Clap Trap

> The Jeep lettering notations can be confusing at first to a newbie. Regular
> Cherokees (XJ) were produced from 1984-2001 with few major changes. The

Point of order (as long as we're educating a newbie here)...
"Regular" Cherokees were designated by SJ and were produced from the
60's to the early '80s. The XJ was a redesigned, downsized Cherokee.

Clap Trap

> The Jeep lettering notations can be confusing at first to a newbie. Regular
> Cherokees (XJ) were produced from 1984-2001 with few major changes. The

Point of order (as long as we're educating a newbie here)...
"Regular" Cherokees were designated by SJ and were produced from the
60's to the early '80s. The XJ was a redesigned, downsized Cherokee.

Clap Trap

> The Jeep lettering notations can be confusing at first to a newbie. Regular
> Cherokees (XJ) were produced from 1984-2001 with few major changes. The

Point of order (as long as we're educating a newbie here)...
"Regular" Cherokees were designated by SJ and were produced from the
60's to the early '80s. The XJ was a redesigned, downsized Cherokee.

Bowgus

'96 XJ Sport, 4 dr, 4.0L HO :-), Command-Trac (4H for snow, heavy rain,
gravel ... 4L to pull the boat outta the creek and creeping down some
"trails" to get to some lakes for fishing/camping ... else rear wheel drive,
4 spd auto (overdrive, lockup torque converter) ... idles along the highway
at about 1800 rpm, open differentials ... my requirements don't include
lockers ... and since it's my daily ride, I don't want to chance stressing
an axle, then getting up on the highway for example and have it snap. No
power anything ... well ok, steering. No proper frame (unibody,
uniframe,???) as such so weighs about 3100 lbs which all adds up
to reasonable mileage on regular gas. Add ons ... transmission cooler, Ride
Control air on the back end (for trailering, hauling stuff like roofing
shingles), snow tires in the winter. Mileage ... 286,000 kilometers ... it's
looking like with regular preventive maintenance (just replaced rotors, pads
.... no problems so far ... I hear the GCs may have problems in this area)
I'll be taking this vehicle to the grave with me ... well, that's the plan
:-)


"Monroe" <minburn1@telus.net> wrote in message
news:vml9j1lrrms81uohb3pqua8bfjdv7qgc7c@4ax.com...
> I've been considering the purchase of a 4WD for winter use and general
> hauling/towing of small utility trailers throughout the year. Because
> of fuel consumption and quality of build, I've been considering Toyota
> and Honda. But further investigation has pulled me around to Jeep.
>
> As a newbie to this model/brand, what is the signficant mechanical
> differences between the Cherokee Sport/Limited/Classic and the more
> refined Grand Cherokee. I'm thinking here chassis, steering,
> suspension, drivetrain as well as fuel consumption. I'm leaning to a
> 1999-2001 Cherokee Sport/Limited w/ the 6-cyl, but there seem to be
> many more Grand Cherokees available in my area.
>
> Seems like simple uninformed questions, and that's what they are.
> Thought a user group would be the place to ask.
>
> Thanks for any and all.
> --
>
> Monroe

Bowgus

'96 XJ Sport, 4 dr, 4.0L HO :-), Command-Trac (4H for snow, heavy rain,
gravel ... 4L to pull the boat outta the creek and creeping down some
"trails" to get to some lakes for fishing/camping ... else rear wheel drive,
4 spd auto (overdrive, lockup torque converter) ... idles along the highway
at about 1800 rpm, open differentials ... my requirements don't include
lockers ... and since it's my daily ride, I don't want to chance stressing
an axle, then getting up on the highway for example and have it snap. No
power anything ... well ok, steering. No proper frame (unibody,
uniframe,???) as such so weighs about 3100 lbs which all adds up
to reasonable mileage on regular gas. Add ons ... transmission cooler, Ride
Control air on the back end (for trailering, hauling stuff like roofing
shingles), snow tires in the winter. Mileage ... 286,000 kilometers ... it's
looking like with regular preventive maintenance (just replaced rotors, pads
.... no problems so far ... I hear the GCs may have problems in this area)
I'll be taking this vehicle to the grave with me ... well, that's the plan
:-)


"Monroe" <minburn1@telus.net> wrote in message
news:vml9j1lrrms81uohb3pqua8bfjdv7qgc7c@4ax.com...
> I've been considering the purchase of a 4WD for winter use and general
> hauling/towing of small utility trailers throughout the year. Because
> of fuel consumption and quality of build, I've been considering Toyota
> and Honda. But further investigation has pulled me around to Jeep.
>
> As a newbie to this model/brand, what is the signficant mechanical
> differences between the Cherokee Sport/Limited/Classic and the more
> refined Grand Cherokee. I'm thinking here chassis, steering,
> suspension, drivetrain as well as fuel consumption. I'm leaning to a
> 1999-2001 Cherokee Sport/Limited w/ the 6-cyl, but there seem to be
> many more Grand Cherokees available in my area.
>
> Seems like simple uninformed questions, and that's what they are.
> Thought a user group would be the place to ask.
>
> Thanks for any and all.
> --
>
> Monroe

Bowgus

'96 XJ Sport, 4 dr, 4.0L HO :-), Command-Trac (4H for snow, heavy rain,
gravel ... 4L to pull the boat outta the creek and creeping down some
"trails" to get to some lakes for fishing/camping ... else rear wheel drive,
4 spd auto (overdrive, lockup torque converter) ... idles along the highway
at about 1800 rpm, open differentials ... my requirements don't include
lockers ... and since it's my daily ride, I don't want to chance stressing
an axle, then getting up on the highway for example and have it snap. No
power anything ... well ok, steering. No proper frame (unibody,
uniframe,???) as such so weighs about 3100 lbs which all adds up
to reasonable mileage on regular gas. Add ons ... transmission cooler, Ride
Control air on the back end (for trailering, hauling stuff like roofing
shingles), snow tires in the winter. Mileage ... 286,000 kilometers ... it's
looking like with regular preventive maintenance (just replaced rotors, pads
.... no problems so far ... I hear the GCs may have problems in this area)
I'll be taking this vehicle to the grave with me ... well, that's the plan
:-)


"Monroe" <minburn1@telus.net> wrote in message
news:vml9j1lrrms81uohb3pqua8bfjdv7qgc7c@4ax.com...
> I've been considering the purchase of a 4WD for winter use and general
> hauling/towing of small utility trailers throughout the year. Because
> of fuel consumption and quality of build, I've been considering Toyota
> and Honda. But further investigation has pulled me around to Jeep.
>
> As a newbie to this model/brand, what is the signficant mechanical
> differences between the Cherokee Sport/Limited/Classic and the more
> refined Grand Cherokee. I'm thinking here chassis, steering,
> suspension, drivetrain as well as fuel consumption. I'm leaning to a
> 1999-2001 Cherokee Sport/Limited w/ the 6-cyl, but there seem to be
> many more Grand Cherokees available in my area.
>
> Seems like simple uninformed questions, and that's what they are.
> Thought a user group would be the place to ask.
>
> Thanks for any and all.
> --
>
> Monroe

Mike Romain

Drifter wrote:
>
> On Sat, 24 Sep 2005 04:36:36 GMT, Monroe <minburn1@telus.net> wrote:
>
> >I've been considering the purchase of a 4WD for winter use and general
> >hauling/towing of small utility trailers throughout the year. Because
> >of fuel consumption and quality of build, I've been considering Toyota
> >and Honda. But further investigation has pulled me around to Jeep.
> >
> >As a newbie to this model/brand, what is the signficant mechanical
> >differences between the Cherokee Sport/Limited/Classic and the more
> >refined Grand Cherokee. I'm thinking here chassis, steering,
> >suspension, drivetrain as well as fuel consumption. I'm leaning to a
> >1999-2001 Cherokee Sport/Limited w/ the 6-cyl, but there seem to be
> >many more Grand Cherokees available in my area.
> >
> >Seems like simple uninformed questions, and that's what they are.
> >Thought a user group would be the place to ask.
> >
> >Thanks for any and all.
>
> I'll probably get seriously jumped on for this comment but my
> viewpoint runs something like this... You see a lot of GC's available
> because they have so much "luxury" crap and half of it goes wrong all
> the time and the owner can't stand it and dumps the vehicle. People
> who have "plain vanilla" Cherokees seem to keep them until the wheels
> fall off (and then they get them lifted and put bigger wheels on,
> until the snap an axle then upgrade the axle...oh, sorry, getting
> carried away).
>
> Anyway, I'd really take a more basic Cherokee sport over an overdone
> GC any day. Power everything is nice until the electrical gremlins
> start (ugh).
> Drifter
> "I've been here, I've been there..."

What he said!

Our old 'plain jane' 88 Cherokee has about 310,000 km on it and is still
going strong.

Wheels haven't fallen off yet, but I do have the lift ready for when
they do...

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Mike Romain

Drifter wrote:
>
> On Sat, 24 Sep 2005 04:36:36 GMT, Monroe <minburn1@telus.net> wrote:
>
> >I've been considering the purchase of a 4WD for winter use and general
> >hauling/towing of small utility trailers throughout the year. Because
> >of fuel consumption and quality of build, I've been considering Toyota
> >and Honda. But further investigation has pulled me around to Jeep.
> >
> >As a newbie to this model/brand, what is the signficant mechanical
> >differences between the Cherokee Sport/Limited/Classic and the more
> >refined Grand Cherokee. I'm thinking here chassis, steering,
> >suspension, drivetrain as well as fuel consumption. I'm leaning to a
> >1999-2001 Cherokee Sport/Limited w/ the 6-cyl, but there seem to be
> >many more Grand Cherokees available in my area.
> >
> >Seems like simple uninformed questions, and that's what they are.
> >Thought a user group would be the place to ask.
> >
> >Thanks for any and all.
>
> I'll probably get seriously jumped on for this comment but my
> viewpoint runs something like this... You see a lot of GC's available
> because they have so much "luxury" crap and half of it goes wrong all
> the time and the owner can't stand it and dumps the vehicle. People
> who have "plain vanilla" Cherokees seem to keep them until the wheels
> fall off (and then they get them lifted and put bigger wheels on,
> until the snap an axle then upgrade the axle...oh, sorry, getting
> carried away).
>
> Anyway, I'd really take a more basic Cherokee sport over an overdone
> GC any day. Power everything is nice until the electrical gremlins
> start (ugh).
> Drifter
> "I've been here, I've been there..."

What he said!

Our old 'plain jane' 88 Cherokee has about 310,000 km on it and is still
going strong.

Wheels haven't fallen off yet, but I do have the lift ready for when
they do...

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Mike Romain

Drifter wrote:
>
> On Sat, 24 Sep 2005 04:36:36 GMT, Monroe <minburn1@telus.net> wrote:
>
> >I've been considering the purchase of a 4WD for winter use and general
> >hauling/towing of small utility trailers throughout the year. Because
> >of fuel consumption and quality of build, I've been considering Toyota
> >and Honda. But further investigation has pulled me around to Jeep.
> >
> >As a newbie to this model/brand, what is the signficant mechanical
> >differences between the Cherokee Sport/Limited/Classic and the more
> >refined Grand Cherokee. I'm thinking here chassis, steering,
> >suspension, drivetrain as well as fuel consumption. I'm leaning to a
> >1999-2001 Cherokee Sport/Limited w/ the 6-cyl, but there seem to be
> >many more Grand Cherokees available in my area.
> >
> >Seems like simple uninformed questions, and that's what they are.
> >Thought a user group would be the place to ask.
> >
> >Thanks for any and all.
>
> I'll probably get seriously jumped on for this comment but my
> viewpoint runs something like this... You see a lot of GC's available
> because they have so much "luxury" crap and half of it goes wrong all
> the time and the owner can't stand it and dumps the vehicle. People
> who have "plain vanilla" Cherokees seem to keep them until the wheels
> fall off (and then they get them lifted and put bigger wheels on,
> until the snap an axle then upgrade the axle...oh, sorry, getting
> carried away).
>
> Anyway, I'd really take a more basic Cherokee sport over an overdone
> GC any day. Power everything is nice until the electrical gremlins
> start (ugh).
> Drifter
> "I've been here, I've been there..."

What he said!

Our old 'plain jane' 88 Cherokee has about 310,000 km on it and is still
going strong.

Wheels haven't fallen off yet, but I do have the lift ready for when
they do...

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Jo Bo

Let's consider when the XJ hit the market, 1983. At that time AMC-Jeep was
owned by Renault.
So there's plenty of European influence in it's basic design and it's a very
utilitarian vehicle. For the first few years they used various GM engines
and they were mediocre. Then they gave rebirth to what some say is a 1929
Nash 6 cylinder engine by adding electronic fuel injection (1987 as I
recall). Then they started looking for a automatic transmission for it. They
did not use the previous Chrysler auto but instead ended up with a Japanese
Asin AW-4 that's rumored to be a re-engineered Ford tranny that has
Borg-Warner electronics, hence the W. This tranny is used in some Toyota
Supras and other car maker's products. Later the engine got Chrysler
electronics in it's HO configuration. (90 or 91). The engine was used in
Cherokees until they stopped making them in 2001. There were some 4 cylinder
models made though. The 4.0L engine and Asin AW4 tranny are a unbeatable
combination. In a little over a year I've owned a 89, 96 and now a 99 that I
hope to have a long time. In 93 Chrysler introduced the GRAND Cherokee that
was supposed to replace the Cherokee. As a result they didn't mess it up
because it was supposed to "fade away". That didn't happened and sales of
the XJ soared. My daughter got a 93 GC new and recently a used 2004 GC but I
find them harder to get into and out of and it does not seem as spacious. It
has bells and whistles out the ying yang. My XJ has power windows and locks
with remotes and heated remote mirrors, plenty for me! I was a VW fan for
many years and find the XJ very similar many respects. When you get a XJ put
on a HIDDEN HITCH and wiring harness available from etrailer and you'll be
very happy.

JoBo

"Monroe" <minburn1@telus.net> wrote in message
news:vml9j1lrrms81uohb3pqua8bfjdv7qgc7c@4ax.com...
> I've been considering the purchase of a 4WD for winter use and general
> hauling/towing of small utility trailers throughout the year. Because
> of fuel consumption and quality of build, I've been considering Toyota
> and Honda. But further investigation has pulled me around to Jeep.
>
> As a newbie to this model/brand, what is the signficant mechanical
> differences between the Cherokee Sport/Limited/Classic and the more
> refined Grand Cherokee. I'm thinking here chassis, steering,
> suspension, drivetrain as well as fuel consumption. I'm leaning to a
> 1999-2001 Cherokee Sport/Limited w/ the 6-cyl, but there seem to be
> many more Grand Cherokees available in my area.
>
> Seems like simple uninformed questions, and that's what they are.
> Thought a user group would be the place to ask.
>
> Thanks for any and all.
> --
>
> Monroe