I am thinking about buying a Jeep Cherokee Sport to replace my old Explorer for the kids to drive. It's a 1993 model with the 4.0 and a 5-spd, 4wd of course. The previous owners took really good care of it. I used to work with a guy that had owned 2 of them and he swore by the 4.0. Got about 300,000mi out of one and was still driving the other with 200,000+ the last time I saw him several years ago. Just interested in any comments, good or bad experiences, trouble spots, expected mileage at 60-65mph etc.. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

My brother-in-law got a '90 (4.0, auto 4x4) for high school graduation. He flogged the bat crap out of it, put about 90k on it, then sold it to help pay off his college loan. Never had much trouble with it, just normal wear items like brakes and U-joints. He's still kicking himself. I couldn't help you with fuel economy numbers, he never drove it that slow.

 

Thanks for the feed back wannadiesel.

 

Excellent vehicle. Not too much for problems.

 

I have had several friends who owned these jeeps. All said that the Post '92 steered much better, with better handling. All really liked them, even though the basic design was quite old and carried over from early 80's AMC days. If the maintenance was good, they should enjoy the Jeep!

Now, as for my friends with Explorers......Another Story!

 

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds better and better all the time. I actually like the old boxy design. Just a simple basic 4 X 4. The Sport even has gauges instead of idiot lights. I think I will add cruise if I get it. Otherwise no PW/PL/etc.. My Explorer actually hasn't been too bad a vehicle. Of course the twin I-beam eats tires. It's got 210,000mi + and it is starting to get kind of ragged. It's rough enough now that I don't want to spend much money on it either. I'll probably keep tags and liability on it till something needs repaired that impairs it's drivability then I'll park it in the fence row for the mice to have a new home.

 

I have a 94 sport, I bought it used with 153,xxx miles on it and I have had Zero problems with it. It runs as smooth as silk. It is without question the best vehicle I have ever driven in snow...

 

I have had a few of these jeeps. All of the 4.0's eventally had exhaust leaks at the manifold, but I had a habit of dunking them into mud puddles. My '89 Commanche was my first new vehicle 4.0 5 speed, SB. What a great truck! It took an obsene amount of abuse. and kept on going. That truck would always go anywhere my buddies full size trucks would go and I very often had the pleasure of pulling them out. I finally trashed the D44 rear around 170K miles and never got around to fixing it. I did experance the death wobble in another Cherokee I had, something I'll never forget. Keep the front end tight and it shouldn't be a problem. this happened on a truck that I just bought and knew it needed front end work. I seem to remember getting around 20 - 25 MPG on the highway with 31" tires.
Good luck.

My ctd reminds me of a grown up verson of the ol Commanche, straight six, solid front axle, front coils, rear leafs, etc.

 

Ohio Joe, The one I'm looking at has 146,000mi on it. I can't pick it up for another 2 weeks because I'm in Africa right now. But the guy had already quit advertising it so it should still be there when I get home.
karl 2500, I agree with the dodge being a grown up one. I hope it does that well on mileage. I'm expecting 16-20. So anything over will be a plus.
Thanks for the reply's.

 

I used to have a '98 Jeep Cherokee with the 4.0 L, 4wd and an auto. My wife used to drive it and the only problem we had was something in the front end (dang short term memory) that was about $650 but warranty took care of that. I really liked it, wife thought it was small. We got a consistent 17mpg out of it.
Tom

 

For fuel mileage try www.fueleconomy.gov. It shows 16/20 for the '93 Cherokee 4WD with 4.0L & 5spd. Should be quite close to actual #'s but just keep in mind the EPA fuel mileage test hasn't been changed since '84 AND that the tests are performed in a laboratory AND then corrected for "real-world" conditions (hah!). FWIW, the highway mpg test consists of simulating a 10-mile trip with no stops and an AVERAGE SPEED of 48 mph (are we moving or what?)!!! It's no wonder that so few drivers actually get the EPA #'s!

Good luck with the purchase & be safe.

 

The 4.0L is one of the most durable engines out there.
It is not unheard of to get 300,000 out of them.
The one thing you might want to check out is the rear main seal.
Had to replace a couple of them once they got about 100k on them.
I have owned a bunch of these over the years.
All of them have been very dependable, reliable, and very inexpensive to repair.
The wife likes Grand Cherokees.
Expect about 16 around town and 19 on the highway.
Good luck,
Rich

 

Not to compare apples to oranges, but I've had two Wranglers with the 4.0L/5spd and loved them both. I've also test driven the 4.0L with the auto trans and didn't like it nearly as much... I highly recommend the 5spd. The only problems I ever had with the motors were very minor... clutch master cyl on one, and a leaky radiator hose on the other... no biggie. Both fixes together didn't cost me $50 and more than a half hour of my time. In the Wranglers, I got about 17-18 city and 20-21 hwy... I'd imagine it to be similar with the Cherokee.

 

Thanks for all the reply's folks. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to write.

 

Do it, you won't regret it.. the 4.0 is a great motor, and will run for 300k plus if taken care of.. Ive got a jeep with a 4.2 (early carbed version of the 4.0 ) and its got 221k miles on it. and its still going... Just gotta fix the tranny now..
Scott