Older Jeep for a beater/daily driver

[olrocker]

I’m thinking about getting a daily driver with some utility, and 4 wheel drive for Cleveland winters. I’m looking at some older Jeeps and didn’t realize they still made both the old Cherokee AND Grand Cherokees with manual transmissions up to the late 1990s! I absolutely want something with a stick and would love a 1998 Grand Cherokee but I’m just wondering how reliable they are when they’re 25 years old and have 170,000 miles on them.

What are your thoughts?

[Evergreen6]

The XJ Cherokee was produced through the 2001 model year. People want a mint for them in good condition and later-model XJ's with a manual are rare (and command a huge premium).

The ZJ Grand was the last big Jeep with a manual and they only offered the manual through 1994. Very hard to find these days.

Neither would be a good value for daily use IMO, given the rarity and price you'll likely pay. The KJ Liberty is an interesting value and can also be had with a manual, although the 3.7 was generally unloved. Lots of boxy later KK Liberty's still running around as well. WK and WJ Grands are a dime a dozen. All of them are automatics far as I know.

[olrocker]

There is a 1998 Grand Cherokee 4.0 inline 6, 4 wheel drive with the 5 speed stick. 160,000 miles they’re asking $4500. Just some surface rust on spots that were scraped and dented that can be fixed, interior is in nice condition. What do you think for the price?

[ABM2SS]

My 1998 Grand Cherokee ZJ (4.0) had an engine failure last winter with 366,000 miles on it.
My current winter vehicle is a 2000 Cherokee XJ (4.0) with 189,000 miles.
My wife had a 2004 Liberty JK (3.7) that had an engine failure at 350,000 miles.
I also owned a 1994 Cherokee XJ (4.0) that lasted many winters. I gave that one to my son.

So, I'd say that they are great winter vehicles. But finding one with a manual transmission is rare. Of course, you could buy an automatic and convert it.

[olrocker]

Originally Posted by ABM2SS

My 1998 Grand Cherokee ZJ (4.0) had an engine failure last winter with 366,000 miles on it.
My current winter vehicle is a 2000 Cherokee XJ (4.0) with 189,000 miles.
My wife had a 2004 Liberty JK (3.7) that had an engine failure at 350,000 miles.
I also owned a 1994 Cherokee XJ (4.0) that lasted many winters. I gave that one to my son.

So, I'd say that they are great winter vehicles. But finding one with a manual transmission is rare. Of course, you could buy an automatic and convert it.

This one is all factory original and it’s well equipped. Cloth seats but power winds/locks, cruise/tilt, automatic headlamps, power drivers seat, and the factory radio with CD AND cassette Haven’t seen a car with a tape player for 20 years. Somewhere in my storage closet are my old Van Halen and Def Leppard tapes

I knew they offered them with manuals in the first Gen, 1989-95 right (they came out to replace the old Grand Wagoneer right?) but I thought they’d dropped the manual option by like 1995.

Other than the surface rust on the body damage I’d say it’s in good condition. If I do buy it I’ll have that fixed just so the rust doesn’t get worse.

[ABM2SS]

If I do buy it I’ll have that fixed just so the rust doesn’t get worse.

I wouldn't bother with fixing the rust. My 1998 ZJ got to the point where the rocker panels rusted completely off. The floor was still solid. I drove it like that until the engine went.
The bad part is that it had newish BFG All-Terrain T/As that went to the junk yard with it. They didn't fit anything else that I owned. I was hoping to get another 50,000 miles out of it.

factory radio with CD AND cassette

I dropped over $1000 on a stereo upgrade when I bought it (thank you Crutchfield). That way I had Bluetooth and a kicking sound system. I did pullout the Head-unit and Powered Sub before I scrapped it.

[Evergreen6]

Should probably find out what all was changed during the manual swap, unless it was all brought over from an earlier ZJ. If it's from the factory, that would be 1/1 in existence. Not finding where they ever produced a manual in the ZJ after 1994.

[ABM2SS]

I Believe 1994 was the last year for a Manual in a ZJ. But you could still get one in the Wrangler and XJ Cherokee. Best options to swap would be either the AX-15 or NV3550 five-speed.

[olrocker]

I decided not to get it. He isn’t the original owner and didn’t even know it was a swap so I’m not going to buy it. Thanks for the tips everyone, I had my doubts that a stick was still available in ‘98 and you’ve confirmed it.

I still may try for a Cherokee. I would like a vehicle with dual airbags which is why I’m trying to stick with late 90s/early 2000s. But man is it hard to find a Cherokee that hasn’t been jacked up, driven hard and put away wet lol

[ABM2SS]

I picked-up my 2000 XJ last summer for $1500. They're out there.