Originally Posted by drummerwookie

i dont really trust those reviews bc you dont know how that jeep or those jeeps have been taken care of if rated badly

but, with 3 grand, you shouldnt have to much trouble finding a good reliable XJ with maybe as little as 100 thosand miles......maybe even less

i wouldnt by any older then 91......thats when the 4.0 recieved fuel injection...i think maybe they were TBI before...but i really wouldnt by any older then 1987.......thats bc from 84-86 they used the carbed 2.8 from the chevy S-10.......

but really, with 3 grand, like i said before i wouldnt be suprised if you found a 97 or 98 (first two years as the newer body design and duel airbags and updated interior)...

personally i like the older body design up to 96 more then the 97 and newer...i just like its boxier body style and more simple interior.......but soon ill get a 97 or newew since i now have the 93...

there really arent any packages to stay away from....they are all good.....

youve got the SE witch is the basic model that doesnt even have an RPM tach...or, depending on the year, the limited or country was the "nice" model....available with leather seats, even heated seats in the newer limiteds...

up thru 92, there was a laredo package that i like, but i kinda think they got a little chrome happy on that model......

and the most common package is the "sport" package wich is the best in my opinion.....has a more rugged look to it....flat black fender flares, althou i think it was 2000-01 where you could get matched painted fender flares with a gloss finish on the sport.....

also, i think it may be up until the late 80s, or early 90s, but some of the XJs had the puegot (spelling?) manual tranny...........stay away!

sorry i know that was kinda spotty, but i hope that helps

Originally Posted by itsanxjthing

puegot tranny = bad news! however i have an 89 laredo with the IL 4.0 and guess what? fuel injected with the rail and everything, which is two years previous to 1991

Originally Posted by dax702

I'm looking to purchase a Jeep Cherokee in the $3000 price range so obviously it will be high mileage and older. For the gurus of the forum, what years and/or trims should I stay away from? What is the best year overall? I was reading reviews on autos.msn.com and 1997 got the highest rating but I don't know how accurate those things can be...
Thanks

Originally Posted by ktmracer419

84-86= garbage
87-90 received the fuel injected inline 6 and a decent auto transmission. the ba-10's are less than desirable but will get the job done. if you are lucky you will find a dana44 rearend
91 brought the more powerful, simpler "high output" 4.0 liter. also a 23 spline tranmission output as opposed to the older 21 spline. no more vacuum disconnect front axle. also the stronger 8.25 became the polular rear axle(as opposed to a dana35 found in most predecesssors
94-95 brought some minor changes in body strength, doors have more support. i beleive in 95 the larger u joints in front axle were introduced (previous to this all earlier xj's equipped with abs had the larger u joint)
96 also had minor changes in interior styling, nothing worth noting really late 96's had a higher spline count in the rear axle. obdII was introduced this year
97 had some significant changes. the basic body structure stayed the same, but a slightly more "rounded" body style. mainly noticed in the front header panel and rear hatch. interior sought major changes but mechanically still the same as a 96
in 99 the 4.0 had to conform to some stricter emissions regulations which resulted in lost power, but to make up for it a more efficient intake manifold was used, power is about the same compared to earlier models.
in 00 or 01 you got the distributorless ignition system (not good nor bad) a low pinion front axle, and a tentatively weaker head design (don't overheat it and you shouldnt worry)