Cherokee or Liberty???
 

I'm hoping you all can help me with a Jeep buying decision. I'm
trying to decide between a late 90s/early 2000s Cherokee (not the
Grands, just straight Cherokee) and a 2002 or 2003 Jeep Liberty.

I'd like to spend no more than $16000, and would like to pay
something less than that (Santa has to pay his bills).

This Jeep would be seeing about 75% paved/highway driving (60
miles/day), 15% lousy gravel, rock and "gumbo" county roads and
pasture 2-track (including the 4-mile gumbo stretch to my house), and a
little moderate "off-roading" now and then (by necessity rather
than choice) for hunting and fishing trips.

I'm only looking at Cherokees and Libertys with Selec-trac, since I
want the option of full-time4WD for mixed driving conditions on our
highways during winter.

Bottom-line I need to decide whether it is worth it to spend another
$5-$6000 for Liberty. For example, I can get a '99 Selec-trac
Cherokee in great shape with 62K miles for around $9000. Or I can
spend around $16,000 for a 2003 Liberty with Selec-trac.

It seems to me that I'd be paying for lots of appearance and
"comfort" stuff with the Liberty that I'm not particularly
interested in. I actually like the simple and blocky old look of the
Cherokee.

But maybe there are some reliability or performance reasons to spend
more for a newer Liberty rather than that '99 Cherokee. Gas mileage
seems about the same. I think the Liberty has a little more ground
clearance though.

Any thoughts?

Re: Cherokee or Liberty???
 

The Cherokee is my choice.

It is super easy with their solid axles to just put a lift block kit to
get a couple more inches clearance and the Cherokee can keep all 4
wheels on the ground 'far' better than the Liberty with it's independent
suspension.

We take our Cherokee on all the forestry/hunt access roads we take our
CJ7 on up here in Canada. I have a 2" lift kit I got for it about 5
years ago, but just haven't needed it.... Save it for the next one I
guess...

We have gotten some wild looks from ATV'ers when they come across us
figuring we 'must' know some other way to get in other than the one they
just spent a half day sweating on to get to us. LOL!

I also think the 4.0 engine is the better one and there are tons of
Cherokees out there so parts are easy to find, new and used.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Aug./05 http://www.imagestation.com/album/in...?id=2120343242
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

coyotefred@gmail.com wrote:
>
> I'm hoping you all can help me with a Jeep buying decision. I'm
> trying to decide between a late 90s/early 2000s Cherokee (not the
> Grands, just straight Cherokee) and a 2002 or 2003 Jeep Liberty.
>
> I'd like to spend no more than $16000, and would like to pay
> something less than that (Santa has to pay his bills).
>
> This Jeep would be seeing about 75% paved/highway driving (60
> miles/day), 15% lousy gravel, rock and "gumbo" county roads and
> pasture 2-track (including the 4-mile gumbo stretch to my house), and a
> little moderate "off-roading" now and then (by necessity rather
> than choice) for hunting and fishing trips.
>
> I'm only looking at Cherokees and Libertys with Selec-trac, since I
> want the option of full-time4WD for mixed driving conditions on our
> highways during winter.
>
> Bottom-line I need to decide whether it is worth it to spend another
> $5-$6000 for Liberty. For example, I can get a '99 Selec-trac
> Cherokee in great shape with 62K miles for around $9000. Or I can
> spend around $16,000 for a 2003 Liberty with Selec-trac.
>
> It seems to me that I'd be paying for lots of appearance and
> "comfort" stuff with the Liberty that I'm not particularly
> interested in. I actually like the simple and blocky old look of the
> Cherokee.
>
> But maybe there are some reliability or performance reasons to spend
> more for a newer Liberty rather than that '99 Cherokee. Gas mileage
> seems about the same. I think the Liberty has a little more ground
> clearance though.
>
> Any thoughts?

Re: Cherokee or Liberty???
 

The Cherokee is my choice.

It is super easy with their solid axles to just put a lift block kit to
get a couple more inches clearance and the Cherokee can keep all 4
wheels on the ground 'far' better than the Liberty with it's independent
suspension.

We take our Cherokee on all the forestry/hunt access roads we take our
CJ7 on up here in Canada. I have a 2" lift kit I got for it about 5
years ago, but just haven't needed it.... Save it for the next one I
guess...

We have gotten some wild looks from ATV'ers when they come across us
figuring we 'must' know some other way to get in other than the one they
just spent a half day sweating on to get to us. LOL!

I also think the 4.0 engine is the better one and there are tons of
Cherokees out there so parts are easy to find, new and used.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Aug./05 http://www.imagestation.com/album/in...?id=2120343242
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

coyotefred@gmail.com wrote:
>
> I'm hoping you all can help me with a Jeep buying decision. I'm
> trying to decide between a late 90s/early 2000s Cherokee (not the
> Grands, just straight Cherokee) and a 2002 or 2003 Jeep Liberty.
>
> I'd like to spend no more than $16000, and would like to pay
> something less than that (Santa has to pay his bills).
>
> This Jeep would be seeing about 75% paved/highway driving (60
> miles/day), 15% lousy gravel, rock and "gumbo" county roads and
> pasture 2-track (including the 4-mile gumbo stretch to my house), and a
> little moderate "off-roading" now and then (by necessity rather
> than choice) for hunting and fishing trips.
>
> I'm only looking at Cherokees and Libertys with Selec-trac, since I
> want the option of full-time4WD for mixed driving conditions on our
> highways during winter.
>
> Bottom-line I need to decide whether it is worth it to spend another
> $5-$6000 for Liberty. For example, I can get a '99 Selec-trac
> Cherokee in great shape with 62K miles for around $9000. Or I can
> spend around $16,000 for a 2003 Liberty with Selec-trac.
>
> It seems to me that I'd be paying for lots of appearance and
> "comfort" stuff with the Liberty that I'm not particularly
> interested in. I actually like the simple and blocky old look of the
> Cherokee.
>
> But maybe there are some reliability or performance reasons to spend
> more for a newer Liberty rather than that '99 Cherokee. Gas mileage
> seems about the same. I think the Liberty has a little more ground
> clearance though.
>
> Any thoughts?

Re: Cherokee or Liberty???
 

The Cherokee is my choice.

It is super easy with their solid axles to just put a lift block kit to
get a couple more inches clearance and the Cherokee can keep all 4
wheels on the ground 'far' better than the Liberty with it's independent
suspension.

We take our Cherokee on all the forestry/hunt access roads we take our
CJ7 on up here in Canada. I have a 2" lift kit I got for it about 5
years ago, but just haven't needed it.... Save it for the next one I
guess...

We have gotten some wild looks from ATV'ers when they come across us
figuring we 'must' know some other way to get in other than the one they
just spent a half day sweating on to get to us. LOL!

I also think the 4.0 engine is the better one and there are tons of
Cherokees out there so parts are easy to find, new and used.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Aug./05 http://www.imagestation.com/album/in...?id=2120343242
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

coyotefred@gmail.com wrote:
>
> I'm hoping you all can help me with a Jeep buying decision. I'm
> trying to decide between a late 90s/early 2000s Cherokee (not the
> Grands, just straight Cherokee) and a 2002 or 2003 Jeep Liberty.
>
> I'd like to spend no more than $16000, and would like to pay
> something less than that (Santa has to pay his bills).
>
> This Jeep would be seeing about 75% paved/highway driving (60
> miles/day), 15% lousy gravel, rock and "gumbo" county roads and
> pasture 2-track (including the 4-mile gumbo stretch to my house), and a
> little moderate "off-roading" now and then (by necessity rather
> than choice) for hunting and fishing trips.
>
> I'm only looking at Cherokees and Libertys with Selec-trac, since I
> want the option of full-time4WD for mixed driving conditions on our
> highways during winter.
>
> Bottom-line I need to decide whether it is worth it to spend another
> $5-$6000 for Liberty. For example, I can get a '99 Selec-trac
> Cherokee in great shape with 62K miles for around $9000. Or I can
> spend around $16,000 for a 2003 Liberty with Selec-trac.
>
> It seems to me that I'd be paying for lots of appearance and
> "comfort" stuff with the Liberty that I'm not particularly
> interested in. I actually like the simple and blocky old look of the
> Cherokee.
>
> But maybe there are some reliability or performance reasons to spend
> more for a newer Liberty rather than that '99 Cherokee. Gas mileage
> seems about the same. I think the Liberty has a little more ground
> clearance though.
>
> Any thoughts?

Re: Cherokee or Liberty???
 

While the liberty would work fine for your stated purpose, as a matter
of principle you should avoid it. Don't contribute to rewarding DC for
diluting the brand.

I mean really, if you're not going for a real Jeep, why not buy a Toyota
or a Nissan or even a Kia. You'd just be paying for a name otherwise.

Re: Cherokee or Liberty???
 

While the liberty would work fine for your stated purpose, as a matter
of principle you should avoid it. Don't contribute to rewarding DC for
diluting the brand.

I mean really, if you're not going for a real Jeep, why not buy a Toyota
or a Nissan or even a Kia. You'd just be paying for a name otherwise.

Re: Cherokee or Liberty???
 

While the liberty would work fine for your stated purpose, as a matter
of principle you should avoid it. Don't contribute to rewarding DC for
diluting the brand.

I mean really, if you're not going for a real Jeep, why not buy a Toyota
or a Nissan or even a Kia. You'd just be paying for a name otherwise.

Re: Cherokee or Liberty???
 

"Clap Trap" <nowhere@the.net> wrote in message
news:681ca$43a9c074$45490842$27267@KNOLOGY.NET...
: While the liberty would work fine for your stated purpose, as a matter
: of principle you should avoid it. Don't contribute to rewarding DC for
: diluting the brand.
:
: I mean really, if you're not going for a real Jeep, why not buy a Toyota
: or a Nissan or even a Kia. You'd just be paying for a name otherwise.

Other than the cheap shots, you won't find many admirers of the Liberty in
this group.
Change is hard for some to take and a lot of people curse what they do not
understand or what does not suit their particular purposes.
If you want a better perspective of the KJ, then go here:
http://www.lostkjs.com/forum/phpBB2/
http://www.jeepkj.com/forums/index.php
and there are some interesting notes here too:
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/index.php
Where people have them and use them and most love them.

The KJ is not necessarily as serious an off road vehicle as some ot the
Jeeps that are in this particular group but they can be very capable in the
right hands.
Have a look at some photos:
http://www.frappr.com/lostkjs/map

From your post, it sounds as if you already know what you want, so you may
as well go ahead and get the Cherokee. Yes, at this point in time you CAN do
more to it as far as lift and after market options are more redily available
BUT that's because the Cherokee has been around a lot longer.

The KJ is a popular, good looking little rig that (in my case) averages
18mpg, is comfortable enough, shifts on the fly, has good convertible seats
(I think the 03 does not goe as flat as newer models) and really good
appearance. It has ample power for a vehicle of it's type and turns on a
dime.

If you get a Liberty, be prepared to take some flack over it not being a
"real Jeep" but no matter what anyone says, it IS a Jeep, and they can just
learn to live with it.

KJKate
2O|||||||O5 Liberty

Re: Cherokee or Liberty???
 

"Clap Trap" <nowhere@the.net> wrote in message
news:681ca$43a9c074$45490842$27267@KNOLOGY.NET...
: While the liberty would work fine for your stated purpose, as a matter
: of principle you should avoid it. Don't contribute to rewarding DC for
: diluting the brand.
:
: I mean really, if you're not going for a real Jeep, why not buy a Toyota
: or a Nissan or even a Kia. You'd just be paying for a name otherwise.

Other than the cheap shots, you won't find many admirers of the Liberty in
this group.
Change is hard for some to take and a lot of people curse what they do not
understand or what does not suit their particular purposes.
If you want a better perspective of the KJ, then go here:
http://www.lostkjs.com/forum/phpBB2/
http://www.jeepkj.com/forums/index.php
and there are some interesting notes here too:
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/index.php
Where people have them and use them and most love them.

The KJ is not necessarily as serious an off road vehicle as some ot the
Jeeps that are in this particular group but they can be very capable in the
right hands.
Have a look at some photos:
http://www.frappr.com/lostkjs/map

From your post, it sounds as if you already know what you want, so you may
as well go ahead and get the Cherokee. Yes, at this point in time you CAN do
more to it as far as lift and after market options are more redily available
BUT that's because the Cherokee has been around a lot longer.

The KJ is a popular, good looking little rig that (in my case) averages
18mpg, is comfortable enough, shifts on the fly, has good convertible seats
(I think the 03 does not goe as flat as newer models) and really good
appearance. It has ample power for a vehicle of it's type and turns on a
dime.

If you get a Liberty, be prepared to take some flack over it not being a
"real Jeep" but no matter what anyone says, it IS a Jeep, and they can just
learn to live with it.

KJKate
2O|||||||O5 Liberty

Re: Cherokee or Liberty???
 

"Clap Trap" <nowhere@the.net> wrote in message
news:681ca$43a9c074$45490842$27267@KNOLOGY.NET...
: While the liberty would work fine for your stated purpose, as a matter
: of principle you should avoid it. Don't contribute to rewarding DC for
: diluting the brand.
:
: I mean really, if you're not going for a real Jeep, why not buy a Toyota
: or a Nissan or even a Kia. You'd just be paying for a name otherwise.

Other than the cheap shots, you won't find many admirers of the Liberty in
this group.
Change is hard for some to take and a lot of people curse what they do not
understand or what does not suit their particular purposes.
If you want a better perspective of the KJ, then go here:
http://www.lostkjs.com/forum/phpBB2/
http://www.jeepkj.com/forums/index.php
and there are some interesting notes here too:
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/index.php
Where people have them and use them and most love them.

The KJ is not necessarily as serious an off road vehicle as some ot the
Jeeps that are in this particular group but they can be very capable in the
right hands.
Have a look at some photos:
http://www.frappr.com/lostkjs/map

From your post, it sounds as if you already know what you want, so you may
as well go ahead and get the Cherokee. Yes, at this point in time you CAN do
more to it as far as lift and after market options are more redily available
BUT that's because the Cherokee has been around a lot longer.

The KJ is a popular, good looking little rig that (in my case) averages
18mpg, is comfortable enough, shifts on the fly, has good convertible seats
(I think the 03 does not goe as flat as newer models) and really good
appearance. It has ample power for a vehicle of it's type and turns on a
dime.

If you get a Liberty, be prepared to take some flack over it not being a
"real Jeep" but no matter what anyone says, it IS a Jeep, and they can just
learn to live with it.

KJKate
2O|||||||O5 Liberty