jeep cherokee 4.0.......am i mad?

[identity_crisis]

My vans failed it mot after 3 years of ownership and isnt worth spending any money on to keep it on the road so have decided to get another cheap banger to run into the ground. I originally was going to look at ford focus estate for around £700 - 800 as i know they are very good reliable cars but after having a think a 4x4 may come in very handy in the winter.

I live at the bottom of a private single track road so when it snows down here its pretty much impossible to get out unless you have a 4x4. I work from home running my own business so no commuting but do have to drive to the local sorting office everyday to drop off my parcels. Last year with the snow i had to stop my sales for nearly a week which cost me over £1000 in business so im thinking for the extra fuel i might pay it would be worth it to get out and get my deliverys gone.

You can pick up a jeep cherokee with the 4.0 litre petrol engine for under a grand. Obviously i know it wont be cheap on fuel but are they reliable? I used to rebuild the 2.5 diesels for a living so know they are prone to head problems so dont want to go down that route but know very little about the straight six petrol version.

Any advice?

[identity_crisis]

Ive got a traders policy so insurance isnt an issue. Just want something i can run for a couple of years without having to spend a fortune on it. I bought my van (an old 1.9 sdi caddy) for £900 and in 3 years other than tax and mot it its cost me nothing. I only did 6000 miles in it in the 3 years i had it which is why im really not to bothered about getting something with a big petrol engine in it.