Jeep Cherokee 4.0. What are they like?

[Garlick]

Been offered a late model 4.0 special edition (Orvis?) with T&T and all the toys including leather, for a very reasonable price. It's a two owner car with FSH.

It's not the Sport but it's this shape



A friend got it for buttons (long story) and doesn't really need it. He's offered it to me for what he paid plus a bit of beer money on top. Thing is, I don't know much about them and I don't have a use for it...but it IS cheap.

I'm guessing there isn't a market for 4.0 petrol-powered aged 4x4's so even when bought cheaply I'll struggle to turn any profit.

Discuss

[Pannywagon]

Plastic parts formed from melted down McDonalds food trays. Nasty!

And fuel consumption that would make Saudis weep if I recall the 2mpg my mate's Grand Cherokee got going uphill.

Edited by Pannywagon on Sunday 23 September 22:01

[v8will]

I think 300 has one of these, he'll know the score.

I like them although they are small inside, sub grand at a guess?

[Shaw Tarse]

It's rubbish, don't buy it!


Put me in touch with your mate

[andy-xr]

Diff is a bit chocolate on these isnt it? Or have I got that mixed up with Pug 205 rear axles?

[Jimbo.]

IIRC the late Orvis ones were the ones to go for: toys aplenty (for the time, remember).

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

They're wonderful for what you get, for such little money.

Not too much goes wrong, and what does go wrong is easily fixed. There are second-hand parts a-plenty around for pennies.

Not the comfiest and most luxurious ride on the road, but surprisingly capable off-road in standard trim.

The 4.0 litre engine is legendary, and will put up with massive abuse. I sucked litres of water into my 4.0 engine (in a Wrangler) off-roading one day. After we removed the plugs and pumped all the water out, it started and ran, and continued to run for another year, until it expired. When it did expire, we then realised one of the con-rods was bent to a banana shape - but it still ran and ran even with that damage!

A good buy.

[Garlick]

v8will said:

sub grand at a guess?

Very much so.

[Chrisw666]

I know nothing about them, but you should just buy it spend £1000s making it perfect then sell it for less than you paid.

It's the proper thing to do.

[LHD]

Excellent winter smoker for beer money.

Thirsty but not really a big problem - provided it's got plenty ticket and rent then you can't really go wrong.

Oh, and if it snows this winter, liquidate it for a chunky profit.

[tr7v8]

4L lump is bulletproof. The rest is pretty good, what year is it? Worth a look on jeep-club.co.uk as lots of knowledge & owners there. XJs are used by the off roaders so are reasonably sought after & the 4l lump is preferred as the 2.5L is a bit weak for that. I run a Grand Cherokee with this engine, average MPG is 19. I'd expect a Cherokee to be 21-22MPG or so. They do need looking after, if the schedule is followed then most of its fluids should have been replaced relatively recently. Service intervals are every 7,500 miles for instance.

[TheD]

I had one and I loved it. It does not say it is an RR. My Jeep was bought to pull my boat and for my dog. I ended up using it pratically all the time. It pulled like a train and was a nice drive. Keep it out of 4 wheel and the Mpg isn't that bad for such a beast. Great fun in the wet as it slides around roundabouts. Mine had lived outside all its life and the floor had turned to air. Apart from that it was sound as a pound. It had 140,000 on it when it went to the scrappy. I would have another in a minute. Come to think of it

[v8will]

Garlick said:

Very much so.

3 words then.

Get. It. Bought.

[warrenc]

I used to have one. The thing pulled like a train. Mine had an LPG conversion and was cheaper to run than a 1.oL micra. I think the rear diffs have a plated LSD in there and need regular oil changes to keep them healthy. If I remember correctly, 'knocking' noises from the diff when at low speed (as in doing a three point turn) and full lock is bad news. The diesels suffered from weak springs on the rear, not sure about the petrols. If its an auto, be careful not to stick it in reverse at 60mph like I did (my own fault). The rear end locked up, the engine stalled, I lost the servo assistance of the brakes and had no power steering. Alarmed is not the word...

[Garlick]

Thanks guys. I'll go and have a drive this week.

Can't remember the year, but it's the last of the line of that particular shape before the all-new model was launched. As a result it has all the trinkets

[Waugh-terfall]

Engine should be bulletproof. My mate had an earlier 2.5 petrol as a runabout for work. Used to get thrashed mercilessly around rough-ass fields all over the downs and then left for months. On-road ride quality is a bit naff, quite bouncy as I remember from a friends Mum's '98 Sport TD. Seats are nice. View is great, AC strong. Classic 90s Daimler-era switchgear and build. I love them.

4.0s will hit mega miles happily. 400k onwards.

There's an epic video of one being trashed on YouTube, the stuff they manage in it... Looks suspiciously like another friends Dad's old L-reg 4.0. That was an epic mix of wirey wheels, spindly steering wheel, beige plastic and corn sack seats.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Do0cbG-5jYk

[Raize]

We used to have the diesel version of this. Everything apart from the engine was awesome, and the engine was VM Motori italian-made turbodiesel scrap made out of cheese.

So considering you get a nice sturdy V8 instead of that hideously unreliable excuse for a diesel engine, I'd suggest go for it!

[Shaw Tarse]

Garlick said:

Thanks guys. I'll go and have a drive this week.

How many cylinders does one man need?

[Trevor450]

I had one of these for a while running the Tartarini LPG kit.

Gearbox mounts can go which lets the prop grind on the chassis. Driveshafts are prone to wear and rear springs sag. They are tiny inside and typically American but I still loved it. Probably because the six sounds more like a V8 when floored.

Mine had a daft half and half tank which meant the range was very poor.

[sawman]

I love these, I ran one for a year or so in Canada, where it put up with living outdoors at -25c all winter, it was completely reliable, we have a later KJ cherokee with the more recent 3.7 motor, which is probably better in may ways, but I still preferred my old XJ cherokee...

here's the old girl