Osterkraut:

You're probably right.... i'd say the Astro would tow better because it's lower.

I'd lift it, which i imagine would bring them both about equal.

Sleeping argument makes sense. I can roll with that.

Now find me a beautiful 4wd Astro for cheap!

How is the Astro to work on? I recently did pretty much a full rebuild on a late 90s 4.3 Blazer and i wanted to kill myself by the end of it. Astro any better?

The XJ is the answer in the SUV world the same way the Miata is the answer in the sports car world. They are cheap, plentiful, simple and easy to work on, huge after market support, basically bullet proof and have character.

I felt the same thing as some of you until a purchased one after looking at everything else. Nothing combines it all at a good price like a Cherokee...........just like a Miata.

If you need to tow a lot (which I don,t) then i agree something else would be a better choice.

Of all the small/medium SUVs, the Cherokee is the only one that doesn't pretend to be something it's not. It doesn't pretend to be upscale or hard core off road or just as good as a car. It is what it is, a cheap box of compromises that work surprisingly well for a lot of people. There is precious little you can buy today that is that honest about what it is and I think people are attracted to that. One of the reasons people love the miata as well.