98 Jeep Grand Cherokee limited opinions please!!

Ghiagirl · 22-06-2009, 04:44 PM

G'day all, hubby is thinking very seriously of buying a 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (fully optioned).

Just wondering if any on here has had any experiance with them, are they a good car, too many probs etc.

We have two sons (3 and 6) who are getting older which means camping etc.

Up untill last night we had settled on another AU monty and found a good deal, but he has been offered an awesome deal on this Jeep and has always wanted one.

Any thoughts (related to the cars LOL) would be appreciated
Cheers

Jason[98.EL] · 22-06-2009, 04:55 PM

my mate just sold one a few months back due to to many issues with it

for starters the power steering pump went 2 times in a 4 month period ( $400 for the part plus fitting )

it constantly chewed out front tyres being full time 4X4

that and the way it chewed fuel like mad we did a trip to echuca and he had to fill up at baccuss marsh ( 50 odd ks out of geelong )

as for the drive side ect it was not to bad for a 4X4

he said that he will never buy another one as long as his butt points down

Jason

XplosiveR6 · 22-06-2009, 05:03 PM

heard bad things about them reguarding reliability, especially with failing power steering pumps, and thats when they were reletively new. as a 11 year old car i would have to see how unreliable they are now, id stay clear.

greenfoam · 22-06-2009, 05:23 PM

We have a Jeep but it's a 95 model. Outstanding as a 4wd unstopale pretty much (which they don't often get used for). But they have pretty high performance motors in them and seriously chew the juice and parts are $$$$$, they are a very complex car, wires all over the place etc. I think you would be better off with something a bit more local and more common. You can go camping just about anywhere in a Falcodore anyway, there's no real need to go climbing up a canyon in your car when you can walk up twice as easy

gcg2503 · 22-06-2009, 05:38 PM

friend bought one and had a myriad of problems with it....

Jason[98.EL] · 22-06-2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason[98.EL]

my mate just sold one a few months back due to to many issues with it

for starters the power steering pump went 2 times in a 4 month period ( $400 for the part plus fitting )

it constantly chewed out front tyres being full time 4X4

that and the way it chewed fuel like mad we did a trip to echuca and he had to fill up at baccuss marsh ( 50 odd ks out of geelong )

as for the drive side ect it was not to bad for a 4X4

he said that he will never buy another one as long as his butt points down

Jason

i know i am quoting myself here but the fuel eccon was crap and the trip fuel fill up was on the way back i did the trip and drove around for 2 days after

Jason

CAMS290 · 22-06-2009, 05:52 PM

DON'T DO IT..........Unreliable, fuel guzzling piles of rubbish

FPV+fteT3 · 22-06-2009, 05:54 PM

I had a 95 sport from new to 360,000km all it cost was 1 p/s pump, 1 radiator,battery and regular servicing never had any mechanical failures at all did the strezleki track, oodnadatta, finke desert all thru the centre would have one again. Used about as much fuel as the BAxr8 power everything. No real problems with chewing out tyres used coopers about 1k for a set and about 70000km out of em.

Towed my ski boat everywhere was an auto did the beaches, cliffs, canyons,water completely over bonnet crossing a chanel was running on 4 cyl on the other side but it got thru.
Handled everything I could throw at it.

As for parts only one place to go Mascot Motors Nowra bit like our FTG but specialise in Jeep new and used parts will freight anywhere PH 0244218111
The local jeep agent Klosters was way too dear mascott always had what you want at a reasonable price new or used. And yes people will say they are crap but that can be said of anything.

BENT_8 · 22-06-2009, 07:30 PM

My neighbour bought a sport 6 months ago and apart from a dodgy power window is proving to be a reliable bus.
They found the fuel consumption high and so had it put on gas.
To have gas fitted without taking up the little space in the rear the fuel tank must be moved under the passenger seat so the gas tank can go behind the diff, extra $$$ over standard conversion.
Then they discovered the rear space/vision an issue due to the spare in the back which needed a swing away fitted to overcome the problem, more $$$.

Performance is reasonable, they tow a 14' camper with no fuss.

ZA-289 · 22-06-2009, 08:49 PM

I wouldn't buy one, very small interior for the size of em, and the motors are basically a 245 with efi....

They also have Many reliability problems

smoo · 22-06-2009, 10:22 PM

I'm on my second Cherokee. Use both for off roading and daily driver. They're as tought as a brick house. I always find people who give em crap have never owned one let alone being in one (the same people who give it to Land Rover too). They will chew the fuel (about 55-60litres to fill, 450-500km on a trip), but you can't tell me a V6 Prado, Pajero, or even a Discovery is any better. One of the most under rated 4wds out there imo, I love the look on the faces of Hiluxs, Land Cruiser, Patrol drivers when I can get places they can't on my crap AT tyres. My only complaint is that part prices are a bit steep but it's worth while shopping around.
BTW its not an old Chrysler 245, its based off the old Rambler 242. Saying that is a bad thing coming from a Pajero owner is a bit rich innit.

Ghiagirl · 22-06-2009, 10:32 PM

Well you've definately all given me food for thought! Fuel wise I figure it can't be much worse then my fuel guzzling 5.0l AU. I'll take into consideration all comments but do appreciate the possitive comments from those who have actually owned one (first hand experiance counts for alot).

I've got a feeling that hubby has already made up his mind, like I metioned he has wanted one for years.

Cheers all :yeees:

Ghiagirl · 23-06-2009, 03:48 PM

Played it safe and went with the AU Monty!! Much happier with that decision, buying the Jeep seemed like too much of a risk. Picking it up on Saturday, yeah bring on Saturday!

tweeked · 23-06-2009, 06:16 PM

Have heard if you park them on unlevel ground, you sometimes cant open some doors

:

XR6_190 · 23-06-2009, 09:15 PM

i wouldn't buy one with somebody elses money, let alone my own. Unreliable, uneconomical piles of american rubbish. If you want a 4x4 of that age, go for a late 80 series Land Cruiser, or a Nissan GQ Patrol, they are popular for a reason.

GS608 · 23-06-2009, 09:37 PM

While not a 98 ZJ we have a 00 WJ Limited, it's been pretty reliable, but it has done 270,000km engine still going (its the V8) only problems we've had are new radiator ($1k) cause of a water pump failure, engine boot, bushes ($2k :o) and thats really about it apart from the A/C unit stuffing up which is a well known problem with the dual zone, gets about 13.5L/100km highway use, around town it see's about 15-16L, the old straight 6 and V8 pump out the same economy pretty much.

Buzz Box · 24-06-2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghiagirl

Played it safe and went with the AU Monty!! Much happier with that decision, buying the Jeep seemed like too much of a risk. Picking it up on Saturday, yeah bring on Saturday!

Well now you've got a double membership to the AU club lol

Rob · 24-06-2009, 12:49 PM

I used to sell Jeeps both new and used - they go hard, and are unstoppable offroad, but the parts are either extremely expensive or nigh on unobtainium.

The old Jeep I6 is a great engine, and the 4.7L V8s are pretty tough too. The 2.7 5cyl diesel in the 2000-2005~ range is ex MercedesBenz, it's pretty coarse, but basically a good unit.

EDIT - Also, ZG Cherokees, in the words of Jeremy Clarkson, avoid.