I was thinking about the Grands, but had some concerns about
reliability (JD Power, Consumer Reports); they seem to be rated worse
than most. I even remember seeing some posts in this group cautioning
others about the late 90s/early 2000s Grands. Obviously you've had
good luck with yours...

 

I was thinking about the Grands, but had some concerns about
reliability (JD Power, Consumer Reports); they seem to be rated worse
than most. I even remember seeing some posts in this group cautioning
others about the late 90s/early 2000s Grands. Obviously you've had
good luck with yours...

 

I was thinking about the Grands, but had some concerns about
reliability (JD Power, Consumer Reports); they seem to be rated worse
than most. I even remember seeing some posts in this group cautioning
others about the late 90s/early 2000s Grands. Obviously you've had
good luck with yours...

 

The Cherokee is tried and true and will not let you down. Libby is
'probably' just as good for what you need.

Carl

<coyotefred@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1135196278.220181.306370@o13g2000cwo.googlegr oups.com...
>
> 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?
>

 

The Cherokee is tried and true and will not let you down. Libby is
'probably' just as good for what you need.

Carl

<coyotefred@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1135196278.220181.306370@o13g2000cwo.googlegr oups.com...
>
> 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?
>

 

The Cherokee is tried and true and will not let you down. Libby is
'probably' just as good for what you need.

Carl

<coyotefred@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1135196278.220181.306370@o13g2000cwo.googlegr oups.com...
>
> 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?
>

 

I'd go with a Cherokee, especially if Select trac. and if you really
need bombproof traction and ground clearance off road. Fairly straight
forward for DIY repair. MY current XJ Cherokee is at 340K miles and
still looks good ... and everything has has been replaced/rebuilt at
least once but probably can go another 150K with TLC, etc. The
recirculating ball and sector steering is exceptional for slow and
twisty driving. Tight turns on glare ice can be a problem. due to the
lack of CV joints on the front axle, not a problem on a Lib.

For highway /daily driver a Liberty is much less of a bone shaker. the
downside is the 'german' influence of 'over-engineer everything
possible' which makes it bit more complex and although many of the
drivetrain components are still "JEEP". I can push 21-22mpg on the
highway in my 02Lib (26-27 if I 'draft'). Its a damn comfortable and
quiiet vehicle for long distance driving. For deep snow you will be
dragging the front control arms on a Lib. The Cherokee is tops for
deep snow ... probably has better weight distribution than the Lib.
The rack and pinion steering on a Lib is a PITA on slow and twisty
stuff., super on the straights. Lib handles better on glare ice. The
Lib is more top-heavy (would probably be happier lying on its side -
another common German truck/SUV quirk).

I have a Scoobydoo Forester .... bombproof highway vehicle with great
milage (~33 mpg)... not so hot off road where the AWD isnt as good a
good old 'part time' on a Jeep. For deep snow there simply isnt enough
ground clearance.

86XJ Cherokee
02Lib
03Forester
90 MX5 Miata

 

I'd go with a Cherokee, especially if Select trac. and if you really
need bombproof traction and ground clearance off road. Fairly straight
forward for DIY repair. MY current XJ Cherokee is at 340K miles and
still looks good ... and everything has has been replaced/rebuilt at
least once but probably can go another 150K with TLC, etc. The
recirculating ball and sector steering is exceptional for slow and
twisty driving. Tight turns on glare ice can be a problem. due to the
lack of CV joints on the front axle, not a problem on a Lib.

For highway /daily driver a Liberty is much less of a bone shaker. the
downside is the 'german' influence of 'over-engineer everything
possible' which makes it bit more complex and although many of the
drivetrain components are still "JEEP". I can push 21-22mpg on the
highway in my 02Lib (26-27 if I 'draft'). Its a damn comfortable and
quiiet vehicle for long distance driving. For deep snow you will be
dragging the front control arms on a Lib. The Cherokee is tops for
deep snow ... probably has better weight distribution than the Lib.
The rack and pinion steering on a Lib is a PITA on slow and twisty
stuff., super on the straights. Lib handles better on glare ice. The
Lib is more top-heavy (would probably be happier lying on its side -
another common German truck/SUV quirk).

I have a Scoobydoo Forester .... bombproof highway vehicle with great
milage (~33 mpg)... not so hot off road where the AWD isnt as good a
good old 'part time' on a Jeep. For deep snow there simply isnt enough
ground clearance.

86XJ Cherokee
02Lib
03Forester
90 MX5 Miata

 

I'd go with a Cherokee, especially if Select trac. and if you really
need bombproof traction and ground clearance off road. Fairly straight
forward for DIY repair. MY current XJ Cherokee is at 340K miles and
still looks good ... and everything has has been replaced/rebuilt at
least once but probably can go another 150K with TLC, etc. The
recirculating ball and sector steering is exceptional for slow and
twisty driving. Tight turns on glare ice can be a problem. due to the
lack of CV joints on the front axle, not a problem on a Lib.

For highway /daily driver a Liberty is much less of a bone shaker. the
downside is the 'german' influence of 'over-engineer everything
possible' which makes it bit more complex and although many of the
drivetrain components are still "JEEP". I can push 21-22mpg on the
highway in my 02Lib (26-27 if I 'draft'). Its a damn comfortable and
quiiet vehicle for long distance driving. For deep snow you will be
dragging the front control arms on a Lib. The Cherokee is tops for
deep snow ... probably has better weight distribution than the Lib.
The rack and pinion steering on a Lib is a PITA on slow and twisty
stuff., super on the straights. Lib handles better on glare ice. The
Lib is more top-heavy (would probably be happier lying on its side -
another common German truck/SUV quirk).

I have a Scoobydoo Forester .... bombproof highway vehicle with great
milage (~33 mpg)... not so hot off road where the AWD isnt as good a
good old 'part time' on a Jeep. For deep snow there simply isnt enough
ground clearance.

86XJ Cherokee
02Lib
03Forester
90 MX5 Miata

 

"Clap Trap" <nowhere@the.net> wrote
-snipped-
: Even though I'll dis the libby every chance I get,

Now, I am not trying to start a flame war here bu I have just about had it
with this crap.

Why exactly IS that? Seems like a playground chant to me!.
"My Jeep's better than YOUR Jeep nyaah nyaah nyaah na!"

Bullwash.

The Liberty is a good vehicle. Just because there are things about it you
don't like, doesn't make it any less a Jeep. It is simply more civilized.

Do you think Liberty owners are going to run inside and cry because you have
made fun of their Jeeps?
Not Likely.
More likely than not you will see more and more Libertys doing things that
you think they can not or should not be doing because the vehicle doesn't
fit your particular criteria for what a "Jeep" should be.

Each vehicle has it's strengths and weaknesses. The Liberty isn't a stripped
down -
off the line rock crawling - extreme off road - bare bones vehicle but it's
a damn nice package on top of a comfortable, capable 4WD drive train. I'll
take the IFS
and a little top heavyness over a rattling, noisy, drafty, hard to heat,
hard to cool back breaking, bone jamming, overgrown ATV any day.
Been there, done that and have no interest in doing it again for a daily
driver.

Most of the people that do any REAL off road driving modify their Jeeps on
several levels. I'll bet that you have.
Liberty owners are doing the same and more and more modifications are coming
available all the time.

There are already mods in the works that will extend the articulation of the
IFS considerably and enable taller lifts even solid axel conversions for the
front end.

Most people that own Libbys like them a helluva lot and they are going to be
around awhile
So get used to it and get over it.

There! Now at least *I* feel better!

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

..