Yeah man I know what you mean. I still never can believe that they killed the cherokee after 17 years. Its sales were always good and never low.
I often find myself making a wishlist in my head for a new Cherokee. Same 97+ body style with only one trim offered, no SE, Sport, Country. Just something like a rubicon package.

So here it goes:

545RFE transmission or W5A580, optional 5spd manny. I think 6 may be too much but idk.

4.0l straight 6 engine still, but aluminum heads, VVT, and some other power adders. Optional small displacement turbo diesel.

D44 axles

HID Headlights stock

Factory smoked glass

Add at-least 1.5" lift stock (nothing ridiculous like 6 inch)

Def updated interior like what the '12 wrangler just got. Dang im getting wet just thinking about this HAHA.

Beefey'er stock roof rack bars

LED Taillights

More ergonomic stock bumpers so you don't have those plastic end caps.

Stiffer unibody (Im sure through new techniques the chassis would be alot more sturdier like the new GC that gained 146% torsional stiffness over the 09' bodystyle.)

Ditch the slipyoke and put a CV drive-shaft with heavy duty spicer U joints

Higher flowing, more reliable cooling system with an easy to access flush drain

Quick-remove option to take the doors off

Standard tow receiver with tranny cooler.

Standard tire carrier on the rear bumper (too free up that room in the back, maybe but a 10" sub in that spot?)


I know I will think of more but I do have a feeling it will make a comeback someday. The Ford Bronco just came back but as an expensive decked out trail rig. Look it up it's the 2011 Icon Bronco.

 

The way some of these "Jeep"s look these days this would prolly be some stupid crossover crap with no clearance and 25 airbags and some lame "trail rated" badges .. Facepalm!

 

As they are now, but with at least LSD front and rear and some decent rustproofing underneath from the factory.

 

I think you'll find chysler has never made a good product ever. The Jeep line is the closest thing to a good product they ever made.

90% of thier trucks are garbage with hubs and ball joints going bad at 60k. Worse interiors than gms poor interios, rust issues etc.

Every car they have ever made since the 70s has been a massive pile of crap failure. They need fiat, or someone. Ford hasnt failed once (cringes)
Chryslers been bailed out 3 + times in its life and still isnt doing anything worth talking about, BESIDES the Fiat merger.

Time will tell if the new 2010 + chry co products have improved, because I can say whole heartidly, they only made junk after the 60s - 70s.

My uncle owns dodge 4x4s as daily drivers exclusivly (until he bought a brand new chevy in 05 as a second vehicle)

I just put his 99 1500 in the tranny shop for him. 89,000 miles. 89!
trans is screwed, the sensor on the trans has already been replaced, hubs and ball joints replaced (needing them again soon) it burns a quart of oil every 2 weeks.

its rusty as hell. 89,000 miles? Really chrysler? really? this is considered 'okay?'

If you have to put much more than fluids, tires, brakes , tune up parts and maybe a sensor in something before 100,000 miles You've bought the wrong vehicle.

 

Hey, lets not talk too much trash about the Patriot, my wife loves her's.

That Chinese Cherokee is BA.

Does anyone else fear the day when all of our Cherokees have turned to dust, and our only option is to buy a Wrangler.

Just did some googling, seems a few guys have bought Jeep 2500 front ends and installed them on their XJs. I personally would much rather buy a Jeep 2500 and install my XJ front end on it.

 

A new XJ like ours is not going to happen, it would crossover into the Wrangler territory now days.
They've refined the Wrangler so it is comfortable to housewives now.
People are buying SUV's not for the go anywhere but because its trendy, and you really can't get a family station wagon. So its the closest you can get.
People like sitting higher so they can see traffic better but most unless its winter weather could not tell you how to get it in 4x4 mode.
Independent suspensions give better feel and ride on the road, and its a selling gimmick that they use to sell to the neophytes that since its new it must be better.

So its not coming back anytime soon, though it wouldn't be hard to produce an SUV wagon body and bolt it down to the Wrangler 4 door frame but thats not going to happen either. So anything new will just be a Cherokee in name only.

 

After seeing the conversion next to our regular XJ......I think the 2500 conversion looks AWFUL!!!! Save the money, buy a sweet bumper, lift, anything, and still have money left over!! After seeing this you will agree!!! Conversion doesn't go along with the lines of the XJ at all.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...i/DSC00517.jpg

 

http://www.caradvice.com.au/147158/j...io-marchionne/

 

KYScot I'm guessing you ordered some parts from China.

 

I doubt we'll ever see a proper Cherokee again, but that Grand Wagoneer certainly looks like it might be a tasty off roader (after the prices come down, way,way way down) with a little bit of work.

 

Damn why not just make the Jeep 2500 over here? I would buy it. Swap in the "true" xj grill and bamb. brand new xj (kinda) haha

 

Long story short, it all has to do with emissions, and MPG. Blame the EPA and tree huggers

A boxy vehicle with decent ground clearance utilizing a 30+ year old motor design, 4wd, solid axles front and rear, etc can't get the gas milage or meet the current emission standards courtesy of Cali, and libs in general.

Side note: I don't have an issue with someone being liberal, however being forced to comply with someone elses "Expert Opinion" does not sit well with me. I have a good friend who owns a tree company, long story short the new chainsaws that meet the newest noise and emissions requirements(again courtesy of CARB) SUCK and on a good day only cut 1/2 as fast as his older saws. They even sound like turds....

I agree, an a european car company who has a less-than-stellar reputation here in the states is not a smart business move for a brand that has been struggling with its identity in recent years.

IF Jeep could re-make an XJ that has solid axles, 4wd, and a decent motor from the factory and gets decent gas milage I'd totally pull out a loan to buy one(Something I've always sworn I'd never do)

I'd really like to see them remake the 4.0 with a 4 valve DOHC, crossflow cylinder head.

That would EASILY make an extra 40-50 horses(if not more) and could be easily tuned to meet emissions requirements as long as they didn't cheap out on the piston rings, valves or valve stem seals.

Round the body out like we've seen on every newer vehicle and you have something that would be worthy of being called a Jeep.

Basically a 4wd XJ with some different body panels and the sucky 2.5L inline 4.

Some nonsense about motors in the 4 liter displacement class being taxed extra. Similar to Japan and other Asian nations. Its supposed to promote smaller more fuel-efficient vehicles and motors.

read the top of my post....thats why

 

I agree on the transmission choice completely. The Cherokee will never be reinvented though, and if it is it won't be what it was.

That's why I'm a fan of doing all of my own mods and building the vehicle I want. If you want something done right you have to do it yourself.

I would like to put one of these transmissions in my XJ, but the fact that it's electronically controlled, like ours, creates a mismatch when you get into the shift ranges. I don't understand transmissions and shifting yet, but one day, when those WK's start piling up in the junk yards, I will get one and have it figured out.
I fully intend to drive this XJ for the rest of my life. I've got so much invested in it with both time and money. If there's ever a switch from gasoline to another fuel type, it's getting converted. Even if I have to figure it out all on my own.

 

If there is any thread that is worth reviving, I think it's this one. SO, how do you guys like the Cherokee KWhateverthefrick. And shoutout to the guy who predicted it would be a crossover with Trail Rated badging!!

 

personally dont like it at all....plus buddies at thr jeep deapership say there are alot of customer complaints..seems like jeep, fiat, or whoever missed the mark. But in their eyes they probably hit it because it sells and its ugly crossiver sedan look is the fad nowadays.