My sister sold her troublesome firebird and wants something a bit more spacious. She was looking at the Jeep Grand Cherokee (which I know is a pretty reliable rig, especially paired with the 4.0L I6) but I also suggested a late 90's Subaru. Trying to keep the price under $6k. Any suggestions on what years/models to look at? I know a little bit about Subarus but next to nothing about the Jeeps.
Looking for a used Jeep or Subaru
- Thread starter ThirdeYe
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If your looking at Subaru avoid the 2.5L engine in 96-2000 models. It is known to blow its head gaskets prematurely. This limitation eliminates all of larger Outbacks except the 1996 which did have the 2.2L in the manual tranny.
The 2.2L is a very reliable motor and was available in Impreza and Legacy of that vintage.
Given Jeep criteria and $6000 budget I would skip the Grand Cherokee and stick to the regular Cherokee. They were much more reliable and given budget range she can get a better Cherokee vs Grand Cherokee.
The 2.2L is a very reliable motor and was available in Impreza and Legacy of that vintage.
Given Jeep criteria and $6000 budget I would skip the Grand Cherokee and stick to the regular Cherokee. They were much more reliable and given budget range she can get a better Cherokee vs Grand Cherokee.
97-99 Cherokee with the 4.0L engine,4 speed auto (AW-4),8.25 Corporate (Chrysler) rear axle....tried & tested over millions of miles.
How would I be able to tell what type of axle it has?
thirdeye, kudo's to your sister for getting rid of the 'bird. i agree with the above comments concerning the cherokee. they are just about invincible! only problem i've really noticed with them is the bumpers rust out prematurely here in good ol' west michigan. if you take the vin# on a prospective buy, any dodge dealer parts guy can tell you what rear end it has.
While the old inline six used in the Cherokee is one of the really great engines, Any 2.2 Subbie will be a better car in almost every other respect. Assuming your sister values fuel economy and handling over off-road prowess, a Subaru is the obvious choice. Of course, if sis really wants an off-road machine, the Cherokee beats any Subaru, as well as most anything else.
To be bluntly honest, she doesn't care about gas mileage, off-road prowess, handling, etc. She just wants something that looks "cute" and is bigger than a regular car. -shrugs- I've been trying to get her to get something a bit more practical but she's not having any part of it. I'll keep an eye out for a 2.2 Subaru though. We're also still considering the Jeep, or maybe a used Mustang (she loved her old one). If/when we find any potential buys, I'll post them here.
I would not consider any Cherokee or Subaru to rate high on either the "cute" or "cool" scale.
That said, if you find a decent example of either, sis should enjoy many happy miles. You, of course, will see to the routine maintenance.
That said, if you find a decent example of either, sis should enjoy many happy miles. You, of course, will see to the routine maintenance.
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To be bluntly honest, she doesn't care about gas mileage, off-road prowess, handling, etc. She just wants something that looks "cute" and is bigger than a regular car. -shrugs- I've been trying to get her to get something a bit more practical but she's not having any part of it. I'll keep an eye out for a 2.2 Subaru though. We're also still considering the Jeep, or maybe a used Mustang (she loved her old one). If/when we find any potential buys, I'll post them here.
In that case, get her any 2WD Grand Cherokee I6 in Laredo trim that is in decent shape. A 98-01 Explorer XLS 2WD with the OHV 4.0L would probably also be a good bet if she thinks the Explorer is "cute."
She likes the explorer, I'm just unsure of the reliability of them. As for the Jeep or Subaru being cute/cool, I'd agree. What she likes and what most practical/normal people like are two entirely opposite things
She doesn't really want the Subaru, it was just my idea (i'd probably never hear the end of it, either!)
OHV engine Explorers are reliable. I have seen ones with over 300K on them. An OHV 4.0 95-01 would be the best bet, and they don't have very high resale, so she should be able to get one in good shape for pretty cheap. Manual transmission models especially are very reliable.
SOHC Explorers are somewhat less reliable. Some have had issues with cracked heads (not very common though), and a lot of them have timing chain noise. The OHV motor is less powerful (not really noticeable though since torque numbers are close), but very stout.
SOHC Explorers are somewhat less reliable. Some have had issues with cracked heads (not very common though), and a lot of them have timing chain noise. The OHV motor is less powerful (not really noticeable though since torque numbers are close), but very stout.
How about a bulletproof Honda Civic for less than $6K ??
That would be my choice (or an Accord, Legend or another Integra) but she thinks they look "too Asian." -sigh- Sisters... I'm tempted to just back off and let them figure it out themselves, since they don't listen to me much anyways. Just trying to help. I'll keep an eye out for an Explorer though, thanks for the tip on engine differences, 01ranger.
I just checked out a 1995 Nissan 200SX SE today, but it had a lot more rust on it than I anticipated. Ran great though. One question though, how feasible is it for a timing chain to jump timing and ruin a motor? He claims that the original motor jumped timing and bent the valves, which I can see happening if a timing belt snaps, but a chain? I haven't heard of that happening. The motor he put in it, supposedly had a lot less miles...
Well, timing chains are usually very reliable, but I know nothing about this particular engine.
I do know that the single row chains used on early gen Mercedes alloy V-8s (I'm talking about the 380 and it's ilk, not the earlier 350) had a tendency to fail, cured with a double row chain, as did early 911s, cured with improved tensioners.
If the car is really rusty, leave it be, since rust is hard to reapir satisfactorily.
WRT the engine, check out a Nissan forum. It may have known timing chain issues. Also, ask to see the reciepts for the work done. A good repair may last forever, while a poor repair may last only until sis gets the machine home.
I do know that the single row chains used on early gen Mercedes alloy V-8s (I'm talking about the 380 and it's ilk, not the earlier 350) had a tendency to fail, cured with a double row chain, as did early 911s, cured with improved tensioners.
If the car is really rusty, leave it be, since rust is hard to reapir satisfactorily.
WRT the engine, check out a Nissan forum. It may have known timing chain issues. Also, ask to see the reciepts for the work done. A good repair may last forever, while a poor repair may last only until sis gets the machine home.
I researched it some and apparently it has to do with the upper tensioner/chain going bad. I noticed the new engine had a bit of a clacking noise coming from the chain as well, that's the main reason why I steered clear from it, even though it drove fine. I know rust is a pain in the butt, I've dealt with it on my car I drive now, and I'm still fighting it.
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We finally decided on a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo, 128k miles, $5,600. It was in mint shape cosmetically, just noticed a small bit of rust on the gas tank (planning on testing some more Rust Bullet on it) and also that the light was on saying Low Coolant, so I'm worried that maybe there's a head gasket leak. Anyone else know why the coolant would be low? It wasn't leaking anywhere that I could see.
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Tighten all clamps ..refill ..check. UOA.
I dunno, I'm thinking of telling my sister to just keep looking elsewhere. Apparently that year of the GC has constant brake issues (which can be solved by getting aftermarkets), mysterious coolant loss (With no external leaking? head gasket?!), power lock & window troubles, turn signals burning out prematurely, etc. I found a nice '95 Maxima with low miles that I'm going to check out on Monday as well. Think I'm making the right choice? I just don't want her to get stranded, and have something that'll make it through college without looking like a total beater.
Suggest, but don't insist. Then when the Maxima turns out to be a steaming pile of dog doo, you won't be responsible.
The 99-00 Jeeps had some issues, but they were mostly worked out by 2001. My dad's 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited has been relatively flawless with 130K+ miles that he now has on it.
Fact of the matter is, *any* used car can be a nightmare. I don't care if it's made by Chevy, Honda, or Yugo. It's a ---- shoot.
The 99-00 Jeeps had some issues, but they were mostly worked out by 2001. My dad's 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited has been relatively flawless with 130K+ miles that he now has on it.
Fact of the matter is, *any* used car can be a nightmare. I don't care if it's made by Chevy, Honda, or Yugo. It's a ---- shoot.
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