XJ Cherokee alternative?

I've heard of head gaskets and sludging but that is probably way overblown and many are fine. I would avoid it just because of the low power.

Even if i felt like doing a 5vz swap in that thing, it'd still have a worse power/weight ratio than my XJ, so... doesn't bother me a ton. As long as it can hit highway speeds, i'm good.

I'm still keeping the MX6 if i feel the need for stupid power.

I do find it hilarious what you would find acceptable and what you simply dismiss. If you don't want to hear opinions don't ask for them.

Look for any well cared for vehicle. Regardless of marque.

We just sold our 2001 Jimmy to another board member, It had 167,000 miles on it and was more reliable than any other vehicle that the family has owned. It would also drive straight up a sheer cliff of ice at will. The 4.3L V6 engine is durable, makes good power and is easy to live with. The transmission can be fixed by Hobbits and the transfer case is good as long as the oil is serviced frequently. The achilles heels of the late T trucks were typical GM plastic dash (no different than any of the other vehicle you approve of in this thread by the way, hurray 1980's technology), an occasional bad fuel pump and owners that are unwilling to change differential oils causing frequent diff failures.

It is your money, spend it on what you want, I would buy a T truck long before most of what you approved of in this thread based on reliablity and parts availability alone.

John Brown wrote: I do find it hilarious what you would find acceptable and what you simply dismiss. If you don't want to hear opinions don't ask for them. Look for any well cared for vehicle. Regardless of marque. We just sold our 2001 Jimmy to another board member, It had 167,000 miles on it and was more reliable than any other vehicle that the family has owned. It would also drive straight up a sheer cliff of ice at will. The 4.3L V6 engine is durable, makes good power and is easy to live with. The transmission can be fixed by Hobbits and the transfer case is good as long as the oil is serviced frequently. The achilles heels of the late T trucks were typical GM plastic dash (no different than any of the other vehicle you approve of in this thread by the way, hurray 1980's technology), an occasional bad fuel pump and owners that are unwilling to change differential oils causing frequent diff failures. It is your money, spend it on what you want, I would buy a T truck long before most of what you approved of in this thread based on reliablity and parts availability alone.

My hate of them stems mostly from how they are to work on in my experiences.

I spent some time this summer working on a 96 Blazer, pretty much rebuilding the damn thing because it had been neglected and just generally needed attention.

I found everything to be laid out about as stupidly as possible, very archaic (I know... rich coming from an XJ owner), and in the end was left with something that when test driven, just left me feeling like "Ugh. Why did this kid even bother sinking this money into it?"

That said, i still have an unhealthy amount of want for a ZQ9 package S10 with the 4.3 and a 5spd. But now is not the time for that.

The transmission being able to be fixed by hobbits is cool. But... i'd rather just not have to fix the transmission, ever.

And a part of it is the looks an interior. Not a fan. And at my price point, it looks like i can afford to be picky, since there's a million Cherokees available if it comes down to it.

PS: I really like brick body S10 Blazers.

Swank Force One wrote:

John Brown wrote: I do find it hilarious what you would find acceptable and what you simply dismiss. If you don't want to hear opinions don't ask for them. Look for any well cared for vehicle. Regardless of marque. We just sold our 2001 Jimmy to another board member, It had 167,000 miles on it and was more reliable than any other vehicle that the family has owned. It would also drive straight up a sheer cliff of ice at will. The 4.3L V6 engine is durable, makes good power and is easy to live with. The transmission can be fixed by Hobbits and the transfer case is good as long as the oil is serviced frequently. The achilles heels of the late T trucks were typical GM plastic dash (no different than any of the other vehicle you approve of in this thread by the way, hurray 1980's technology), an occasional bad fuel pump and owners that are unwilling to change differential oils causing frequent diff failures. It is your money, spend it on what you want, I would buy a T truck long before most of what you approved of in this thread based on reliablity and parts availability alone.

The transmission being able to be fixed by hobbits is cool. But... i'd rather just not have to fix the transmission, ever.

Wouldn't we all, but I've never found that elusive bullet proof tranny. A quick example my 911 (at around 60k miles), MKIV supra (slightly over 100k), and 89 Suburban (at 180k) all needed trans rebuilds at some point. There have been more of course, but I just wanted to give examples from various makes/countries of origin.

In reply to Cotton:

I've been lucky so far and have never had to rebuild a transmission. But on the other hand, i can count the number of automatic transmission vehicles i've had on.... two fingers.

Swank Force One wrote: In reply to Cotton: I've been lucky so far and have never had to rebuild a transmission. But on the other hand, i can count the number of automatic transmission vehicles i've had on.... two fingers.

Two of those were manuals (911 and Supra), but the burb is an auto. Maybe I'm just hard on manual transmissions because I sure have had my share of failures. Hell, the 4 speed in the C4 is starting to grumble a little, so I think it's next!

I think my trick is to just buy cars with a million miles on them so either 1) the transmission has already been rebuilt or 2) if it ain't broke by now, it never will. (See: MX6)

Just posting to note that this thread actually caused me to check CL for Grand Vitaras.

That is something I did not expect to do, ever.

Ransom wrote: Just posting to note that this thread actually caused me to check CL for Grand Vitaras. That is something I did not expect to do, ever.

I'm going to ask SWMBO if she likes them. The other possibility is that i could buy a new $3000 SUV for her, and i get the current XJ. I'm ok with that. The question is... is she?

I have a nice 1990 Trooper 4x4 5-speed with 106k miles that I would sell cheap.

How about a land cruiser...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toyota-Land-Cruiser-Base-Sport-Utility-4-Door-1992-toyota-land-cruiser-80-series-all-original-paint-/141172942943?forcerrptr=true&hash=item20de90285f&item=141172942943&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

pimpm3 wrote: I have a nice 1990 Trooper 4x4 5-speed with 106k miles that I would sell cheap.

Details?

In reply to pimpm3:

Trade for a Mustang GT? eh, eh,

I got the trooper from my elderly neighbor who had it since 1996. No rust, 5-speed, Dark Blue, clean inside and out, A/C, heat etc.... I will snap some pictures of it tomorrow.

There is no alternative, just a substitute.

4X4 Jimmys are awesome right until you have to work on one. I'd rather eat a bag of hootus.

I seem to remember dropping the trans to do the oil pan gasket?

Remember how much fun it was getting the trans bolts back in? I should have been in porn with the bends I had to do.

You aren't supposed to change the oil pan gasket. Its an old chevy, if it isn't leaking oil its probably out of oil. Fixing one leak will just start another anyways.

A few years ago I almost bought a XJ and ended up with an 2000 Xterra. I've been real happy with it. It's had it's little issues, but overall been quite reliable and I've always found it easy to work on. I bought it with 125k and it now has 185k. The V6 isn't very fast, and isn't particularly fuel efficient, but it gets the job done and is fairly torquey. It drives pretty truckish and the backseat is fairly small, but the cargo space is better than a XJ and it's safer if you care about such things. You can fit a good bit of tire under it without a lot of work. Plus you can get a 5 speed! I think mine is still on the original clutch. I've thought about selling it, but seeing how cheap they are I think I'll probably just keep it. It's a good little truck.

Rodeo/Passport any good? Both from a reliability and a capability aspect. Lift kits available?

Same thing i said in another thread: just buy a Grand already, and dont be afraid of the 4.7. The quadradrive is gnarly and makes them hugely capable. Its still a Jeep, but much more comfy and makes all the right noises. Skip a laredo, go straight for a limited or overland.

I dont want a grand, though. We've been borrowing one the last couple months and it's stranded us twice. It's even a base Laredo with the 4.0. The transmission is pure unadulterated garbage as well.

I'm sure it's fine, but if I get another Jeep, it's going to be another XJ because I like them.

Right now i'm wondering if Rodeo/Passports are any good.

Late to the party, but a diesel swap is possible in the Xterra. Brazil's military used them that way.

I'll post my Xterra build up as it happens.