Cherokee or Grand?

[OverlandZJ]

Couple points i have not yet seen mentioned..

The XJ has a reputation for rotting floors in areas using road salt. If your set on the XJ platform i'd suggest buying from an area that wont be an issue.

The ZJ 42re transmissions behind the 4.0L from late 93 model year on are notorious for failure. I'm also not a fan of the viscous couplers in the fulltime transfer cases.

I have been in an XJ for 15 years, i'm ready to move on. Recently started working on a 98 ZJ with 4.0L, rebuilt 42re and NP242. I'm hoping i'll be satisfied with the 4.0 in the ZJ as some complain of the lack of power of this combination. I may have to steal the Wife's 5.2L Limited ZJ if i cant live with it.

 

[jh504]

Couple points i have not yet seen mentioned..

The XJ has a reputation for rotting floors in areas using road salt. If your set on the XJ platform i'd suggest buying from an area that wont be an issue.

The ZJ 42re transmissions behind the 4.0L from late 93 model year on are notorious for failure. I'm also not a fan of the viscous couplers in the fulltime transfer cases.

I have been in an XJ for 15 years, i'm ready to move on. Recently started working on a 98 ZJ with 4.0L, rebuilt 42re and NP242. I'm hoping i'll be satisfied with the 4.0 in the ZJ as some complain of the lack of power of this combination. I may have to steal the Wife's 5.2L Limited ZJ if i cant live with it.

I had a 98 ZJ with 4.0. I didnt have any issue with the power. The issue I did have was all of the other stuff that kept failing, mainly the transmission. It was a sweet truck though with great articulation.

EDIT. Oh yeah, and Im fixing the rust holes in the floor of my current 88 XJ right now.

 

[OverlandZJ]

I had a 98 ZJ with 4.0. I didnt have any issue with the power..

I should have added when modified... was yours a stocker?

I'm hoping i'll be good with my XJ's axles w/ 4:56 and 33's.

 

[jh504]

I should have added when modified... was yours a stocker?

I'm hoping i'll be good with my XJ's axles w/ 4:56 and 33's.

It was stock height, so in that perspective yes. Had a couple friends running 33s with the 4.0 ZJ. Power seemed fine with me. You have to take that for what its worth though, I have also run a lot of Toyotas and I am used to an under powered rig. The 4.0 has just got great torque so it always seems better than a Toyota motor.

ALSO: those who complain about power in jeeps should have to spend a week in a 1.3 powered Samurai with 32s.

 

[parrot5254]

It think the WJ's are pretty much out right now because I can't find any with decent mileage in my price range. A loan would mean payments and payments means no money for add ons like lifts, bumpers, ect. So its pretty much an XJ or ZJ. I like simplicity but I also like being comfortable on the highway. I guess I have to drive a couple and see which I like better.

 

[jh504]

It think the WJ's are pretty much out right now because I can't find any with decent mileage in my price range. A loan would mean payments and payments means no money for add ons like lifts, bumpers, ect. So its pretty much an XJ or ZJ. I like simplicity but I also like being comfortable on the highway. I guess I have to drive a couple and see which I like better.

Honestly, my vote would be for an XJ. I have seen so many stack on lots of hard miles and just keep going and going like the Energizer Bunny. I cant say the same for ZJs. But, my ZJ WAS more comfortable than my XJs have been. Its all going to boil down to what you want.

 

[Amauri]

Drive a couple and see what you like better. As far as aftermarket support you won't have any trouble making either one as mild or wild as you want.
Here's my ZJ on 31's

 

[Root Moose]

ALSO: those who complain about power in jeeps should have to spend a week in a 1.3 powered Samurai with 32s.

Quoted for truth. I've been spoiled by Jeeps since leaving Suzukis behind.

 

[cocco78]

I would take an XJ over a ZJ any day, little smaller and a little lighter, they seem just a bit more nimble. I had a 2000 XJ sport with an auto and on the highway I consistently saw 20-22mpg. I also owned a 99 WJ Limited with the 4.7L and QDII, wow is all I can say. It was fun to drive, very peppy, handled great, and road so smooth. I easily averaged over 20mpg on the highway, I think I had a high tank of 23 once. A bonus is a WJ with the tow package and a WD hitch you could tow around 7000lbs. My WJ was power EVERYTHING, leather, moon roof, heated seats, cd changer with 90k on it when I picked it up for $8000 (this was about 4 years ago now). Also with the WJ if you fold the rear seat down its just big enough you can sleep back there. I am 5-11 and couldn't stretch out back there but could sleep comfortably, even with the wife.

 

[ExplorerExplorer]

I was looking at getting an XJ, until I took a trip in one this past week... 18 hours cramped in the back did not make me happy... I think if you're serious about 4 adults riding "comfortably" you need to look for something bigger... The backseat of an XJ sucks... The passenger seat isn't bad, and the driver's seat is cramped (I'm 6'2" and couldn't get the seat near far enough back)... Cargo space for 4 is a joke (we had to throw sleeping bags in the back seat)... I think it'd be nice for 2 or 3 people, but 4 gets a little cramped... Now, the WJ on the other hand, is quite a bit more comfy in the backseat...

 

[purdueXJ]

I will say after finally finishing the back part of my lift I wish I would have gotten something with coil springs in the back. You definitely have to be patient if you plan on lifting an xj, or you will end up with some broken weld nuts inside the uni body. I got lucky and managed to cut apart the front leaf spring eyes and got the bolts out with out breaking them off.

 

[Black Dog]

I was looking at getting an XJ, until I took a trip in one this past week... 18 hours cramped in the back did not make me happy... I think if you're serious about 4 adults riding "comfortably" you need to look for something bigger... The backseat of an XJ sucks... The passenger seat isn't bad, and the driver's seat is cramped (I'm 6'2" and couldn't get the seat near far enough back)... Cargo space for 4 is a joke (we had to throw sleeping bags in the back seat)... I think it'd be nice for 2 or 3 people, but 4 gets a little cramped... Now, the WJ on the other hand, is quite a bit more comfy in the backseat...

You must have had tall people in the front, or else someone in front that was hogging up all their leg room. The back seat isn't the biggest, but if the people in front are short like me that makes quite a bit of extra space for the rear passengers. An XJ seat definitely beats the back seat of a toyota tercel, I can say that from experience.

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

I was looking at getting an XJ, until I took a trip in one this past week... 18 hours cramped in the back did not make me happy...

You must have had tall people in the front, or else someone in front that was hogging up all their leg room.

I've been in the back seat of an XJ with 4 adults in it. All around 5'-9" to 5'-11" and it was OK at best. 18 hours! :Wow1: No way would I do that in the back.

I think if you're serious about 4 adults riding "comfortably" you need to look for something bigger.......the WJ on the other hand, is quite a bit more comfy in the backseat...

The backseat of the WJ is more comfy, but still not 18hrs of comfy.

 

[ExplorerExplorer]

You must have had tall people in the front, or else someone in front that was hogging up all their leg room. The back seat isn't the biggest, but if the people in front are short like me that makes quite a bit of extra space for the rear passengers. An XJ seat definitely beats the back seat of a toyota tercel, I can say that from experience.

Well shortest person in the group of friends I 'travel' with is probably about 5' 11"... My knees were into the seat the entire trip (I have long legs though)... My real problem was driving, I couldn't get the seat near far enough back and my legs kept cramping up...

I've been in the back seat of an XJ with 4 adults in it. All around 5'-9" to 5'-11" and it was OK at best. 18 hours! :Wow1: No way would I do that in the back.

Well, when you're a group of poor college kids you learn quick that comfort takes a backseat to cost, lol... I'll be riding in the backseat of that very truck this May when we head out to South Dakota/Colorado and surrounding areas... Unless I find myself a truck by that time...

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

The ZJ 42re transmissions behind the 4.0L from late 93 model year on are notorious for failure.

I had a 98 ZJ with 4.0. ......The issue I did have was ......mainly the transmission.

What are the transmission problem that are common with the 42RE? A quick search recealed some electrical gremlins that are pretty straight forward fixes. Are there any major mechanical or hard part failures with these?